The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that shifts its bottleneck character dramatically depending on the resolution and settings chosen, moving from a clearly GPU-limited state at 4K to a scenario where the CPU's capabilities become more relevant at 1080p. This analysis will break down the measured performance, contextualize it within the hardware's broader benchmark scores, and provide clear guidance on the optimal settings for this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a classic scaling pattern that identifies the GPU as the primary limiting factor in this configuration for The Technomancer. At 1080p with High settings, the system produces an average of 117 FPS. Moving to 1440p, this drops to 77 FPS, a reduction of 40 FPS. The jump to 2160p sees a further decline to 42 FPS, which is a 35 FPS drop from the 1440p result. The consistent and significant performance loss with each resolution increase indicates that the Radeon RX 7700 is working at its limit to render the higher pixel counts.

The scaling behavior at lower settings reinforces this conclusion. At Low settings, the frame rates are 179 FPS at 1080p, 117 FPS at 1440p, and 64 FPS at 2160p. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 35%, and from 1440p to 2160p is about 45%. This non-linear degradation is a hallmark of a system where the graphics processor is the bottleneck. As the resolution increases, the GPU's fillrate and memory bandwidth are saturated, causing frame rates to fall faster than the linear increase in pixel count.

The gap between Low and High settings also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and High is 62 FPS (179 vs 117). At 1440p, the difference shrinks to 40 FPS (117 vs 77). At 2160p, the difference is only 22 FPS (64 vs 42). This convergence at higher resolutions is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component; at 4K, even lowering the settings to Low cannot prevent the frame rate from dropping to 64 FPS, because the sheer number of pixels is the primary challenge.

This data implies that the Ryzen 7 9700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is not the primary constraint in this game at higher resolutions. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data, but the RX 7700's processing power is what dictates the final output. The CPU's role becomes more prominent only when the resolution is lowered, and the GPU can produce frames fast enough to potentially expose a CPU-side limit, though the data here shows that even at 1080p Low, the system is still delivering a very high 179 FPS.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, a configuration that is generally well-suited for modern games. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz and it can boost up to 5.50 GHz. The benchmark data for the CPU shows strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20485 and a Geekbench multicore score of 17906. Single-thread performance is also robust, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2211 and a Geekbench single-core score of 3023.

In the context of The Technomancer, a title from 2016, the game's engine is likely not designed to fully utilize the 16 threads available. The high single-thread score is likely more critical for ensuring smooth frame pacing and handling the game's core logic. The CPU's percentile rank of 86 against all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing part, and its average benchmark score of 37943 places it just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14901E and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This places it in a tier with the top consumer processors.

The fact that the system achieves 179 FPS at 1080p Low suggests that the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's processing demands. The CPU's L3 cache is 32 MB (shared), which is ample for a game of this era. The data does not show a scenario where the CPU is the bottleneck, as even the highest frame rates do not appear to be capped by a processing limit. The 3DMark scores, particularly the 16-thread score of 9824 and the 8-thread score of 8184, further illustrate the processor's strong multi-threading capabilities, which are more than sufficient for this game.

The Ryzen 7 9700X's role here is to provide a stable foundation that does not interfere with the GPU's performance. With a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, it ensures that even the most demanding game logic can be processed quickly, and the 8 cores are more than enough for any background tasks. The benchmark results suggest that in this pairing, the CPU is a reliable component that will not limit the gaming experience, even at the highest frame rates the GPU can produce.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the definitive performance driver in this system. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This is a substantial amount of VRAM and bandwidth, which is more than enough for The Technomancer, even at 4K resolution. The GPU's clock speeds are a base of 1900 MHz, a game clock of 2041 MHz, and a boost clock of 2459 MHz.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context for its performance. Its Passmark G3D score is 20974, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2865. The GPU's percentile rank is 58, which is just below the mid-point of all GPUs. Interestingly, its average benchmark score of 15852 is only 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon R9 370X and 1.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. This suggests that while the RX 7700 is a competent card, it is not at the top of the performance heap.

The measured FPS data confirms this. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 33 FPS, which is not a playable experience. At 4K High, it achieves 42 FPS, which is borderline. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is not the issue here, as The Technomancer is unlikely to exceed even 8 GB at 4K. The limiting factor is the GPU's raw compute power, specifically its 2560 shading units and 40 ray accelerators. The game's rendering demands at 4K overwhelm the GPU's processing capacity, leading to the low frame rates.

