The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, is not a typical showcase title, but it serves as a demanding benchmark that reveals the balance between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 CPU and the AMD Radeon RX 7900M GPU. The measured data places this combination at rank 1578 out of 3696 tested combos, putting it in the 57th percentile of all systems tested in this game. This mid-pack ranking is not a verdict on the hardware's quality—both components are top-tier in their respective categories—but rather a reflection of how this specific pairing behaves under The Technomancer's engine.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1578 out of 3696 tested combinations places it just below the midpoint of the leaderboard, a result that may initially seem underwhelming given the hardware involved. However, this ranking is heavily influenced by the game's release date and its engine's characteristics, which do not always scale proportionally with modern hardware. The data shows that this combo outperforms a significant portion of the tested pool, yet it does not reach the top tier, suggesting that either the CPU or GPU—or the interplay between them—creates a bottleneck not fully alleviated by the other component.

Breaking down the individual components, the CPU is a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 5 part, and its average benchmark score of 77740 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. In the game's measured FPS, this combo's rank is not solely determined by the CPU's raw compute, but by how well that compute is utilized. The GPU, with a percentile rank in the 94th, is also a high-end part. The combination of two 94th-plus percentile components should theoretically yield a higher game rank, but the data indicates that even with such hardware, the game's engine limits the overall result. The gravitation toward the middle of the pack is a key insight: it is a system that is well above average but not a top performer in this specific title.

3. GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900M is the primary driver of frame rate in The Technomancer, given the game's heavy reliance on graphical fidelity. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, the GPU is well-equipped to run the game at high resolutions and settings, as evidenced by the measured data. The GPU has a base clock of 1825 MHz and a boost clock of 2090 MHz, which are moderate but sufficient for this game, as the performance results show. The GPU's 4608 shading units are the core of its rendering power, and they are utilized efficiently in the game's various presets.

The GPU's memory bandwidth is 576.0 GB/s, which is a critical factor in a game like The Technomancer that may rely on large textures. The measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings is 191 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the data, indicating that the GPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU's consistent performance suggests that it is the primary component under load, with the CPU providing sufficient data to keep it fed. The GPU's role is particularly evident in the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, which is a common sign of a GPU-limited system. The data shows that the GPU is the dominant component in this combo, and its strong specifications allow it to maintain playable frame rates at 1440p and even 4K, though the latter is below the 60 FPS threshold at High settings.

4. Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern in how The Technomancer scales with resolution. At 1080p, the combo achieves high frame rates across all settings, from 191 FPS at Low to 98 FPS at Ultra. This suggests that the GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution, and the CPU's strong single-core performance is sufficient to feed the GPU. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant: at High settings, FPS drops from 125 to 82, a 34% decrease. This indicates a growing GPU load, but the system still maintains high frame rates. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced: at High, FPS drops from 82 to 45, a 45% decrease. This demonstrates a strong GPU bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU is likely not the limiting factor given its high performance.

The data shows that at 1080p, the combo is not GPU-limited, as even the Ultra preset achieves 98 FPS. At 1440p, the GPU becomes a more significant factor, but the system still delivers a smooth experience at Medium settings, with 96 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, as the frame rates drop to 45 FPS at High and 35 FPS at Ultra. This scaling behavior is expected, as the GPU's work increases with resolution, and the CPU's role diminishes. The data indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, while 4K is possible only with adjusted settings. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is a clear sign that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, which is a common trait for high-end systems.

5. Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the best settings per resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset yields 98 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the best choice for a high refresh rate experience. The Low preset at 191 FPS is unnecessary for most users, as it sacrifices visual quality for frame rates that do not offer a significant competitive advantage. The Medium preset at 147 FPS is a good balance, but Ultra is the best choice for this resolution.

