The Technomancer

The Technomancer pair AMD’s 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X with NVIDIA’s RTX 2060, a combination that ranks 1338th out of 1656 tested combos in this Action RPG. The data reveals a system where the CPU’s modern architecture is largely untaxed by a 2016 title, leaving the GPU as the decisive factor in frame delivery. The measured results show a clear ceiling imposed by the graphics card, with the processor’s high single-thread performance providing ample headroom even at lower resolutions.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X brings six cores and twelve threads to the table, built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. Its base clock runs at 3.90 GHz, boosting up to 5.40 GHz, which is a significant asset for a game like The Technomancer that relies heavily on single-threaded logic. The processor’s 3DMark single-thread score of 1253 and Cinebench R23 single-core result of 3603 suggest that per-core performance is excellent, which should prevent the CPU from bottlenecking the GPU in most scenarios.

However, the benchmark data shows that this CPU’s extensive multi-threading capabilities are largely irrelevant here. The Ryzen 5 achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25525 and a Passmark multithread score of 30027, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Yet, in The Technomancer, the frame rates at 1080p Low (130 FPS) versus 4K Low (47.4 FPS) show that the limiting factor shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is still not the primary constraint, as the RTX 2060 is capable of 130 FPS on Low settings, indicating the processor handles the game’s draw calls without breaking a sweat.

The processor’s 65 W TDP and 32 MB of shared L3 cache are noteworthy, but they don’t directly translate to game performance here. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 9600X is virtually tied with the Intel Core i5-13490F (0.3% faster) and the AMD Ryzen 5 230 (0.3% faster), while being 0.4% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and 0.5% slower than the Intel Core i5-14500T in average benchmark score. These tiny deltas confirm that the CPU is not the differentiator in this combo; the game’s engine appears to be GPU-bound across all tested settings.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the clear performance driver in this pairing. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1365 MHz, boosting to 1680 MHz, and it packs 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. In a game released in 2016, the RTX 2060’s Turing architecture (TU106 chip) is more than capable, but the data shows its limits are quickly reached as settings and resolution increase.

The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 14111 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1242 place it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, which is modest by modern standards. Its nearest rivals show a tight cluster: the AMD Radeon RX 7600S is 0.5% faster, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 are both 1.7% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 1.8% slower. This balance indicates that the RTX 2060 is a mid-range performer, which aligns with the measured FPS results.

At 1080p, the GPU delivers 130 FPS on Low but drops to 68.9 FPS on Ultra, showing a 47% performance hit from the highest preset. This is a classic sign of a GPU that has enough raw power for low-end settings but struggles with the increased shading and memory pressure of Ultra. The 6 GB VRAM is likely a constraint at higher settings, as The Technomancer’s textures and effects consume more memory, though the data doesn’t explicitly confirm VRAM exhaustion. The GPU’s 12 nm process and 160 W TDP underscore its age, but it remains functional for this title.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS across resolutions tells a clear story of GPU-bound scaling. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 87.9 FPS at 1920x1080 to 57.9 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 34% reduction), and then to 28 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 68% reduction from 1080p). This steep decline is typical of a GPU that is saturated by pixel count, as the CPU’s workload remains relatively constant while the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are pushed harder.

On Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced: 130 FPS at 1080p drops to 86 FPS at 1440p (34% lower) and then to 47.4 FPS at 4K (64% lower than 1080p). The fact that the 4K Low result (47.4 FPS) is higher than the 4K High result (28 FPS) confirms that the GPU is the primary limiter, as lowering settings directly translates to more headroom. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain flat across resolutions, but the data shows a consistent decline.

This pattern indicates that the Ryzen 5 9600X is never the limiting component in this game, even at 1080p. The 1080p Low result of 130 FPS is likely near the game’s engine cap or the GPU’s maximum output, not a CPU constraint. For a 2016 title, the CPU’s single-thread performance is more than sufficient, and the scaling behavior suggests that players seeking higher frame rates should focus on GPU settings rather than CPU upgrades.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset appears to offer the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 99 FPS, which is 24% higher than High (87.9 FPS) and only 31 FPS lower than Low (130 FPS). The jump from Medium to High costs 11.1 FPS at 1080p, while the jump from Low to Medium costs 31 FPS, suggesting that Medium provides most of the visual quality without a disproportionate performance hit.

