The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. This combination sits at a distinct performance crossroads, where a top-tier modern processor meets a mid-range GPU from a previous generation. The benchmark data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly constrained by its graphics card, yet the CPU’s capabilities ensure that frame pacing remains consistent across various settings. This analysis will break down the measured performance, interpreting the numbers to show what this specific pairing delivers at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This configuration provides a substantial amount of computational headroom for a game like The Technomancer, which was released in 2016 and is unlikely to fully utilize the parallel processing power of 24 threads. The processor’s performance is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739, alongside a Geekbench multicore score of 22884 and a single-core score of 3041.

In the context of the measured game FPS, the CPU's role is to ensure that it is not the bottleneck. The data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU has the least amount of work, the system achieves an average of 142 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is more than capable of feeding the RTX 2060 SUPER with data, preventing CPU-bound scenarios that would otherwise limit performance. The processor's 128 MB of L3 cache is a significant asset, as it can help reduce memory latency for game logic and physics calculations, though the impact on this particular title is likely minimal given its age.

The processor's average benchmark score of 54762 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, demonstrating its high-end positioning. Compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is 0.6% slower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which has an average score of 55093. However, it is 1.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54053) and 2.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700F (53620). These small percentage differences indicate that the 9900X3D is at the very top of the performance heap for synthetic CPU benchmarks, but in The Technomancer, these differences are unlikely to manifest as tangible FPS gains because the GPU is the limiting factor.

The 3DMark multithreaded scores further illustrate the CPU's strength: 13795 for max threads and 12490 for 16 threads. This robust multi-threading capability is future-proofing, but for a game from 2016, it is overkill. The data suggests that the CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4646 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 1269, is what helps maintain stable minimum FPS in scenes with complex AI or physics, but the overall average FPS is dictated by the GPU's rendering limits.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. This Turing-architecture GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1470 MHz, with a boost clock of 1650 MHz. The GPU's 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs process the graphical data, and its performance is quantified by a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011. The GPU's average benchmark score is 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs.

The data clearly shows the GPU's influence on the game's performance. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 26, which is below the threshold for smooth playability. This is a direct consequence of the GPU's processing power being insufficient for the high pixel count and graphical load. Even at 4K Low settings, the average FPS is only 51, indicating that the GPU is still heavily taxed. The GPU's memory capacity of 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p in this title, but at 4K with higher settings, the demands on both the GPU's compute units and memory bandwidth increase significantly, leading to the observed frame rate drops.

Comparing the RTX 2060 SUPER to its nearest rivals shows it is a mid-range performer. It is 0.4% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (score 18159) and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (score 18189). Interestingly, it is 1.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 460 (score 18373) and 1.6% faster than the Intel Arc A770M (score 18383). These synthetic benchmarks, however, do not perfectly translate to game performance, but they establish the 2060 SUPER's position in the hardware hierarchy. In The Technomancer, this GPU is the primary reason for the FPS scaling we observe across resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the data suggests that 1080p is the most viable resolution for higher settings. At 1920x1080, the High preset yields an average of 93 FPS, and the Medium preset yields 109 FPS. The Low preset pushes performance to 142 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 73 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant performance cost for the visual uplift.

Moving to 2560x1440, the data shows a clear trade-off. The High preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is right at the edge of smoothness. The Medium preset provides a more comfortable margin at 71 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 93 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 48 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced action game. Therefore, for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it balances visual quality with performance.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets achieve a 60 FPS average. The best result is the Low preset at 51 FPS, followed by Medium at 39 FPS, High at 34 FPS, and Ultra at 26 FPS. Given this data, 4K gaming is not a practical option for this combo if the target is smooth, responsive gameplay. The recommendation would be to avoid 4K entirely, or to consider it only for slower-paced, exploration-heavy sections. The data strongly indicates that 1080p with High or Medium settings is the "sweet spot" for this pairing, offering high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. For 1440p, Medium is the most balanced preset.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2001st out of 2825 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This ranking places it in the 71st percentile of all tested combos (calculated as 1 - (2001/2825)), meaning it outperforms a majority of the test pool but is far from the top. This position is a direct reflection of the GPU's mid-range capabilities, as the CPU is a top-tier performer.

