The Technomancer

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the processor driving this combo, built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The CPU's 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a defining characteristic, alongside 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core.

The benchmark data for this processor is extensive. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score reaches 34004, while the single-core score is 4800. The Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 18413 and a single-core score of 3341. PassMark's multi-thread test yields 40009, and the single-thread result is 4430. The 3DMark 16-thread test produces a score of 10081, while the single-thread score is 1212.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears constrained. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 70.6, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. This suggests the processor can feed the GPU adequately at lower settings, but the frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 12.5, which is far below what the CPU's compute capabilities would suggest possible.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Xeon 6353P (average score 37811, delta of -0.1%), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (37831, -0.1%), the Intel Core i9-13900HK (38020, -0.6%), and the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38028, -0.7%). These deltas are negligible, indicating the CPU's synthetic performance is on par with those parts, yet the real-world gaming results here are heavily GPU-limited.

The processor's 120 W TDP and its active production status indicate a modern, high-end part. However, the data shows that in this specific game, the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution or setting. The frame rate patterns across resolutions and settings point entirely to the GPU as the bottleneck, which is consistent with the CPU's high percentile rank of 90 versus all CPUs.

# FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS measured for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average FPS is 70.6, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the dataset that exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's average benchmark score is 37780. Its closest rival, the Intel Xeon 6353P, scores 37811, which is a delta of -0.1%. This means the two are effectively tied in synthetic multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What is the largest FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 44.4. At 4K High, it drops to 13.5. This represents a 69.6% reduction in frame rate, which strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting component.

Q: Is the GPU's performance percentile higher or lower than the CPU's?

A: The GPU, AMD Radeon RX 570, has a percentile rank of 74 versus all GPUs, while the CPU has a percentile rank of 90 versus all CPUs. This data suggests the GPU is the weaker component relative to its peers.

Q: What is the lowest measured FPS in the entire dataset?

A: The lowest average FPS is 12.5, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested.

Q: How does the GPU's average benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RX 570's average benchmark score is 30158. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, scores 30109, a delta of 0.2%. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT scores 30097 (0.2%), and the NVIDIA Tesla M60 scores 29969 (0.6%).

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

The resolution scaling pattern in this data is stark and revealing. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 70.6. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average FPS drops to 47.5, a reduction of 32.7%. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 24.5, which is a 65.3% drop from 1080p.

The same pattern holds for High settings. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 44.4. At 1440p High, it drops to 31.3, a 29.5% reduction. At 4K High, the average FPS is 13.5, an 69.6% drop from 1080p. The Medium settings show a similar trajectory: 50.4 FPS at 1080p, 34.2 FPS at 1440p, and 16.5 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings start at 32.6 FPS at 1080p, drop to 23.6 FPS at 1440p, and end at 12.5 FPS at 4K.

The data shows that the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all settings, with the frame rate roughly halving or worse at each resolution step. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's capabilities, as demonstrated by its high synthetic scores, are not being utilized fully. The rendering workload scales with pixel count, and the RX 570's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in this game.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. The CPU could handle far more work, but the GPU's shading units (2048), texture mapping units (128), and render output units (32) are overwhelmed at higher resolutions. The pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s are simply not enough to maintain playable frame rates at 4K.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 1612 out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 2.7% of all configurations tested. This ranking is striking given the CPU's high performance percentile of 90.

The data reveals a massive imbalance. The processor is a top-tier part, but the GPU is a much older, end-of-life component released in 2017. The RX 570's percentile rank of 74 is decent, but its absolute performance is far below what modern games require at higher resolutions. The combo's rank of 1612 out of 1656 underscores that the pairing is severely bottlenecked by the graphics card.

This ranking suggests that the CPU's potential is wasted in this configuration. The 9800X3D's 8 cores and 16 threads, along with its 96 MB of L3 cache, are capable of far more demanding workloads. The game's frame rates are limited by the GPU's 4 GB VRAM and its compute capabilities, not by the processor.

The combo's position in the rankings is driven entirely by the GPU's performance ceiling. A more balanced pairing would likely rank much higher, but the data shows this specific combination is one of the least effective tested for this game.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is built on the Polaris 20 chip using GCN 4.0 architecture and a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 1168 MHz, with a boost clock of 1244 MHz. Memory runs at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective).

The GPU's compute capabilities are defined by 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. The FP32 performance is 5.095 TFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s. The 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this class of card.

The RX 570's average benchmark score is 30158, with a percentile rank of 74. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (avg score 30109, delta 0.2%) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (30097, 0.2%). This indicates the RX 570 performs similarly to much newer cards in synthetic tests, but the 4 GB VRAM limit becomes a critical factor in games like The Technomancer.

The GPU's role in this combo is decisive. At 1080p Low, the card achieves 70.6 FPS, which is playable. At 1080p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 32.6 FPS, which is marginal. At 4K, the card cannot maintain playable frame rates at any setting, with the highest being 24.5 FPS at Low and the lowest being 12.5 FPS at Ultra.

The data shows the RX 570 is the primary bottleneck. The GPU's memory bandwidth and compute throughput are insufficient for the demands of this game at higher resolutions, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS varies significantly by settings. Low settings produce 70.6 FPS, Medium produces 50.4 FPS, High produces 44.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 32.6 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 38 FPS, indicating a 54% performance drop from the lowest to highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are notably lower. Low settings yield 47.5 FPS, Medium yields 34.2 FPS, High yields 31.3 FPS, and Ultra yields 23.6 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 23.9 FPS, a 50% drop.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are severely constrained. Low settings produce 24.5 FPS, Medium produces 16.5 FPS, High produces 13.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 12.5 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is only 12 FPS, but the absolute values are all below playable thresholds.

The data shows that the relative performance drop from Low to Ultra is consistent across resolutions, at approximately 50-54%. This suggests the GPU is operating at its limits across all settings, and the frame rate scaling is primarily driven by the resolution's pixel count, not by the settings complexity.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and frame rate expectations.

At 1920x1080, Low settings deliver 70.6 FPS, which is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS. Medium settings provide 50.4 FPS, which is acceptable for many players. High settings at 44.4 FPS are playable but not smooth. Ultra settings at 32.6 FPS are borderline, and the visual quality gains may not justify the 38 FPS loss from Low.

At 2560x1440, Low settings at 47.5 FPS is the most playable option. Medium at 34.2 FPS and High at 31.3 FPS are both below 40 FPS, which may result in noticeable stutter. Ultra at 23.6 FPS is not recommended for active gameplay.

At 3840x2160, no setting achieves a playable frame rate. The highest is Low at 24.5 FPS, which is below the typically acceptable 30 FPS threshold. Ultra at 12.5 FPS is effectively a slideshow.

The best experience per the measured rows is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, yielding 70.6 FPS. This provides the smoothest gameplay, and the data suggests that the visual trade-offs are necessary given the GPU's limitations. For players prioritizing image quality, Medium at 1080p (50.4 FPS) offers a reasonable balance. Any resolution above 1080p or settings above Medium results in frame rates that compromise the gaming experience. The data indicates this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming with modest settings.