The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress profile for modern hardware. This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, using measured benchmark data to determine how this combination handles the game across its full range of settings and resolutions. The data indicates a system that excels at high-refresh-rate 1440p play and remains capable at 4K, though the performance scaling reveals where the balance of power lies between the CPU and GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER secures a rank of 90 out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the pairing in the top 5.4% of all configurations tested, marking it as a high-end performer for this title. The ranking confirms the synergy between the two components, but it is not an absolute top-tier result, suggesting that other more powerful combinations exist for this specific game.

The CPU itself is a strong contributor. The Ryzen 7 9700X sits in the 89th percentile against all CPUs in the database, indicating it is more than capable of feeding the GPU. Its average benchmark score of 36029 places it in a tight cluster of rivals. It is practically neck-and-neck with the Intel Core i5-14500HX, which scores 35940, a mere 0.2% difference. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 is only 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H trails by 0.4%. This shows that in raw processing power, the 9700X is at the top of its peer group, ensuring it is not a bottleneck in most scenarios.

However, the rank of 90 also highlights that The Technomancer can scale beyond this CPU's performance. The gap between this combo and the top-ranked ones is likely due to the GPU, which, while powerful, is not the absolute fastest available. The data suggests that this system is a perfect match for high-refresh-rate gaming, but for those seeking the absolute maximum frame rates at 1080p, a more powerful CPU would be necessary. The performance is consistently strong, with the lowest average FPS recorded in the measured data being 57 at 4K Ultra, a figure that remains playable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary driver of visual performance in this pairing. Based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, it features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This memory configuration is critical for The Technomancer, as the game's high-resolution textures and effects can quickly consume video memory. The 16 GB capacity ensures that at 4K Ultra settings, the card will not run into memory limitations, allowing the full frame buffer to be utilized without stuttering.

Clock speeds are a key factor in its performance. The GPU has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz. These high frequencies, combined with the 10240 shading units, allow the card to process the complex geometry and lighting of the Action RPG efficiently. The data shows a clear performance scaling with settings, which directly correlates to the GPU's workload. At 4K, the card moves from 105.7 FPS on Low settings down to 57 FPS on Ultra, showing that the Ultra preset is substantially more demanding.

The RTX 4080 SUPER's position in the market is solid. It ranks in the 88th percentile against all GPUs. Its direct rivals, as per the data, are close in average score. The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is just 0.2% behind, while the Radeon Pro W6600M is 0.4% behind. Interestingly, the newer NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is 2.9% behind this card in the aggregate benchmark, suggesting the 4080 SUPER remains a formidable option. In this game, the GPU's role is to handle the heavy lifting of rendering at high resolutions, and the measured FPS indicates it does so effectively, though it is the component that ultimately limits performance at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combo for a competitive edge?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 295.3 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded and is ideal for maximizing responsiveness. Even at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system maintains a very high 127.1 FPS, which is also excellent for fast-paced gameplay.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming on The Technomancer?

A: Yes, it can. The measured data shows an average of 70.5 FPS at 3840x2160 on High settings. At Ultra settings, the average drops to 57 FPS, which is still playable for a single-player Action RPG, though it is on the lower end of the smoothness spectrum.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between High and Ultra settings?

A: The performance cost is significant. At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 196.5 on High to 155.1 on Ultra, a decrease of 41.4 FPS. At 4K, the drop is from 70.5 FPS on High to 57 FPS on Ultra. This indicates that the Ultra preset adds considerable visual effects that are taxing on the GPU.

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

A: The data suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU becomes a limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 295.3. The CPU's performance, which is essentially tied with its nearest rivals (e.g., 0.2% delta with the Intel Core i5-14500HX), suggests it is near its maximum output here. At higher resolutions like 4K, the GPU's workload increases, and the frame rate drops, indicating the GPU becomes the primary limiter.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 SUPER and its closest competitor?

A: According to the aggregate benchmark scores, the RTX 4080 SUPER is 0.2% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 2.9% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. These are close margins, but the 4080 SUPER comes out ahead in the overall comparison.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems for this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 90th out of 1656 tested combos. This places it in the top 5.4% of all configurations, signifying it is a very high-end system for running The Technomancer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the RTX 4080 SUPER is able to push exceptionally high frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS hits 295.3, a figure that is likely limited by the CPU's single-thread performance. Moving up to Medium yields 229 FPS, High yields 196.5 FPS, and Ultra still maintains a very high 155.1 FPS. This resolution is clearly GPU-light, and the high scores show the combo can easily drive high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the system continues to perform admirably. The average FPS at Low settings is 191.9, which is still a very high number. Medium settings produce 150.8 FPS, High settings produce 127.1 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 100.3 FPS. This resolution represents a sweet spot for the hardware, delivering high frame rates that are well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play, even on the most demanding settings.

The transition to 3840x2160 shows a more significant impact. At Low settings, the system still manages an average of 105.7 FPS. This drops to 79.6 FPS on Medium and 70.5 FPS on High. At Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to exactly 57. While this is still a playable frame rate for a game of this genre, it is the only configuration in the data where the system dips below the 60 FPS mark, indicating that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario for this hardware.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the dynamic between the CPU and GPU. At 1080p High, the system produces 196.5 FPS. When moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 127.1 FPS, a 35.3% reduction. This significant drop indicates that the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the CPU is still keeping up. However, the most revealing data point is at 1080p Low, where the system hits 295.3 FPS. This is an extremely high number that is typical of a CPU-bound scenario.

The CPU's limits are further highlighted by comparing the 1080p Low score to the 1440p Low score. At 1440p Low, the average is 191.9 FPS, a 35% drop from 1080p. This large drop, even with Low settings, suggests the GPU is already a significant factor at 1440p. The jump to 4K Low brings the FPS down to 105.7, another 44.9% reduction. This scaling is expected as the GPU is now rendering four times the pixels of 1080p.

The data points to the GPU being the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops are consistent with increased GPU load. At 1080p, the system is likely bound by the CPU's ability to issue draw calls and process game logic, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates. As the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering time becomes the bottleneck, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The result is a system that is perfectly balanced for 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming, capable of 4K at high settings, but where the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p and the GPU takes over that role at 4K.