The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a varied performance landscape when paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and AMD Radeon RX 7700. The measured data reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but faces significant challenges as resolution increases, particularly under maximum graphical loads. This analysis dissects the benchmark results, examining how the CPU and GPU contribute to the overall experience across all tested settings.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 with this hardware combination shows a classic pattern of GPU-bound performance scaling, though the rate of decline is steep. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 179 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 117 FPS, a reduction of approximately 34.6%. At 4K, the average falls further to 64 FPS, representing a 45.3% decrease from the 1440p figure and a 64.2% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve indicates that pixel throughput becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution climbs.

The scaling pattern under High settings is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The average FPS at 1080p is 117, which drops to 77 at 1440p (a 34.2% reduction) and then to 42 at 4K (a 45.5% reduction from 1440p). This consistent proportional drop across different quality presets suggests that the performance scaling is largely resolution-driven rather than setting-driven. The GPU's rendering workload scales almost linearly with pixel count, and the 16 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory bus do not appear to be bottlenecks at any tested resolution, as the frame rate decline follows the expected curve for a GPU-bound scenario.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic impact of resolution scaling. At 1080p, the system manages 92 FPS average. At 1440p, this drops to 60 FPS, a 34.8% reduction. At 4K, the average plummets to 33 FPS, a 45% reduction from the 1440p result and a 64.1% reduction from 1080p. The fact that the percentage drops are nearly identical across Low, High, and Ultra presets indicates that the GPU is consistently the limiting component in all scenarios. If the CPU were the primary bottleneck, we would expect to see a larger gap between 1080p and 1440p results, as the CPU load would remain relatively constant while the GPU load increases. Instead, the smooth scaling pattern points directly at the Radeon RX 7700 as the performance ceiling.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and AMD Radeon RX 7700 holds a specific position. The combo rank is 1275 out of a total of 2825 tested combinations, placing it in the 45th percentile of all systems. This indicates that while the setup is not at the top tier, it outperforms a majority of the tested configurations, with 1550 combinations ranking below it.

The ranking reflects a balance between the CPU and GPU strengths. The Ryzen 5 5600GT, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is a solid mid-range processor that maintains a percentile rank of 74 against all CPUs in the benchmark database. The Radeon RX 7700, however, holds a lower percentile rank of 58 against all GPUs. This disparity suggests that the GPU is more of a limiting factor in the overall combo performance than the CPU. The combo's 45th percentile ranking, which is lower than both individual component percentiles, suggests that the game's engine may not be perfectly optimized to leverage the strengths of this specific pairing, or that the GPU's relative weakness becomes more pronounced in this particular title.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12490F scores an average of 20802, which is just 0.3% higher than the Ryzen 5 5600GT's average benchmark score of 20733. This shows that the 5600GT is competitively positioned within its class. For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 1% higher than the RX 7700's average score of 15852. This indicates that the RX 7700 sits near the performance level of other modern mid-range cards. The combination of these two components results in a system that is well-balanced for 1080p gaming but falls behind more powerful combos when pushing higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT is built on the Zen 3 architecture and is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. With a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, it provides a solid foundation for gaming workloads. The processor features 6 cores and 12 threads, which allows it to handle the multi-threaded aspects of modern game engines. The 16 MB of L3 cache is also a beneficial asset, as it can reduce memory latency and improve performance in scenarios where data needs to be accessed repeatedly.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions, but it remains crucial for achieving high frame rates at 1080p. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 179 FPS. This high number suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain very high frame rates. However, the fact that the FPS does not scale perfectly with resolution reductions indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any tested setting. The single-threaded performance, as measured by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 913, is adequate for the game's logic, but it is not so strong that it would overshadow the GPU's workload.

