The Technomancer

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a commanding performance profile in The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG. Measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a system that prioritizes raw throughput, with the data indicating a combination that ranks in the 91st percentile among 3,696 tested combos. This places the pairing firmly in the upper echelon of tested hardware configurations, though the specific frame-rate curves by resolution and settings suggest nuanced behavior worth examining.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 91 out of 3,696 tested combinations places this hardware pairing in the top 2.5% of all recorded configurations for The Technomancer. This is a strong positional result, reflecting that both the CPU and GPU contribute substantial compute resources to this title. The rank is not a perfect 1, which signals that some other pairings—likely those with even more specialized hardware or more favorable driver optimizations—have edged ahead in this specific game. However, being in the 91st percentile means the vast majority of tested systems deliver lower average frame rates.

Looking at the CPU’s standalone standing, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D holds the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 39,768 places it in close company with several rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS scores 39,603, a delta of 0.4% relative to the 9800X3D, meaning the 9800X3D is only fractionally ahead. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 scores 40,048, which is 0.7% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 scores 40,081, 0.8% higher. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 trails at 39,485, a 0.7% deficit. These tiny deltas indicate that in synthetic CPU benchmarks, the 9800X3D is effectively tied with a cluster of other AMD processors, none of which exhibit a decisive advantage.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4090 holds the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals show similarly tight margins: the Intel Arc Pro A60 scores 60,326 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140 (0.3% ahead of the 4090), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896 (2.5% ahead). The AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657, which is 2.9% behind. These numbers suggest that in aggregate GPU benchmarks, the RTX 4090 is competitive but not categorically dominant, with professional-grade cards sometimes matching or slightly exceeding its synthetic scores. Yet in The Technomancer specifically, the combo’s 91st percentile rank indicates that the real-world gameplay performance is stronger than the synthetic averages might predict.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and manufactured on TSMC’s 4 nm process node. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. This is a desktop-class processor with a TDP of 120 watts, using the AMD Socket AM5 platform. The cache hierarchy is notable: each core has 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2, while a shared 96 MB L3 cache provides substantial capacity for game data that benefits from fast reuse.

For The Technomancer, a game released in 2016, the CPU’s role is primarily to maintain high minimum frame rates and ensure consistent frame pacing, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. The 3DMark scores illustrate the CPU’s scaling: single-thread performance is 1,212, while 2-thread and 4-thread scores rise to 2,394 and 4,669, respectively. The 8-thread score is 8,252, and the max-thread score is 10,067, which is nearly identical to the 16-thread score of 10,081. This pattern shows that the 9800X3D scales well up to 8 threads, but beyond that, gains are minimal—a reflection of the 8-core/16-thread design where the physical cores carry the load.

In The Technomancer, which likely uses fewer than 8 threads given its 2016 origin, the CPU’s high single-core and 2-thread performance are most relevant. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,080 and multi-core score of 23,230 indicate strong per-thread throughput. The Geekbench scores—2,964 single-core and 18,696 multi-core—reinforce this. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,430 and multithread score of 40,009 further confirm that the CPU is not a limiting factor in most gaming scenarios. The 96 MB L3 cache, a hallmark of the X3D series, likely helps with game code that has large working sets, but the measured FPS data suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU dominates the performance equation.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD102 chip fabricated on TSMC’s 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 2,235 MHz and a boost clock of 2,520 MHz, with memory running at 1,313 MHz, translating to 21 Gbps effective on 24 GB of GDDR6X memory across a 384-bit bus. This yields a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, which is substantial for high-resolution textures and geometry.

The GPU’s compute specifications are extensive: 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units, along with 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores. The pixel rate is 443.5 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 1,290.2 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is rated at 82.58 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, indicating balanced compute capabilities. The TDP is 450 watts, with a triple-slot cooler and a single 16-pin power connector, and the suggested PSU is 850 watts.

In The Technomancer, the RTX 4090’s role is to push high frame rates at demanding resolutions. The measured FPS data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 61 FPS, which is playable but not exceptionally high. At 4K High, the average rises to 77 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it reaches 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 and maximum of 104. At 4K Low, the average is 118 FPS. These numbers indicate that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at 4K, as the CPU’s contribution becomes less significant when pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors.

The RTX 4090’s benchmark scores reflect its strong position: the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 9,223, and Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores are 255,416 and 271,631, respectively. The PassMark G3D score is 38,194, with a GPU compute score of 26,613. These synthetic results align with the in-game performance, showing a GPU that can handle high resolutions but still shows scaling with settings changes. The 88th percentile among all GPUs is slightly below the combo’s 91st percentile, suggesting that the CPU’s 87th percentile standing, when combined, pushes the overall rank higher than either component alone.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4090 delivers exceptionally high frame rates across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS is 319, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. Medium settings average 253 FPS, with a minimum of 215 and maximum of 291. High settings average 216 FPS, and Ultra settings average 169 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the GPU is rarely stressed, and the CPU becomes more relevant—the 98% percentile rank of the combo likely benefits from the 9800X3D’s strong single-thread performance, which prevents CPU bottlenecks at these high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease but remain high. Low settings average 215 FPS, Medium averages 165 FPS with a minimum of 140 and maximum of 190, High averages 141 FPS, and Ultra averages 110 FPS. The drop from 1080p Low (319 FPS) to 1440p Low (215 FPS) is 32.6%, which is a significant reduction but still leaves headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p Ultra, the 110 FPS average is still smooth, and the minimum of 140 FPS at Medium settings indicates that frame pacing remains consistent.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down further. Low settings average 118 FPS, Medium averages 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 and maximum of 104, High averages 77 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. The progression from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 63% drop, while the progression from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra shows a 63.9% drop. This consistent scaling suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU’s performance becomes less impactful when the GPU is processing more pixels.

