The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a fascinating case study in how modern high-end hardware handles a title built for a different era. The pairing of an AMD Ryzen 7 9700X with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers an extraordinarily wide range of performance, from barely-playable 4K Ultra to frame rates exceeding 330 FPS at 1080p. The data reveals a system that is almost entirely GPU-limited at higher resolutions and settings, yet still capable of exposing CPU limitations at the extreme low end of the spectrum.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent drop in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 214.7 FPS at 1080p to 142.7 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 74.5 FPS at 4K. This represents a 65.3% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the immense pixel-pushing workload placed on the GeForce RTX 4090. The scaling is similarly steep at other settings, with Low settings falling from 333.1 FPS at 1080p to 217.6 FPS at 1440p and 118.8 FPS at 4K.

This pattern strongly implies that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are sufficient to handle the data demands, but the sheer number of pixels at 3840x2160 overwhelms the shader throughput. The data suggests that the gap between 1440p and 4K is more punishing than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, indicating a non-linear scaling curve where the GPU's fill-rate and compute capabilities begin to saturate. The result is that 4K Ultra proves to be a heavy burden, while 4K Low still provides a comfortable, high-refresh experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database, this specific combination of the Ryzen 7 9700X and RTX 4090 ranks 18th out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 1.1% of all tested system configurations, proof of its raw power. The percentile data for the individual components reinforces this: the CPU sits in the 89th percentile versus all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 91st percentile versus all GPUs. This synergy of two top-tier components creates a system that is overwhelmingly positioned for high-end performance.

However, the rank also invites questioning. Given the age of the game, one might expect this combo to be at the very top. The fact that it is 18th suggests that other combinations, potentially with higher-clocked CPUs or configurations better optimized for this specific game's engine, can edge out this pairing. The data shows that while this is an elite-tier setup, it is not the absolute fastest for The Technomancer. This could be due to the game's engine being more sensitive to certain CPU architectures or memory latencies, even in a GPU-bound scenario.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X brings 8 cores and 16 threads, built on the Zen 5 architecture with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. In a game like The Technomancer, this processor's multi-threaded capability is substantial, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31,588 and Passmark multi-thread score of 37,161. Yet, the benchmark results in-game suggest this power is largely held in reserve. At 1080p Low, the system pushes 333.1 FPS, a frame rate so high that it likely begins to tax the CPU's single-thread performance.

The 3DMark single-thread score of 1,280 and Geekbench single-core score of 3,353 indicate strong, but not unlimited, single-core prowess. The data implies that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU's ability to feed the GPU becomes a secondary bottleneck. However, this is only visible at extreme frame rates; at 4K Ultra (59.4 FPS), the CPU is certainly not the limiting factor. The 65W TDP and 4nm process node suggest an efficient processor that can maintain high boost clocks without excessive thermal throttling, which is crucial for sustained high-FPS scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 333.1 FPS on Low, 253.7 FPS on Medium, 214.7 FPS on High, and 170.4 FPS on Ultra. These figures show a linear progression of performance hits as settings increase, with the jump from Low to Medium costing 79.4 FPS and the jump from High to Ultra costing 44.3 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high: 217.6 FPS on Low, 166.6 FPS on Medium, 142.7 FPS on High, and 108.6 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p results are roughly 65-70% of the 1080p numbers, confirming the resolution scaling pattern. At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly: 118.8 FPS on Low, 92.8 FPS on Medium, 74.5 FPS on High, and 59.4 FPS on Ultra. Notably, 4K Low (118.8 FPS) is higher than 1440p Ultra (108.6 FPS), indicating that settings have a more substantial impact on performance than resolution at these high levels. The 4K Ultra result of 59.4 FPS is the only measured scenario below the 60 FPS threshold, marking it as the single challenging configuration for this hardware.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured frame rate is 333.1 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: Yes, it can. At 4K High settings, it averages 74.5 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it averages 59.4 FPS. The 4K Low preset yields 118.8 FPS.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 18th out of 1656 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 1.1% of configurations.

Q: Which is more impactful on performance: resolution or settings?

A: The data suggests settings have a larger impact at lower resolutions. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 162.7 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is 59.4 FPS.

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

A: At 1080p Low (333.1 FPS), the system is likely CPU-bound, as the frame rate is extremely high and the GPU has less work per frame.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1440p and 4K at High settings?

A: At 1440p High, the average FPS is 142.7, while at 4K High, it drops to 74.5, a reduction of 68.2 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 170.4 FPS is the clear recommendation, as it provides the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing the high-refresh-rate experience. The RTX 4090 has ample headroom here, so there is no reason to compromise on settings. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again offers the best balance, delivering 108.6 FPS which is still well above the 100 FPS mark for smooth gameplay.

For 3840x2160, the choice becomes more nuanced. The High preset at 74.5 FPS is the best option for a fluid experience, as it maintains a solid frame rate while offering high visual quality. The Ultra preset at 59.4 FPS is playable but falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset (92.8 FPS) is a viable alternative for those who prioritize frame rate over absolute visual fidelity, but High is the sweet spot. The Low preset should be avoided at 4K, as the visual compromise is significant and the 118.8 FPS gain is less impactful than at other resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the undisputed workhorse of this configuration. Its AD102 chip, built on a 5nm process, contains 16,384 shading units and 176 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz. The GPU's compute power is staggering, with an FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS, which explains its ability to push high frame rates even at 4K. The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, ensuring that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are never a bottleneck.

The benchmark scores reflect this dominance: the Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 9,223 place it in the 91st percentile of all GPUs. In The Technomancer, the GPU's role becomes increasingly critical as resolution scales. At 1080p, the GPU is often waiting on the CPU, but at 4K, it becomes fully saturated. The data shows a clear correlation: as pixel count increases, the GPU's raw compute and memory bandwidth dictate the final frame rate. The 450W TDP and triple-slot cooler indicate a power-hungry beast, but one that delivers the performance needed to make this combo a top-tier choice.