The Technomancer

The Technomancer pairs an unusually strong CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, with a much older graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings show a system where the GPU is the clear limiting factor, but the CPU’s headroom keeps the experience consistent and free of stutter-related dips in the data recorded. This combination ranks in the lower half of tested configurations, and the numbers below detail exactly how the balance plays out in practice.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 117 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on the same Low preset, the average drops to 76 FPS, and at 3840x2160 it falls further to 42 FPS. That is a 64% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a steep decline driven almost entirely by the GTX 1070’s pixel throughput limits.

The High preset tells a similar story. At 1080p High, the average is 77 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 50 FPS. At 4K High, it collapses to 27 FPS. The scaling factor from 1080p to 4K here is roughly 65% lower performance, again pointing squarely at the GPU. The GTX 1070’s 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth are simply not enough to feed a 4K buffer at high quality settings in this title.

Ultra settings make the situation even more pronounced. The 4K Ultra average is just 21 FPS, which is the single lowest measured result in the entire set. The jump from Medium to Ultra at 4K costs 11 FPS (from 32 to 21), while the jump from Low to Medium at 4K costs 10 FPS (from 42 to 32). This shows that the GTX 1070 is operating near its absolute ceiling at 4K, where even modest quality increases push it below playable thresholds.

The resolution scaling also indicates that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is never the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see smaller frame rate gaps between resolutions, especially at 1080p where CPU load is typically higher. Instead, the 1080p Low result of 117 FPS and the 1080p Medium result of 90 FPS demonstrate that the CPU can push well beyond what the GPU can render. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, provide ample headroom for a 2016 action RPG that was never designed to stress modern high-core-count processors.

The data shows that the GTX 1070’s performance ceiling is hit around 1080p Medium or High, where it can maintain 90 and 77 FPS respectively. Beyond that, every resolution increase or quality preset bump yields diminishing returns. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with even the lowest settings producing only 42 FPS. The pattern is consistent: this is a 1080p-oriented GPU, and the CPU’s role is to ensure the frame pacing stays smooth rather than to add raw FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing ranks 2336 out of 2825 total combos. That places it in the bottom 17% of all tested configurations, which is a low position but not catastrophically so. The rank reflects the GTX 1070’s age and the fact that the GPU was already mid-range when the game launched in 2016.

The GPU itself sits at the 47th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 9780. Its nearest rivals in raw compute are the AMD FirePro W5000 (average score 9803, delta of -0.2%), the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (average score 9832, delta of -0.5%), the NVIDIA Tesla M10 (average score 9724, delta of 0.6%), and the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (average score 9716, delta of 0.7%). These deltas are all within 0.7% of the GTX 1070, meaning the GPU is essentially on par with those professional and workstation parts in synthetic benchmarks, though its gaming performance in The Technomancer is what matters here.

The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier part. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 58386. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (average score 58323, delta 0.1%), the Intel Xeon w5-2545 (average score 58504, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i9-14900 (average score 58115, delta 0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (average score 58826, delta -0.7%). None of these rivals differ by more than 0.7%, indicating that the 9850X3D is firmly in the top tier of desktop processors.

The mismatch between CPU and GPU performance is stark. The CPU ranks in the 92nd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 47th percentile. In The Technomancer, the combo rank of 2336 out of 2825 reflects the GPU dragging the overall result down. If the CPU were paired with a faster GPU, the combo rank would likely be much higher, as the CPU’s headroom would allow a stronger graphics card to shine. As it stands, the data indicates that this is a CPU-overkill, GPU-limited build.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a Zen 5 part built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a transistor count of 8,315 million on a 70.6 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The L3 cache is 96 MB shared, which is substantial, and the CPU supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The TDP is 120 W, and it uses the AMD Socket AM5.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is mostly to stay out of the way. The game was released in 2016, when 4-core and 8-thread processors were the norm. The 9850X3D’s 8 cores and 16 threads are far more than this title needs, and the high boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures that even single-threaded workloads are handled with ease. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2228 and the multi-core score of 22807 confirm that this CPU excels in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded scenarios.

The data from the measured FPS shows no CPU-related bottlenecks. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 117 FPS average, which is well within the CPU’s capability to feed. If the CPU were struggling, we would see frame rate dips or inconsistent results, but the 1080p Medium results show a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS, indicating stable frame delivery. The 1440p Medium results show a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS, and the 4K Medium results show a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. These ranges are narrow, which suggests that the CPU is providing consistent frame pacing without introducing stutter.