The measured FPS data includes min and max values only for the Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 215 and maximum is 291, giving a spread of 76 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 140 and maximum is 190, a spread of 50 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 77 and maximum is 104, a spread of 27 FPS. This narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that frame times become more consistent, likely due to the GPU being more uniformly loaded, whereas at lower resolutions, CPU variability can cause larger fluctuations.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in The Technomancer?

A: The combo rank is 91 out of 3,696 tested combinations, placing it in the 91st percentile of all tested hardware pairings for this game.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9800X3D compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The 9800X3D has an average benchmark score of 39,768. It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS (39,603), 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 (39,485), but 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (40,048) and 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (40,081).

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 319, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only setting and resolution combination that exceeds 300 FPS in the measured data.

Q: At 4K resolution, what are the average FPS values for each settings preset?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are: Low at 118, Medium at 91, High at 77, and Ultra at 61. The Medium preset also has a minimum of 77 and maximum of 104.

Q: How does the GPU’s percentile rank compare to the combo’s rank?

A: The RTX 4090 holds the 88th percentile among all GPUs, while the combo ranks in the 91st percentile among all combos. This suggests the CPU’s performance contributes to a slightly higher overall rank than the GPU alone would indicate.

Q: What is the frame rate spread at Medium settings across resolutions?

A: At 1080p Medium, the spread between minimum and maximum FPS is 76 (215 to 291). At 1440p Medium, the spread is 50 (140 to 190). At 4K Medium, the spread is 27 (77 to 104).

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver at least 169 FPS on Ultra, which is far above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 319 FPS is overkill for most displays, but it demonstrates the GPU’s headroom. For a 144Hz monitor at 1080p, the Ultra preset at 169 FPS is sufficient, while the High preset at 216 FPS provides additional margin. The Medium preset at 253 FPS offers a balance between visual quality and performance, but given the low cost in FPS from Ultra to Low, the High or Ultra presets are recommended for better image quality without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 110 FPS, which is suitable for 100Hz or 120Hz displays. The High preset at 141 FPS is ideal for 144Hz monitors, as it stays above the refresh rate in most scenes. The Medium preset at 165 FPS offers even more headroom, but the visual fidelity reduction may not be worth the 24 FPS gain over High. The Low preset at 215 FPS is unnecessary unless the user has a 240Hz display and prioritizes frame rate above all else. For most users, the High preset at 1440p provides the best combination of visual quality and performance, as the 141 FPS average comfortably exceeds 60 FPS and approaches the refresh rate of common gaming monitors.

At 3840x2160, the choice is more constrained. The Ultra preset averages 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS standard, but any dips could cause noticeable stuttering. The High preset at 77 FPS offers a safer margin, while the Medium preset at 91 FPS provides a smoother experience with a minimum of 77 FPS. The Low preset at 118 FPS is the only 4K preset that exceeds 100 FPS, but it comes with significant visual compromises. For a 60Hz 4K display, the High preset at 77 FPS is recommended, as it provides a comfortable buffer above the refresh rate. For a 120Hz 4K display, the Medium preset at 91 FPS is the better choice, as it stays above 77 FPS minimum and delivers a more consistent experience. The Ultra preset should be avoided on 4K unless the user accepts the risk of frame drops near 60 FPS, as the 61 FPS average leaves almost no margin for demanding scenes.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that indicates the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, while the CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p. From 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops by approximately 32-35% across all settings. For example, at Low settings, the drop is from 319 to 215 FPS, a 32.6% reduction. At Medium settings, the drop is from 253 to 165 FPS, a 34.8% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 216 to 141 FPS, a 34.7% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 169 to 110 FPS, a 34.9% reduction. This consistent percentage drop suggests that the GPU’s pixel processing capability scales predictably with resolution, and the CPU is not introducing significant variability at 1440p.

From 2560x1440 to 3840x2160, the drops are even larger. At Low settings, the FPS goes from 215 to 118, a 45.1% reduction. At Medium settings, it goes from 165 to 91, a 44.8% reduction. At High settings, it goes from 141 to 77, a 45.4% reduction. At Ultra settings, it goes from 110 to 61, a 44.5% reduction. The larger percentage drop at 4K compared to 1440p indicates that the GPU is being pushed closer to its limits, and the memory bandwidth or shading throughput becomes the primary constraint. The RTX 4090’s 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth and 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are substantial, but the 4K resolution demands more than double the pixels of 1440p, and the measured FPS reflects that.

The fact that the FPS does not halve when moving from 1440p to 4K—despite the pixel count doubling—suggests that other factors, such as cache efficiency and driver optimizations, mitigate some of the load. The 96 MB L3 cache on the 9800X3D may help with CPU-side data, but at 4K, the GPU’s rendering pipeline is the bottleneck. The narrowing frame time spread at higher resolutions (as seen in the Medium settings min/max data) supports this: at 4K, the GPU is consistently busy, leading to more stable frame times, whereas at 1080p, the CPU can cause occasional spikes that widen the spread.

The implication is that for users targeting 4K, the RTX 4090 is the limiting factor, and reducing settings from High to Medium provides a 14 FPS average gain (from 77 to 91), which is more significant than any CPU change could achieve. Conversely, at 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread performance becomes more critical, as the GPU is often idle waiting for draw calls. The 9800X3D’s 3DMark single-thread score of 1,212 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,430 indicate strong per-core performance, which likely explains why the combo still achieves 169 FPS at 1080p Ultra—a result that would be lower with a weaker CPU. The data overall shows a balanced system, but the resolution scaling makes it clear that for 4K gaming, the GPU’s headroom is the deciding factor, while for high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p gaming, the CPU’s capabilities are fully utilized to avoid leaving performance on the table.