The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that heavily taxes the graphics subsystem. When paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B370, the measured frame rates reveal a system that is consistently bound by the GPU across all tested resolutions and settings. The data indicates a clear performance hierarchy where the Intel Arc B370, an integrated graphics solution, struggles to maintain fluid gameplay, making this combination suitable only for the most modest visual configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The impact of resolution on the Intel Arc B370 is severe and immediate. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS, which is the highest recorded performance in the entire dataset. However, this figure drops precipitously as resolution increases. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings reduces the average to 47 FPS, a 33.8% decline. At 3840x2160, the average falls to 26 FPS, representing a 63.4% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU that is severely limited by its pixel throughput and memory bandwidth.

The situation becomes more pronounced at higher visual presets. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 47 FPS at 1080p to 31 FPS at 1440p, and further to 17 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, yields only 37 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and an unplayable 13 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings is 64.9%, confirming that the GPU’s rendering capabilities are the primary constraint. The benchmark results indicate that the Arc B370’s 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs are simply overwhelmed by the pixel count at higher resolutions.

The data suggests that the limiting component in this configuration is unequivocally the GPU. The CPU’s performance, as indicated by its benchmark scores, does not appear to be a bottleneck at any resolution. The consistent frame rate drops that roughly correlate with the increase in pixel count (1080p to 1440p to 4K) point directly to the graphics processor being saturated. For users targeting 1080p, the system can provide acceptable frame rates at Low settings, but any attempt to play at higher resolutions will result in a sub-30 FPS experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combination can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 71 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 capable of handling 4K resolution in this game?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 13 FPS on Ultra settings to 26 FPS on Low settings, all of which are below playable thresholds.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of GPU benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is 0.2% higher. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% higher). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 71 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 37 FPS. This represents a 47.9% reduction in performance when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Does the CPU show any signs of bottlenecking the GPU in this game?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has a multi-threaded benchmark score of 24389 in PassMark and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851, which are strong results. The frame rate drops observed when increasing resolution and settings are consistent with a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU limitation.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded in the dataset?

A: The lowest average FPS is 13 FPS, which is measured at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370’s specifications provide context for its performance in The Technomancer. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of just 25 W. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system’s DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which introduces variability based on the system’s memory configuration.

The GPU’s raw compute capabilities are modest. It delivers 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s. These figures are low by modern discrete GPU standards, which explains the low frame rates observed. The Arc B370’s benchmark score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is a very low-performance part. Its nearest rivals are older integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which have nearly identical benchmark scores.

In The Technomancer, the GPU’s role is the primary determinant of performance. The lack of dedicated VRAM is particularly problematic for a game from 2016 that was designed for GPUs with 2-4 GB of video memory. The system shared memory architecture means the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can exacerbate performance issues in texture-heavy scenes. The data shows that even at 1080p Low settings, the GPU is working near its limit, and any increase in graphical fidelity pushes it into unplayable territory. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is a strong indicator of its limited ability to handle modern rendering workloads, a limitation that is clearly reflected in the measured FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only viable preset for playable frame rates is Low. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. This is the only configuration in the dataset where the frame rate consistently exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. This is technically playable but may experience occasional dips below 60 FPS.

The High preset at 1080p drops to 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold preferred for action games. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 37 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. At higher resolutions, no settings preset provides an acceptable experience. The best result at 2560x1440 is 47 FPS on Low settings, while the best at 3840x2160 is 26 FPS on Low settings. Both are well below the standard for smooth gameplay.

For users who prioritize frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p is the clear choice. It offers the highest average FPS and the most consistent performance. If visual quality is more important than frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p provides a balance, but users should be prepared for frame rates in the 47-63 FPS range. The data suggests that attempting to use High or Ultra settings at any resolution will result in a degraded experience. The 71 FPS at Low settings is the sweet spot, providing nearly double the frame rate of the High preset at the same resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system’s capabilities across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 71 FPS. The Medium preset averages 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. The High preset averages 47 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 37 FPS. This shows a clear linear progression where each step up in settings costs roughly 10-16 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 47 FPS, which is identical to the High preset at 1080p. The Medium preset averages 36 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. The High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 24 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs approximately 33.8% of the frame rate at Low settings, and this percentage increases at higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the system is unable to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 26 FPS, the Medium preset averages 20 FPS (with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 23 FPS), the High preset averages 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 13 FPS. These numbers are all below the 30 FPS threshold typically considered the minimum for playable gameplay. The data shows that the Arc B370 is not designed for 4K gaming, and The Technomancer’s rendering requirements are too demanding for this integrated GPU at that resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. It has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The CPU’s benchmark results show strong single-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2943 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3685. Its multi-threaded performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and a PassMark multithread score of 24389.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The game, released in 2016, was designed for the 4-core/8-thread CPUs of that era. The Ryzen 5 8400F’s 12 threads provide ample processing power for the game’s AI, physics, and game logic. The 16 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB per core L2 cache are adequate for the game’s data requirements. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a mid-to-high-end processor.

The nearest CPU rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (avg score 24964) and the Intel Core i7-11850H (avg score 24935), have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltas of 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. This suggests that the Ryzen 5 8400F is not a performance outlier in either direction. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combination. The frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which is a characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s high single-thread score of 951 in 3DMark single-thread tests and its robust multi-thread scores ensure that it will not bottleneck the Arc B370 in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2603 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 7.9% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a very low-performing combination for this specific game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s limited capabilities, as the CPU is a relatively strong performer.

The GPU’s percentile ranking of 5th among all GPUs is the primary driver of this poor overall rank. The Arc B370’s nearest rivals are all older, low-end parts, which underscores its weak position. The combination’s rank suggests that most other CPU+GPU pairings will deliver significantly higher frame rates in The Technomancer. The data shows that this combo is only suitable for playing at the lowest settings and resolution, and even then, the performance is not exceptional.

Given the CPU’s high percentile ranking (77th) and the GPU’s low percentile ranking (5th), the overall combo rank is heavily weighted by the GPU’s performance. This is expected in a game like The Technomancer, which is graphically intensive. The 2603rd rank out of 2825 combos is a clear signal that users seeking a playable experience in this game should consider a more powerful GPU. The combination’s performance is severely limited by the integrated graphics solution, which cannot handle the game’s demands at higher resolutions or settings.