The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in how a modern high-end CPU and GPU pairing handles an older title. With an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and an AMD Radeon RX 9070, the data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but capable of delivering extremely high framerates at 1080p. The benchmark results indicate a combination that scales predictably with settings, offering a clear path to a smooth experience depending on the user's display and performance targets.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic resolution scaling curve, where the performance cost of higher pixel counts is significant. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 144 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same High preset sees the average drop to 94 FPS, a reduction of 50 FPS. The most dramatic shift occurs when stepping up to 4K, where the average FPS at High settings falls to 52. This progression from 144 to 94 to 52 FPS as resolution increases clearly illustrates that the rendering load is scaling steeply with pixel count.

This scaling pattern tells a clear story about the system's bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU is likely capable of feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them, but the gap narrows as resolution increases. The data shows that the difference between 1080p and 1440p is a 50 FPS drop, while the difference between 1440p and 4K is a 42 FPS drop. This is not a linear scaling, which suggests that while the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor at higher resolutions, the CPU is still contributing significantly to overall throughput at 1440p. The 4K result of 52 FPS indicates a point where the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint, as the pixel fill rate demands become substantial.

The impact of settings at each resolution reinforces this analysis. At 4K, the spread between Low and Ultra settings is a massive 39 FPS (79 FPS on Low down to 40 FPS on Ultra). This wide delta indicates that the GPU is the component doing the heavy lifting, as its workload changes dramatically with each preset. In contrast, at 1080p, the spread between Low and Ultra is 107 FPS (219 FPS down to 112 FPS), but the absolute values are high enough that the CPU's ability to issue draw calls and manage game logic is still keeping pace. The system is not CPU-limited in a way that would cap the framerate at a low value; rather, the GPU is fully utilized across all settings, with its performance ceiling being the primary variable.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a formidable processor, and its specifications provide context for its role in these results. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it possesses substantial multi-threaded capability, evident in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22807. Its high boost clock of 5.60 GHz and a base clock of 4.70 GHz ensure that single-threaded performance is also a strong point, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2228. This combination of high clocks and modern architecture is well-suited for gaming workloads.

However, the benchmark results in The Technomancer suggest that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios tested. The fact that average FPS scales so heavily with resolution and settings points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 219 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This number is likely near the ceiling of what the CPU can produce in terms of game logic and draw call processing, but it is not a restrictive limit. The data shows that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to achieve these high framerates, but it is not the component that determines the maximum FPS at higher resolutions.

The CPU's role is to ensure that the GPU is never starved of work. At 1080p, where the GPU's workload is lighter, the CPU's performance allows for framerates well above 144 FPS on High settings. Even at 1440p, the CPU seems to be keeping up adequately, as the drop in FPS from 1080p is consistent with what one would expect from increased GPU load. The data does not show a scenario where the FPS suddenly plateaus or becomes erratic, which would be a sign of a CPU bottleneck. Instead, the smooth scaling suggests that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is providing a solid foundation that allows the Radeon RX 9070 to perform to its full potential.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear guide for optimizing the experience. For users with a 4K display, the data shows that Medium settings are the sweet spot for playability. The average FPS at 4K Medium is 60, which is generally considered the minimum for a smooth experience, and it has a recorded minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. This is a more stable and playable option than High, which averages 52 FPS, or Ultra, which drops to an average of 40 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at 4K costs 8 FPS on average, a significant hit for a marginal visual improvement.

At 1440p, the choices are more flexible. High settings deliver an average of 94 FPS, which is excellent for a high-refresh-rate monitor. However, for users prioritizing maximum smoothness, Medium settings offer an average of 110 FPS with a minimum of 94 FPS, ensuring a consistent experience. Ultra at 1440p is also viable, with an average of 73 FPS, but the data suggests that High provides a better balance of visual quality and performance, as it is 21 FPS faster than Ultra. For 1080p users, the data shows that even Ultra settings are very playable, with an average of 112 FPS. High settings push this to 144 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz displays, while Medium reaches 169 FPS for those with even higher refresh rate panels.