The multi-threaded scores are more impressive. The 3dmark_max_threads score is 5554, and the Cinebench R23 multicore score is 17272. These numbers indicate that the processor can efficiently distribute tasks across its 12 threads. This is relevant for The Technomancer, as action RPGs often have background processes for AI, physics, and world streaming. The Passmark multi-thread score of 20325 further confirms the CPU's capability in parallel workloads. The data suggests that the CPU will not hold the system back, even in complex scenes. The 65W TDP also means that this level of performance is achieved within a relatively modest power envelope, but the benchmark results are what matter here, and they show a processor that is well-suited for gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system excels, with all presets delivering playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 179 FPS, while Medium averages 137 FPS. The Medium preset also shows a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS, indicating a consistent frame pacing. High averages 117 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset manages an average of 92 FPS. This makes 1080p the sweet spot for high refresh rate monitors, as even the most demanding settings remain comfortably above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limitations. The Low preset averages 117 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium averages 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. High averages 77 FPS, which is smooth for most players. Ultra dips to an average of 60 FPS, which is exactly at the threshold for standard 60Hz displays. The minimum FPS for Medium at this resolution is 76, which suggests that there are no severe frame drops, but the overall headroom is reduced compared to 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 64 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to an average of 49 FPS, with a minimum of 42 FPS and a maximum of 57 FPS. High averages 42 FPS, and Ultra averages just 33 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings for a smooth experience, and even then, it is near the boundary of what is considered fluid. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 31 FPS, which is a significant performance cost for the visual enhancements. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is flawless, 1440p is very good, and 4K requires significant compromises in visual quality.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and uses the Navi 32 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large VRAM allocation is sufficient for The Technomancer at all tested settings and resolutions, ensuring that texture loading and memory swapping are not performance issues. The GPU's base clock is 1900 MHz, with a boost clock of 2459 MHz and a game clock of 2041 MHz.

The GPU's performance in The Technomancer is the primary determinant of the system's overall capability, especially at higher resolutions. The Passmark G3D score for the RX 7700 is 20974, which places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. This is a solid mid-range score, but it is not in the top tier. The nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 9060, scores 16014, which is 1% higher. This small delta confirms that the RX 7700 is competitive with its direct peers.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2865 provides a modern benchmark perspective, but the game-specific results are more telling. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rate drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count. The 16 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor, as the game does not appear to exceed this capacity. The 40 RT cores are present, but The Technomancer does not rely heavily on ray tracing, so their impact is minimal. The 2560 shading units and 160 TMUs are more relevant to the game's traditional rasterization workload. The data indicates that the RX 7700 is a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with this game's engine.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average frame rate is 179 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is exactly 60 FPS, which is right at the threshold for standard 60Hz monitors.

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

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K (e.g., from 117 to 42 FPS on High settings), which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600GT's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600GT has an average benchmark score of 20733, which is just 0.3% lower than the Intel Core i5-12490F's score of 20802, making them effectively equal in performance.

Q: Is the 16 GB of VRAM on the RX 7700 sufficient for this game at all settings?

A: The data shows no indication of VRAM limitations. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, without any anomalous drops that would suggest memory capacity issues.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested systems for this game?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1275 out of 2825 tested combos, placing it in the 45th percentile of all systems.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the High preset, which averages 117 FPS, is an excellent choice as it balances visual fidelity with a high frame rate that exceeds most display refresh rates. Even the Ultra preset, averaging 92 FPS, is viable for high refresh rate gaming, though it will not saturate a 144Hz panel. The Medium preset offers an even higher average of 137 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or for those who prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice for a smooth experience, as it averages 77 FPS. This is suitable for 75Hz monitors and provides a good balance between quality and speed. The Medium preset, averaging 90 FPS, is also a strong option for players who want a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset, while averaging exactly 60 FPS, is playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes, as the minimum FPS is not recorded but the average is right at the limit. For 1440p 144Hz displays, the Low preset, averaging 117 FPS, might be preferable to maximize frame rate, but the visual compromise is significant.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that delivers a consistently playable experience is Low, which averages 64 FPS. This is suitable for 60Hz displays. The Medium preset, averaging 49 FPS, falls below the 60 FPS threshold and will feel less smooth. High and Ultra presets at 4K, averaging 42 and 33 FPS respectively, are generally not recommended for a fluid gaming experience. For 4K users, it is advisable to stick with Low settings to achieve a stable frame rate, or to consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to enjoy higher visual quality presets. The data clearly shows that this system is most comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K being a compromise in visual fidelity for playable performance.