The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting benchmark scenario when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT. This combination of a high-end 12-core Zen 4 processor and a modern RDNA 3.0 graphics card yields a dataset that clearly delineates the performance boundaries of each component. The measured results show a system capable of delivering high refresh rates at 1080p, but which becomes increasingly constrained by the GPU as resolution scales up.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings presets, revealing a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At the Ultra preset, the average frame rate falls from 108 FPS at 1920x1080 to 70 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 38 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average plummets to 39 FPS, which represents a 64% decrease from the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the graphics card is the primary limiting factor when pixel count increases, as the workload on the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth scales directly with resolution.

The Low preset shows a similar relative trend, albeit at higher absolute numbers. The average FPS at 1080p is 210, which drops to 137 at 1440p and then to 76 at 4K. The delta between 1440p and 4K remains significant, confirming that even with reduced visual complexity, the sheer number of pixels at 4K overwhelms the RX 7800 XT's capabilities in this title. The Medium preset demonstrates this dynamic with measured minimum and maximum frame times, showing a range of 137-186 FPS at 1080p, 90-121 FPS at 1440p, and 49-67 FPS at 4K. The narrowing of the FPS range at higher resolutions suggests that frame pacing becomes more consistent even as the average performance dips, which is typical for a GPU that is saturated.

The High preset data completes the picture, with averages of 138, 90, and 50 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p costs 48 FPS, while the jump to 4K costs another 40 FPS. This gradual decline indicates that the CPU, with its high clock speeds and substantial core count, is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. The Ryzen 9 7900X has more than enough headroom to feed the GPU at 1080p, and at 4K, the GPU's rendering workload becomes so dominant that the CPU's role diminishes further.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested configurations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT achieves a rank of 1228 out of 3696 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the upper third of all tested systems, indicating that it delivers solid performance for this specific title. The percentile ranking for the CPU alone is 91, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of other processors in general benchmark suites. However, the GPU's percentile ranking of 51 is notably lower, which suggests that the graphics card is the more modest contributor to the overall system ranking.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU percentiles is key to understanding the combo's position. The CPU's average benchmark score of 53288 places it in close competition with the AMD EPYC 7313P, which is only 0.2% ahead. It also edges out the Intel Xeon 634 by 0.6% and is 0.3% behind the Intel Xeon Phi 7290. This shows the 7900X is a top-tier performer in synthetic CPU tests. In contrast, the GPU's average score of 11627 is nearly identical to that of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, which is a full generation older and less capable in modern titles. The RX 7800 XT is only 0.5% ahead of the GTX 1660, and trails the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT by 1.8% in this synthetic aggregate, despite being a far more powerful card in absolute terms.

This ranking suggests that while the CPU is a champion-class component, the GPU's synthetic benchmark score is not representative of its real-world gaming performance in this particular title, or the benchmark suite's scoring is weighted in a way that does not favor its architecture. The combo's rank of 1228 out of 3696 is therefore a function of a very strong CPU paired with a GPU that performs well in-game but has a less impressive synthetic profile. The data indicates that the system's overall standing is pulled down by the GPU's percentile, but the in-game FPS results show a capable 1440p and 4K experience.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot for a high-refresh-rate experience. At the High preset, the system achieves an average of 90 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1920x1080, the system can push well over 138 FPS on High, but the visual fidelity is lower. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on High drops to 50, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance cost?

A: The Ultra preset is significantly more demanding. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 90 on High to 70 on Ultra, a 22% decrease. At 3840x2160, the drop is more severe, from 50 FPS on High to 39 FPS on Ultra, a 22% decrease as well. The visual uplift from High to Ultra may not justify the substantial performance loss, especially at 4K.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 7900X bottlenecking the RX 7800 XT in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck at any resolution. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is smooth and consistent, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's high boost clock of 5.60 GHz and 12 cores provide ample headroom, even at 1080p Low where the average FPS reaches 210, showing the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at very high frame rates.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with the Medium preset, the system delivers an average of 106 FPS, with measured minimum and maximum values of 90 and 121 FPS, respectively. This indicates a stable and highly playable experience with good frame pacing, making it a strong choice for users who prioritize frame rate over maximum visual quality.

Q: How does the GPU's synthetic benchmark score compare to its in-game performance?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 11627 places it near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, which is a much less powerful card. However, the measured in-game FPS at 1080p (138+ on High) shows that the RX 7800 XT is a capable gaming GPU. This discrepancy suggests that the synthetic benchmark suite may not fully capture the architectural strengths of this RDNA 3.0 card in this title.

