The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F with the Intel Arc B390 yields a specific performance profile. The data indicates a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured frame rates to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU, and what settings provide the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, which is a clear indicator of a GPU-bound system. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 52 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same preset drops the average to 34 FPS, a significant 34.6% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160 at High yields an average of just 19 FPS, which is a 44.1% drop from the 1440p result and a 63.5% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern shows that the render resolution is the primary factor limiting performance.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system achieves 79 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 52 FPS at 1440p and 28 FPS at 4K. Even at Medium, which has recorded minimum and maximum values, the average goes from 61 FPS at 1080p to 40 FPS at 1440p and 22 FPS at 4K. The consistent, dramatic falloff between each resolution step strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B390’s rendering capabilities are saturated long before the Ryzen 5 7400F’s processing power becomes a bottleneck.

This behavior indicates that the limiting component is the graphics card. The CPU, with its high multi-threaded score in Cinebench R23 (21765), is unlikely to be the constraining factor at 4K where pixel throughput is the challenge. The data suggests that to maintain a smoother experience, users must aggressively lower the resolution or settings, as the GPU cannot sustain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra preset, with an average of 15 FPS, is the clearest evidence of this limitation, rendering the game essentially unplayable at that configuration.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its role in The Technomancer is defined by its modest specifications and the benchmark data. The GPU’s benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, according to the data, are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, with performance deltas of 1.3% to 2.7%. This situates the B390 in the entry-level performance tier, which aligns with the measured FPS results.

The GPU's clock speeds are listed as a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. While these numbers are present, the more critical factor is its memory configuration. The B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its bandwidth and capacity are "System Dependent" and shared with the CPU. This design can be a significant hindrance in a game like The Technomancer, which may require substantial memory bandwidth for textures and geometry at higher settings. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate are theoretical limits that the shared memory system may struggle to feed effectively.

In practice, the GPU's limitations are clear. The jump from Low to Ultra settings at any resolution shows a consistent penalty. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 79 at Low to 40 at Ultra, a 49.4% decrease. At 1440p, it drops from 52 to 26 (50% decrease), and at 4K from 28 to 15 (46.4% decrease). This scaling suggests that the GPU’s compute units are being pushed harder with each preset, but the frame rate returns diminish quickly. The 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are likely the limiting factors for fill-rate and texture-heavy scenes, especially at higher resolutions where pixel count increases exponentially.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its benchmark results are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21765 and a single-core score of 3072. This places the CPU in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with its average benchmark score of 32750 being nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707, 0.1% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32812, -0.2% delta). This data indicates the 7400F is a high-performing processor well-suited for gaming.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The frame rate scaling with resolution is the primary evidence. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU’s workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) remains relatively constant while the GPU’s workload (pixel shading) increases with resolution. Instead, we see a massive drop in FPS from 1080p to 4K, which is classic GPU-bound behavior.

The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (83.2 GB/s bandwidth) provide ample bandwidth for the system. The data does not show any situation where the CPU is struggling to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the average FPS of 79 is respectable but not exceptionally high, suggesting the GPU is still the primary limiter. The Ryzen 5 7400F is more than capable of handling the game’s CPU demands, but its power is effectively held back by the Intel Arc B390.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 79 FPS, which is the highest recorded value. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and maximum of 70 FPS. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 40 FPS. This range shows that playable frame rates are achievable at this resolution, but only by compromising on visual quality.

At 2560x1440, performance becomes more constrained. The Low preset averages 52 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 and maximum of 46 FPS. The High preset averages 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 26 FPS. This resolution is playable on Low or Medium settings, but the frame rates are noticeably lower.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low preset averages 28 FPS, which is borderline playable. The Medium preset averages 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 and maximum of 25 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 15 FPS. This resolution is not recommended for this hardware configuration, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a smooth 30 FPS average.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where a consistent 60 FPS or higher is possible (at Low settings). For a stable 60 FPS experience, users must stick to 1080p with Low or possibly Medium settings. For 1440p, targeting 60 FPS is not possible; users should aim for 30-40 FPS on Medium settings. At 4K, the hardware is not sufficient for a satisfactory experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 28 FPS on Low settings down to 15 FPS on Ultra. These values are below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset averages 22 FPS, indicating the system is not capable of a consistently playable 4K experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combination?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the most effective resolution. It is the only resolution where the average FPS reaches or exceeds 60 (79 FPS at Low), and it offers the most viable range of settings presets for a playable experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The B390’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is slightly higher than its nearest rivals. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GT 710. These are all entry-level GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests it is not. The CPU’s performance is strong, and the frame rates scale dramatically with resolution, which is typical of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU is likely not the constraining factor in any of the tested configurations.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS. This represents a 39 FPS difference, or roughly a 49.4% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Does the Medium preset offer a balanced experience?

A: At 1080p, the Medium preset averages 61 FPS, which is a solid target. At 1440p, it drops to 40 FPS, which is still playable. The data shows that Medium provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining higher frame rates than High or Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on how to configure The Technomancer for the best experience with this hardware. The primary goal is to achieve a stable frame rate, and the settings should be chosen based on the target resolution.

For users at 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is smooth. The Low preset offers a higher average of 79 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or if a higher refresh rate monitor is used, but the visual compromise is significant. High settings are playable at 52 FPS, but Ultra at 40 FPS is best avoided unless the user prioritizes visual fidelity over frame rate consistency. The Medium preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution.

For users at 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that yields a comfortable frame rate, averaging 52 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 40 FPS, which is acceptable but may feel less fluid. High and Ultra settings at 34 FPS and 26 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for a good experience. The data indicates that users should stick to Low or Medium at 1440p to stay within a playable range.

At 3840x2160, the data shows no ideal configuration. The Low preset averages 28 FPS, which is below the ideal playable threshold. Users who must play at this resolution should use Low settings, but the experience will be compromised. The Medium preset at 22 FPS and the High and Ultra presets at 19 FPS and 15 FPS, respectively, are too slow for a responsive game. The data strongly suggests that 4K is not a viable resolution for this game on this hardware.

In summary, the optimal experience is achieved at 1080p with the Medium preset. This configuration offers the best combination of frame rate and visual fidelity. For higher resolutions, users must make significant compromises on quality to maintain playable performance, and even then, the frame rates may not be satisfactory. The Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor, and adjusting settings to reduce its workload is the only way to improve performance.