The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination. The measured data shows this pairing is exceptionally powerful for this title, delivering high frame rates even at 4K. The benchmark results indicate that the system is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures high refresh rates are achievable at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the performance characteristics, offering a clear picture of what users can expect from this hardware duo in this specific game.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture (codename Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This configuration is more than sufficient for a game released in 2016, as The Technomancer's engine does not appear to be heavily multi-threaded based on the performance data. The processor sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance. Its synthetic benchmark scores are robust, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20485 and a single-core score of 2211, which is particularly relevant for gaming workloads that often rely on single-thread speed.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 298 FPS. This exceptionally high frame rate suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution and settings level. The Ryzen 7 9700X's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Geekbench single-core score of 3023, allows it to keep up with the game's demands even when the GPU is not heavily taxed. The processor's nearest rivals in average benchmark score, such as the Intel Core i9-14901E (deltaPct 0.1) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (deltaPct 0.1), perform at a near-identical level, indicating that this class of CPU is more than capable for this title.

As resolution and settings increase, the CPU's workload does not scale as dramatically as the GPU's. The transition from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra shows a frame rate drop from 298 FPS to 55 FPS, a decline that is far more attributable to the GPU's rendering load than to CPU limitations. The 8-core, 16-thread design provides ample headroom for any background tasks and the game's core threads. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB per-core L2 cache also contribute to low latency memory access, which is beneficial for game performance. The 3DMark scores, such as 9824 for 16 threads and 1280 for single-thread, further confirm a balanced processor that excels in both parallel and single-threaded tasks, making it a perfect match for a modern GPU in a game like The Technomancer where the CPU is rarely the bottleneck.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end graphics card from the GeForce 40-series, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process. It comes with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial 716.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is a crucial asset for The Technomancer, as the game's higher settings and resolutions will demand significant video memory and bandwidth. The GPU's core clocks are a base of 2205 MHz and a boost of 2505 MHz, which, combined with its 9728 shading units, deliver immense raw compute power. This is reflected in its Passmark G3D score of 34457 and its 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

The RTX 4080's role is the dominant factor in this game's performance. The benchmark data illustrates a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher settings. For instance, at 1440p, the average frame rate drops from 195 FPS on Low to 100 FPS on Ultra. This scaling shows that the GPU is responsible for the majority of the performance difference. The 16 GB of VRAM ensures that the game can run at Ultra settings at 4K without running into memory capacity issues, which is a common problem with less equipped cards. The memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is also more than sufficient to handle the data throughput required by The Technomancer's textures and geometry at high resolutions.

The GPU's nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, has a deltaPct of 0.1, meaning their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. This indicates that in this game, the RTX 4080's performance is on par with the top tier of its class. The data shows that at 4K High, the card averages 70 FPS, which is a playable frame rate for an action RPG. The card's performance is consistent, with the 4K Medium preset showing a minimum FPS of 70 and a maximum of 94, averaging 82 FPS. This suggests that the RTX 4080 has the raw power to handle this title at very high settings with smooth performance, making the GPU the primary determinant of the overall experience in The Technomancer.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's scaling behavior and identifies the limiting component. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves an average of 195 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 128 FPS, a decrease of 67 FPS. At 4K High, the average further drops to 70 FPS, a significant 58 FPS reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound system. The CPU is capable of sustaining high frame rates, but the GPU's rendering workload grows exponentially with pixel count, becoming the primary bottleneck.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. For example, on the Medium preset, the average FPS goes from 229 at 1080p to 149 at 1440p, and then to 82 at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is 80 FPS, while the difference between 1440p and 4K is 67 FPS. This non-linear drop is expected, as 4K has over twice the pixels of 1440p and over four times the pixels of 1080p. The RTX 4080's performance is clearly scaling with the workload, but the demands of 4K are substantial, even for a top-tier card. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 55, highlighting the extreme load placed on the GPU at the highest settings and resolution.

This analysis confirms that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the performance-limiting component in this configuration for The Technomancer. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, with its high single-thread performance, is not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the massive frame rates at 1080p Low (298 FPS) and 1440p Low (195 FPS). These numbers far exceed the refresh rates of most monitors, showing the CPU has headroom to spare. As the resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and shading power become the deciding factors, leading to the observed frame rate drops. For users seeking the highest frame rates, 1080p or 1440p will provide a very fluid experience, while 4K offers a visually impressive but more demanding experience that still remains playable at most settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1080p, the RTX 4080 is so powerful that even the Ultra preset delivers an average of 152 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth. The Low preset yields a staggering 298 FPS, which is only useful for competitive play or extremely high refresh rate displays. For the best balance of visual quality and performance at 1080p, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (229 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate far above the 144 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate gaming.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 100 FPS, which is excellent for a high-resolution experience. This is the recommended setting for users with 1440p monitors, as it provides a great balance between image quality and smoothness. The High preset offers a higher average of 128 FPS, which could be preferred by those with 144Hz or 165Hz displays, but the visual difference between High and Ultra is often worth the 28 FPS trade-off. The Medium preset at 149 FPS is also viable, but it sacrifices too much visual detail for a marginal performance gain over High. The low preset at 195 FPS is not recommended for most users, as the visual downgrade is significant.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more nuanced. The Ultra preset averages 55 FPS, which is playable but may not feel perfectly smooth in fast-paced action sequences. The High preset, averaging 70 FPS, is the recommended choice for 4K. It provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (82 FPS) while maintaining a solid 70 FPS average, which is a good target for a cinematic action RPG. The Medium preset is a safer choice for those who prioritize a higher frame rate, but the jump from High to Medium is not as impactful as the jump from Ultra to High. The data suggests that High settings at 4K offer the best overall experience, hitting the "sweet spot" between visual fidelity and performance. The low preset at 4K (107 FPS) is not recommended as it severely compromises the visual experience that the high resolution is meant to provide.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 70 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings. This provides a smooth and playable experience for an action RPG.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 195. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS drops to 128. This is a difference of 67 FPS, indicating a significant load increase on the GPU at 1440p.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the system is GPU-bound. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 298, and at 1440p Low it is 195, which are very high frame rates showing the CPU has significant headroom. The frame rate drops are primarily due to the GPU's rendering workload at higher resolutions.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest frame rate?

A: The Low preset provides the highest average frame rates at all resolutions. At 1080p, it averages 298 FPS; at 1440p, it averages 195 FPS; and at 4K, it averages 107 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080's performance in The Technomancer compare to its closest rival?

A: The RTX 4080's average benchmark score is 54247, while its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, has a score of 54209, a deltaPct of 0.1. This indicates their performance is virtually identical in general benchmarks, and the in-game performance is expected to be very similar.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the 4K Medium preset?

A: For the 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 70, with a maximum of 94 and an average of 82 FPS.

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

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :------ | :------ | :------ |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 55 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | High | 70 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 82 | 70 | 94 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 107 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 100 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 128 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 149 | 127 | 172 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 195 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 152 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 195 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 229 | 194 | 263 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 298 | - | - |

The data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy. At every resolution, the Low preset yields the highest average FPS, followed by Medium, High, and finally Ultra. The frame rate deltas between presets are substantial, particularly at 1080p where the difference between Low (298 FPS) and Ultra (152 FPS) is 146 FPS. As resolution increases, the absolute frame rates drop for all presets, but the relative performance scaling remains consistent. At 4K, the difference between Low (107 FPS) and Ultra (55 FPS) narrows to 52 FPS, showing that the GPU is becoming the dominant constraint at this resolution. The 1440p Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data, showing an average of 149 FPS with a minimum of 127 FPS and a maximum of 172 FPS, which demonstrates good frame time consistency.