The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that clearly delineates the capabilities of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently GPU-limited at higher graphical presets, while the processor’s substantial headroom ensures it never becomes a bottleneck. This analysis breaks down the performance data, focusing on the interplay between resolution, settings, and component utilization.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and indicative of a system under significant graphics load. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 96 FPS at 1920x1080 to 63 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 34.4%. The transition to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average dropping to 34 FPS, a further 46.0% decrease from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario; as resolution increases, the demand on the renderer grows exponentially, and the RTX 5060's capabilities are pushed to their limit.

This trend is visible across all settings. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 146 FPS at 1080p to 95 FPS at 1440p (a 34.9% decrease) and then to 52 FPS at 4K (a 45.3% decrease from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops across different quality presets strongly suggests that the primary limiting factor is the GPU's fill rate and shading power, not the CPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a much smaller performance delta between 1080p and 4K, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU's workload increased.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 9 8945HX, with its high multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at all tested resolutions. The 1080p Low result of 146 FPS is a strong indicator of the CPU's ceiling, but even at this high frame rate, the system is not showing signs of a processor limitation. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is almost purely a function of GPU load, confirming that the RTX 5060 is the constraining component in this pairing for The Technomancer.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the definitive performance arbiter in this configuration. Its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU’s role becomes more critical as resolution and settings increase, as evidenced by the frame rate collapse at 4K. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only manages an average of 52 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to a nearly unplayable 27 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's raw compute and memory throughput are insufficient for smooth 4K gameplay in this title.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2280 MHz and a boost of 2497 MHz, are a factor in its performance, but the architecture's efficiency is more telling. Benchmark results place the RTX 5060 in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which has a 1.2% higher average score, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary, which is 0.8% slower. These comparisons show that the RTX 5060 is a solid mid-range performer, but it is not a high-end part designed for 4K gaming.

The VRAM capacity is a potential concern at higher resolutions. While the 8 GB frame buffer is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p in most scenarios, the 4K results suggest the GPU is struggling to manage the increased texture and geometry data. The performance difference between Medium (40 FPS) and High (34 FPS) at 4K is significant, but the jump to Ultra (27 FPS) shows a clear degradation. This pattern suggests that the GPU is not only compute-limited but may also be hitting memory capacity or bandwidth walls at the highest resolution, preventing the settings from scaling efficiently.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and RTX 5060 combination produces an average of 96 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 perform relative to its closest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 26331. It is 1.2% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT and 0.8% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary.

Q: Is the CPU a limiting factor in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212 and sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The frame rate scaling with resolution points to a GPU limitation.

Q: What is the best performance at 1440p?

A: The highest average frame rate at 2560x1440 is 95 FPS, achieved with the Low settings preset.

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

A: The performance at 3840x2160 is poor. The highest average frame rate is 52 FPS on Low settings, while High and Ultra presets yield 34 FPS and 27 FPS respectively, indicating that 4K is not a viable target for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 1080p Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1863rd out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the lower half of the database, which is consistent with the GPU's mid-range positioning. The ranking is a holistic measure of the combo's performance, and it is heavily influenced by the RTX 5060's capabilities. While the CPU is a top-tier mobile processor, the GPU’s performance ceiling prevents the combo from achieving a higher rank.

This rank of 1863 out of 2825 means that a significant number of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher average frame rates in this specific game. The system is not a high-end gaming powerhouse; it is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming where it can deliver high frame rates. The 4K results are poor and drag down the overall standing. For a benchmark database, this rank serves as a quick reference for users to see where this specific hardware configuration stands against the broader spectrum of tested systems, indicating that it is a capable but not top-tier setup for The Technomancer.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a formidable mobile processor that provides ample performance headroom for the RTX 5060. With 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture, its multi-threaded capabilities are extensive, as shown by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713. Its single-thread performance is equally strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6030. This combination ensures that the CPU can handle game logic, physics, and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck, even when the GPU is producing high frame rates.

The processor's role in The Technomancer is to feed the GPU with data and process the game's simulation. The data shows that it does this effectively. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 146 FPS, a frame rate where a weaker CPU might start to show limitations. The fact that the frame rate scales so predictably with resolution, rather than plateauing, is evidence that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 8945HX's performance is so high that it essentially becomes a non-factor in the final frame rate, allowing the GPU to dictate the performance profile.

The CPU's high performance, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, means that it will not hold back the RTX 5060 in this title. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which it trails by 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which it leads by 0.6%. This level of performance is more than sufficient for a mid-range GPU, ensuring that the system's overall gaming performance is determined almost entirely by the graphics card.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all tested configurations.

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Ultra: 75 FPS average.
• High: 96 FPS average.
• Medium: 112 FPS average (min 95, max 129).
• Low: 146 FPS average.

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Ultra: 49 FPS average.
• High: 63 FPS average.
• Medium: 73 FPS average (min 62, max 84).
• Low: 95 FPS average.

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Ultra: 27 FPS average.
• High: 34 FPS average.
• Medium: 40 FPS average (min 34, max 46).
• Low: 52 FPS average.

These numbers illustrate a clear performance hierarchy. The 1080p results are all very playable, with even the Ultra preset offering a smooth 75 FPS average. The 1440p results are also generally good, though the Ultra preset dips to 49 FPS, which may be noticeable to some users. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with no preset achieving a consistently playable frame rate. The data shows a linear progression of performance as settings are lowered, with the Low preset at each resolution providing a significant boost over Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience balances visual fidelity with a smooth frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering a 96 FPS average. This provides a significant visual improvement over the Medium preset while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Low preset at 146 FPS would be the best option to maximize smoothness. The Ultra preset, while visually the most demanding, still offers a playable 75 FPS at 1080p and is a viable option for those who prioritize image quality.

At 1440p, the High preset provides a solid 63 FPS average, which is just above the standard 60 FPS target. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable margin at 73 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a consistently smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is not recommended for comfortable gameplay, and users should opt for High or Medium instead. The Low preset at 95 FPS is ideal for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, though it sacrifices visual detail.

At 4K, none of the presets deliver a satisfactory experience. The highest average frame rate is 52 FPS on Low, which is not smooth enough for most players. The High and Ultra presets, at 34 FPS and 27 FPS respectively, are effectively unplayable. The recommendation is to avoid 4K resolution with this hardware for The Technomancer. The best experience is found at 1080p with High settings, which offers a strong balance of visual quality and performance, or at 1440p with Medium settings for a higher resolution with a still-playable frame rate. The sweet spot for this combo is clearly at 1080p, where the system can leverage its CPU headroom to maintain high frame rates across all presets.