The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a unique challenge for modern hardware, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 yields a dataset that clearly illustrates where each component’s strengths and limitations lie. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system capable of exceptional performance, yet the data also shows how the game’s engine scales and where diminishing returns begin to appear. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the role of each component, and how this specific pairing ranks against other tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for the highest frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 305 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is followed closely by 252.4 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings and 218.7 FPS with High settings at the same resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 60.1 FPS. This is the lowest measured result in the dataset, but it still represents a playable experience for a demanding title at maximum fidelity.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average FPS scales dramatically with settings, reaching over 300 FPS at Low, which indicates the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. The performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings also shows the GPU becoming the primary driver of performance.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings at 2560x1440?

A: The average frame rate at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 169.1 FPS, while High settings yield 142.2 FPS. This represents a drop of approximately 26.9 FPS when moving from Medium to High, a significant cost for the visual upgrade.

Q: How does this specific combo rank against all other tested hardware combinations?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination is ranked 26th out of 1656 total tested combos for this game. This places it in the top 2% of all configurations, indicating top-tier performance.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: The jump is substantial. Low settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 218.2 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 108.6 FPS. This shows a 109.6 FPS difference, highlighting the significant performance cost of the Ultra preset.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear picture of how the game scales with graphical presets. At 1920x1080, even the most demanding Ultra preset achieves an average of 169.5 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Low preset at this resolution reaches 305 FPS, but such a high frame rate is far beyond what most displays can show. The optimal experience for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p would be the High preset, offering 218.7 FPS, which balances visual quality with a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the RTX 4090 continues to deliver outstanding performance. The High preset provides an average of 142.2 FPS, which is ideal for a 144Hz monitor. The Medium preset offers even more headroom at 169.1 FPS, making it a strong choice for competitive play. The Ultra preset, while dropping to 108.6 FPS, still provides a smooth experience and is suitable for users prioritizing visual fidelity over maximum frame rates. For a balanced experience at 1440p, the data suggests High is the best choice, as it maintains high frame rates while delivering the full visual experience.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090's capabilities are tested more thoroughly. The High preset yields an average of 79.5 FPS, which is ideal for a 60Hz or 120Hz display with high settings. The Medium preset at 89.5 FPS offers a slight performance increase. The Ultra preset, at 60.1 FPS, is playable but is the only configuration in the dataset that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, making it a choice for those who prioritize absolute visual quality. The Low preset at 114.7 FPS shows that even at 4K, the hardware can achieve high frame rates when visual effects are reduced. The best experience for 4K would be the High preset, which provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS without the performance penalty of Ultra.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its base clock of 4.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz are high for a desktop CPU. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 43,695 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which indicates a massive amount of multi-threaded throughput. This is corroborated by a Passmark multithread score of 51,406, placing it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is primarily to ensure the GPU is fed with enough data to render frames. The measured FPS data confirms this. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 305 FPS. This high frame rate, which is well above what most displays can handle, suggests that the Ryzen 9 7900X is not a bottleneck even at lower resolutions where CPU load is typically higher. The 24 threads provide ample headroom for the game's logic and physics, ensuring that frame times remain consistent.

The performance difference between resolutions further clarifies the CPU's role. The transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at the same settings results in a significant FPS drop (e.g., from 218.7 to 142.2 FPS on High). This drop is primarily due to the increased load on the GPU at higher resolutions. The CPU is capable of delivering the necessary instructions, but the GPU's rendering work becomes the limiting factor. The data indicates that the Ryzen 9 7900X provides a solid foundation for the RTX 4090, allowing it to perform to its full potential across all tested settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 holds a rank of 26th out of 1,656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 1.6% of all configurations, signifying that it is a top-tier performer. The CPU itself, with an average benchmark score of 50,556, is closely matched with its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, which scores 50,598 (a delta of -0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT, which scores 50,738 (a delta of -0.4%). This indicates that the CPU's performance is not the differentiating factor for this high rank.

The GPU, however, tells a different story. The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 66,473. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla T4, which scores 66,733 (a delta of -0.4%), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, which scores 67,097 (a delta of -0.9%). While the GPU's average score is slightly lower than these rivals, it is the combination with the high-performing CPU that yields the strong rank in-game. The rank of 26 out of 1,656 is a direct result of the synergistic performance of this specific pairing, which is capable of achieving the high frame rates seen in the measured FPS data, especially at 4K where the GPU's power is most evident.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the flagship of the GeForce 40-series, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. Its core clocks are high, with a base of 2235 MHz and a boost of 2520 MHz. In synthetic tests, it scores 38,194 in Passmark G3D, placing it in the 91st percentile among all GPUs.

The GPU is the dominant factor in determining performance in The Technomancer. This is evident from the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU is so powerful that it easily produces over 200 FPS on all presets except Ultra. The average frame rate at 1080p with Low settings is 305 FPS, which is exceptionally high. As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload increases, and the frame rates adjust accordingly. The High preset drops from 218.7 FPS at 1080p to 142.2 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 76.5 FPS, demonstrating the impact of higher pixel counts.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth become crucial. The game's assets at 4K require significant memory, and the 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensures data is transferred quickly. The average frame rate at 4K High is 79.5 FPS, a strong result. The Ultra preset at 60.1 FPS shows the limit of the hardware with this game, but it remains a playable experience. The availability of substantial VRAM prevents any potential stuttering or texture pop-in that might occur with lesser GPUs, ensuring a smooth gameplay experience even at the highest resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4090 and Ryzen 9 7900X deliver exceptional performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 305 FPS, the highest of any configuration. The Medium preset reaches 252.4 FPS, showing a significant drop of 52.6 FPS from Low. The High preset produces 218.7 FPS, a further decrease of 33.7 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still fast, drops to 169.5 FPS, which is 49.2 FPS lower than High. This shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern, with each higher preset costing a substantial number of frames.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very high. The Low preset averages 218.2 FPS. The Medium preset yields 169.1 FPS, a decrease of 49.1 FPS. The High preset results in 142.2 FPS, which is 26.9 FPS lower than Medium. The Ultra preset drops to 108.6 FPS, a significant 33.6 FPS reduction from High. This demonstrates that even at 1440p, the hardware is capable of exceeding 100 FPS on the highest settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes more demanding. The Low preset averages 114.7 FPS, which is still very playable. The Medium preset reaches 89.5 FPS, a drop of 25.2 FPS. The High preset produces 79.5 FPS, a further decrease of 10 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding an average of 60.1 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 4090 is powerful enough to handle the game at 4K, but the Ultra preset is the most taxing, bringing the frame rate to a level that is just playable.