This rank of 2001 indicates that while the system is capable of running the game, it is not competitive with high-end configurations. The data implies that many other CPU+GPU pairings, likely those with more powerful GPUs, achieve significantly higher frame rates, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU's high percentile ranking (91st) does not compensate for the GPU's lower standing (62nd) in the overall combo ranking. The performance bottleneck is so severe that the CPU's advantages are largely nullified in this specific title.

The ranking suggests that users with this combo should temper their expectations. The system is not a high-end performer for this game, but it is not a low-end one either. It sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, capable of delivering a good 1080p experience and a playable 1440p experience with adjusted settings. The data shows that the combo's ranking is a function of its weakest link, the RTX 2060 SUPER, and any upgrade path would need to focus on the GPU to significantly improve this position.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's bottleneck. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 93. This drops to 61 at 1440p, which is a 34.4% reduction. At 4K, the FPS drops to 34, a 63.4% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound system. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases exponentially, and the GPU's compute units become the limiting factor.

The data shows that the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p (32 FPS) is nearly as large as the drop from 1440p to 4K (27 FPS). This indicates that the GPU is being saturated at 1440p and is severely overworked at 4K. If the system were CPU-bound, we would expect to see much smaller FPS differences across resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. The fact that the FPS scales so dramatically with resolution confirms that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary constraint.

This behavior is consistent across all settings presets. For example, at Low settings, the FPS drops from 142 at 1080p to 93 at 1440p (a 34.5% drop) and then to 51 at 4K (a 64.1% drop). The consistency of this percentage drop across different settings reinforces the conclusion that the GPU is the limiting component. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is clearly not the bottleneck, as it is capable of maintaining high frame rates at lower resolutions, and the performance only degrades when the GPU's rendering load increases.

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

The following breakdown provides the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: 142 FPS average.
• Medium: 109 FPS average, with a minimum of 93 FPS and a maximum of 126 FPS.
• High: 93 FPS average.
• Ultra: 73 FPS average.

2560x1440:

• Low: 93 FPS average.
• Medium: 71 FPS average, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS.
• High: 61 FPS average.
• Ultra: 48 FPS average.

3840x2160:

• Low: 51 FPS average.
• Medium: 39 FPS average, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS.
• High: 34 FPS average.
• Ultra: 26 FPS average.

This data reveals a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a 73 FPS average. The step up to 1440p halves the performance headroom, making the High (61 FPS) and Ultra (48 FPS) presets marginal for smooth gameplay. The jump to 4K is punishing, with no preset reaching the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 1440p appears to be the most balanced configuration, offering a 71 FPS average. The data confirms that this combo is best utilized at 1080p, where it can deliver high frame rates across all settings.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this CPU/GPU combo?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At 1080p, the system achieves an average of 93 FPS on High settings and 142 FPS on Low settings, providing a smooth and responsive experience. At 2560x1440, the average FPS on High settings drops to 61, which is less comfortable.

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

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS achieved is 51 on Low settings. The High and Ultra presets yield averages of 34 FPS and 26 FPS, respectively, which are below playable thresholds.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER the bottleneck?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly with each resolution increase (e.g., from 93 FPS at 1080p High to 34 FPS at 4K High), which is a characteristic of a GPU-bound system. The CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it is not limiting performance.

Q: What settings preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset is the best choice at 2560x1440. It delivers an average of 71 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The High preset averages 61 FPS, while Ultra drops to 48 FPS.

Q: How does this combo's performance rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2001st out of 2825 tested combinations for the game. This places it in the middle-to-upper range of the test pool, indicating it is not a top-tier performer but is more capable than a large portion of the tested systems.

Q: Is the 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 2060 SUPER sufficient for this game?

A: Yes. The game was released in 2016, and the 8 GB of VRAM is more than adequate for the textures and assets used. The performance limitations observed at higher resolutions are due to the GPU's compute power, not its memory capacity.