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

A: Yes, it can, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 50 on High and 58 on Medium. For a 60 FPS target, the Medium preset is the most appropriate, as it offers a playable experience. The Ultra preset at 4K averages only 39 FPS, which may be too low for some players.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience that prioritizes frame rate without sacrificing too much visual fidelity, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the recommended configuration. The measured 90 FPS average provides a smooth and responsive environment for the action-RPG combat. Dropping to the Medium preset at this resolution yields 106 FPS, which is a significant boost for users with high-refresh-rate monitors, though it comes with a minor reduction in graphical effects.

For users with a 1080p display, the High preset at 138 FPS is an excellent choice, offering a very fluid experience. Pushing to Ultra at this resolution is possible at 108 FPS, but the performance cost of 30 FPS may not be worth the marginal visual improvements. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 162 FPS, is the best option for competitive play or for displays with refresh rates above 144Hz, as it provides the highest frame rates while maintaining a playable visual quality.

At 4K, the recommendation is to use the Medium preset, which averages 58 FPS. This is the only preset that consistently stays near the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 50 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of performance and visual quality. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS should be avoided unless the user prioritizes maximum graphical fidelity over gameplay smoothness. The Low preset at 4K yields 76 FPS, but the visual downgrade is likely too severe to be a practical recommendation for general play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset for this combo in The Technomancer is as follows:

1920x1080:

• Ultra: Average 108 FPS.
• High: Average 138 FPS.
• Medium: Average 162 FPS, with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 186 FPS.
• Low: Average 210 FPS.

2560x1440:

• Ultra: Average 70 FPS.
• High: Average 90 FPS.
• Medium: Average 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS.
• Low: Average 137 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Ultra: Average 39 FPS.
• High: Average 50 FPS.
• Medium: Average 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS.
• Low: Average 76 FPS.

The data shows a clear hierarchy across all resolutions. The Low preset provides the highest average FPS, followed by Medium, High, and finally Ultra. The relative differences between presets are consistent, with Ultra being approximately 25-30% slower than High across all resolutions. The Medium preset offers a substantial improvement over High, typically providing a 15-20% increase in average FPS.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It features a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which are high frequencies that contribute to excellent single-threaded performance. In synthetic benchmarks, it achieves a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2016.5 and a multi-core score of 29300, underscoring its strength in both lightly and heavily threaded workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4238 is also notable.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The game, being from 2016, is not likely to be optimized for 12 cores, but the 7900X's high boost clock ensures that even if only a few cores are utilized, their performance is outstanding. The data supports this: the system achieves 210 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a highly CPU-intensive scenario (high frame rate, low GPU load). The fact that the system can hit this number indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor.

The processor's large 64 MB shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, which can benefit game performance by keeping frequently accessed data closer to the cores. The support for DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus provides a high memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, further ensuring the CPU does not starve the GPU. The CPU's 91st percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its high-tier status, and its nearest rivals in synthetic score, such as the AMD EPYC 7313P and Intel Core i7-14700F, are all within 0.6% of its average score, highlighting the competitive performance headroom it offers.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip. It has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2430 MHz. The GPU is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large memory pool is a significant asset for a game like The Technomancer, ensuring that texture data is readily available without stuttering at higher resolutions.

The GPU's performance in this title is the primary driver of the resolution scaling observed. At 1080p, the card delivers high frame rates across all presets, but its limits become apparent at 4K. The 39 FPS average on Ultra at 4K is a direct result of the pixel fill rate and shading load. The GPU's 96 ROPs and 3840 shading units are tasked with rendering 8.3 million pixels, which is a substantial workload. The 37.32 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is not enough to maintain high frame rates with the most demanding settings at this resolution.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark percentile of 51 is surprisingly low, and its average score of 11627 places it near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 with a delta of -0.5%. This is a significant anomaly, as the RX 7800 XT is a far more capable card. This discrepancy may be due to the benchmark's weighting or a driver-specific quirk, but the actual game data shows a much stronger performance profile. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4157 and the PassMark G3D score of 24176 are more reflective of its gaming capability. In-game, the GPU proves it can handle 1440p High at 90 FPS, which is a solid result for a modern title. The 16 GB VRAM is also a future-proofing feature, though The Technomancer may not require it, it prevents any potential memory-related bottlenecks.