The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that exposes the fundamental balance between CPU and GPU capabilities. When paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and the Intel Arc B370, the benchmark data reveals a configuration that is decisively limited by its graphics processor. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings show a system that can manage playable frame rates at 1080p but struggles to maintain stability as the resolution increases, painting a clear picture of a GPU-bound scenario.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 yields a dramatic and consistent decline in performance, a classic indicator of a GPU-limited workload. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 47 at 1080p to 31 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 16 FPS. Scaling further to 4K, the average drops to 17 FPS, which is a 30 FPS loss from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve—a 64% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K—suggests that the rendering pipeline is saturated by the increasing pixel count, leaving the CPU with ample headroom to spare.

The data points to the Intel Arc B370 as the primary bottleneck. As resolution increases, the demand on the GPU's shading units, texture mapping units, and render output units grows exponentially. The Arc B370, with its relatively modest specifications, is overwhelmed by the 4K pixel workload. The Ryzen 7 5700X, on the other hand, is a high-performance desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, and its benchmark scores (like a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13184) indicate it has significant processing power that is not being fully utilized in this scenario.

The pattern holds across all quality presets. At Low settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 71, but this plummets to 47 at 1440p and further to 26 at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Low settings shows a 21 FPS drop, which is nearly a 45% decrease. This non-linear relationship between resolution and FPS is a hallmark of a GPU that is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth. The system memory is shared with the GPU, and the memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which further compounds the issue at higher resolutions where more data needs to be transferred.

Benchmark results indicate that the performance ceiling is set by the graphics solution. Even when the CPU is not the limiting factor, the GPU cannot keep pace with the demands of higher resolutions. The 4K Medium preset, for instance, achieves an average of 20 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 17 and 23 FPS respectively. This narrow range suggests the GPU is working at its absolute limit, unable to push beyond a certain threshold regardless of the scene's complexity.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process. Its performance characteristics are crucial to understanding the measured results. With a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, it sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a low-performance part. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, have similar average scores (1186 and 1190, respectively), confirming its position in the entry-level segment.

The GPU's clock speeds and memory configuration are central to its performance profile. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, which are relatively low for sustained high-load operation. More critically, the memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's DDR4 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This setup is a major disadvantage for a demanding game like The Technomancer, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access, leading to potential bandwidth bottlenecks.

The GPU's compute capabilities are limited. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. These numbers, combined with its FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS, explain why it struggles with the game's rendering load. The fillrate is listed as 48.00 GPixel/s, but this is insufficient for 4K resolution, which requires processing over 8 million pixels per frame. The texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s is also a limiting factor when high-resolution textures are loaded.

The measured FPS data directly reflects these limitations. At 1080p Low, the game achieves an average of 71 FPS, which is the only preset that approaches a comfortable level of smoothness. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 13, making the game essentially unplayable. The GPU's role is clear: it is the sole determinant of performance, and its architectural constraints (shared memory, low transistor count for a dGPU) prevent it from delivering playable frame rates at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 71, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is this system capable of running the game at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that it is not. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 13 (Ultra settings) to 26 (Low settings), all of which are below the threshold for smooth, playable performance.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is a -0.2% difference. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a -0.7% difference, while the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, a 1.4% difference.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X has an average benchmark score of 27578. The Intel Core i5-12600K has the exact same score, a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X scores 27636, a -0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 scores 27535, a 0.2% delta.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 47 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 24 FPS. This represents a 23 FPS drop when moving to the highest quality settings.

Q: Does the game's frame rate vary significantly at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The data shows an average of 55 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. The minimum FPS recorded is 47, and the maximum is 63, indicating a range of 16 FPS during gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database for The Technomancer, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Arc B370 is ranked 3408 out of 3696 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, a position that aligns with the GPU's low percentile ranking (5th percentile vs. all GPUs). The combo's rank is a direct consequence of the graphics processor's performance limitations.

The CPU's performance is not the issue. The Ryzen 7 5700X ranks in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27578. It is a solid mid-to-high-range processor. However, the GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 is in the 5th percentile, which severely drags down the overall gaming performance of the combo. The data suggests that pairing a powerful CPU with a very weak GPU results in a system that is heavily unbalanced for gaming, with the GPU acting as a hard bottleneck.

The rank of 3408 out of 3696 combos indicates that the vast majority of other tested configurations, likely including those with mid-range dedicated graphics cards, outperform this setup. The measured FPS data corroborates this, as the system only manages playable frame rates at the lowest resolution and settings. This is a clear case where the GPU choice dictates the system's overall gaming capability, relegating it to a low position in the rankings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full set of measured FPS data reveals a consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS is 71. This is the only preset that provides a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average FPS is 55, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 63. This is playable but shows some frame dips.
• High: Average FPS is 47. This is borderline playable but will feel less fluid.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 37. This is not ideal for a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS is 47. This is a significant drop from 1080p Low.
• Medium: Average FPS is 36, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41. The minimum FPS is on the edge of playability.
• High: Average FPS is 31. This is becoming difficult to play comfortably.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 24. This is below the 30 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS is 26. This is not playable for a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average FPS is 20, with a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 23. The frame rate is consistently low.
• High: Average FPS is 17. The game is essentially unplayable at this point.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 13. This is the worst-case scenario, with very low performance.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 34 FPS (71 vs 37), while at 4K, the difference is only 13 FPS (26 vs 13). This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so overwhelmed that even reducing the settings has a limited impact on improving the frame rate, as the pixel fill rate is the primary bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that provides a consistently playable experience is the 1920x1080 Low preset, which yields an average of 71 FPS. This is the recommended setting for this combo if the goal is smooth, responsive gameplay. It provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target.

For users who prioritize visual quality over absolute frame rate, the 1920x1080 Medium preset is a viable alternative. The average FPS of 55 is still reasonably smooth, and the minimum FPS of 47 is acceptable for most players. This preset delivers a better visual experience than Low while maintaining a playable frame rate.

The 2560x1440 Low preset achieves an average of 47 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. It is a reasonable choice for users with a 1440p monitor who are willing to accept lower frame rates for a higher resolution. However, the 2560x1440 Medium preset, with an average of 36 FPS and a minimum of 30, is not recommended for a smooth experience.

All 4K presets are not recommended for general play, as the average FPS is at or below 26. The game becomes a slideshow at these settings, and the visual fidelity gained from the higher resolution does not compensate for the severe loss in performance. The data indicates that the best experience is achieved at 1080p, where the GPU can provide a playable frame rate.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a powerful processor that is not the limiting factor in this configuration. With 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, it has ample computational power for gaming. Its benchmark scores, such as a Geekbench multicore score of 10779 and a Passmark multithread score of 26612, demonstrate its strong multi-threaded performance. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13184 and single-core score of 1499 further confirm its capability in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

The game's performance scaling with resolution points to the GPU being the primary constraint. As resolution increases, the CPU's workload per frame does not increase significantly, but the GPU's workload does. The fact that FPS drops so drastically from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU is a top-tier 8-core part, is a clear sign that the processor has significant headroom. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking and its near-equal performance to rivals like the Intel Core i5-12600K (0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (-0.2% delta) indicate it is a well-balanced processor.

The CPU's memory support for DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is adequate for the system's needs. Even though the GPU uses "System Shared" memory, the CPU's own performance is not hindered. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 5700X is more than capable of feeding the Intel Arc B370 with data, but the GPU simply cannot process it fast enough. In this pairing, the CPU is a silent partner, waiting for the GPU to catch up, and its role is to ensure that the system does not suffer from additional CPU-side bottlenecks.