The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an Action RPG from 2016, presents a fascinating case study when paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The data reveals a system with immense raw power, yet its performance in this specific title is dictated more by the game's engine and settings than by the hardware's theoretical limits. The measured frame rates show a clear hierarchy across resolutions, but the relationship between CPU and GPU responsibilities shifts dramatically depending on the workload.

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. It operates at a base clock of 4.30 GHz and can boost up to 5.70 GHz, which is a substantial frequency range for a desktop chip. This CPU's 128 MB of L3 cache is a notable feature, likely designed to mitigate latency in gaming scenarios. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor demonstrates its strength: it scores 42,018 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,259 in single-core. This dual capability is critical for a game like The Technomancer.

The Technomancer, being a title from 2016, is often considered lightly threaded. However, the benchmark results suggest that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 329 FPS. This is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset, indicating that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data at an extremely rapid pace. If we look at the CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 16,374, it shows solid multi-threaded performance, but the real-world gaming results are more telling. The fact that frame rates scale down as resolution increases—from 329 FPS at 1080p Low to 118 FPS at 4K Low—suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a high ceiling, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count grows.

The processor's performance percentile of 95 against all CPUs places it in the top tier. Its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755, which is 0.1% ahead, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285, which trails by 0.4%. These deltas are negligible, meaning the 9950X3D's computational power is essentially at parity with its closest competitors. For The Technomancer, this means that any difference in frame rates between this CPU and its rivals would be imperceptible, as the game's engine is unlikely to utilize the full extent of the processor's 32 threads. The boost clock of 5.70 GHz is likely more relevant for the game's primary thread, and the high L3 cache could help with the game's asset streaming, but the data shows that the CPU's influence on final FPS is secondary to the GPU's workload.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an end-of-life product, but it remains a formidable GPU. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. Its base clock is 2235 MHz with a boost clock of 2520 MHz. The GPU's raw compute capabilities are immense, with a FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 38,194 in Passmark G3D and 25,5416 in Geekbench OpenCL. Despite being released in 2022, its performance percentile of 88 against all GPUs shows it is still a very high-end part.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's performance is the primary driver of frame rates at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 61 FPS, which is a playable but not exceptionally smooth experience. At 4K High, the average rises to 77 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it reaches 91 FPS. The jump to 4K Low yields 118 FPS. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario at 4K, where the pixel fill rate and shading power of the RTX 4090 are the key determinants. The GPU's 176 ROPs and 512 TMUs are likely responsible for the texture and pixel throughput, but the game's age suggests that its rendering pipeline may not be fully optimized for modern architectures.

Interestingly, the GPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (-2.5% delta). This is an artifact of the aggregate scoring methodology, as the RTX 4090's real-world gaming performance is vastly superior to those workstation cards. The GPU's 24 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for The Technomancer, which likely uses only a fraction of that capacity even at 4K Ultra. The data shows that the RTX 4090's memory bandwidth and clock speeds are not the limiting factor; instead, the game's engine efficiency and its interaction with the Ada Lovelace architecture determine the final frame rates.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved with this combo?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 329 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D or the RTX 4090 the primary bottleneck at 4K Ultra?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K. The frame rate drops from 118 FPS at 4K Low to 61 FPS at 4K Ultra, while the CPU's capabilities remain constant across these settings, suggesting the GPU's workload is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 76th out of 3,696 tested combinations in The Technomancer, placing it in the top 2.1% of all tested systems.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 216, while at 1440p High, it is 141. This represents a 35% drop in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: Does the game show a minimum FPS value for any resolution and settings?

A: Yes, the measured data includes minimum FPS values for Medium settings at all three resolutions: 77 FPS at 4K, 140 FPS at 1440p, and 215 FPS at 1080p.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU and GPU?

A: The CPU has a launch MSRP of $699, and the GPU has a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD.

How This Combo Ranks

The performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination in The Technomancer is captured by its combo rank of 76 out of 3,696 tested configurations. This places the system in the top 2.06% of all tested combos, which is a strong showing. However, the rank is not the absolute top, which suggests that either more specialized hardware or more optimized settings for this specific game exist among the tested pool. Considering the CPU's 95th percentile and the GPU's 88th percentile, the combo's rank is slightly lower than what the individual component percentiles might suggest. This discrepancy could be due to the game's age and its limited ability to leverage the full potential of these modern components.

