The Technomancer

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the Intel Arc B370 is a study in extremes: a 16-core, 32-thread desktop flagship from the Zen 3 generation driving an integrated-class mobile GPU. The data shows this combination struggles to deliver playable frame rates in The Technomancer, ranking near the bottom of all tested configurations. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, identifies the bottleneck, and offers practical settings advice based strictly on the benchmark results.

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

The Ryzen 9 5950X is a 16-core, 32-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using TSMC's 7 nm process. It carries a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 105 W TDP. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a substantial 64 MB of L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, and it connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). It launched in November 2020 with a launch MSRP of $799.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 5950X demonstrates its strength. It scores 26,017 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,614 in single-core. The Geekbench results show 15,233 multi-core and 2,083 single-core. Its 3DMark scores scale with thread count: 944 single-thread, 1,856 for 2 threads, 3,595 for 4 threads, 6,598 for 8 threads, 10,810 for 16 threads, and 11,597 for max threads. PassMark tests show a multi-thread score of 45,424 and a single-thread score of 3,470. The processor holds a percentile ranking of 91 against all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general compute tasks.

However, in The Technomancer, the CPU's role is almost entirely secondary. The measured FPS data shows a pattern where performance scales almost directly with resolution and settings changes, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 71 FPS average. Dropping to 1080p Ultra reduces that to 37 FPS. This massive swing is not something a CPU like the 5950X would cause, as its compute headroom is vast. The nearest rivals to the 5950X in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (deltaPct -0.2), AMD EPYC 8124P (deltaPct -0.3), Intel Core i9-13900F (deltaPct 0.4), and Intel Core i7-14700 (deltaPct -0.7). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, showing the 5950X is competitively matched with modern high-end CPUs, yet the game's performance is limited elsewhere.

The bottleneck is unequivocally the Intel Arc B370. This GPU is an integrated part (IGP) of the Panther Lake platform, built on Intel's 3 nm process with the Xe3-LPG architecture. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." The GPU has 1,280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS. The TDP is just 25 W, and it requires no power connectors. It scores only 1,184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct -0.2), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (deltaPct -0.5), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (deltaPct -0.7), and AMD FirePro M2000 (deltaPct 1.4). These are all legacy or low-end parts, confirming the Arc B370 is a very weak graphics solution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Ryzen 9 5950X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2,603 out of 2,825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. The data indicates that the GPU is holding back the entire system to a degree that the CPU's power is irrelevant in this specific game.

To contextualize this ranking, consider the performance distribution. The top combos likely feature high-end discrete GPUs capable of running the game at high frame rates across all resolutions. This combo, with its IGP-class GPU, falls into the lower tier. The rank of 2,603 out of 2,825 is a definitive statement: this is not a configuration meant for gaming at acceptable frame rates. The 5950X's 91st percentile CPU ranking does nothing to rescue the combo from the GPU's 5th percentile ranking. The result is a system that is severely imbalanced for gaming, where the CPU sits idle while the GPU struggles.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The benchmark results for the 5950X are excellent, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26,017 and a PassMark multi-thread score of 45,424. If the game were CPU-bound, we would expect to see frame rates that are relatively consistent across different graphics settings, as the CPU work would be the same. Instead, we see a clear drop from Low to Ultra settings at every resolution, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU is ready and able, but the GPU cannot keep up.

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 clear picture of the system's limitations. At 1080p, the average frame rates are 71 (Low), 55 (Medium), 47 (High), and 37 (Ultra). Moving to 1440p, the averages drop to 47 (Low), 36 (Medium), 31 (High), and 24 (Ultra). At 4K (3840x2160), the averages fall further to 26 (Low), 20 (Medium), 17 (High), and 13 (Ultra).

The scaling from 1080p to 4K is severe. For Low settings, the frame rate drops from 71 to 26, a reduction of 63%. For Ultra settings, it drops from 37 to 13, a reduction of 65%. This steep decline with increasing resolution is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited system. When the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases, and if the GPU is the bottleneck, frame rates will fall proportionally. The CPU's workload does not scale with resolution in the same way, so if the CPU were the limit, the frame rates would be much flatter across resolutions.

