The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an Action RPG from 2016, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D processor paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card, using the benchmark data provided. The data shows a configuration that is balanced at lower resolutions but becomes increasingly GPU-limited as resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the Low settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 150 FPS at 1080p to 98 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 54 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 45% reduction when moving from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline indicates that the rendering workload is expanding significantly with each pixel count increase.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. For High settings, the average frame rate goes from 98 FPS at 1080p to 64 FPS at 1440p, and then to 35 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with averages of 115 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, starts at 77 FPS at 1080p, drops to 50 FPS at 1440p, and falls to 28 FPS at 4K.

The scaling efficiency between 1080p and 1440p is relatively high. For instance, at High settings, the 1440p score of 64 FPS is approximately 65% of the 1080p score of 98 FPS. This is close to the theoretical pixel count difference of 56% more pixels in 1440p, suggesting the system is not entirely bottlenecked by a single component at these resolutions. However, the transition from 1440p to 4K shows a more significant performance hit, with the 4K score being roughly 55% of the 1440p score for High settings. This larger drop indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as the pixel fill rate demand quadruples.

At 1080p, the system is likely more balanced, with the CPU and GPU both contributing to the frame rate. The high frame rates at Low settings (150 FPS) suggest that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently. As the resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become more critical, and the frame rate becomes more dependent on the GPU's capabilities. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as 4K performance, while playable at Low settings, falls below the 60 FPS threshold for all presets tested.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of frame rate at higher resolutions. Its specifications include 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. This memory configuration is a significant factor in the performance scaling observed.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical constraint at 4K resolution. The benchmark results show that even at Medium settings, the average frame rate at 3840x2160 is only 41 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 35 and 48 FPS respectively. This relatively low performance, combined with the large frame time variance, suggests that the GPU is not only compute-bound but may also be hitting memory capacity limits, forcing the system to manage textures and assets more aggressively. The gap between the 4K Medium (41 FPS) and 4K Low (54 FPS) scores is substantial, indicating that the extra graphical features at Medium place a heavy burden on the GPU's resources.

The GPU's performance relative to its peers is documented in its benchmark scores. Its Passmark G3D score is 17326, which places it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, which scores 21153 (a delta of -0.6%), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, which scores 20713 (a delta of 1.6%). This indicates that the RTX 5050 is positioned in a competitive mid-range segment, but its performance in The Technomancer is what defines its suitability here.

The GPU's clock speeds and compute capabilities are substantial, but the 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB capacity are modest. This is reflected in the 4K Ultra result, which averages only 28 FPS. This score is unplayable for a smooth experience. The data suggests that the RTX 5050 is a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but it is not designed for maximum settings at 4K in this title. The memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s is a limiting factor when the game demands high-resolution textures and effects, a conclusion supported by the steep performance drop at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D provides the processing foundation for this combo. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The processor is built on the Zen 3 architecture and features a large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is a defining characteristic of the X3D series. This cache is likely beneficial for gaming workloads.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be most significant at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 150 FPS. The ability to reach this high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of processing game logic and draw calls at a rapid pace. The processor's Passmark single-thread score is 2941, and its multithread score is 20363, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's performance is comparable to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has an average score of 36945, which is a 0.2% difference from the 5500X3D's average score of 37018. Similarly, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 36938 (0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112 (-0.3% delta). This grouping suggests that the 5500X3D is a solid mid-range performer, and its capabilities are well-matched to the RTX 5050.

The CPU's 6-core, 12-thread configuration is sufficient for this game. The benchmark data does not show any significant CPU-bound limitations at 1080p, as the frame rates scale well with lower settings. The large L3 cache likely helps maintain smooth frame pacing. However, as the resolution increases, the CPU's performance becomes less relevant, as the GPU's workload dominates the frame time. The data shows that the 5500X3D does not bottleneck the RTX 5050 at 1080p, but its contribution to the overall performance diminishes at 1440p and 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is ranked 1721 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places the configuration in the lower half of the performance spectrum, at roughly the 39th percentile of all tested combinations. This rank is a holistic measure that considers all resolutions and settings measured for this game.

