The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling when paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The combination of a modern, high-end 8-core processor with a last-generation mid-range GPU creates a bottleneck profile that is clearly visible in the measured frame rates. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to determine which component drives performance at various resolutions and settings, and how this specific pairing ranks among the thousands of tested configurations.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a formidable processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It is a desktop-class chip with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor has a 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is a significant amount of fast memory for game data. Its benchmark scores reflect its high-end positioning; for instance, it achieves 22,807 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,228 in single-core, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4,704. In synthetic benchmarks, it sits in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 58,386.

In the context of The Technomancer, the processor's role is likely to be less of a limiting factor than the GPU. The game is from 2016, and while it can be demanding, the sheer single-thread and multi-thread performance of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is far beyond what was available at the time of the game's release. The data suggests that the CPU is rarely the primary constraint. For example, at 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 130 FPS, which is a high value that would require a robust CPU to feed the GPU. The processor's closest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900, are within a 0.5% margin in average benchmark score, indicating that the 9850X3D is not an outlier but rather a top-tier performer that should not struggle to maintain high frame rates.

However, even a powerful CPU has limits. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 130, which is the highest recorded for this combo. The fact that the frame rate does not go even higher suggests that the CPU is still a participant in the performance equation, though it is likely the GPU that caps the ultimate output. The processor's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for a game of this era, and its high clock speeds ensure that even single-threaded workloads are handled with ease. The data points to a scenario where the CPU provides a solid foundation, but the GPU becomes the primary architect of the final frame rate, especially as resolution and settings increase.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process. It has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and the memory runs at an effective 14 Gbps. The GPU has 1,920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Its compute capability is rated at 6.451 TFLOPS for FP32. In the Passmark G3D benchmark, it scores 14,111, placing it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 15,290, and it is closely matched by rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, which are within a 0.6-0.8% delta.

The RTX 2060's 6 GB of VRAM is a critical detail for this game. The measured FPS data shows a significant performance cliff when moving from Medium to High or Ultra settings, particularly at higher resolutions. This is a classic sign of VRAM capacity or bandwidth saturation. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 24, which is barely playable. While the GPU's raw compute power is a factor, the 6 GB frame buffer is likely insufficient for the high-resolution textures and effects that the Ultra preset demands. The 192-bit memory bus and 336 GB/s bandwidth are also relatively narrow by modern standards, which can limit performance in memory-intensive scenes.

The GPU's role is clearly the dominant factor in this pairing. The frame rates scale dramatically with settings, and the drop from 130 FPS at 1080p Low to 24 FPS at 4K Ultra is a 106 FPS difference. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is the bottleneck. The CPU is fast enough to keep up, but the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates when the workload increases. The data shows that the RTX 2060 is a capable 1080p card, but it struggles at higher resolutions, and the 6 GB VRAM is a limiting factor for a game like The Technomancer that can be demanding on memory.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate is 130 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low reduces the average to 85 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 47 FPS. This pattern shows a significant performance hit with each resolution increase, which is expected. However, the key insight comes from comparing the scaling at different settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 66 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 43 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 24 FPS.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is a 45 FPS drop (130 to 85, a 34.6% reduction). The same resolution change at Ultra settings is a 23 FPS drop (66 to 43, a 34.8% reduction). The percentage drop is nearly identical, which suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in both cases. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to be more similar across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the data shows that the GPU is being pushed harder at higher resolutions, and the frame rates fall accordingly.

The most telling data point is the 4K results. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 47, which is a playable rate for some. However, at 4K Ultra, it drops to 24 FPS. This steep decline with settings at the same resolution strongly suggests that the 6 GB VRAM is being exhausted. The GPU is not just struggling with compute; it is likely running out of memory, which can cause severe performance degradation. The data clearly indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component in this configuration. The CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, but the RTX 2060 cannot sustain them as the resolution and settings increase the graphical load.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combo is ranked 2,212th out of 2,825 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 21.7% of all tested configurations. This low ranking is likely a direct result of the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is a top-tier processor, the RTX 2060 is a mid-range card from a previous generation. The ranking indicates that this pairing is not well-balanced for this specific game, as the CPU's potential is largely untapped due to the GPU bottleneck.

A rank of 2,212 out of 2,825 is a strong indicator that most other combinations of hardware will outperform this one in The Technomancer. The data suggests that a more modern or higher-end GPU would be needed to unlock the full potential of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The CPU's high benchmark scores and 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs are not reflected in this game's performance because the GPU cannot keep up. This is a classic example of a bottleneck scenario, where the overall system performance is limited by the weakest link, which in this case is clearly the graphics card.

The combo's rank is also influenced by the game's age and system requirements. Since The Technomancer is from 2016, many older or less powerful GPUs might still provide a decent experience, but the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM is a significant disadvantage at higher settings. The data shows that this combo is not optimized for this game, and users would see a substantial benefit from upgrading the GPU. The CPU is a future-proof component, but the GPU is holding the system back.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 130 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. For example, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 24, while the CPU demonstrates high benchmark scores, like 22,807 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, showing it is not the limiting factor.

Q: How does the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 130 at 1920x1080 to 47 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 83 FPS, which points to the GPU struggling with the increased pixel count.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 85 on Low settings to 43 on Ultra settings, a 42 FPS difference. This suggests a heavy reliance on GPU resources and memory, likely due to the 6 GB VRAM.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for The Technomancer?

A: This combo is ranked 2,212 out of 2,825 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems when considering overall performance in this game.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra setting playable with this hardware?

A: According to the data, the average FPS at 3840x2160 on Ultra is 24, which is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating it is not a playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's target resolution and preferred frame rate. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the best option is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which yields an average of 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. At 1080p High, the average drops to 85 FPS, which is still acceptable, but Medium offers a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the data suggests that Low settings are the most viable for a high refresh rate experience, with an average of 85 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p are also playable, with an average of 65 FPS and a minimum of 55 FPS, but the frame rate dips closer to the 60 FPS line. High settings at 1440p are less ideal, with an average of 56 FPS, which may result in noticeable stuttering. At 4K, the data shows that even Low settings only achieve an average of 47 FPS, making it a challenging resolution for this GPU.

The best experience, balancing visual fidelity and smoothness, appears to be 1080p with Medium settings. This setting provides a high average frame rate with a minimum that stays well above 60 FPS, ensuring a stable and responsive feel. Alternatively, 1080p High is a good choice for those who prioritize visuals over a bit of frame rate headroom, but Medium is the safest bet for consistent performance. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as it leads to significant performance drops and likely VRAM issues.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination in The Technomancer.

1920x1080

• Low: Average FPS is 130.
• Medium: Average FPS is 100, with a minimum of 85 and a maximum of 115.
• High: Average FPS is 85.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 66.

2560x1440

• Low: Average FPS is 85.
• Medium: Average FPS is 65, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 75.
• High: Average FPS is 56.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 43.

3840x2160

• Low: Average FPS is 47.
• Medium: Average FPS is 36, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41.
• High: Average FPS is 31.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 24.

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern. As resolution and settings increase, the average FPS decreases. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution is substantial, for example, a 64 FPS difference at 1080p and a 23 FPS difference at 4K. The minimum FPS values, where available, show that the frame rate can dip significantly, particularly at 1440p Medium where the minimum is 55 FPS. The overall trend confirms that the RTX 2060 is the limiting factor, with the CPU providing ample headroom for this game.