At 1440p, Medium yields 63.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while High dips to 57.9 FPS and Ultra drops to 45.3 FPS. For 4K, Medium produces 36.1 FPS, which is playable but not ideal, while High falls to 28 FPS and Ultra to a slideshow-like 22.5 FPS. The Low preset at 4K (47.4 FPS) is the only playable option at that resolution, but it sacrifices all visual fidelity.

Given these numbers, the recommended preset is Medium for 1080p and 1440p, as it maintains playable frame rates while preserving some graphical detail. For 4K, Low is the only viable option, but even then, the 47.4 FPS average is marginal. Ultra should be avoided entirely, as it never exceeds 68.9 FPS even at 1080p and drops to 22.5 FPS at 4K, making it unsuitable for consistent gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Ryzen 5 9600X and RTX 2060 ranks 1338th out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer, placing it in the bottom 19% of all systems. This low ranking is surprising given the CPU’s high percentile (85th vs. all CPUs), but it reflects the GPU’s modest standing (58th percentile) and the game’s heavy reliance on graphics hardware. The rank suggests that while the CPU is overqualified for this title, the GPU drags the overall performance down.

In context, this combo sits below many systems that pair lower-tier CPUs with faster GPUs, as the game’s engine is clearly GPU-bound. The RTX 2060’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores are all AMD cards (RX 7600S, Pro 5600M, Pro 5700, W5500), but none of those are paired with a CPU like the 9600X in this database. The rank of 1338 indicates that this is not a competitive setup for The Technomancer, despite the CPU’s strength, because the GPU cannot deliver high frame rates at demanding settings.

The data implies that for this specific game, the RTX 2060 is the bottleneck, and the Ryzen 5 9600X’s performance is wasted. Players with this combo would see significant improvements by upgrading the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom to support a faster graphics card. However, within the measured FPS, the combo is playable at 1080p Medium and Low, but struggles at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p High settings?

A: The combo delivers an average of 87.9 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is playable but not as smooth as the 99 FPS achieved on Medium.

Q: Is this CPU or GPU combo better suited for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields 63.8 FPS, which is the only setting above 60 FPS. High drops to 57.9 FPS, so 1440p is viable only on Medium or lower settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 9600X compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Ryzen 5 9600X is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-13490F and the AMD Ryzen 5 230, but 0.4% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and 0.5% slower than the Intel Core i5-14500T in average benchmark score.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: 1920x1080 is the best resolution, as it delivers 130 FPS on Low and 99 FPS on Medium. At 4K, even Low settings only reach 47.4 FPS, making it barely playable.

Q: Does the RTX 2060 have enough VRAM for Ultra settings?

A: The 6 GB GDDR6 memory is likely a limiting factor. At Ultra settings, the FPS drops to 68.9 at 1080p and 22.5 at 4K, indicating the GPU struggles with the memory demands of the highest preset.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: It ranks 1338th out of 1656 combos, placing it in the bottom 19% of systems tested for The Technomancer.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 130 FPS
• Medium: 99 FPS
• High: 87.9 FPS
• Ultra: 68.9 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 86 FPS
• Medium: 63.8 FPS
• High: 57.9 FPS
• Ultra: 45.3 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 47.4 FPS
• Medium: 36.1 FPS
• High: 28 FPS
• Ultra: 22.5 FPS

The most striking pattern is the massive drop from 1080p to 4K. On Low settings, the FPS falls from 130 to 47.4, a 63.5% reduction. On Ultra, it falls from 68.9 to 22.5, a 67.3% reduction. This consistency across settings confirms that the GPU is the sole limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance is unaffected by resolution changes. The RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus are insufficient for 4K, as evidenced by the sub-30 FPS results on High and Ultra. For players targeting 60 FPS, only 1080p Medium and Low, and 1440p Medium, achieve that threshold. The data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1080p, where it can deliver smooth frame rates on Medium settings, while higher resolutions require significant compromises.