The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, places unusual demands on modern hardware. For this analysis, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti graphics card, and the measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a distinct performance profile. The data indicates a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but which can also expose CPU limitations at the lowest settings and highest frame rates.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. Its large 128 MB of shared L3 cache is a defining feature, and its benchmark scores place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows a strong multi-threaded performer, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 59712 and a single-core score of 8430. This combination of high core count and strong single-thread performance is relevant because The Technomancer’s engine, while not new, still benefits from fast individual cores.

Looking at the measured frames, the CPU’s influence becomes apparent at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS reaches 271.6. This high number suggests that the processor is capable of feeding frames well beyond what the GPU can render at higher settings. However, the game’s scaling from 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra shows a drop to 142.5 FPS, which is a 47.5% reduction. This is a significant drop that is more likely attributable to the GPU’s workload at Ultra settings rather than a CPU bottleneck, as the processor’s 3DMark 16-thread score of 16374 and max-thread score of 17184 indicate ample headroom for handling the game’s threading. The CPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, has an average benchmark score that is 1.8% lower, while the Intel Core i7-14700KF trails by 2.2%, which suggests this processor is at the top of its class for this type of workload.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the key component determining visual fidelity in this pairing. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is 2610 MHz, and it achieves a Passmark G3D score of 31624, placing it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. Its DirectX 12 Passmark score of 116 is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score of 288, which hints that the game’s API usage might not fully leverage the card’s newer architecture.

The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is a critical factor at higher resolutions. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 48.2, which is the lowest in the entire set. This suggests that the combination of high resolution and Ultra settings is pushing the GPU and its memory to the limit. The RTX 4070 Ti’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which scores 0.6% higher on average, and the AMD Radeon Pro 580, which scores 1.6% lower. This indicates that the desktop 4070 Ti is positioned competitively, but its performance in this specific title is constrained by the game’s rendering demands.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of system scaling. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 180.7. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 115.4 FPS, a reduction of 36.1%. At 4K High, the average FPS further declines to 63.9, which is a 44.6% drop from 1440p. This pattern shows that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

However, the behavior at Low settings tells a different story. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 271.6 FPS, but at 1440p Low it falls to 180 FPS. The drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low is to 96.2 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p Low is a 33.7% reduction, while the scaling from 1440p to 4K Low is a 46.6% reduction. This indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU still becomes the bottleneck at 4K, but at 1080p Low, the CPU is likely preventing even higher frame rates. The fact that 1080p Low produces 271.6 FPS versus 180.7 FPS at 1080p High shows a 50.3% performance gain purely from lowering settings, which is a strong indicator of GPU workload dominance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks at 196 out of 1656 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 11.8% of all tested systems. This rank is notable because the CPU is a top-tier component, but the GPU, while strong, is not the absolute fastest available. The ranking suggests that the system’s overall performance is good, but there is room for improvement if a more powerful GPU were used.

The data indicates that the combo’s rank is likely held back by the GPU’s performance at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS of 48.2 is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the target for smooth gameplay. The CPU’s high percentile ranking of 96 vs. the GPU’s 85 percentile suggests an imbalance, where the processor has more headroom than the graphics card can utilize in this title. This is not a criticism of the GPU, but rather a reflection of The Technomancer’s demanding nature at higher settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the High preset at 180.7 FPS provides an excellent experience, far exceeding the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. The Ultra preset at 142.5 FPS is also viable for high-refresh displays, but the drop from High is 21.1%, which may not be worth the visual gains. For 1440p, the High preset at 115.4 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a balance of visual quality and performance that is suitable for 120 Hz displays. The Medium preset at 134.6 FPS is also a strong choice, but High provides a better visual experience for a modest FPS cost.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The High preset at 63.9 FPS is playable on a 60 Hz display, but the Medium preset at 72.7 FPS offers a more comfortable margin. The Ultra preset at 48.2 FPS should be avoided for a smooth experience, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset at 4K produces 96.2 FPS, but the visual degradation is likely too severe for most users. Therefore, the recommendation is to use High settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K for the best balance of fidelity and performance.

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

The measured average FPS data is as follows:

• 1920x1080: Low settings yield 271.6 FPS, Medium yields 209 FPS, High yields 180.7 FPS, and Ultra yields 142.5 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Low settings yield 180 FPS, Medium yields 134.6 FPS, High yields 115.4 FPS, and Ultra yields 90.8 FPS.
• 3840x2160: Low settings yield 96.2 FPS, Medium yields 72.7 FPS, High yields 63.9 FPS, and Ultra yields 48.2 FPS.

The progression at each resolution shows a consistent pattern: Ultra is always the most demanding, and Low is always the fastest. The gap between Low and Ultra widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 129.1 FPS (271.6 vs 142.5). At 1440p, the difference is 89.2 FPS (180 vs 90.8). At 4K, the difference is 48 FPS (96.2 vs 48.2). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, as the relative cost of each setting level increases with pixel count.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K with smooth frame rates?

A: At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 63.9, which is playable on a 60 Hz monitor. For a more comfortable margin, Medium settings at 72.7 FPS is better, but Ultra at 48.2 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this pairing?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiter at 1440p and 4K, where frame rates drop significantly with resolution. At 1080p Low, the 271.6 FPS result suggests the CPU is capable of very high frame rates, but the GPU becomes the constraint as settings increase.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144 Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: The High preset at 115.4 FPS is the closest match, though it does not fully saturate a 144 Hz display. The Medium preset at 134.6 FPS will more fully utilize the refresh rate, but with a slight reduction in visual quality.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This combination ranks 196 out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer, placing it in the top 11.8% of all systems in the database.

Q: Does the 12 GB of VRAM on the RTX 4070 Ti cause issues at 4K?

A: The measured 4K Ultra result of 48.2 FPS suggests the GPU is heavily loaded, and the 12 GB memory size is a factor. However, the data does not show a specific VRAM failure, only a performance drop that is consistent with the increased workload.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D overkill for this GPU?

A: The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking versus the GPU’s 85th percentile suggests the processor has more headroom. The 1080p Low result of 271.6 FPS shows the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower settings, but the GPU limits performance at higher settings and resolutions.