The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting scaling challenge for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination. The data shows this pairing delivers exceptionally high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, with the most demanding configuration (4K Ultra) still producing a playable 61 FPS average. The measured results indicate a system that is rarely bound by the CPU, with the RTX 4090’s raw throughput dominating the frame rate equation at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures high minimums at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the expected shift in bottleneck behavior. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves a 329 FPS average, which falls to 118 FPS at 4K Low — a reduction of approximately 64%. This steep decline indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU and game engine’s single-threaded performance are the primary limiters, preventing the RTX 4090 from reaching even higher frame rates. The 1080p Low result of 329 FPS is far beyond the refresh rate of most displays, but it demonstrates the CPU’s capability to feed the GPU with enough data to saturate its rendering pipeline.

Moving to Medium settings, the scaling pattern holds but with slightly different margins. At 1080p Medium, the average is 253 FPS with a minimum of 215 FPS and a maximum of 291 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 165 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it falls further to 91 FPS. The relative drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 35%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is about 45%. This suggests that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the dominant factor, with the RTX 4090’s 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth being pushed harder by the higher pixel count.

High settings show a similar trend. The 1080p High average is 216 FPS, which drops to 141 FPS at 1440p and then to 77 FPS at 4K. The percentage decreases are roughly 35% from 1080p to 1440p and 45% from 1440p to 4K, consistent with the Medium preset. This consistency implies that the rendering workload scales predictably with resolution, and the system’s performance is not subject to any unusual bottlenecks or thermal throttling within the measured rows.

Ultra settings produce the lowest frame rates but remain playable across all resolutions. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 169 FPS, at 1440p Ultra it is 110 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it is 61 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is particularly telling: it is the only configuration where the average dips below 70 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4090 is finally approaching its limits with this game’s most demanding visual options. The gap between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 108 FPS, or a 64% reduction, which mirrors the Low preset scaling and suggests that the game’s Ultra settings add a consistent overhead regardless of resolution.

The data also shows that the minimum FPS values, available only for Medium settings, follow the same scaling trend. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 215 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 140 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 77 FPS. These minimums are all well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that even in demanding scenes, the combo maintains smooth performance. The delta between average and minimum FPS is 38 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K, suggesting that frame time consistency improves as resolution increases — likely because the GPU’s workload becomes more uniform at higher pixel counts.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 60th out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 2.1% of all tested configurations, a position that reflects the hardware’s overall strength. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across all resolution and settings combinations, and the data shows that this combo excels particularly at higher resolutions where the RTX 4090’s capabilities are fully utilized.

The RTX 4090 itself holds an 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark list include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (deltaPct 0), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (deltaPct 0.3), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (deltaPct -2.5). The near-zero deltaPct values against the Intel and AMD professional cards indicate that the RTX 4090’s average benchmark score is essentially tied with those workstation-oriented GPUs, despite the RTX 4090 being a consumer product with a 450 W TDP and a triple-slot cooler.

The CPU, AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, holds a 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 58,386. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Xeon w5-2545 (deltaPct -0.2), Intel Core i9-14900 (deltaPct 0.5), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (deltaPct -0.7). The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s score is within 0.7% of these rivals, indicating that its multi-threaded performance is comparable to a range of high-end server and desktop processors, despite having only 8 cores and 16 threads.

The combo’s 60th rank out of 2825 is a strong result, but it is not the top configuration. The data suggests that other combos, likely with more powerful CPUs or GPUs, achieve higher average FPS in this game. However, the gap is likely small, given the RTX 4090’s position as one of the fastest consumer GPUs and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s high percentile ranking. The rank also reflects the fact that The Technomancer, being a 2016 title, may not fully utilize the modern hardware’s features, such as the RTX 4090’s 128 RT cores or the CPU’s 96 MB of shared L3 cache.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a significant amount for a desktop processor. This large L3 cache is likely beneficial for The Technomancer, which may rely on frequent data access patterns that benefit from a larger cache footprint.

In the benchmark database, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D posts strong results in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2,228, and its multi-core score is 22,807. The PassMark single-thread score is 4,704, and the multi-thread score is 41,318. These numbers indicate that the CPU has excellent per-core performance, which is crucial for games that do not scale perfectly across many cores. The Technomancer, being an Action RPG from 2016, likely uses fewer threads than modern titles, so the CPU’s strong single-thread performance is more relevant than its multi-threaded capabilities.

The measured FPS data supports this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 329 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that requires the CPU to process game logic and draw calls at a rapid pace. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s 5.60 GHz boost clock and high IPC from Zen 5 architecture allow it to keep up with the RTX 4090’s frame generation at this resolution. If the CPU were weaker, the 1080p Low result would likely be lower, as the GPU would be waiting for the CPU to submit work.

At higher resolutions, the CPU’s role diminishes. The 4K Ultra result of 61 FPS is more dependent on the GPU’s pixel and texture processing capabilities, as the RTX 4090’s 16,384 shading units and 512 TMUs are tasked with rendering the higher-resolution frames. The CPU still needs to maintain a minimum frame rate, but the data shows that the combo’s frame rates at 4K are consistent across different settings, suggesting that the CPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution.

