The Technomancer

# The Technomancer with AMD Ryzen 9 9900X + AMD Radeon RX 9070

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination delivers a robust experience in The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG. The measured frame rates show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU's strong single-thread performance becomes a factor. The data places this combo at rank 564 out of 1656 tested combinations, indicating a solidly above-average pairing for this title. The 12-core, 24-thread processor with a 4.40 GHz base and 5.60 GHz boost clock provides ample headroom, while the 16 GB GPU with a 2520 MHz boost clock handles the graphical load, though the scaling pattern reveals where each component's influence ends.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) and operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. With 12 cores and 24 threads, it offers substantial parallel processing capability, which is relevant for The Technomancer's background simulation and AI routines. The processor's base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz are the key drivers for the game's single-threaded tasks. Benchmark data shows a 3dmark_single_thread score of 1286 and a passmark_single_thread score of 4672, indicating strong per-core performance. This is crucial for a game from 2016, which likely relies more heavily on fewer threads than modern titles.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is most evident at 1080p resolution. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 219 FPS average, while at Ultra settings it reaches 109.4 FPS. The gap between these settings narrows as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of the CPU providing a baseline performance ceiling that the GPU cannot exceed at lower graphical loads. The 3dmark_16_threads score of 12552 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 13929 suggest that the processor can handle heavy multi-threaded workloads, but the game's engine may not fully utilize all 24 threads. The cinebench_r23_multicore score of 46438 further confirms the CPU's overall throughput, yet the game's performance is unlikely to be bound by this metric.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 9900X shows a negligible average benchmark score difference. It is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Against the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and 245KF, it trails by 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively. These small deltas indicate that for a game like The Technomancer, CPU choice among these high-end options will have minimal impact on frame rates. The processor's 64 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient data throughput for the game's assets, though the GPU will be the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features the Navi 48 chip. It comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 2518 MHz with an effective data rate of 20.1 Gbps. The GPU's base clock is 1330 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. These specifications position the card as a high-end solution, and its percentile ranking of 79 among all GPUs confirms its standing.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's influence is dominant across all tested settings and resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system produces 38.3 FPS, while at 4K Low it reaches 80.5 FPS. This 42.2 FPS spread demonstrates the GPU's sensitivity to graphical settings. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is ample for this title, even at 4K with Ultra settings, where memory usage is unlikely to be a limiting factor. The pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s provide the raw throughput needed for the game's environments and character models.

The GPU's benchmark scores support its strong showing. The 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 6290 and passmark_g3d score of 25381 indicate solid DirectX 12 and general 3D performance. The geekbench_vulkan score of 165532 suggests the card can handle Vulkan workloads, though The Technomancer likely uses an older API given its 2016 release. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA A2, which is 0.2% ahead, and the NVIDIA Quadro GV100, which is 0.3% behind. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 and Radeon PRO W6400 trail by 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively. These delta values are remarkably small, indicating that the RX 9070's average benchmark score of 34780 sits in a tightly clustered performance band for this metric.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p High, the system averages 145.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 92.2 FPS, a reduction of 36.8%. At 4K High, the average falls to 48.7 FPS, which is 66.6% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline with resolution is typical of a system where the GPU is the primary limiting component.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings further illustrates this dynamic. At 1080p, the difference between Low (219 FPS) and Ultra (109.4 FPS) is 109.6 FPS, a 50% reduction. At 1440p, the spread is 69.3 FPS (144.9 FPS Low vs. 75.6 FPS Ultra), and at 4K, the spread narrows to 42.2 FPS (80.5 FPS Low vs. 38.3 FPS Ultra). This narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is becoming the absolute bottleneck, and the CPU's performance headroom is less relevant.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU still contributes to overall frame rates, as evidenced by the wide gap between Low and Ultra settings. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as even Low settings cannot push frame rates above 80.5 FPS. The 1440p resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combination, offering a balance where High settings produce 92.2 FPS and Ultra settings maintain 75.6 FPS, both respectable for smooth gameplay. The 4K Ultra result of 38.3 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold typically desired for action RPGs, suggesting that players targeting 4K would need to adjust settings to Medium (57.9 FPS) or High (48.7 FPS) for a playable experience.

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X compare to its nearest CPU rivals in average benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 54450. It is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F (score 54097) and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D (score 54681). It trails the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and 245KF by 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively, with those chips scoring 55304 and 55421.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and how does it affect The Technomancer performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks in the 79th percentile among all GPUs. This high ranking correlates with strong measured performance in The Technomancer, where it delivers 145.9 FPS at 1080p High and 48.7 FPS at 4K High, showing it can handle the game well at lower resolutions but struggles at 4K Ultra (38.3 FPS).

Q: At which resolution and settings does this combo achieve the highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 219 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is followed by 171.2 FPS at 1080p Medium and 145.9 FPS at 1080p High, indicating that the system is most comfortable at 1080p across all settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system for The Technomancer?

A: The data shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K, the frame rate spread between Low (80.5 FPS) and Ultra (38.3 FPS) is 42.2 FPS, indicating the GPU limits performance. At 1080p, the spread is 109.6 FPS, suggesting the CPU provides a higher ceiling that the GPU cannot fully utilize at lower settings.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination ranks 564 out of 1656 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This places it in the top third of all tested systems, indicating strong overall performance for this title.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the system achieves 144.9 FPS on Low settings and 75.6 FPS on Ultra settings, a difference of 69.3 FPS. This represents a 52.2% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest graphical preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its highest frame rates across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 219, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings yield 171.2 FPS, High settings produce 145.9 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 109.4 FPS. Even at the most demanding 1080p preset, the frame rate comfortably exceeds 100 FPS, indicating that the GPU is not heavily taxed at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear drop. Low settings average 144.9 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings produce 108.8 FPS, High settings yield 92.2 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 75.6 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1440p is a viable resolution for this combo, with High settings providing a good balance between visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes significant. Low settings average 80.5 FPS, which is playable but below the 1440p results. Medium settings produce 57.9 FPS, High settings yield 48.7 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 38.3 FPS. The 4K Ultra result falls below the 40 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is not ideal for smooth gameplay. The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the gap between settings narrows, confirming the GPU-bound nature of the system at higher resolutions. For players seeking 60 FPS at 4K, Medium settings at 57.9 FPS are the closest match, while High settings at 48.7 FPS would require a compromise on visual fidelity.