The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a specific challenge for modern hardware due to its engine's scaling characteristics. This analysis examines the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D combined with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT across various settings and resolutions, using measured data to determine the balance between the CPU and GPU in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT achieves a rank of 1038 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the pairing in the 63rd percentile of all tested configurations, indicating a solidly above-average performance tier. The ranking reflects a system that handles the game's demands with room to spare, but it is not at the absolute top tier of performance, where combinations of the highest-end CPUs and GPUs would reside.

To contextualize the CPU's contribution, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D's average benchmark score of 58386 places it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in terms of aggregate score include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at 58323 (a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i9-14900 at 58115 (a 0.5% difference). The CPU is also performing slightly ahead of the Intel Xeon w5-2545, which scores 58504, a -0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 at 58826, a -0.7% delta. This tight grouping shows that the 9850X3D is a top-tier processor whose performance is competitive with the best desktop and workstation chips available.

On the graphics side, the Radeon RX 7700 XT's average benchmark score of 22549 places it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs. Its direct rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (score 22435, delta 0.5%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (score 22729, delta -0.8%). It also edges out the older NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (score 22895, delta -1.5%) and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (score 22170, delta 1.7%). This data shows the GPU is a strong mid-to-high-range performer, capable of delivering high frame rates in most scenarios, though it is not a flagship-class part. The combo's overall rank is a product of this balanced pairing: a top-tier CPU ensuring no bottleneck, paired with a capable GPU that will be the primary determinant of frame rates at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the primary driver of visual output in this configuration. It is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip and features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is rated at 2544 MHz, with a game clock of 2171 MHz. This memory capacity and bandwidth are sufficient for The Technomancer's textures and effects, even at high resolutions.

The benchmark data shows a clear pattern where the GPU's performance limits the system at higher settings. At 4K (3840x2160), the average frame rate with High settings is 46 FPS. Dropping to Medium settings increases this to 54 FPS, while Low settings yield 70 FPS. At the demanding Ultra preset, the average dips to 36 FPS. This scaling indicates that the RX 7700 XT is heavily utilized at 4K, with the 12 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth being taxed by the game's demands.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities, rated at 35.17 TFLOPS for FP32, are a key factor in its performance. The measured results suggest that in The Technomancer, the GPU's shading and texture processing are the main constraints at higher settings. The game's engine appears to respond well to the GPU's architecture, as evidenced by the significant frame rate increases when moving from Ultra to High and then to Medium. The 96 ROPs and 216 TMUs are kept busy, and the 54 RT cores are not a significant factor in this title, as it predates widespread ray tracing adoption. The data points to a GPU that is powerful enough for a smooth experience at 1440p with High settings, but which requires settings adjustments to maintain playable frame rates at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions, which helps identify the bottlenecking component. At 1080p (1920x1080), the system shows exceptional performance, with average frame rates of 196 FPS on Low, 150 FPS on Medium, 128 FPS on High, and 100 FPS on Ultra settings. These high numbers suggest a strong CPU-GPU balance, though the system is likely becoming less CPU-bound at this resolution.

Moving to 1440p (2560x1440), there is a substantial drop in performance. The average frame rates fall to 128 FPS on Low, 98 FPS on Medium, 84 FPS on High, and 66 FPS on Ultra. This represents a reduction of roughly 35% across all settings compared to 1080p. This significant drop indicates that the GPU is now becoming a more limiting factor, as the increased pixel count places a greater load on the rendering pipeline.

The scaling to 4K (3840x2160) is even more dramatic. Average frame rates drop to 70 FPS on Low, 54 FPS on Medium, 46 FPS on High, and 36 FPS on Ultra. The percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is another ~45-50%, emphasizing that the Radeon RX 7700 XT is working at its limit at this resolution. This data strongly suggests that the GPU is the primary performance limiter at 4K, while the Ryzen 7 9850X3D has sufficient headroom to feed it frames at lower resolutions. The scaling pattern is consistent: each step up in resolution results in a significant and predictable decrease in frame rate, a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth experience with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1440p (2560x1440) with High settings provides an excellent balance, achieving an average of 84 FPS. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with even Ultra averaging 100 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K, the average frame rates are 36 FPS on Ultra, 46 FPS on High, and 54 FPS on Medium. Only the Low preset, at 70 FPS, provides a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct competitors?

A: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D's average benchmark score is 58386. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-14900, while being 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon w5-2545.

Q: What is the role of the GPU's memory in this game's performance?

A: The RX 7700 XT has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The performance drop at 4K suggests that this bandwidth is sufficient for 1440p but is a limiting factor at higher resolutions with demanding settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The significant frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's top-tier ranking, show the graphics card is the limiting component in this title.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset averages 128 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 66 FPS. This is a difference of 62 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data for this configuration in The Technomancer is detailed below, showing average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS is 196.
• Medium: Average FPS is 150, with a minimum of 128 and a maximum of 173.
• High: Average FPS is 128.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 100.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS is 128.
• Medium: Average FPS is 98, with a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 113.
• High: Average FPS is 84.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 66.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS is 70.
• Medium: Average FPS is 54, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62.
• High: Average FPS is 46.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 36.

The data shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of delivering very high frame rates, even on the Ultra preset. At 1440p, the performance remains strong, with the High preset being the sweet spot for a 60+ FPS experience. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates on higher settings, requiring a reduction to Low settings for a consistently playable experience above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 54 FPS, is on the edge of playability, but its minimum FPS of 46 could result in noticeable stutters.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D serves as the central processing unit in this configuration, and its high performance is crucial for ensuring the GPU is not starved of data. This processor is part of the AMD 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The CPU's large 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset for gaming, helping to reduce memory latency and improve performance in CPU-intensive scenarios.

The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its high-end status. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 22807 and single-core score is 2228. In Passmark tests, it scores 41318 in multithread and 4704 in single-thread performance. These scores place it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, confirming its capability to handle complex game logic and physics without becoming a bottleneck. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900, has a negligible 0.5% performance difference, indicating that the 9850X3D is at the very top of the consumer desktop performance tier.

In the context of The Technomancer, the measured frame rates at 1080p, which reach up to 196 FPS on Low settings, suggest that the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's processing demands. The fact that the system is still able to deliver over 100 FPS at 1080p on Ultra settings indicates that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor at this resolution. The CPU's role is to provide a stable platform for the GPU to perform at its maximum potential, and the data shows it does so effectively, with the GPU becoming the clear performance bottleneck only as resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate target.

For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset, with an average of 100 FPS, provides an excellent experience for high-refresh-rate monitors and is the recommended choice for maximizing visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. For those seeking extreme frame rates for competitive play, the High preset at 128 FPS offers a significant boost with a modest reduction in visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the High preset is the clear sweet spot. It achieves an average of 84 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while maintaining high visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 66 FPS, is also viable for those who prioritize image quality over a higher frame rate buffer, but the High preset provides a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 98 FPS is a good choice for gamers with 120Hz+ displays who want to leverage the higher refresh rate.

For 4K gaming, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset is the only setting that consistently delivers an average above 60 FPS, at 70 FPS. This is the recommended setting for a smooth 4K experience. The Medium preset, at 54 FPS, is playable but may exhibit frame pacing issues due to its minimum FPS of 46. The High and Ultra presets, at 46 and 36 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a satisfying experience, as they fall below the standard for smooth gameplay. Ultimately, the data suggests that 1440p with High settings provides the best overall balance of visual fidelity and performance for this combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT.