The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for modern hardware. The pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER yields a wide range of performance across resolutions and settings, and the measured data reveals a system that is clearly capable of delivering high frame rates, though the balance between CPU and GPU loading shifts significantly depending on the target resolution.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The CPU has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a TDP of 120 W. Its cache configuration is substantial, featuring 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a large 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This cache hierarchy is particularly relevant for gaming workloads, which often benefit from larger pools of fast memory. The processor supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it also includes integrated Radeon Graphics, though the discrete GPU handles rendering in this analysis.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is more than capable of handling this task, even at high frame rates. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average frame rate of 259 FPS. This extremely high number indicates that the CPU can process game state and issue rendering commands quickly enough to support frame rates far beyond what most displays can show. The processor's strong single-thread performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2228, is a key factor in this capability, as older games like The Technomancer often rely heavily on a few primary threads.

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s performance in synthetic benchmarks further contextualizes its strength. It scores 3551 in Cinebench R15 multicore and 343 in single-core. In Cinebench R23, the scores are 22807 for multicore and 2228 for single-core. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4704, and its multithread score is 41318. These figures place the CPU in the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier performer. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, with a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Xeon w5-2545 with a delta of -0.2%, the Intel Core i9-14900 with a delta of 0.5%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 with a delta of -0.7%. These very small delta percentages show that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is essentially performance-equivalent to these other high-end chips in aggregate benchmark scores, but its gaming-specific features, such as the large L3 cache, may provide an edge in certain titles.

For The Technomancer specifically, the CPU's architecture ensures that it is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The measured frame rates at 1080p, which reach up to 259 FPS on Low settings, are a signal of the processor's ability to keep up with the GPU's output. The CPU's 16 threads are also sufficient for the game's multi-threaded aspects, preventing any significant frame pacing issues. The data indicates that the processor's high clock speeds and large cache are well-suited to the demands of this title, allowing the graphics card to operate at its full potential.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER in The Technomancer is tracked in a database of tested combinations. This specific pairing holds a rank of 414 out of 2825 tested combos. This places it in the top 15% of all configurations tested for this game, which is a strong showing given the wide variety of hardware combinations that have been benchmarked. The rank indicates that this system delivers a level of performance that is superior to the vast majority of other tested setups.

Being ranked 414th out of 2825 means that roughly 2,400 other combinations of CPUs and GPUs were slower or less effective in this title. This puts the Ryzen 7 9850X3D + RTX 4070 SUPER combination in the upper echelon of performers. The high rank is a result of the balance between the CPU's ability to push high frame rates and the GPU's capacity to render the game at high resolutions and settings. While the RTX 4070 SUPER is not the absolute fastest GPU on the market, its performance, combined with the top-tier CPU, is enough to outpace many configurations that might have a more powerful GPU but a weaker processor.

This ranking is particularly impressive because The Technomancer is a game from 2016, and its engine may not scale perfectly with modern hardware. The fact that this modern combination still achieves a high rank suggests that the CPU's strong single-thread performance is effectively utilized, and the GPU's architecture is efficient in this older title. The rank of 414 is a data point that confirms the system's overall capability, but the more detailed resolution scaling and FPS breakdown provide a clearer picture of its strengths and weaknesses. The combination is clearly well-balanced, as the GPU and CPU are able to work together to produce high frame rates without one component excessively limiting the other.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a classic pattern of scaling that points to the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of producing very high frame rates. For instance, with High settings, the average FPS is 170. When moving to 2560x1440, this drops to 111 FPS, a decrease of about 35%. At 3840x2160, the average FPS with High settings falls to 61, which is a 45% drop from the 1440p figure and a 64% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling is indicative of a system that is heavily GPU-limited at 4K.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 259 at 1080p, to 169 at 1440p, and then to 93 at 4K. This is a reduction of 35% from 1080p to 1440p and a further 45% from 1440p to 4K. The frame rate drops are slightly smaller percentages at lower settings, but the trend is the same: the higher the resolution, the fewer frames the system can produce. This is because the GPU's workload increases with the number of pixels, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, assuming the game logic and draw calls are the same.

This scaling behavior strongly suggests that the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p frame rates, as the GPU would be waiting for the CPU to send data. Instead, the significant frame rate drops as resolution increases indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is being pushed to its limits. The GPU has to fill more pixels, and its rendering throughput becomes the eventual constraint. At 1080p, the CPU is able to feed the GPU fast enough to achieve frame rates exceeding 250 FPS on Low, but the GPU cannot maintain that level of output when the pixel count quadruples at 4K.

