The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study when paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. This combination of a modern Blackwell GPU with a Zen 3 processor produces a dataset that reveals how a title from that era scales with contemporary hardware. The measured FPS across resolutions and settings provides clear evidence of where the bottlenecks lie, and the ranking data places this specific combo within a vast field of tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking pattern in the data is how average frame rates collapse as resolution increases, revealing a classic shift in system limitation. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo achieves 147.7 FPS, but at 1440p that figure drops to 94.2 FPS, and at 4K it falls further to 54.8 FPS. This represents a significant performance cliff, indicating that the GPU becomes the definitive limiting component as pixel count rises. The scaling is not linear; the drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 36% reduction in FPS, while the jump from 1440p to 4K is another 42% reduction, suggesting the GPU is being saturated by the increasing workload.

The story is different when looking at lower settings. At Low settings, the 1080p result is 238.9 FPS, which drops to 184 FPS at 1440p and then to 102.1 FPS at 4K. While the 4K Low result is still highly playable, the relative drop between 1440p and 4K is 45%, similar to the Ultra setting drop. This consistency across settings implies that the resolution scaling is primarily a GPU-bound phenomenon; the RTX 5070 Ti is doing the heavy lifting, and its performance ceiling is being approached at higher resolutions. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, the user must rely on the GPU’s raw power, while at 1080p, the system is likely held back by other factors, possibly the CPU or game engine limits.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Zen 3 architecture, has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a single-thread score of 917 in 3dmark and 3364 in Passmark, are respectable but not leading-edge. In this game, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU, especially at higher resolutions. The fact that the 1080p Low setting yields 238.9 FPS, which is close to the 219 FPS of the Medium setting, suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data at these lower graphical loads.

However, the gap between 1080p High (189.7 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (147.7 FPS) shows that the game’s engine does place a load on the processor, but the RTX 5070 Ti is still able to produce high frame counts. The CPU’s performance relative to its rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT which is -0.3% slower in average benchmark score, places it in a solid mid-range position. The data implies that while the 5600X is not a bottleneck at 4K, it could be a limiting factor at 1080p if the user were to pair it with an even more powerful GPU, but with this specific combination, the balance is acceptable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the clear star of this benchmark. With 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, it has a bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2452 MHz and a Passmark G3D score of 32974 place it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that this GPU is the primary driver of performance, and its capabilities are directly reflected in the FPS measurements. The 4K Ultra result of 54.8 FPS is the only sub-60 FPS score in the entire dataset, indicating that even a powerful GPU like the RTX 5070 Ti is challenged by the most demanding settings at the highest resolution.

The GPU’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, has an identical average benchmark score with a 0% delta, suggesting they are performance peers. This is a crucial insight; the RTX 5070 Ti is essentially matching the previous generation’s high-end card. The measured FPS at 1440p High (121.5 FPS) and 4K Medium (76 FPS) show that the GPU has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions and can still manage 4K at reduced settings. The GPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p, but it becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases, fully utilizing its 43.94 TFLOPS of FP32 compute.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset of measured FPS provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance. At 1920x1080, the results are: Low at 238.9 FPS, Medium at 219 FPS, High at 189.7 FPS, and Ultra at 147.7 FPS. These numbers indicate that the game is highly playable at all settings, with even the Ultra preset offering a frame rate well above the 144 Hz refresh rate threshold. The transition from Low to Medium is a small 8% drop, but the jump from High to Ultra is a more substantial 22% reduction, suggesting that the Ultra preset introduces effects that are particularly taxing on the system.

Moving to 2560x1440, the FPS values are: Low at 184 FPS, Medium at 143.9 FPS, High at 121.5 FPS, and Ultra at 94.2 FPS. This resolution shows a more pronounced separation between settings, with the Ultra preset dipping below the 100 FPS mark. At 3840x2160, the performance is: Low at 102.1 FPS, Medium at 76 FPS, High at 66.4 FPS, and Ultra at 54.8 FPS. Here, only the Low preset remains above 100 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the only one that fails to reach 60 FPS. The data clearly shows a linear progression where each step up in settings and resolution has a predictable impact on the frame rate, with the GPU’s limits being pushed hardest at 4K Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 5600X and RTX 5070 Ti ranks 156th out of 1656 combos for this game. This places it in the top 9.4% of all tested systems, which is an impressive position. The high ranking is primarily driven by the GPU’s exceptional performance, as the CPU is a mid-range part. The data suggests that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and capable of 4K at high settings, but it is not the absolute top-tier configuration.

The ranking also implies that there are many other combos with faster CPUs that could push the FPS higher at 1080p, but the RTX 5070 Ti ensures that this combo remains competitive at higher resolutions. Given that the GPU is at the 87th percentile and the CPU is at the 78th percentile, the overall combo rank of 156 is a logical outcome. It is a strong pairing that leverages the GPU’s power to achieve a top-10% result, but it is not without its limitations at the extreme high end of performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this hardware?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440, the combo achieves 121.5 FPS on High settings and 94.2 FPS on Ultra, making it the sweet spot for a balance between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay. At 1920x1080, all settings are above 147 FPS, but the higher resolution offers a more immersive experience without sacrificing playability.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 is 54.8 on Ultra, which is below 60 FPS. However, reducing to High settings yields 66.4 FPS, and Low settings provide 102.1 FPS, so 4K is playable if the user is willing to adjust the graphics presets.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this setup?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at resolutions above 1080p, as the FPS drops significantly from 1440p to 4K. At 1080p, the CPU may be a limiting factor, but the frame rates are so high (over 147 FPS on Ultra) that it is not a practical concern.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Ti compare to its direct rival, the RTX 4080?

A: The benchmark scores are effectively identical, with a deltaPct of 0. This means the RTX 5070 Ti offers the same level of performance as the previous generation’s RTX 4080 in this game, making it a strong choice for high-end gaming.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 184 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces 94.2 FPS. This is a 49% reduction in frame rate, indicating that the Ultra preset’s additional graphical effects come at a significant performance cost.

Q: Is this combo ranked highly among all tested systems?

A: Yes, it ranks 156th out of 1656 total combos, placing it in the top 10% of all tested configurations. This is a strong result, driven by the GPU’s high performance and the CPU’s adequate support.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 147.7 FPS is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality without any noticeable performance compromise. The system has enough headroom to run everything at maximum, and the frame rate remains well above the standard 144 Hz refresh rate.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 121.5 FPS is the recommended starting point. This provides a smooth experience on most high-refresh-rate monitors (120 Hz or 144 Hz). If the user has a 144 Hz monitor, they could try the Ultra preset at 94.2 FPS, which is still playable but might be below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. For those who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Medium preset at 143.9 FPS is a viable option, but the visual trade-off from High to Medium is noticeable.

For 3840x2160, the High preset at 66.4 FPS is the best balance, as it stays above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 54.8 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 76 FPS is also a good choice if the user wants to ensure a higher frame rate buffer. The Low preset at 102.1 FPS is an option for competitive play, but the visual downgrade is severe. In summary, for a 60 Hz 4K display, High is the recommended preset, while for 1440p, High or Ultra are both suitable.