The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B390 combination. The measured data reveals a system heavily constrained by its graphics processor, with performance scaling that tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results across resolutions and settings to understand the capabilities and limitations of this particular pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and immediate, indicating a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo manages an average of 40 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that figure falls to 26 FPS, a reduction of 14 FPS or 35%. The jump to 2160p is even more punishing, with the average plummeting to 15 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p Ultra performance. This steep decline is a textbook sign that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting component; the CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU's rendering capabilities cannot keep pace with the increasing pixel count.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 79 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 1440p, a 34% decrease, and then further down to 28 FPS at 4K, a 46% drop from 1440p. This consistent scaling behavior across different quality levels reinforces the notion that resolution, not graphical complexity, is the primary factor dictating performance. The data suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are saturated at higher resolutions, making the rendering workload the decisive factor.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1440p to 4K is proportionally more severe than from 1080p to 1440p. For instance, at High settings, the drop from 1440p (34 FPS) to 4K (19 FPS) is a 44% reduction, while the drop from 1080p (52 FPS) to 1440p (34 FPS) is a 34% reduction. This accelerating decline suggests that the GPU is not just struggling with pixel count, but also with the associated memory traffic and shading complexity that comes with 4K, pushing it far beyond its comfortable operating range.

The implication is clear: this system is not designed for high-resolution gaming. While 1080p is a viable target, 1440p is a stretch, and 4K is essentially unplayable for any serious gaming session. The frame rate curve is steep and unforgiving, highlighting the fundamental mismatch between the CPU's processing power and the GPU's output capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this combination at rank 2500 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This puts it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, a position that reflects the GPU's low overall performance percentile. The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs according to its average benchmark score, which is a very low standing.

This ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates, which show the combo struggling to maintain smooth gameplay even at 1080p. The system is not an outlier in terms of being broken, but rather it is consistently underpowered for this title. The rank of 2500 is a holistic measure that accounts for the combination's overall ability to run the game, and the data shows that it is far behind the majority of other systems.

The CPU, on the other hand, is a much stronger performer. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 34260. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i5-13450HX (0.2% faster), showing that it is still a competitive processor in general workloads. This contrast between a high-performing CPU and a low-performing GPU is the defining characteristic of this system, and it is the reason why the overall combo rank is so low.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in The Technomancer. The combo's low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's inability to render the game at acceptable frame rates. This is a classic case of a bottleneck where the graphics card holds back the entire system's gaming potential.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration. Its benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1.5% faster). These are entry-level, low-power mobile parts, and the data indicates that the B390's performance is in a similar, very modest tier.

The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, but its memory is "System Shared," which means it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This architecture is typical for integrated graphics, and it directly impacts performance. The bandwidth is "System Dependent," which means it will vary based on the CPU's memory configuration. In this case, the Ryzen 7 3700X supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, but this is shared between the CPU and GPU, limiting the graphics processor's access to data.

The GPU's specifications, including 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, are quite modest. Its pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. These numbers are all relatively low for a modern gaming GPU, which is why the measured FPS in The Technomancer are so low. The shared memory architecture is a major contributor to the poor high-resolution performance, as the GPU must contend with the CPU for memory access.

The fact that the GPU is designated as "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a TDP of 80 W and no power connectors confirms its low-power, integrated nature. This is not a discrete graphics card, and its performance ceiling is inherently limited. The data shows that it is only capable of delivering playable frame rates at 1080p with lower settings, and even then, it struggles with Ultra presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 79 FPS on Low settings. This is the highest performance recorded. On Medium settings, the average drops to 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. High settings yield an average of 52 FPS, while Ultra settings bring the average down to 40 FPS. This shows a clear progression where increasing graphical fidelity costs a significant number of frames.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops considerably. On Low settings, the average is 52 FPS, which is equivalent to the 1080p High setting. Medium settings produce an average of 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. High settings average 34 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 26 FPS. At this resolution, only Low settings provide a consistently smooth experience, and even that is borderline.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overmatched. Low settings produce an average of just 28 FPS. Medium settings average 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. High settings drop to 19 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 15 FPS. These frame rates are not suitable for a responsive gaming experience, as they fall well below the threshold for smooth motion. The data shows a system that can handle 1080p gaming but is not viable for 4K.

The variance between minimum and maximum FPS is also telling. At 1080p Medium, the range is 52 to 70 FPS, which is a 34% spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 34 to 46 FPS, a 35% spread. This consistent variance suggests that there are moments of heavier load that cause frame drops, which can lead to stuttering. The minimum FPS values, like 52 at 1080p Medium and 34 at 1440p Medium, are the critical figures for gameplay smoothness, as they represent the worst-case scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution. For a target of 60 FPS, the Medium preset is the best choice, with an average FPS of 61. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset, which averages 52 FPS, is playable but may not be smooth enough for all users, especially in fast-paced action sequences.

For users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1080p, with an average of 79 FPS, is the best option. This ensures a very smooth experience and is the only setting that comes close to high-refresh-rate gaming. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 40 FPS, is the most demanding and is not recommended for a consistent experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS target.

At 1440p, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset, averaging 52 FPS, is the only setting that comes close to a playable experience. The Medium preset, at 40 FPS, is likely to feel sluggish. Users should avoid High and Ultra settings at this resolution, as they produce average frame rates of 34 and 26 FPS, respectively. The data clearly shows that 1440p is not a viable resolution for this system in The Technomancer.

At 4K, no settings are recommended. Even the Low preset, with an average of 28 FPS, is below the threshold for a playable experience. The system is simply not capable of rendering this game at 4K with any degree of smoothness. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p and adjust the preset to Medium or Low for the best balance of quality and performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in The Technomancer?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with the Medium settings preset is the best choice, yielding an average FPS of 61. This provides a good balance between visual quality and a smooth frame rate.

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

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 28 FPS on Low settings, which is not a playable experience. All other settings at 4K produce average frame rates below 22 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B390 has a benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, is 1.3% faster. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster.

Q: What is the CPU's performance percentile compared to the GPU's?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This highlights a significant performance disparity between the two components.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a high performance percentile, while the GPU's low benchmark scores and the steep FPS drops at higher resolutions indicate that the graphics card cannot keep up with the rendering workload.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low settings preset averages 79 FPS, while the Ultra settings preset averages 40 FPS. This is a difference of 39 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for maximum visual quality.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a powerful processor that is not the bottleneck in this configuration. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse) built on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. Its benchmark scores are robust, including a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 2092 and a Geekbench multicore score of 8899. Its Passmark multithread score is 22458, and it sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and the AMD EPYC 4244P, both of which are within 0.1% of its performance. The Intel Core i5-13450HX is 0.2% slower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is 0.5% faster. This shows that the 3700X is still a competitive processor in general tasks, with a strong multicore performance that is well-suited for modern games.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data. With 16 threads and a high boost clock, it is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics. The measured FPS data shows that the performance ceiling is determined by the GPU, as the frame rates drop consistently with resolution increases, which is a GPU-bound characteristic. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less variation in FPS across different resolutions.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is a factor, but it is shared with the integrated GPU. This shared memory architecture is a disadvantage for the GPU, but it does not appear to hinder the CPU's performance in this game. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 3700X is providing a solid foundation, but the Intel Arc B390 is simply not powerful enough to take advantage of it, resulting in the low overall combo rank.