The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 action RPG, presents a demanding workload that separates capable gaming hardware from the rest. When paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and the Intel Arc B390, the results are heavily constrained by the graphics solution. This combination produces a playable experience only at lower resolutions and settings, with the data clearly indicating a GPU-bound scenario across almost the entire test range. The analysis below breaks down the measured performance, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and the optimal settings for this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K shows a steep and consistent decline, characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 79 FPS. Stepping up to 1440p Low drops that figure to 52 FPS, a 34% reduction. Pushing further to 4K Low yields just 28 FPS, which is a 65% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is a textbook example of pixel-throughput limitations; as the resolution increases, the GPU's fill-rate and shading capacity are overwhelmed.

The situation becomes more extreme at higher visual presets. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 52 FPS at 1080p to 34 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to a mere 19 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is even more punishing, with the 4K average bottoming out at 15 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is only 13 FPS (28 vs. 15), whereas at 1080p, the same settings gap is 39 FPS (79 vs. 40). This compression of frame rates at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is hitting a hard architectural ceiling, and further increasing the settings has diminishing returns on the already low frame rate.

The data suggests that the resolution scaling is almost entirely a function of the GPU's rendering capabilities. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is not the limiting factor here, as the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is far more drastic than what a CPU bottleneck would produce. The 1080p Medium result shows an average of 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS, indicating that even at the lowest resolution, the system cannot maintain a locked 60 FPS when settings are raised, further pointing to the GPU as the sole performance arbiter in this configuration.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a desktop processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This CPU is designed for high multithreaded throughput, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it scores 22,366 points in the multicore test and 3,157 points in the single-core test. This strong single-thread performance is crucial for older game engines like the one powering The Technomancer, which often rely on a few primary threads.

However, in this specific pairing, the CPU's role is largely preparatory. The benchmark results show that at no point does the system achieve a frame rate high enough to suggest the CPU is being taxed to its limit. For example, at 1080p Low, the average is 79 FPS. While this is a decent number, it is not exceptionally high for a modern 8-core processor, suggesting that the GPU is already saturated. The CPU's 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset, as it helps reduce memory latency, which can be beneficial for game logic and draw calls, but this advantage is masked by the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough.

The processor's average benchmark score is 24,709, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, has an average score of 24,728, a negligible 0.1% difference. This indicates that the 5700X3D is a top-tier performer for gaming workloads. In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data, but the Intel Arc B390 cannot translate that data into high frame rates. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck; even at the highest settings and resolutions where frame rates are in the low 20s and teens, the processor is likely idling, waiting for the GPU to complete its work.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and a 3 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU has 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. Its memory is designated as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This is a critical specification that explains its performance limitations.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1,482 points. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it is a low-tier performer. Its nearest rivals are legacy NVIDIA parts, such as the GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1,463 points, a 1.3% difference. This comparison is stark; the Arc B390 is only marginally faster than a decade-old entry-level discrete GPU. The GPU's FP32 compute power is 7.680 TFLOPS, which sounds capable on paper, but its shared memory architecture and low ROP count significantly hamper its real-world gaming performance.

The measured FPS data confirms the GPU's limitations. At 1080p Medium, the average is 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS. While this is technically playable, it is far from smooth. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops the average to 40 FPS, which is a considerable compromise. The 4K results are effectively unplayable, with the High preset yielding only 19 FPS and the Ultra preset at 15 FPS. The GPU's performance is the defining factor of this combination. Its inability to handle high resolutions or demanding settings is the sole reason for the low frame rates, and its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs solidifies its position as a fundamental bottleneck in this system.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks at 2,500 out of 2,825 total combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, which is a poor showing for a processor that is in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. The ranking highlights a massive performance disparity between the two components. The CPU is a high-end part, but it is paired with a GPU that is in the 9th percentile.

This rank of 2,500 out of 2,825 suggests that most other combinations, even those with significantly weaker processors, will outperform this setup in The Technomancer because they are likely paired with more capable graphics solutions. The data shows that the combo's performance is entirely constrained by the GPU. The CPU's high average benchmark score of 24,709 is irrelevant when the GPU cannot render frames at a competitive rate. The system is effectively a high-performance engine bolted to a bicycle transmission.

The performance gap is further emphasized when considering the GPU's nearest rivals. The Arc B390 is only 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, a GPU from a previous era. This means that the overall system ranking is dragged down by the graphics card, despite the CPU's strength. The combo's rank is a direct reflection of the weakest link in the chain, and in this case, the GPU is decisively the weak link, making this pairing unsuitable for a game like The Technomancer at any reasonable quality setting.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all tested resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are consistently low. The Low preset averages 28 FPS, Medium averages 22 FPS (with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS), High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. None of these figures approach a playable 30 FPS baseline, and the Ultra preset is a slide show.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains limited. The Low preset reaches an average of 52 FPS, which is a playable frame rate. Medium averages 40 FPS (minimum 34, maximum 46), High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The 1440p Low setting is the sweet spot for this resolution, offering a fluid experience. The Medium preset is also viable, though it will dip below 40 FPS at times.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system shows its best performance. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. Medium averages 61 FPS (minimum 52, maximum 70), providing a good balance between visual quality and performance. High averages 52 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced RPG. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 40 FPS, which is playable but may feel less fluid. The 1080p Low result of 79 FPS is the only instance where the system achieves a frame rate that fully utilizes a high-refresh-rate monitor, while the Medium preset just barely misses the 60 FPS mark on average.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combination is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Medium preset is the optimal choice. It delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and its minimum of 52 FPS ensures that the experience remains stable. The visual improvement over Low is noticeable, and the performance cost is acceptable. The High preset at 1080p, averaging 52 FPS, is also a viable alternative for users who prefer better visuals, but the Medium preset offers a more consistent frame rate.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only sensible option, providing an average of 52 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, averaging 40 FPS, is playable but will be subject to noticeable frame pacing issues. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution are too demanding, resulting in averages below 35 FPS. At 4K, no settings are recommended for a playable experience, as all presets fail to reach 30 FPS; the Low preset's 28 FPS is the only one that is even remotely tolerable for a turn-based or dialogue-heavy game, but it is not recommended for action sequences.

The data is clear: this system is best suited for 1080p gaming. The Ultra preset, which averages 40 FPS at 1080p, is not worth the performance hit compared to the Medium preset, which offers a 21 FPS advantage. The recommended configuration for this pairing is 1080p with Medium settings, as it provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, ensuring that the game remains fluid and enjoyable. Any attempt to increase resolution or settings beyond this point will result in a significant degradation of the experience, as the Intel Arc B390 is simply not powerful enough to handle The Technomancer's demands.