The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting performance profile when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. The measured data indicates that this combination is exceptionally capable, delivering smooth gameplay across all tested resolutions and settings. The most striking finding is the system's ability to maintain high frame rates even at 4K, though the scaling patterns reveal a clear shift in bottleneck from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at higher ones. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS results, the role of each component, and provides actionable settings recommendations based solely on the data provided.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates where the system's limits lie. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination produces an average of 259 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, that figure drops to 169 FPS, a reduction of 90 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 93 FPS. This steep decline, even at the lowest graphical preset, indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, despite the RTX 4070 SUPER's considerable power.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. With High settings, the frame rate drops from 170 FPS at 1080p to 111 FPS at 1440p, and then to 61 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with High settings losing 45% of its performance. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU's rendering workload is so demanding that it overshadows the CPU's capabilities, which are more than sufficient for this game.

At 1080p, the CPU's role becomes more prominent. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is clearly not the bottleneck here, as evidenced by the extremely high frame rates. The data shows that the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is nearly linear with the pixel count increase, but the scaling from 1440p to 4K is less efficient, indicating that the GPU is hitting a compute ceiling rather than a memory bandwidth or CPU limitation. The 4K Ultra preset, which averages 48 FPS, is the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, highlighting the immense load placed on the GPU at this setting.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this game with this hardware?

A: For a consistently smooth experience, 1440p is the sweet spot. At High settings, it delivers 111 FPS average, and even at Ultra it maintains 87 FPS. While 4K is playable, it requires dropping to High settings to achieve 61 FPS, which is right at the edge of smoothness.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1440p to 4K?

A: The loss is substantial. With High settings, the average frame rate drops from 111 FPS at 1440p to 61 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 50 FPS. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 87 FPS to 48 FPS, a 39 FPS decrease. This indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X3D a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck, as frame rates are exceptionally high. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, meaning the CPU has headroom to spare in this title.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the difference is 126 FPS. Low settings achieve 259 FPS, while Ultra averages 133 FPS. This shows that the game's Ultra preset is significantly more demanding, but the hardware still handles it well above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43223. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, scores 43262, which is a 0.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667, putting it 1% ahead. This indicates the 4070 SUPER is well-positioned among its peers.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming smoothly?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At High settings, the average FPS is 61, which is smooth. At Medium settings, it averages 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS. However, the Ultra preset drops to 48 FPS, which may feel less fluid. For a locked 60 FPS experience, High or Medium settings are recommended.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the central component for this game's performance, particularly at higher resolutions. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This bandwidth is sufficient for the game's textures and assets at 4K, as evidenced by the playable frame rates at that resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, deliver the raw compute power needed for the game's effects.

The benchmark data for the GPU shows an average score of 43223, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, has a nearly identical score (43262, -0.1%), suggesting that the 4070 SUPER is a solid performer in its class. The GPU's 7168 shading units and 80 ROPs contribute to its high pixel rate of 198.0 GPixel/s, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates at 4K. The texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s ensures that detailed surfaces are rendered without becoming a bottleneck.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized, as the CPU is capable of feeding it frames quickly. However, at 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The drop from 61 FPS at High to 48 FPS at Ultra shows that the extra visual fidelity from the Ultra preset places a significant load on the GPU. The 12 GB of VRAM appears to be sufficient, as there is no indication of memory-related stuttering or performance collapse at 4K. The GPU's performance is consistent with its general benchmark standing, showing it is a capable mid-to-high-end card that can handle demanding titles at high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. Low settings produce an average of 259 FPS, Medium averages 199 FPS with a minimum of 169 FPS and a maximum of 229 FPS, High averages 170 FPS, and Ultra averages 133 FPS. All of these figures are far beyond what is needed for smooth gameplay, even on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains very strong. The Low preset averages 169 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p but still extremely smooth. Medium averages 130 FPS with a range of 111 to 150 FPS. High settings average 111 FPS, and Ultra averages 87 FPS. This resolution offers a great balance between visual quality and frame rate, with even the most demanding preset staying well above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings average 93 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium averages 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS, providing a consistent experience. High settings average 61 FPS, which is right at the standard 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset averages 48 FPS, which may be acceptable for some but is not ideal for fast-paced action. The data shows a clear pattern: the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution, but the GPU's workload at 4K is substantial.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D plays a supporting role in this game, but it is a crucial one. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it has more than enough processing power for The Technomancer. Its base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz are high, and its 128 MB of L3 cache helps with gaming performance. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. It also has a Geekbench single-core score of 3041, indicating strong per-thread performance.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 versus all CPUs shows it is a top-tier processor. Its average benchmark score of 54762 is slightly above the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (55093, -0.6%), but below the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K (54053, 1.3%). This places it in a competitive position. In The Technomancer, the CPU's contribution is most evident at 1080p, where frame rates are exceptionally high. At 259 FPS on Low, the CPU is clearly keeping up with the GPU's output.

As resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes. At 4K, the frame rates are dictated by the GPU's rendering speed, not the CPU's ability to process game logic. The data shows no signs of CPU bottlenecking, as the frame rates scale consistently with GPU load. The CPU's high single-thread performance is beneficial for this game, as older titles often rely heavily on a few cores. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration provides ample headroom, ensuring that even in complex scenes with many AI entities, the CPU will not cause stutters or frame drops. The system is well-balanced, with the CPU not being the limiting factor in any of the measured configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset is highly recommended. With an average of 133 FPS, it offers the best visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset at 170 FPS is also excellent for competitive play, but Ultra provides the full graphical experience without any significant performance penalty.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is the best balance. It delivers 111 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while looking noticeably better than Medium. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize visual quality over maximum frame rate. The Medium preset at 130 FPS is a good fallback for those with 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, as it provides a higher frame rate with a minor reduction in visual fidelity.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the safest recommendation. It averages 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience without dipping below the critical 60 FPS mark. The High preset at 61 FPS is also playable, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so there is a risk of occasional dips. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as its 48 FPS average will likely lead to a less fluid experience. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, Medium is the clear choice. If the user has a VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) display, High settings could be used, as the average of 61 FPS would be within the adaptive sync range.