This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual component performance. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 66th percentile. However, the combo's rank of 1721 suggests that the specific pairing, or the game's performance characteristics, do not favor this combination as much as other pairings. The data indicates that while this combo is capable, many other tested configurations deliver higher average frame rates across the board.

The rank reflects the system's overall capability. The 4K Ultra performance of 28 FPS and the 1440p Ultra performance of 50 FPS are below the 60 FPS target. While 1080p performance is strong, with all presets exceeding 77 FPS, the system's inability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions contributes to its mid-to-low ranking. For a game released in 2016, this modern hardware is not producing top-tier results, likely due to the game's engine and optimization characteristics.

When compared to other combos, this setup is positioned in a competitive but not leading tier. The performance is sufficient for a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p, but it does not stand out as a high-performance configuration for The Technomancer. Users seeking maximum performance in this title would need to look at higher-tier components, as the data shows that this combo's rank of 1721 out of 2825 leaves significant performance on the table.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and frame rate preference. For a 60 FPS target, the data shows which presets are viable at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, all presets are viable for 60 FPS gameplay. The Ultra preset averages 77 FPS, High averages 98 FPS, Medium averages 115 FPS, and Low averages 150 FPS. For the best visual quality while maintaining a high frame rate, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it offers the highest fidelity while still providing a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The High preset averages 64 FPS, providing a playable experience with good visual quality. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, offering a smoother experience with a minor reduction in visual fidelity. For a balance of quality and performance, the High preset is recommended. If a higher frame rate is desired, the Medium preset is a solid choice, as it stays well above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves a 60 FPS average. The Low preset averages 54 FPS, which is the only preset that comes close to the 60 FPS target. Medium averages 41 FPS, High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 28 FPS. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option for a reasonably smooth experience. Users prioritizing visual fidelity at 4K will have to accept lower frame rates, as the data shows the GPU is not capable of high settings at this resolution.

The data also includes minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p, the minimum is 98 FPS; at 1440p, it is 64 FPS; and at 4K, it is 35 FPS. These minimums indicate that the Medium preset provides consistent frame pacing, with no severe drops. This makes Medium a safe recommendation for users who want a stable experience. For the best overall experience, users should prioritize 1080p or 1440p with High or Medium settings, as 4K does not offer a satisfactory balance of quality and performance for this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete breakdown of measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: 150 FPS
• Medium: 115 FPS (Min 98, Max 132)
• High: 98 FPS
• Ultra: 77 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 98 FPS
• Medium: 75 FPS (Min 64, Max 87)
• High: 64 FPS
• Ultra: 50 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 54 FPS
• Medium: 41 FPS (Min 35, Max 48)
• High: 35 FPS
• Ultra: 28 FPS

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions. Low settings always provide the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, then High, and finally Ultra. The performance delta between presets is not uniform. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Medium is 35 FPS, while the difference between High and Ultra is 21 FPS. This suggests that the scaling of graphical features is not linear.

The minimum and maximum FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset. These values show a consistent range at each resolution. At 1080p, the range is 98 to 132 FPS, indicating a stable performance. At 1440p, the range is 64 to 87 FPS, still showing good stability. At 4K, the range is 35 to 48 FPS, which is a narrower band but at a much lower performance level. This data suggests that the Medium preset offers consistent frame times, which is beneficial for gameplay smoothness.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 are the best resolutions. At 1080p, all presets exceed 77 FPS, and at 1440p, the High and Medium presets achieve 64 and 75 FPS respectively. The 4K results, with a maximum of 54 FPS at Low settings, indicate that this resolution is not ideal for this hardware.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080. The measured average FPS for Ultra at 1080p is 77. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 50 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it averages 28 FPS, both below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 150 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 77 FPS. This means the Low preset is approximately 95% faster than the Ultra preset at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 3840x2160. The frame rate drops significantly from 1440p to 4K across all settings, indicating that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being saturated. The CPU's performance is likely sufficient, as it is able to provide high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the average FPS for the Medium preset at 2560x1440?

A: The measured average FPS for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is 75 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 64 and 87 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, while the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT has a score of 20713. The data shows a delta of 1.6%, indicating that the RTX 5050 is slightly faster in this metric.