The data suggests that the "High" preset is generally the best overall choice for this combination. It provides a substantial leap in performance over Ultra at every resolution while likely offering a visually rich experience. At 4K, High is playable but not ideal; Medium is the safer choice for a locked 60 FPS. At 1440p, High is the clear winner, offering a high framerate with room to spare. At 1080p, High is perfect for standard high-refresh monitors. The only scenario where High is not recommended is at 4K for users who demand a minimum of 60 FPS, where Medium is the appropriate fallback.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and AMD Radeon RX 9070 holds a rank of 815 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 29% of all systems tested. This is a strong showing, indicating that this pairing is well above average for this game. The rank suggests that while this is a high-end setup, there are many other combinations that perform better, likely those featuring more powerful GPUs that can push higher framerates, particularly at 4K.

The combo's rank is a reflection of its performance across all resolutions and settings tested. The data shows that it is capable of very high framerates at 1080p and 1440p, but it is not a top-tier 4K performer. The rank of 815 indicates that it is not in the top tier of systems, but it is definitely in a high-performing bracket. This is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows a capable system that excels at lower resolutions but falls to around 60 FPS at 4K on Medium settings. The rank is a holistic measure, and the system's strong 1080p and 1440p numbers likely contribute to its overall position.

When compared to other potential pairings, this rank provides context. A rank of 815 out of 2825 means that roughly 2000 other combinations deliver better performance in this specific game. These would likely include systems with higher-end GPUs, such as those from the same or a newer generation with more compute units or higher memory bandwidth. The data for the RX 9070 shows its average benchmark score is 23877, which is modest compared to the top-tier cards that would be in those higher-ranked combos. This rank is a useful metric for users to understand that this CPU and GPU pairing, while excellent for most games, is not the absolute peak for The Technomancer.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of the framerate differences seen across resolutions and settings. Its specifications, including 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, equip it for demanding rendering tasks. The data shows that the GPU is the component that is most stressed when settings are increased. For example, at 1440p, the average FPS drops from 143 on Low to 73 on Ultra, a 70 FPS difference. This large swing is a direct result of the GPU's workload increasing with more complex shading, lighting, and texture filtering.

The GPU's role is also evident in the 4K results. The fact that the average FPS at 4K Ultra is 40, while at 4K Low it is 79, demonstrates that the RX 9070 is the bottleneck at this resolution. The CPU is likely not the limiting factor, as the framerate scales dramatically with GPU load. The 16 GB of VRAM is also a key factor; while the fact pack does not list VRAM usage, the capacity is ample for a game from 2016, ensuring that memory capacity is not a constraint at any setting. The memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s is sufficient to feed the GPU's 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs, allowing for the high pixel rates observed at lower resolutions.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals provides additional context. The data shows that the RX 9070's nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, with a delta of 0.6%. This indicates that, based on synthetic benchmarks, the RX 9070 is in a similar performance class to that older, high-end card. However, in a modern game like The Technomancer, architectural advantages and driver optimizations would likely favor the RX 9070. The measured FPS data, which shows it achieving over 200 FPS at 1080p Low, confirms that it is a capable card for this title, with its performance ceiling only being reached at 4K with high settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this hardware?

A: According to the measured data, 1440p offers the best balance of high framerate and visual fidelity. At High settings, it delivers an average of 94 FPS, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. While 1080p achieves higher framerates (144 FPS on High), 1440p provides a significant visual upgrade with only a 50 FPS reduction.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings. The data shows an average of 60 FPS at 4K Medium, with a minimum of 51 FPS. At High settings, the average drops to 52 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 40 FPS, so Medium is the only preset that consistently hits the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The framerate scales significantly with resolution and settings, dropping from 219 FPS at 1080p Low to 40 FPS at 4K Ultra. This pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is not restricting performance.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average benchmark score of 58386. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, has an average score of 58323, which is a 0.1% difference. Another close rival, the Intel Core i9-14900, has an average score of 58115, placing it 0.5% behind.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the Low preset yields an average of 219 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 112 FPS. This is a 107 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset nearly halves the framerate compared to Low.

Q: How does the RX 9070's benchmark score compare to its closest competitor?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, has an average score of 23736, which is 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6800S is also close, with a score of 24063, which is 0.8% higher.