The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT with the Intel Arc B390 produces a distinct performance profile. The data indicates a system heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU’s substantial multi-threading capabilities largely left untapped at higher resolutions. The benchmark results show a playable experience only at 1080p with reduced settings, while higher resolutions quickly become untenable, revealing a fundamental imbalance in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and predictable decline as resolution increases, clearly identifying the Intel Arc B390 as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 79 FPS, which drops to 52 FPS on High and 40 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the averages fall to 52 FPS (Low), 34 FPS (High), and 26 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the system struggles significantly, with the average FPS plummeting to 28 on Low, 22 on Medium, 19 on High, and just 15 on Ultra.

The scaling pattern is telling. From 1080p Low to 4K Low, the frame rate drops by approximately 65%, from 79 FPS to 28 FPS. This dramatic reduction is far more severe than what a CPU-limited scenario would produce, indicating that the GPU is saturated well before the processor. The delta between settings at each resolution also highlights this constraint; at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 39 FPS (79 vs 40), while at 4K, the same setting change yields only a 13 FPS difference (28 vs 15). This compression of performance range at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU that is completely overwhelmed by the pixel fill rate demand, leaving the Ryzen 7 5800XT with ample headroom to spare.

The data suggests that the limiting component is unequivocally the graphics card. The CPU’s performance is effectively static across these resolutions, while the GPU’s workload scales exponentially with pixel count. The 4K results, with a maximum average of just 28 FPS on Low, are not viable for gameplay. The 1440p results are marginally better but still fall below the 60 FPS threshold on all but the Low preset. Only at 1080p does the system approach acceptable performance, and even then, it requires lowering settings to Medium or Low to maintain a smooth frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of components ranks 2500th out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations, a position that reflects the Arc B390’s status as a low-power integrated graphics solution. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited capabilities, which drags down an otherwise capable processor.

The combo's percentile rank of 9 for the GPU itself, compared to all other GPUs, underscores this point. The Intel Arc B390 sits in a very low percentile, meaning it outperforms only a small fraction of the graphics cards in the database. Its average benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad is a modest figure. The nearest rivals for the GPU include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (avg score 1463, deltaPct 1.3) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (avg score 1460, deltaPct 1.5), placing it in the same performance tier as decade-old entry-level mobile parts. This context is crucial: the combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's ability but rather a direct result of the GPU's position in the performance hierarchy.

The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 81st percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 29879. This stark contrast between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile creates the system's fundamental imbalance. In a game like The Technomancer, which is not known for being exceptionally CPU-intensive, the graphics card becomes the sole determinant of overall system ranking. The 2825-combo pool includes a wide range of hardware, and this pairing's 2500th place finish highlights how a weak GPU can neutralize the benefits of a strong CPU in a real-world gaming scenario.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a desktop processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer), featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 4.80 GHz. These specifications provide substantial computational power, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 23,794 points in the multi-core test and 3,359 points in the single-core test. Its Passmark multithread score is 28,053, and its data compression score is 352,002. This is a high-performance chip designed for demanding multi-threaded workloads.

However, the data from The Technomancer suggests that these capabilities are largely underutilized. The game’s performance scaling with resolution points to a GPU bottleneck, meaning the CPU is not the limiting factor. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is more than sufficient to feed the Arc B390, even at lower resolutions where the CPU's role is typically more prominent. The high single-thread score of 3,359 in Cinebench R23 indicates strong per-core performance, which is crucial for game logic and physics, but the game is simply not pushing the processor hard enough to create a constraint.

The Ryzen 7 5800XT’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 4,150 million transistors on a 7 nm process give it a significant performance advantage over its nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (avgScore 29868, deltaPct 0) and AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (avgScore 29713, deltaPct 0.6). Yet, in this specific game, its performance is irrelevant to the final FPS output. The CPU is effectively waiting on the GPU for the majority of the frame time. This is a textbook example of a system where the processor is not the performance ceiling; the graphics card is.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 79, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 15 on Ultra to 28 on Low, all of which are far below a playable threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals in the database?

A: The Arc B390 has an average score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT bottleneck the system at 1080p?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The FPS scales significantly with graphics settings and resolution, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiting factor even at 1080p.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 52 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS, a difference of 26 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2500th out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake) with a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. However, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation for a game like The Technomancer, which benefits significantly from dedicated high-speed memory.

The GPU's performance in the database is remarkably low, with a percentile rank of 9 among all GPUs. Its sole 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 places it in the same class as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (avgScore 1443, deltaPct 2.7) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (avgScore 1463, deltaPct 1.3). These are legacy entry-level parts, and the comparison is not flattering. This low level of performance explains the system's inability to maintain high frame rates at any resolution above 1080p.

The data shows that the GPU is the sole arbiter of this system's gaming performance. The 4K results, which max out at 28 FPS on Low, are a direct result of the Arc B390's limited pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. Even at 1080p, the GPU struggles to maintain 60 FPS on High settings (52 FPS average), requiring a drop to Low (79 FPS) or Medium (61 FPS) for a smoother experience. The 24 ROPs and 48 TMUs are simply insufficient for the demands of a modern action RPG at higher resolutions, making the CPU's power irrelevant in this context.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this configuration depend heavily on the target resolution. For a 60 FPS target, the only viable resolution is 1920x1080. At this resolution, the Medium preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. This is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, as the Low preset (79 FPS) offers no visual benefits, and the High preset (52 FPS) falls below the 60 FPS mark. The Ultra preset at 40 FPS is too demanding for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, a 60 FPS target is out of reach. The Low preset yields the highest average at 52 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset drops to 40 FPS, and High to 34 FPS. For those who prioritize resolution over detail, 1440p Low is the only option that approaches playability, but it will not be a smooth experience. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as even the Low preset (28 FPS) is a slideshow.

The data strongly suggests that users should stick to 1080p for any meaningful gameplay experience. Within that resolution, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point because it is the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS. If a higher frame rate is desired, the Low preset provides a significant boost to 79 FPS, but the visual downgrade is substantial. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they introduce a performance penalty without providing enough visual improvement to justify the frame rate drop. In summary, the system is best used as a 1080p/Medium machine for this title.