The RX 7700's role is to be the primary determinant of performance. The data shows that its performance scales predictably with resolution, and the only way to improve frame rates is to reduce the rendering load. The 16 GB of VRAM ensures that there are no memory-related stutters, but it cannot compensate for the lack of raw shading power at higher resolutions. The GPU's architecture, RDNA 3.0, is modern, but its position in the market, as indicated by its 58th percentile, means it is a mid-range performer that will require settings adjustments for demanding resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 179 FPS. Medium settings drop this to 137 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. High settings yield 117 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 92 FPS. All of these are playable, and the system is clearly not struggling at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still respectable but begin to show the GPU's strain. Low settings deliver 117 FPS. Medium settings average 90 FPS, with a range of 76 to 103 FPS. High settings drop to 77 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 60 FPS. This is the resolution where the system begins to require a balance between visual quality and frame rate, as High settings are still playable, but Ultra is right at the edge of the 60 FPS target.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. Low settings produce an average of 64 FPS. Medium settings average 49 FPS, with a minimum of 42 FPS and a maximum of 57 FPS. High settings are down to 42 FPS, and Ultra settings are at 33 FPS. The data shows a significant drop-off from 1440p to 4K, and only the Low preset offers a smooth experience. The Medium preset is on the edge of playability, while High and Ultra are not suitable for a fluid experience.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Ultra settings shrinks as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 87 FPS (179 vs 92). At 1440p, it is 57 FPS (117 vs 60). At 4K, it is 31 FPS (64 vs 33). This confirms that the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions negate the benefits of lower settings, as the pixel count becomes the dominant factor.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1275 out of 2825 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 45% of all tested systems. This rank is a holistic measure that takes into account the CPU and GPU performance across all settings and resolutions in the game.

This ranking is lower than what one might expect from a CPU that is in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The relatively modest rank is almost entirely due to the GPU's performance, which is only in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's average benchmark score of 15852 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Radeon R9 370X, a much older card, which highlights that the RX 7700's raw compute performance is not exceptional.

The combo's rank of 1275 suggests that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU holds the system back from achieving a higher placement. The system's performance is essentially dictated by the GPU's capabilities. The data indicates that this is a balanced pairing for 1080p gaming, where the GPU can deliver high frame rates, but it is not a high-ranking combination for 4K gaming, where the GPU's limitations are fully exposed.

The rank also implies that many other combinations, likely those with more powerful GPUs, will outperform this setup in The Technomancer. The CPU's strong scores in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark multithread score of 37161, do not translate into a higher game rank because the game is not CPU-bound. The combo's position in the rankings is a direct reflection of the GPU's mid-range status.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and the user's preference for visual fidelity versus a high, consistent frame rate. For a 60 FPS target, the system is capable at 1080p and 1440p with certain presets.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset, with an average of 92 FPS, provides a very smooth experience and is the recommended choice for those seeking the best visual quality. The High preset at 117 FPS is also excellent, offering a higher frame rate for competitive play, but Ultra is recommended to leverage the system's headroom. The Medium preset is unnecessary at this resolution, as the system can handle the higher settings without issue.

At 2560x1440, the High preset, with an average of 77 FPS, is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 60 FPS is right at the target and can be used if a stable 60 FPS is sufficient, but it leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. The Medium preset at 90 FPS is a good alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates over maximum detail. The Low preset is not recommended, as the visual degradation outweighs the frame rate benefit at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset, with an average of 64 FPS, is the only preset that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 49 FPS is playable but may feel less fluid. High and Ultra presets at 42 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for a good experience. The data shows that to play at 4K, a significant compromise in settings is required, and the Low preset is the only acceptable option.

The data suggests that this system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1080p, it can handle the highest settings with a high frame rate. At 1440p, it can balance quality and performance. At 4K, the GPU is not powerful enough to offer a good experience beyond the Low preset.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 77 FPS, offering a good balance. At 1920x1080, it can hit 117 FPS on High and 92 FPS on Ultra. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are significantly lower, with only the Low preset at 64 FPS being acceptable.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, only the Low settings preset achieves a playable average of 64 FPS. Medium settings drop to 49 FPS, High to 42 FPS, and Ultra to 33 FPS.

Q: How does the Radeon RX 7700 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 15852 is 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon R9 370X, 1% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060, and 1.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. This indicates it is closely matched with these cards.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests no. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 179 FPS, indicating the CPU is not limiting the frame rate. The CPU's high single-thread and multi-thread scores support its capability to handle the game's processing demands.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 179 on Low to 92 on Ultra. This is a difference of 87 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution.

Q: What is the system's overall rank for this game?

A: The combination of the Ryzen 7 9700X and Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1275 out of 2825 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This is due to the GPU's mid-range performance, which is in the 58th percentile of all GPUs.