The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Arc B390 combination. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with performance that drops sharply as resolution increases. This analysis examines the FPS data to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU, where this combo stands among tested configurations, and what settings offer the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, clearly identifying the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 79 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 27 FPS, and then further down to 28 FPS at 4K. This pattern—where performance is nearly cut in half when moving from 1440p to 4K—is characteristic of a graphics card that is saturated by the pixel count, not a CPU that is limited by game logic or draw calls.

The scaling behavior becomes even more telling when examining the High preset. At 1080p High, the combo produces 52 FPS, but at 1440p High it falls to 34 FPS, and at 4K High it plummets to 19 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 18 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 15 FPS. This relatively linear degradation suggests that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are the limiting factor, as the workload increases proportionally with the number of pixels being rendered.

The data implies that this system is not designed for high-resolution gaming with this title. The transition from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings results in a catastrophic drop from 40 FPS to 15 FPS, a 62.5% reduction in performance. For a game like The Technomancer, which relies on consistent frame pacing for its action combat, such a steep curve makes 4K gaming impractical. The scaling pattern indicates that even at 1440p, the Intel Arc B390 is struggling to maintain playable frame rates on higher presets, making 1080p the only resolution where the system can offer a semblance of fluid performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390’s role in this combination is defined by its modest specifications and the measured results. With a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, the GPU operates within a power envelope of 80 W. The data shows that this integrated graphics solution, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, is the decisive factor limiting performance in The Technomancer. The GPU's 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs, combined with 1536 shading units, are simply not enough to handle the game's rendering demands at higher resolutions.

The memory configuration is a critical detail; the Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory with "System Dependent" bandwidth. This means the GPU is borrowing from the system's DDR4 memory, which is shared with the CPU. In a game like The Technomancer, which likely requires significant texture memory, this shared bandwidth can become a severe bottleneck, especially at 4K where the demand for memory bandwidth increases exponentially. The measured FPS at 4K Medium (22 FPS) versus 1080p Medium (61 FPS) underscores this issue, showing a 39 FPS drop that cannot be attributed solely to pixel count but also to memory subsystem strain.

The GPU's benchmark scores contextualize its performance. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce 800M, which score 1463 and 1460 respectively. These are legacy, low-end parts, indicating that the Arc B390’s raw graphics compute is on par with very old entry-level discrete GPUs. The data suggests that while the GPU can render the game, it does so with significant compromises, and its performance ceiling is reached quickly when settings or resolution are increased. The 2.5% and 2.7% deltas over the GT 625 OEM and GT 710 show that it is marginally faster than those parts, but this is a low bar to clear.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2500th out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 11.5% of all system configurations tested, which is a poor showing for a modern processor paired with a current-generation integrated GPU. The rank indicates that the vast majority of other hardware combinations, including those with older discrete GPUs, are able to outperform this setup in this specific game.

This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a relatively strong performer. The Ryzen 5 5600G’s avgBenchmarkScore is 21088, which places it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-1220P (avg score 21066) and Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (avg score 21112), with deltas of only 0.1% to -0.1%. This suggests that the CPU is a mid-range part that should not be the primary cause of such a low system rank. The data implies that if this CPU were paired with a more capable discrete GPU, the system's rank would improve dramatically.

The contrast between the CPU's 74th percentile ranking and the combo's 2500th rank out of 2825 is stark. It reveals a significant imbalance in the system's capabilities. The GPU is holding back the entire platform, and the benchmark data for The Technomancer shows that the Arc B390 is the single most limiting factor. For users considering this combination, the rank serves as a warning that gaming performance, especially in demanding titles, will be severely constrained by the graphics solution, regardless of the CPU's competence.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results: Low settings produce an average of 79 FPS, Medium yields 61 FPS (with a min of 52 and max of 70), High produces 52 FPS, and Ultra drops to 40 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is the only resolution where the system can approach smooth gameplay, and only on lower presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 52 FPS, Medium averages 40 FPS (min 34, max 46), High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The frame rates at 1440p are borderline playable only on Low, with Medium and above falling below the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered ideal for action games. The minimum FPS of 34 at Medium suggests that there are noticeable stutters during intense scenes.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. Low settings average 28 FPS, Medium averages 22 FPS (min 19, max 25), High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. None of these results are playable for a game that requires responsive controls. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only viable resolution, and even then, Ultra settings (40 FPS) are a compromise. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with the highest average being 28 FPS on Low, which is far below the minimum for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for The Technomancer with this hardware is at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the Low preset delivers an average of 79 FPS, which is the only configuration that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS target. This preset is recommended for players who prioritize smooth, responsive gameplay over visual fidelity, as the data shows it is the only setting that provides a significant performance buffer.

For those who want better visuals, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a balanced option with an average of 61 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. However, the minimum FPS of 52 suggests that there will be occasional dips, which could be noticeable in combat. The High preset at 1080p (52 FPS) and Ultra (40 FPS) are playable but may feel less fluid, especially during fast-paced action sequences. The data suggests that Medium is the highest preset that maintains a reasonable average frame rate without excessive drops.

At 1440p, the Low preset (52 FPS) is the only viable option, but it still falls short of the 60 FPS ideal. The Medium preset at 1440p (40 FPS) is playable for less demanding moments but will struggle in busy scenes. The 4K resolution is not recommended, as even the Low preset (28 FPS) fails to provide a playable frame rate. The measured rows indicate that users should stick to 1080p and use Medium or Low settings to achieve the best balance between visual quality and performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 79 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G has an average benchmark score of 21088, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i3-1220P (21066) and 0.1% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (21112).

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 GPU capable of running the game at 4K resolution?

A: No, the data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 28 FPS on Low settings, with Ultra settings yielding only 15 FPS, all of which are unplayable.

Q: What is the system's rank among all tested combos for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2500th out of 2825 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11.5% of all configurations.

Q: Which settings provide the best balance of performance and quality at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers an average of 61 FPS, making it the highest quality setting that maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS on average.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460).

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G plays a supporting role in this combination, and its performance characteristics suggest it is not the limiting factor in The Technomancer. With 6 cores and 12 threads, the CPU is based on the Zen 3 architecture and can boost up to 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark results, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10551 and a single-core score of 1409, indicate that it has sufficient processing power for modern games.

The CPU's 74th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21088, places it in the upper mid-range of processors. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i3-1220P and Core Ultra 7 256V, have nearly identical average scores, showing that the 5600G is competitive with other modern parts. The data implies that the CPU can handle the game's logic, AI, and physics without becoming a bottleneck, as its performance is not the reason for the low frame rates.

However, the CPU's role is complicated by the GPU's shared memory architecture. Since the Intel Arc B390 uses system memory, the CPU's memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s) is shared between the two components. This can cause contention, but the measured FPS drops are more consistent with GPU limitations than CPU stalls. The CPU's strong single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core score of 1801) ensures that it is not holding back the GPU's frame generation in most scenarios. In this game, the data strongly suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600G is a capable partner that is being let down by the graphics solution, and its performance headroom is left largely unused.