The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B370 combination. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU providing adequate headroom for the game's logic but the GPU struggling to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions and settings. The benchmark results indicate that this configuration is best suited for 1080p gaming with adjustments to visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates across resolutions reveal a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as pixel count increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 47 FPS, a significant reduction of 24 FPS, and at 4K Low the average plummets to 26 FPS. This scaling demonstrates that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck, as the workload becomes exponentially heavier with each resolution step.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the frame rate falls from 47 FPS at 1080p to 31 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 17 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with averages of 55 FPS, 36 FPS, and 20 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The most demanding preset, Ultra, yields 37 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and a nearly unplayable 13 FPS at 4K. This data indicates a system that is fundamentally limited by its GPU, as the frame rate drops are disproportionate to the resolution increase, a hallmark of a graphics-bound scenario.

The gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial, but the jump to 4K is catastrophic for playability. The minimum FPS values recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution (47 FPS at 1080p, 30 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K) further underscore this point. At 4K, even the minimum frame rate is below the threshold for a smooth experience, and the average of 20 FPS is well into stutter territory. The data strongly suggests that 4K is not a viable option for this hardware combination in The Technomancer, regardless of the settings chosen.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, running at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its performance metrics, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13593 and a single-core score of 1919, indicate a capable processor for gaming. The CPU's percentile ranking of 71 places it above most other processors, and its average benchmark score of 17507 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (17482) and the Intel Core 7 150U (17395).

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The frame rates are consistently low across all settings, which suggests that the processor is not the limiting factor. The 3DMark scores for the CPU, including a 16-thread score of 4863 and a single-thread score of 726, show that it has sufficient multithreaded and single-threaded power to feed a more capable graphics card. The game, being from 2016, is unlikely to utilize all 12 threads, but the 4600G's strong single-core performance ensures that it can handle the game's main game logic without becoming a bottleneck.

The data implies that the CPU is waiting on the GPU to render frames. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 71 FPS, which is a reasonable frame rate. However, as the resolution increases, the frame rate drops, indicating that the GPU's rendering time is dominating the frame time. The CPU's high benchmark scores, like the Passmark multi-thread score of 15992, provide ample headroom. If the GPU were more powerful, the 4600G could likely push higher frame rates, but with the Arc B370, the CPU's potential is largely untapped.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that 4K is not a playable option. The best average FPS at 3840x2160 is 26 FPS with Low settings, and the Ultra preset yields only 13 FPS. All 4K results fall below the 30 FPS threshold for acceptable playability, making this resolution impractical for this hardware.

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth experience?

A: According to the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can consistently achieve high frame rates. At Low settings, it hits 71 FPS, and even at High settings, it maintains a 47 FPS average, which is playable for an Action RPG.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE, scores 17482, a delta of 0.1%, meaning they are essentially equal in performance. The Intel Core i3-14100T is slightly ahead with a score of 17648, a delta of -0.8% from the 4600G's perspective.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 a strong GPU for this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the Arc B370 is a weak performer. Its average benchmark score is 1184, and it ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are older cards like the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190, a delta of -0.5%. This places it at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The performance cost of Ultra settings is significant. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 71 FPS, while the Ultra preset only manages 37 FPS. This is a difference of 34 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset nearly halves the frame rate compared to Low.

Q: Does the data suggest the CPU or GPU is the limiting factor?

A: The data strongly points to the GPU as the limiting factor. The CPU's performance is in the 71st percentile, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. Furthermore, frame rates drop dramatically with resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for The Technomancer with the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B370 are as follows:

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system delivers its lowest performance. With Ultra settings, the average FPS is 13, which is the lowest recorded in the entire dataset. High settings provide an average of 17 FPS. Medium settings offer a slight improvement with an average of 20 FPS, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 23 FPS. The most playable option at this resolution is Low, which achieves an average of 26 FPS. None of these results are suitable for a smooth gaming experience.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains inconsistent. The Ultra preset yields an average of 24 FPS, which is still quite low. High settings improve the average to 31 FPS. Medium settings provide a playable, albeit not ideal, average of 36 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. Low settings are the most fluid option here, achieving an average of 47 FPS. This resolution is viable only with Low or Medium settings.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system shows its best performance. The Low preset is the clear winner, with an average of 71 FPS. High settings also provide a decent experience, with an average of 47 FPS. Medium settings average 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 37 FPS. This resolution offers the only acceptable frame rates for this hardware.

The progression shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the target resolution, with 1440p being a compromise, and 4K being unplayable. The differences between settings at each resolution are consistent, with Ultra always incurring a significant performance penalty.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor, part of the Panther Lake generation, built on a 3 nm process. Its specifications, such as 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, are modest. The memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's RAM, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This configuration inherently limits performance, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access.

The GPU's benchmark results confirm its low-end positioning. Its only recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This score is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190). This indicates that the Arc B370's raw performance is comparable to graphics cards from over a decade ago.

The GPU's clock speeds (a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz) and a TDP of 25 W suggest it is designed for power efficiency rather than high performance. Its FP32 compute capability of 6.144 TFLOPS is low by modern standards. In The Technomancer, this translates directly to the low frame rates observed. The GPU's inability to handle the rendering workload at higher resolutions is the primary reason for the poor performance scaling. The data shows that the Arc B370 is the definitive bottleneck in this system, and its performance level is the key factor limiting the overall gaming experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system is at 1920x1080 resolution. The data shows that the Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that provides a consistently high frame rate, with an average of 71 FPS. This is the most fluid and responsive setup for the game.

For players who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate, the High preset at 1080p is a viable option, with an average of 47 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for an Action RPG, offering a significant visual upgrade over Low settings while maintaining a reasonable level of smoothness. The Medium preset, at 55 FPS, provides a balanced middle ground, but its minimum FPS of 47 suggests occasional dips that might be noticeable.

The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 37 FPS, is not recommended. The performance hit is substantial compared to High, and the visual benefits are often minimal in a game from 2016. Similarly, all settings at 1440p and 4K should be avoided. The 1440p Medium preset (36 FPS) and 1440p Low preset (47 FPS) might be considered by some, but the 1080p options provide higher frame rates and a more consistent experience.

In summary, the recommended settings are Low at 1080p for the best performance, or High at 1080p for a balanced visual and performance compromise. The data is clear that this system is not capable of running The Technomancer at higher resolutions or with the Ultra preset without sacrificing playability. The Arc B370's performance caps the system, making 1080p the only sensible choice for this hardware combination.