The rank of 76 implies that there are 75 other combinations that achieve higher average frame rates across the various test scenarios. Given that the RTX 4090 is a top-tier GPU, the only way to surpass this rank would be with a CPU that offers even higher single-thread performance or with a configuration that avoids any minor bottlenecks. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755, are nearly identical in aggregate score, so the ranking is likely influenced by the game's specific engine behavior rather than raw component power. In practical terms, a rank of 76 out of 3,696 means this system is exceptionally well-suited for this game, delivering frame rates that are among the highest achievable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of performance across nine distinct scenarios, combining three resolutions with four settings levels. Starting at the highest resolution, 3840x2160, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings yield 118 FPS, Medium yields 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS, High yields 77 FPS, and Ultra yields 61 FPS. This shows a clear degradation from Low to Ultra, with a 48% reduction in frame rate from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance is significantly higher. Low settings produce 215 FPS, Medium produces 165 FPS (minimum 140, maximum 190), High produces 141 FPS, and Ultra produces 110 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 105 FPS, or approximately a 49% drop. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are the highest in the dataset. Low settings reach 329 FPS, Medium reaches 253 FPS (minimum 215, maximum 291), High reaches 216 FPS, and Ultra reaches 169 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 160 FPS, which is a 49% reduction. Across all resolutions, the percentage drop from Low to Ultra is remarkably consistent, hovering around 48-49%. This suggests that the settings presets have a uniform impact on GPU workload, regardless of the resolution.

The data also shows that the minimum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings. At 4K, the minimum is 77 FPS, which is equal to the average FPS at High settings. At 1440p, the minimum is 140 FPS, and at 1080p, it is 215 FPS. These minimum values indicate that the game's frame pacing is stable at Medium settings, with no severe dips below the average.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target refresh rate and resolution. For a 60Hz display at 4K, the Ultra preset is viable, as the average FPS of 61 is just above the refresh threshold. However, for a more consistent experience, the High preset at 4K, with an average of 77 FPS, provides a 26% performance buffer over Ultra, which is a safer choice for maintaining a stable frame rate during intense scenes. The Medium preset at 4K, averaging 91 FPS, is the best choice for those seeking a balance between visual quality and frame rate, especially since the minimum FPS of 77 ensures a solid floor.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 141 FPS, which is excellent for 120Hz or 144Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 110 FPS is also suitable for 100Hz displays, but High is preferable for higher refresh rates. The Medium preset at 165 FPS is the best option for 165Hz monitors, as it maximizes frame rate without the visual quality loss of Low. For 1080p gaming, all presets are playable. The Ultra preset at 169 FPS is sufficient for 144Hz displays, while High at 216 FPS and Medium at 253 FPS are better suited for 240Hz monitors. The Low preset at 329 FPS is overkill for most displays but demonstrates the system's capability. The data suggests that Medium or High presets offer the best experience across all resolutions, as they provide high average frame rates and the only measured minimum FPS values, indicating better frame pacing.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals critical insights into the balance between CPU and GPU limitations. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 329 at 1080p to 215 at 1440p, and then to 118 at 4K. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 45% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 64%. At High settings, the drop is from 216 FPS at 1080p to 141 FPS at 1440p (35% reduction), and then to 77 FPS at 4K (45% reduction from 1440p). The total reduction is 64%. This consistent percentage drop across settings suggests that the scaling is primarily due to the GPU's pixel processing workload.

The fact that the percentage reduction is nearly identical for Low and High settings (64% total) indicates that the CPU is not a significant limiting factor even at 1080p. If the CPU were limiting performance at 1080p Low (329 FPS), we would expect the drop to 4K to be less severe, as the GPU would be less stressed at lower resolutions. However, the data shows a consistent scaling pattern, which implies that the RTX 4090 is the primary bottleneck even at 1080p. The CPU's high boost clock of 5.70 GHz and 32 threads are sufficient to keep up with the GPU's demands at 329 FPS. This reflects the CPU's strength, as many processors would struggle to feed a GPU at such high frame rates. The data suggests that for The Technomancer, the RTX 4090's performance scales linearly with pixel count, and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D provides a near-perfect foundation for this GPU's output.