The data suggests that for users aiming for the highest possible frame rates, 1080p is where this combination truly shines, with the CPU's power being fully utilized to push the GPU to its maximum output. As users move to 1440p and 4K, the experience becomes more dependent on the GPU's raw rendering power. The consistent and expected frame rate drops across all settings confirm that the system's performance scaling is healthy and that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the component that dictates the upper limits of performance at higher resolutions.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. With the Low preset, the average FPS is 259, which is exceptionally high and likely far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset yields an average of 199 FPS, with a minimum of 169 FPS and a maximum of 229 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 170 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still achieves a very playable average of 133 FPS. At this resolution, all presets are very playable, and even the most demanding settings provide a smooth experience, easily clearing the 60 FPS threshold and often exceeding 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected impact of the increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 169 FPS, which is still a high frame rate suitable for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 111 FPS, which is just above the 100 FPS mark and provides a smooth and responsive experience. The Ultra preset averages 87 FPS, which is still a solid frame rate for a demanding preset, though it is below the 100 FPS threshold that some users may prefer. At 1440p, the system is clearly capable of handling all presets, with the lowest average FPS being 87 on Ultra, which is still well above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance becomes more moderate, with the GPU clearly becoming the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 93 FPS, which is still a very playable frame rate for 4K. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. This is right at the edge of the 60 FPS target, providing a playable experience but with less headroom. The High preset averages 61 FPS, which is exactly at the 60 FPS standard and should be acceptable for many users, though it may not be as smooth as 100+ FPS gameplay. The Ultra preset averages 48 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in a less fluid experience, especially in fast-paced action scenes. At 4K, the data shows that the system is best suited for High settings or below if the user wants to maintain a steady 60 FPS, as Ultra settings will likely cause the frame rate to dip below that mark.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this system can achieve in The Technomancer at 1080p?

A: The maximum average FPS is 259, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low quality preset.

Q: At 4K resolution, which preset allows the system to maintain an average FPS above 60?

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset yields an average of 61 FPS, and the Low and Medium presets also stay above 60 FPS with averages of 93 and 71 FPS, respectively. The Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS with an average of 48 FPS.

Q: How does the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: On High settings, the average FPS at 1920x1080 is 170. At 2560x1440, it drops to 111, and at 3840x2160, it further drops to 61. This represents a significant reduction of over 60% from 1080p to 4K.

Q: What is the rank of this CPU and GPU combination among all tested combos for this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination holds a comboRankInGame of 414 out of 2825 tested combinations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with the Medium preset, the minimum FPS recorded is 111, while the average is 130 FPS and the maximum is 150 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The significant frame rate drops when moving from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K indicate that the rendering workload is exceeding the capabilities of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, while the CPU is capable of feeding it data fast enough to support much higher frame rates at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the system has an abundance of performance headroom. The Ultra preset, with an average of 133 FPS, is the best choice for maximizing visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. This frame rate is well above the 60 FPS threshold and will be a fluid experience on most high-refresh-rate monitors. If a user has a 240Hz or higher display, the High preset at 170 FPS or even the Medium preset at 199 FPS could be used to push frame rates even higher, though the visual differences between High and Ultra may be minor in this title.

For users gaming at 2560x1440, the High preset offers an excellent balance, delivering an average of 111 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience that is ideal for a game like The Technomancer. The Ultra preset, at 87 FPS, is also a viable option for those who prioritize visual fidelity and can accept a lower, though still playable, frame rate. The Medium preset at 130 FPS is a great choice for users with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, as it provides a significant frame rate boost over High while still looking good. The Low preset is generally not necessary at this resolution, as even the most demanding presets are playable.

At 3840x2160, the choices become more constrained. The High preset, with an average of 61 FPS, is the recommended choice for a 60Hz 4K display, as it provides the best visual quality while maintaining a frame rate that is right at the target. The Medium preset, at 71 FPS, offers a bit more headroom and is also a solid option, especially if the user wants to avoid any potential frame drops. The Ultra preset, at 48 FPS, is not recommended for this resolution, as the frame rate falls below the 60 FPS standard and may lead to a less smooth experience. The Low preset at 93 FPS is an option for users who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual compromise is likely too significant for a game like this. Overall, for a balanced experience at 4K, the High preset is the sweet spot, delivering the best combination of visual fidelity and performance that stays at the 60 FPS target.