The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress test for a modern high-end pairing like the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. The benchmark data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly capable at standard resolutions but begins to show its limits when pushed to the extreme edge of 4K Ultra settings. The measured FPS figures across the board indicate a smooth experience for the vast majority of playable configurations, with the data pointing to specific bottlenecks that emerge only under maximum load.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and tells a clear story about where the performance ceiling lies. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 152.3 FPS at 1920x1080 to 99.2 FPS at 2560x1440, a significant 34.8% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 56.9 FPS, which is a 42.6% decrease from the 1440p figure and a 62.6% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This scaling curve is steep, indicating that the rendering workload is scaling aggressively with pixel count.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the transition from 1080p (232 FPS) to 1440p (149.4 FPS) represents a 35.6% drop, and then to 4K (81.9 FPS) is another 45.2% reduction. This consistent, steep decline suggests that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU's workload does not typically scale with resolution in the same way. The data implies that the RTX 4070 is the primary driver of frame rates, and its capabilities are being taxed heavily as the pixel output demand increases. The fact that even at Low settings the 4K average is only 81.9 FPS, compared to 232 FPS at 1080p, highlights the massive computational cost of 4K rendering for this specific game and hardware combination.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, is clearly the workhorse in this configuration. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, are put to the test by The Technomancer. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1920 MHz provide the raw processing power. The data suggests that the GPU's role is paramount; the frame rates are heavily dependent on resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario.

The RTX 4070's performance percentile of 81 indicates it is a strong performer, but its nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with a deltaPct of -0.6% and the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A with a deltaPct of -1.9%, show that it is not at the absolute top of the hierarchy. The benchmark results for the GPU show a Passmark G3D score of 26927 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854. These numbers, when viewed against the game's performance, suggest that the GPU has ample power for 1080p and 1440p gaming but starts to run out of steam at 4K, particularly when the game's visual fidelity settings are increased. The 12 GB of VRAM is likely a contributing factor, but the data does not explicitly show a VRAM capacity limit. The performance drop from Medium (63.7 FPS) to High (56.9 FPS) and then to Ultra (40.3 FPS) at 4K shows how each step in visual quality has a tangible cost on the GPU.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its high core count and 128 MB of shared L3 cache are formidable specifications. The benchmark data for the CPU shows it is a top-tier performer, with a percentile rank of 96 against all CPUs. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 59712 and single-core score of 8430 demonstrate exceptional processing power. The Passmark multithread score of 70255 further solidifies its position as a high-end component.

However, the game's measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The FPS is highly dependent on resolution, which is a GPU-side scaling characteristic. The CPU's role appears to be one of providing a stable and unconstrained foundation for the GPU to work with. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU load is at its highest relative to the GPU, the average FPS is 232, a figure that suggests the CPU is not bottlenecking the system. The data implies that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D has more than enough headroom to feed the RTX 4070, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance in this game. Its performance is so high that it is 0.9% ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X in average benchmark scores, but this extra headroom does not translate to higher FPS in this scenario because the GPU is the constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The raw data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptionally high frame rates. The Ultra preset averages 119.8 FPS, while High averages 152.3 FPS. Medium sees an increase to 176.9 FPS, and Low settings produce a staggering 232 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the RTX 4070 has significant performance to spare, making this an ideal resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Ultra preset averages 77.3 FPS, which is still smooth for most players. High settings jump to 99.2 FPS, and Medium reaches 119.1 FPS. The Low preset averages 149.4 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent performance hit, but the resulting frame rates are all very playable, with even the most demanding Ultra preset staying above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limitations. The High preset averages 56.9 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. Medium settings average 63.7 FPS, providing a more stable option. Low settings average 81.9 FPS, which is quite good for 4K. However, the Ultra preset averages only 40.3 FPS, indicating that this configuration is not suitable for 4K gaming at the highest visual quality. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is effortless, 1440p is excellent, and 4K is achievable but requires a compromise on settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 460th out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 27.8% of all tested systems, which is a solid position but not a top-tier one. The ranking reflects the fact that while the CPU is exceptionally powerful, the GPU, while capable, is not the most powerful available. The combo rank is a holistic measure of the system's overall gaming performance in this specific title.

The high CPU percentile of 96 and the GPU percentile of 81 do not directly translate to a correspondingly high combo rank. This indicates that the game's performance is far more dependent on the GPU than the CPU. The system's rank is likely dragged down by the RTX 4070's position in the GPU hierarchy. A system with a more powerful GPU but a less powerful CPU might achieve a higher rank in this specific game, as the CPU is not the bottleneck. The data suggests that for The Technomancer, the GPU is the primary driver of the combo rank, and the CPU's immense power does not boost the system beyond the capabilities of its graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K with High settings?

A: The data shows an average FPS of 56.9 at 3840x2160 with High settings. This is slightly below the common 60 FPS target, so it is playable but not perfectly smooth.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high refresh rate experience?

A: At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 152.3 FPS on High settings and 119.8 FPS on Ultra. This makes 1080p the ideal choice for monitors with refresh rates of 120Hz or higher.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1440p to 4K?

A: On High settings, the average FPS drops from 99.2 at 2560x1440 to 56.9 at 3840x2160. This represents a 42.6% decrease in performance.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 in this game?

A: The data indicates no. The FPS scales heavily with resolution, which is a sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom to keep up with the GPU.

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

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 averages 99.2 FPS, which is close to 100 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 77.3 FPS, which is still smooth, but High provides a significant FPS boost with a likely minor visual difference.

Q: How does this system's combo rank compare to its individual component ranks?

A: The CPU ranks in the 96th percentile and the GPU in the 81st percentile, yet the combo ranks 460th out of 1656. This suggests the game is heavily GPU-dependent, and the system's overall rank is limited by the GPU's performance class.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 119.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual experience without any performance concerns. This allows users to fully max out the game's visuals while maintaining a high frame rate.

For 2560x1440, the High preset offers the best experience. It averages 99.2 FPS, which is a great balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset, at 77.3 FPS, is also playable and may be preferred by those who prioritize visual quality over a higher frame rate. However, High provides a 28.3% performance increase over Ultra, making it the more practical choice for a smooth gaming session.

At 3840x2160, a compromise is necessary. The Medium preset, averaging 63.7 FPS, is the recommended choice, as it is the highest setting that consistently stays above the 60 FPS mark. The High preset at 56.9 FPS is close but may result in noticeable stutters on some displays. The Low preset, at 81.9 FPS, is an option for those who prioritize frame rate, but the visual downgrade is significant. The Ultra preset at 40.3 FPS is not recommended for a playable experience. The data suggests that 4K gaming is possible, but users should be prepared to lower their expectations from the highest quality settings to achieve a smooth frame rate.