The Technomancer

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) using TSMC's 5 nm process. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it carries a 65 W TDP. The chip features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and the CPU includes Radeon integrated graphics, though the discrete GPU handles rendering here.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 7700 posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29302 and a single-core score of 4136. Its 3DMark results scale from 2043 (2 threads) up to 8484 (16 threads), indicating strong thread scaling. The PassMark multi-thread score is 34470, with a single-thread score of 4063. The processor's average benchmark score is 40468, placing it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (avg score 40431, delta 0.1%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40262, delta 0.5%), and the Intel Core i9-13905H (40712, delta -0.6%). This places the 7700 essentially at parity with those mobile-class parts, with a slight edge over the Intel chip.

For The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, the CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The game's engine is not heavily multi-threaded by modern standards, so the high single-core performance (boost 5.30 GHz) matters more for maintaining consistent frame pacing. The data shows that at 1920x1080 Low settings, the combo achieves 220.2 FPS, which indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck even at high frame rates. At higher resolutions like 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly (e.g., 81.1 FPS at Low), which suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor rather than the CPU. The 7700's 32 MB L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 bandwidth provide ample memory throughput for the game's assets.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture (Navi 48 chip) using TSMC's 4 nm process, with 53,900 million transistors on a 357 mm² die. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1330 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. Memory operates at 2518 MHz (20.1 Gbps effective). The card has 3584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units, with 56 ray tracing cores. Its compute power is rated at 36.13 TFLOPS for FP32 and 72.25 TFLOPS for FP16. The TDP is 220 W, requiring a 550 W PSU and dual 8-pin power connectors.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 9070 scores 6290 in 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), 133741 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 165532 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its PassMark G3D score is 25381, with a GPU compute score of 14737. The average benchmark score is 34780, placing it in the 79th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA A2 (avg 34866, delta -0.2%), the NVIDIA Quadro GV100 (34677, delta 0.3%), and the AMD Radeon HD 7970 (34541, delta 0.7%). This indicates the RX 9070 performs almost identically to those competitors in aggregate, though the nature of the workloads differs.

For The Technomancer, the 16 GB VRAM is generous for a game from 2016, meaning textures and geometry load without memory pressure. The 644.6 GB/s bandwidth ensures that even at 4K Ultra settings, the GPU can stream data efficiently. The measured results show a clear scaling pattern: at 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 81.1 (Low) to 58.9 (Medium), 53.4 (High), and 37.9 (Ultra). This suggests the GPU's compute and memory throughput are the primary constraints at higher settings, rather than VRAM capacity. The boost clock of 2520 MHz helps maintain performance in GPU-bound scenes, but the game's older engine may not fully utilize the RDNA 4.0 architecture's features.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 528th out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places the combo in the 68th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning roughly 32% of combinations perform better. The ranking reflects that while the CPU is in the 91st percentile and the GPU is in the 79th percentile individually, the game's engine does not extract maximum performance from either component.

The rank is likely influenced by the GPU's position relative to its rivals. The RX 9070's average score of 34780 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA A2 (34866, delta -0.2%), which means the GPU is not a standout performer in this game's workload. The CPU, however, is slightly above its nearest rivals, with a 0.1% edge over the Ryzen 9 7940H and a 0.5% edge over the Ryzen AI 9 365. This suggests the CPU contributes positively to the combo's ranking, but the GPU holds it back from a higher position.

The measured FPS data supports this interpretation. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 220.2 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. At 3840x2160 Ultra, it drops to 37.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The combo's rank of 528 out of 1656 indicates that many other configurations, possibly with higher-end GPUs, achieve better performance in this game. For a 2016 title, the RX 9070's raw power is sufficient for high frame rates at 1440p, but 4K Ultra remains demanding.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates reveal a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high performance: Low settings average 220.2 FPS, Medium 172.2 FPS, High 145.4 FPS, and Ultra 114.4 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the game is playable at all settings, with Ultra still above 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a more pronounced drop at higher settings. Low averages 143.3 FPS, Medium 111.4 FPS, High 95.3 FPS, and Ultra 75.9 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by roughly 35-40% across all settings, which is expected given the increased pixel count. Ultra at 1440p stays above 75 FPS, making it a viable option for high-refresh monitors.

At 3840x2160, performance degrades significantly. Low averages 81.1 FPS, Medium 58.9 FPS, High 53.4 FPS, and Ultra 37.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 22.2 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 15.5 FPS. This suggests that Ultra settings impose a heavy load on the GPU, likely due to increased draw distances and shadow quality. The 37.9 FPS at 4K Ultra is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, and the 16 GB VRAM is not the limiting factor—the GPU's compute throughput is.

The data shows a clear linear relationship between settings and FPS at each resolution. For example, at 1440p, going from Low to Medium costs 31.9 FPS, Medium to High costs 16.1 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 19.4 FPS. This indicates that Medium settings offer a balanced trade-off between visual quality and performance, while Ultra provides diminishing returns.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 2560x1440 at High settings achieves 95.3 FPS, which is smooth. At 1920x1080, all settings exceed 114 FPS, with Low at 220.2 FPS. For 4K, only Low (81.1 FPS) and Medium (58.9 FPS) are playable.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 7700 has an average score of 40468, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431) and 0.5% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40262). It is 0.6% lower than the Intel Core i9-13905H (40712).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 9070 has an average score of 34780, which is 0.2% lower than the NVIDIA A2 (34866) and 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro GV100 (34677). It is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7970 (34541).

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in this game?

A: The combo ranks 528th out of 1656 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all configurations.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 81.1 FPS on Low, 58.9 FPS on Medium, and 53.4 FPS on High. Ultra drops to 37.9 FPS. For 4K, Low or Medium settings are recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the highest FPS is 220.2 (Low), which indicates the GPU is still delivering high performance. The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, are sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at these frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience varies by resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 114.4 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. Players with 144 Hz monitors can even use Ultra at 1080p, as the frame rate exceeds 100 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 95.3 FPS offers the best balance. Medium runs at 111.4 FPS, but the visual jump to High is worth the 16.1 FPS cost. Ultra at 75.9 FPS is also viable for gamers who prioritize image quality over frame rate, but High provides a safer margin for demanding scenes.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 81.1 FPS is the only setting that consistently stays above 60 FPS. Medium at 58.9 FPS is borderline, and High at 53.4 FPS may cause noticeable stutter in action sequences. Ultra at 37.9 FPS is not recommended for gameplay, as it falls below the 40 FPS threshold for playability. If 4K is a priority, Low settings are the safest choice, while Medium can be used for slower-paced exploration.

The data shows that the combo's performance scales predictably, with 1080p Ultra offering the best overall experience. For 1440p, High is the sweet spot, and for 4K, Low is the only setting that guarantees smooth frame rates. The RX 9070's 16 GB VRAM ensures that texture quality is not a constraint, but the GPU's compute power limits performance at higher settings.