The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination. The measured FPS data reveals a pairing that is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with the CPU providing immense headroom while the GPU becomes the primary limiter at higher loads. This analysis breaks down the specific roles of each component, how they scale across resolutions, and where this combo stands relative to other tested configurations.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, using the Granite Ridge codename on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor has a 120 W TDP and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is a defining characteristic of the X3D series and is particularly relevant for gaming workloads that benefit from high-speed, on-die data storage.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong performance. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 22807, while the single-core score is 2228. The Passmark multi-thread score is 41318, and the single-thread score is 4704. These results place the CPU in the 92nd percentile among all CPUs tested, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors. Its average benchmark score is 58386. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight grouping. The CPU is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, which has an average score of 58323. It is 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon w5-2545 (58504) and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900 (58115). The closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, which scores 58826, putting the 9850X3D 0.7% behind it. This suggests that in general compute tasks, the 9850X3D is competitive with a range of high-end server and desktop chips, but its gaming advantage lies in the specific cache architecture rather than raw throughput.

For The Technomancer, the CPU role appears to be one of providing consistent frame delivery without becoming a bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 171 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain a very high level of performance. Even at 1440p with Low settings, the average is 111 FPS. These numbers suggest that in less demanding visual scenarios, the CPU is not the limiting factor. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration is more than sufficient for a game from 2016, which was designed for older, lower-core-count processors. The high boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures strong single-thread performance, which is often critical for game logic and draw call submission. The L3 cache likely helps with keeping game assets and instruction sets close to the cores, reducing latency and improving overall frame pacing. The data shows no scenario where the CPU is clearly holding back performance, as the FPS scales almost entirely with resolution and graphical settings, which are GPU-dependent variables.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is a graphics card from the Radeon RX 6000 series, based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 22 chip. It is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC and has a die size of 335 mm², containing 17,200 million transistors. The card features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. Its clock speeds are set with a base of 2321 MHz, a game clock of 2424 MHz, and a boost clock of 2581 MHz. The memory operates at an effective speed of 16 Gbps. The GPU has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. It also includes 40 ray tracing cores. Its compute power is rated at 13.21 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 6700 XT scores 19786 in Passmark G3D and 9336 in Passmark GPU Compute. It achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2435. Its performance places it in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27425. Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RX 6700 XT is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile, which has an average score of 27435 (0% delta). It is 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (27565), which is a much more powerful desktop card in other respects, but in these aggregate benchmarks, the scores are close. It is 1.1% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell (27135) and 1.5% behind the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (27839). This indicates that in general compute and graphics workloads, the RX 6700 XT sits in a competitive mid-to-high range, though its performance in specific games can vary.

For The Technomancer, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining frame rates. The measured data shows a clear pattern where FPS decreases as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the GPU can deliver high frame rates, with an average of 171 FPS at Low settings and 112 FPS at High. However, at 4K (3840x2160), the card struggles to maintain high performance, with an average of only 40 FPS at High settings and 31 FPS at Ultra. The 12 GB of VRAM is a notable feature; while it is not directly measured in the FPS data, it is sufficient for the game’s textures at 4K, as the card is still able to render the scene, albeit at lower frame rates. The boost clock of 2581 MHz helps push performance at lower resolutions, but the fill rate and compute capacity of the GPU become limiting factors as pixel count increases. The card’s 64 ROPs and 413.0 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the demand on these units increases significantly. The data suggests that the RX 6700 XT is a capable 1080p and 1440p card for The Technomancer, but it is not suited for high-refresh 4K gaming with this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 171 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 111 FPS, a reduction of 60 FPS or about 35%. At 4K Low, the average is 61 FPS, a further drop of 50 FPS from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component, as increasing resolution increases the pixel workload, which directly impacts the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity.

Looking at High settings, the pattern is similar. At 1080p, the average is 112 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 73 FPS, a reduction of 39 FPS. At 4K, it falls to 40 FPS, a drop of 33 FPS from 1440p. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 35%, and from 1440p to 4K is about 45%. This suggests that the GPU’s performance is scaling roughly with the increase in pixel count, though the drop is slightly steeper at higher resolutions, indicating that other factors like memory bandwidth and ROP throughput are also being stressed.

For Medium settings, the data includes minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the average is 131 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 151 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average is 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 and a maximum of 98. At 4K Medium, the average is 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 54. The minimum FPS values are important as they indicate frame pacing stability. The fact that the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 40 FPS, which is the same as the average FPS at 4K High, shows that the game can have significant frame drops when the GPU is heavily loaded.

Ultra settings show the most demanding scenario. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 87 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 57 FPS. At 4K Ultra, it falls to 31 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 30 FPS (34%), and from 1440p to 4K is 26 FPS (46%). This pattern confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU is likely not a bottleneck at any resolution given the high frame rates at lower settings. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, users would need to play at 1080p with High or Medium settings, or at 1440p with Low settings. For 4K, even Low settings only achieve an average of 61 FPS, which is marginal for a 60 Hz display.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Technomancer, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ranks 1464 out of 2825 total combos. This places it in the 52nd percentile of all tested configurations. The rank is a measure of overall performance, likely weighted towards higher resolutions and settings where the GPU is more stressed.

This mid-pack ranking is interesting given the high percentile of the CPU (92nd) and the GPU (72nd). The CPU’s high rank does not translate into a top-tier combo rank because the game is clearly GPU-bound at higher settings. A CPU with lower single-thread performance might yield similar results if paired with the same GPU, as the RX 6700 XT becomes the limiting factor. Conversely, a more powerful GPU like the RTX 3090, which is a direct rival in terms of benchmark score, would likely push this combo much higher in the rankings. The data shows that the 9850X3D is not a hindrance, but it does not boost the combo to the top tier because the GPU is not powerful enough to take full advantage of the CPU’s capabilities in this specific title. The rank of 1464 suggests that there are many other combinations that deliver better frame rates, likely those with higher-end GPUs. The combo is not in the bottom quartile, indicating it provides a playable experience, but it is not a top performer either. The fact that the CPU is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900 in average benchmark scores does not matter here, as the game’s performance is dictated by the GPU’s rendering capacity.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The combo achieves an average of 112 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Is this CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K, as the average FPS drops to 40 at High settings and 31 at Ultra, while the CPU’s high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has an average benchmark score of 27425, which is 0% different from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile (27435) and 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (27565).

Q: What is the best settings for a 60 FPS target at 1440p?

A: For 1440p, the Low setting yields an average of 111 FPS, while Medium yields 86 FPS. High yields 73 FPS, and Ultra yields 57 FPS, so High is the highest setting that remains above 60 FPS on average.

Q: What is the rank of this CPU and GPU combo for The Technomancer?

A: This combo ranks 1464 out of 2825 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the pack.

Q: Does the CPU have a high single-thread performance?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2228 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4704, placing it in the 92nd percentile among all CPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table presents the exact measured average FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination in The Technomancer.

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

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 40 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 61 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 47 | 40 | 54 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 31 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 73 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 111 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 86 | 73 | 98 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 57 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 112 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 171 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 131 | 111 | 151 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 87 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with even Ultra averaging 87 FPS. The jump to 1440p reduces performance by roughly 30-50%, and at 4K, only Low settings manage to stay above 60 FPS on average. The Medium settings at each resolution provide the only min/max data points, revealing that frame dips can be significant, especially at 4K where the minimum FPS matches the average of the High setting. This breakdown confirms that the RX 6700 XT is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in this title, with 4K being a stretch for consistent performance. The CPU’s role is to ensure that these frame rates are stable, which the data suggests it does admirably, given the high performance at lower resolutions where CPU load is relatively higher.