The PassMark multithread score of 41318 and single-thread score of 4704 further illustrate the CPU’s strength. The data compression score of 474501 and floating-point math score of 81998 are high, but these are synthetic tests that do not directly translate to gaming performance. What matters for The Technomancer is that the CPU never becomes the limiting factor, and the measured FPS confirms this. The GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution and setting, and the CPU’s job is simply to keep up, which it does effortlessly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 117. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103. High settings produce an average of 77 FPS. Ultra settings yield an average of 60 FPS, which is exactly the threshold for smooth gameplay on many displays. The 1080p results show a clear progression: each quality preset costs roughly 15-20 FPS, with the largest drop occurring from Low to Medium (27 FPS) and the smallest from High to Ultra (17 FPS).

At 2560x1440, the frame rates become more demanding. Low settings produce an average of 76 FPS. Medium settings drop to 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 67. High settings average 50 FPS, and Ultra settings average 39 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 1440p is 17 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 11 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the GTX 1070 can handle medium-quality settings at this resolution for a playable experience, but High and Ultra push it into borderline territory.

At 3840x2160, the results are mostly unplayable. Low settings produce an average of 42 FPS, which is the only 4K result above 30 FPS. Medium settings average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 37. High settings drop to 27 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 21 FPS. The 4K results are consistently below the 60 FPS target, and even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a smooth experience. The minimum FPS of 27 at 4K Medium suggests that there are moments where the frame rate dips into the low 20s, which would be noticeable as stutter.

The measured data shows that the best experience is at 1080p Medium or High, where the average FPS is 90 or 77 respectively, with no minimum FPS below 76 for Medium. The 1080p Ultra result of 60 FPS is also viable, but the higher presets provide diminishing returns in visual quality for the frame rate cost. At 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot at 59 FPS, while at 4K, even Low settings are marginal.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings produce playable frame rates. The 1080p Low average is 117 FPS, Medium is 90 FPS, High is 77 FPS, and Ultra is 60 FPS. At 1440p, only Low and Medium exceed 50 FPS (76 and 59 respectively), while at 4K, even Low settings only reach 42 FPS.

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

A: No. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with the highest average being 42 FPS at Low settings. Medium averages 32 FPS with a minimum of 27, High averages 27 FPS, and Ultra averages 21 FPS. These are below the 60 FPS target and would result in a suboptimal experience.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 9780, placing it at the 47th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD FirePro W5000 (9803, delta -0.2%), NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (9832, delta -0.5%), NVIDIA Tesla M10 (9724, delta 0.6%), and NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (9716, delta 0.7%). These differences are all within 0.7%, meaning the GTX 1070 is statistically on par with those parts.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9850X3D a bottleneck for the GTX 1070 in this game?

A: No. The measured FPS shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 117 FPS, and at 1080p Medium it averages 90 FPS with a minimum of 76. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, provide ample headroom, as evidenced by the stable frame pacing across all settings.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations for The Technomancer?

A: The combo ranks 2336 out of 2825 total tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all configurations, which is consistent with the GTX 1070’s mid-range position. The CPU alone ranks at the 92nd percentile, but the GPU’s 47th percentile drags the overall rank down.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for Medium settings across resolutions?

A: At 1080p Medium, the minimum FPS is 76. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 50. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 27. These values show that the frame rate drops are consistent with the resolution scaling, and the GPU is the primary factor in these declines.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to 1080p Medium as the most balanced experience. The average FPS is 90, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The minimum of 76 FPS means that there are no significant dips that would cause stutter, making this the safest choice for consistent performance.

For users with 1080p displays who want higher visual quality, 1080p High is also viable, with an average of 77 FPS. The trade-off is a 13 FPS reduction compared to Medium, but the visual improvements are likely worth it for players who prioritize graphics. The 1080p Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no headroom for frame rate drops, so it is only recommended for those who accept occasional dips below the refresh rate.

At 1440p, Medium is the only setting that reliably exceeds 60 FPS, with an average of 59 FPS and a minimum of 50. This is close to the target but not quite there, so players with 1440p monitors should expect slightly lower smoothness. The 1440p Low preset averages 76 FPS, which is smoother, but the visual quality reduction is significant. For 1440p users, Medium is the best compromise, as High (50 FPS) and Ultra (39 FPS) fall below the playable threshold.

At 4K, no setting provides a consistently playable experience. The Low preset averages 42 FPS, which is below 60 FPS and may be acceptable for slower-paced games, but The Technomancer’s action combat would likely suffer. Medium averages 32 FPS with a minimum of 27, which is too low for smooth gameplay. High and Ultra are not viable at 21 and 27 FPS respectively. The data suggests that 4K should be avoided entirely with this combo, and users should stick to 1080p or possibly 1440p with Medium settings.

The overall recommendation is to run The Technomancer at 1080p with Medium or High settings, depending on whether the user prefers higher frame rates or better visuals. The 1080p Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and quality, with an average of 90 FPS and a minimum of 76. This combination of CPU and GPU is well-suited for 1080p gaming, and the data confirms that pushing beyond that resolution results in diminishing returns.