The CPU’s memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth also plays a role. The Technomancer likely benefits from faster memory access, and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s support for DDR5 ensures that the CPU can feed the GPU with texture and geometry data without causing memory bandwidth bottlenecks. The 96 MB L3 cache further reduces the need to access system memory, which can improve frame pacing in scenes with complex geometry.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. Starting with 1080p, the lowest tested resolution, the data shows that the combo is capable of extremely high frame rates. At Low settings, the average is 329 FPS. At Medium, the average is 253 FPS with a minimum of 215 FPS and a maximum of 291 FPS. High settings produce a 216 FPS average, and Ultra settings produce a 169 FPS average. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 48.6% reduction, which indicates that the Ultra preset adds significant visual effects that impact performance, but the absolute numbers remain well above any standard display’s refresh rate.

At 1440p, the frame rates are still high but show the expected decrease from 1080p. Low settings yield a 215 FPS average. Medium settings produce a 165 FPS average with a minimum of 140 FPS and a maximum of 190 FPS. High settings average 141 FPS, and Ultra settings average 110 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, with an average reduction of about 35%. This suggests that the GPU is scaling proportionally with the increase in pixel count, and the CPU is not introducing any additional bottlenecks.

At 4K, the frame rates become more moderate but remain playable. Low settings produce a 118 FPS average. Medium settings yield a 91 FPS average with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS. High settings average 77 FPS, and Ultra settings average 61 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured in the entire dataset, but it still meets the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 77 FPS at 4K Medium indicates that the combo can maintain a consistent frame rate even in demanding scenes, which is a positive indicator for gameplay smoothness.

The data also reveals how the settings presets affect performance differently at each resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 160 FPS, which is a substantial gap. At 1440p, the gap is 105 FPS, and at 4K, the gap is 57 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the Ultra preset’s additional effects, such as increased draw distances or more complex lighting, become more expensive relative to the GPU’s total workload as resolution increases. The RTX 4090’s 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the 4K Ultra texture loads, but the compute requirements still cap the frame rate at 61 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p provides the best balance of frame rate and visual quality. At 1440p High, the average is 141 FPS, which is smooth on high-refresh displays. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 110 FPS, still well above 60 FPS. 4K Ultra is playable at 61 FPS, but 1440p offers a higher margin for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: The CPU’s strong single-thread performance is critical at 1080p, as shown by the 329 FPS average at Low settings. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s 5.60 GHz boost clock and Zen 5 architecture allow it to keep up with the RTX 4090’s frame generation, preventing a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 the limiting factor at 4K?

A: Yes, the data indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K. The 4K Ultra average of 61 FPS is significantly lower than the 1080p Ultra average of 169 FPS, and the scaling pattern suggests that the RTX 4090’s compute and memory capabilities are being fully utilized at this resolution.

Q: What is the difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p, the difference is 47 FPS (216 vs 169), at 1440p it is 31 FPS (141 vs 110), and at 4K it is 16 FPS (77 vs 61). Ultra settings consistently reduce performance by about 20-25% compared to High, but the absolute frame rates remain playable at all resolutions.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 60th out of 2825 tested combos, placing it in the top 2.1% of all configurations. The RTX 4090’s 88th percentile ranking and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s 92nd percentile ranking contribute to this high placement, though other combos with more powerful hardware may achieve higher frame rates.

Q: Are the minimum FPS values stable across resolutions?

A: The available minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows good stability. At 1080p, the minimum is 215 FPS; at 1440p, it is 140 FPS; and at 4K, it is 77 FPS. The minimums are consistently close to the averages, indicating that the combo maintains consistent frame pacing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user’s display and performance priorities. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is recommended, as the 169 FPS average is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors, and the visual quality improvement over High is significant. Even the minimum FPS at 1080p Medium (215 FPS) is far above any display’s refresh rate, so users can freely choose Ultra without worrying about frame rate drops.

For 1440p displays, the High preset offers the best balance, with a 141 FPS average that comfortably exceeds 120 Hz refresh rates. The Ultra preset still delivers 110 FPS, which is playable on 120 Hz displays but may not maintain a locked 144 FPS in all scenes. If a user has a 144 Hz 1440p monitor, High is the safer choice, while Ultra is viable for 120 Hz displays or users who prioritize visual fidelity over a small frame rate margin.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point, as the 91 FPS average is smooth on 60 Hz and even 120 Hz displays. The High preset’s 77 FPS average is also acceptable, but the 61 FPS average on Ultra is close to the 60 FPS threshold, which may result in occasional dips below 60 FPS in the most demanding scenes. The data shows that the 4K Medium minimum of 77 FPS provides a comfortable buffer, whereas the Ultra preset’s average of 61 FPS leaves little headroom.

The Low preset is not recommended for any resolution, as it provides no meaningful frame rate benefit at 1080p (329 FPS vs 253 FPS at Medium) and sacrifices visual quality. The exception would be for competitive play at 1080p with a very high refresh rate display (e.g., 360 Hz), where the 329 FPS average could be beneficial. However, for most users, the Medium preset at 4K or the High preset at 1440p provides the best experience based on the measured data.