The data also shows the impact of settings at each resolution. At 1080p, going from Low to Ultra costs 34 FPS (from 71 to 37). At 1440p, the same settings change costs 23 FPS (from 47 to 24). At 4K, the cost is only 13 FPS (from 26 to 13). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions is typical of a GPU that is already saturated. At 4K, even the Low preset is too demanding, so the relative impact of Ultra settings is smaller. The limiting component is the Intel Arc B370, which lacks the raw throughput to handle high pixel counts or complex effects.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of what this combo can deliver in The Technomancer. The data is measured, not estimated, and includes average FPS for all tested configurations, with min and max FPS recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the results are:

• Low: 71 FPS average.
• Medium: 55 FPS average, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS.
• High: 47 FPS average.
• Ultra: 37 FPS average.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the results are:

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

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are:

• Low: 26 FPS average.
• Medium: 20 FPS average, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 23 FPS.
• High: 17 FPS average.
• Ultra: 13 FPS average.

These numbers are consistent with the GPU's performance class. The 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that achieves a frame rate above 60 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset is playable, with an average of 55 FPS and a minimum of 47 FPS, which suggests it could maintain playability in less demanding scenes. The 1080p High preset drops to an average of 47 FPS, which might be considered borderline for action RPGs. The 1080p Ultra preset sits at 37 FPS, which is likely to feel stuttery in combat.

At 1440p, all presets fall below 50 FPS. The Low preset at 47 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, while the Medium preset at 36 FPS and the High preset at 31 FPS are likely to be too choppy for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 24 FPS is not viable. At 4K, all presets are below 30 FPS, making the game unplayable. The Low preset at 26 FPS is the best case, but it is still a slideshow compared to standard gaming expectations.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X a good CPU for The Technomancer?

A: The CPU is not the limiting factor. The 5950X has a 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs and scores 26,017 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. However, the measured FPS shows that performance is dictated by the GPU, so the CPU's strength does not translate into high frame rates in this specific pairing.

Q: Why is the performance so poor despite having a high-end CPU?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU with a 5th percentile ranking, scoring only 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad. It has a 25 W TDP and uses system memory, which severely limits its gaming performance. The CPU is effectively waiting on the GPU to render each frame.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings preset for this combo?

A: The only configuration that averages above 60 FPS is 1080p Low, with 71 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset at 55 FPS average (47 FPS min) is the highest quality setting that approaches playable frame rates. For a smoother experience, 1080p Low is recommended.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370's average benchmark score of 1,184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186, deltaPct -0.2), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190, deltaPct -0.5), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1,192, deltaPct -0.7). It is slightly ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1,168, deltaPct 1.4). These are all very old or low-end parts.

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

A: No. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 26 on Low settings to 13 on Ultra settings. None of these are playable. The GPU lacks the fill rate and memory bandwidth (System Dependent) to handle the pixel load at 3840x2160.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5950X's performance competitive with other CPUs?

A: Yes. Its average benchmark score of 51,947 is within 0.7% of the Intel Core i7-14700 (52,301, deltaPct -0.7) and within 0.2% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (52,073, deltaPct -0.2). It is also 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900F (51,730). This confirms the CPU is not the issue.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for the best experience with this hardware. The primary goal is to find a balance between visual quality and playable frame rates, and the data shows that the Intel Arc B370 is only capable of acceptable performance at the lowest settings and resolution.

The only configuration that achieves a 60+ FPS average is 1920x1080 with the Low preset, hitting 71 FPS. This is the recommended starting point for any player who values smoothness above all else. It ensures the game runs fluidly, which is critical for an action RPG with real-time combat.

If you are willing to accept a slightly lower frame rate for better visuals, the 1920x1080 Medium preset is the best compromise. It delivers a 55 FPS average with a minimum of 47 FPS. This means that in most scenes, the game will feel responsive, but there may be drops during heavy action sequences. The minimum of 47 FPS is still above 30, which is generally considered the threshold for playability, but it is not ideal.

The 1920x1080 High preset at 47 FPS average is borderline. It is playable but may feel less smooth, especially in areas with many enemies or effects. The Ultra preset at 37 FPS average is not recommended for a good experience, as the frame rate is likely to feel choppy.

For 1440p, the data shows that even the Low preset only achieves 47 FPS. This is a significant downgrade from 1080p Medium, and it is recommended to stick with 1080p for a better experience. The 1440p Medium preset drops to 36 FPS average (30 FPS min), which is below the playability threshold for most users. All 4K presets are unplayable, with averages between 13 and 26 FPS.

In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is 1920x1080 with the Low preset for maximum smoothness, or 1920x1080 with the Medium preset for a better visual balance. Avoid High and Ultra settings, as they do not provide a playable frame rate. The GPU is the definitive bottleneck, and no CPU-side adjustment can overcome its limitations in The Technomancer.