The Technomancer

The Technomancer is an older Action RPG, but it still demands a balanced system, and the data for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution. The measured results show a clear pattern: performance scales dramatically with resolution, but the GPU consistently acts as the bottleneck, preventing the capable six-core CPU from ever showing its full potential. This combination ranks near the bottom of the tested pool, making it suitable only for low-resolution, low-detail play.

Resolution Scaling

The framerate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, and the pattern in the data points almost entirely to the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 79 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that average to 52 FPS, a reduction of 34%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 28 FPS, which is a further 46% drop from the 1440p result. This steep, consistent decline with every pixel increase is the classic signature of a GPU that has run out of pixel-pushing capability.

The scaling is equally punishing at higher detail levels. At High settings, the average framerate goes from 52 FPS at 1080p down to 34 FPS at 1440p and then 19 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K at High settings is a 63% loss in performance. This indicates that the Arc B390’s shading units and ROPs are simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of pixels at 4K, regardless of the workload. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the issue here; it has the headroom to feed the GPU, but the GPU cannot process the frames fast enough.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this pairing is strictly at 1080p. The jump from 1440p to 4K is particularly brutal, with average framerates falling into the low 20s and even teens. For example, at 4K Medium, the average is 22 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 15 FPS. These are not playable numbers for a game that requires responsiveness. The scaling indicates that users should treat 4K as an unplayable resolution for this combo, and 1440p as a stretch goal that only works with significant graphical compromises. The component limiting the experience is unequivocally the GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B390 combo?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo consistently maintains playable framerates. At 1080p, average FPS ranges from 40 at Ultra to 79 at Low, whereas 1440p averages dip as low as 26 FPS and 4K averages fall to 15 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: No. The measured data shows that 4K performance is well below playable thresholds. The highest average at 4K is 28 FPS on Low settings, and it drops to 19 FPS on High and 15 FPS on Ultra. These results indicate the Intel Arc B390 lacks the raw power for 4K in this title.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE, scores 17482, which is a 0.1% difference, meaning they are effectively tied in performance. The Intel Core i3-14100T is 0.8% faster, while the Intel Core 7 150U is 0.6% slower.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a strong performer compared to other GPUs?

A: The data indicates it is a very weak performer. It holds a 9th percentile ranking against all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 1482 is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, a legacy entry-level card. This places it at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average framerate on Low settings is 79 FPS. Switching to Ultra settings reduces the average framerate to 40 FPS. This is a 49% performance drop, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding on the Intel Arc B390.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 4600G's integrated graphics affect the results?

A: No. The system uses the discrete Intel Arc B390 GPU. The CPU’s integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics are not used in these measurements. The CPU's performance is relevant only for feeding the discrete GPU, and its benchmark scores show it is a competent processor.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the deciding factor in every benchmark result. Its specifications paint a clear picture of a low-power, entry-level part that is not designed for high-end gaming. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and just 24 raster output pipelines. These are modest numbers that directly limit its ability to fill the screen with pixels, which explains the poor performance at higher resolutions. The boost clock is rated at 2500 MHz, but the base clock is only 300 MHz, and the memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 RAM for its frame buffer instead of dedicated VRAM.

The reliance on shared system memory is a critical weakness, as its bandwidth is "System Dependent" rather than a dedicated high-speed bus. This creates a significant bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for memory bandwidth increases. The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, which is a theoretical maximum that the shared memory architecture will struggle to sustain in real-world gaming. This is consistent with its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its proximity in performance to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, a card from a completely different era.

In the context of The Technomancer, the GPU's role is purely to render the frame. The CPU has the horsepower to calculate game logic and physics, but the B390's limited ROPs and texture units cannot keep up. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the sole bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Medium, the average is 61 FPS, but at 4K Medium, it drops to 22 FPS. This is not a CPU limitation; it is the GPU's inability to process the increased pixel count. The 12 RT cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support are irrelevant here, as the game's demands are purely on raw rasterization throughput, which the B390 lacks.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset for this combination shows a consistent degradation of performance as resolution and settings increase. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 79 FPS, which is very smooth. Medium settings reduce the average to 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. High settings drop the average to 52 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to an average of 40 FPS. These 1080p numbers are the only ones that approach a consistently playable experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a significant hit. Low settings yield an average of 52 FPS, which is still playable, but the headroom is gone. Medium settings average 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS, putting it on the edge of playability. High settings drop to an average of 34 FPS, and Ultra settings become difficult to play at an average of 26 FPS. The step from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 30-35% of the average framerate at every settings level.

At 3840x2160, the resolution scaling becomes catastrophic. Low settings only manage an average of 28 FPS. Medium settings drop to 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. High settings fall to 19 FPS, and Ultra settings are effectively a slideshow at 15 FPS. The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this hardware. The gap between the 1440p and 4K results is larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, confirming that the GPU has hit a hard architectural wall regarding pixel throughput. The frametimes are also poor at 4K, with the minimum FPS for Medium settings at 19 FPS, indicating stutter and inconsistent frame pacing.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 3285 out of 3696 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested, confirming that it is a low-performance pairing for this game. The ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU itself is a mid-range part. The Ryzen 5 4600G achieves a 71st percentile ranking among all CPUs, showing it is a capable processor, but the GPU's 9th percentile ranking drags the entire system down to the bottom of the table.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU performance is stark. The CPU is a solid performer, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13593, and it sits in the 71st percentile. The GPU, however, is in the 9th percentile, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which are legacy mobile parts. This combination is a classic example of a bottlenecked system where a capable CPU is paired with a severely underpowered GPU. The combo rank of 3285 indicates that users would need to upgrade the graphics card to see any meaningful improvement in this game; swapping the CPU would yield negligible gains.

The data implies that this system is not built for gaming at the level The Technomancer demands. While the CPU can handle modern workloads, the GPU is a generation behind in terms of gaming capability. The result is a system that performs like a low-end laptop despite being a desktop setup. The rank is a warning to users not to expect smooth gameplay at high resolutions or detail settings. It is a configuration that is only viable for 1080p gaming on lower presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only sensible settings for this combo are at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the game is playable across all settings, but the experience varies greatly. The Low preset, with an average of 79 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently high framerate with plenty of headroom. This would be the best choice for players who prioritize smooth, responsive gameplay over visual fidelity. It is the only preset that can be considered "high refresh rate" capable.

For a balanced experience, the Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative. The average of 61 FPS is still smooth, and the minimum of 52 FPS indicates that it will not drop into unplayable territory often. This preset offers a noticeable visual improvement over Low while maintaining a decent framerate. The High preset at 1080p, averaging 52 FPS, is acceptable, but it is on the edge of the ideal zone. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 40 FPS with no minimum data, is risky and will likely feel inconsistent.

At 2560x1440, the data strongly advises against anything above Low settings. The Low preset at 1440p averages 52 FPS, matching the High preset at 1080p but with a sharper image. This is the only 1440p option that is reliably playable. The Medium preset at 1440p, averaging 40 FPS, is a compromise that may be acceptable, but the 34 FPS minimum suggests potential stutter. All other settings at 1440p, and the entire 4K resolution, should be avoided based on the measured results. The best experience is unequivocally at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, where the game remains fluid and responsive.