At 1440p, the situation changes. The Ultra preset yields 64 FPS, which is slightly above 60 FPS, but not by a large margin. The High preset at 82 FPS is a better choice, offering a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold while still providing a high visual quality. The Medium preset at 96 FPS is the most balanced, providing a smooth experience and a good visual quality. For a 1440p monitor, High is the recommended preset, as it offers a good balance between performance and visual fidelity. Low is not necessary, as the frame rates are already high.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The Medium preset at 53 FPS is the only one that is close to the 60 FPS threshold, and it is the recommended choice for a 4K experience. The High preset at 45 FPS is playable but may not be as smooth, while the Ultra preset at 35 FPS is not recommended for a 60 FPS display. The data recommends Medium at 4K for the best experience, as it provides a balance between frame rate and visual quality. The Low preset at 69 FPS is the only one that exceeds 60 FPS at 4K, but the visual quality is not ideal. The data shows that the best experience is at 1440p High or 1080p Ultra.

6. Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four settings. At 1080p, the combo achieves a Low of 191 FPS, Medium of 147 FPS (with a minimum of 125 and a maximum of 169 FPS), High of 125 FPS, and Ultra of 98 FPS. This shows a clear and consistent scaling, with the Ultra preset being the only one that drops below the 100 FPS mark. The data at 1080p indicates that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming, as even the Ultra preset exceeds the 100 FPS threshold.

At 1440p, the performance is still strong. Low delivers 125 FPS, Medium 96 FPS (with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS), High 82 FPS, and Ultra 64 FPS. The Medium preset is the first to dip below the 100 FPS mark, but it still provides a smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets are also above 60 FPS, making 1440p a viable resolution for high settings. The data shows that the combo is capable of 1440p gaming with all settings, with the Ultra preset being the only one that drops below 70 FPS.

At 4K, the data shows a clear drop in performance. Low delivers 69 FPS, Medium 53 FPS (with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS), High 45 FPS, and Ultra 35 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that achieves 60 FPS or higher, but it sacrifices visual quality. The Medium preset is the best balance, as it is close to the 60 FPS threshold, while High and Ultra are below the ideal frame rate. This data indicates that a 4K experience requires a compromise, and the Medium preset is the recommended choice for a consistent frame rate.

7. CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. These specifications give it a high multi-threaded performance, which is not typically a limiting factor in games. The CPU's average benchmark score is 77740, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and it is within 2% of the performance of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX and the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, and just 1.7% slower than the Intel Core i9-14900K. This indicates that the CPU is a top-tier performer, but the game's performance is not entirely dependent on it.

The game is likely to be GPU-bound, as evidenced by the FPS scaling with resolution. The CPU's 16 cores and 32 threads are more than sufficient for the game's computational demands, but the game may not fully utilize that many threads. The CPU's single-core performance, which is also high, is likely more relevant for this game. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (191 FPS) shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at low resolutions, and the 4K FPS drop indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU, and it does so without being a bottleneck.

The CPU's 64 MB of L3 cache is a large pool for the game's data, which may help in reducing memory latency. The memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s, which is also substantial, and it supports the GPU's needs. The CPU's integrated graphics, Radeon 8060S, are not relevant to this game, as the discrete GPU is used. The CPU's power of 55 W is low, but it does not affect the game's performance. The data suggests that the CPU is a strong partner for the GPU, and its high scores in synthetic benchmarks are not reflected in a top-tier rank in this game, because the game is not CPU-intensive.

8. FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and setting for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 1440p with Medium settings yields 96 FPS (min 82, max 110), and 1080p Ultra yields 98 FPS. For a 60 FPS experience, 1440p High at 82 FPS is a solid choice, while 4K Medium at 53 FPS is the only 4K setting close to 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The FPS drop from 1440p to 4K (e.g., from 82 FPS to 45 FPS at High) indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU's performance is sufficient at lower resolutions.

Q: How does this combo's CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 77740 is 1.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX and 1.6% higher than the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, and it is 1.7% lower than the Intel Core i9-14900K. This makes it a top-tier processor, within 2% of its closest competitors.

Q: What is the best setting for 1080p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset at 1080p delivers 98 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual quality. Lower settings yield higher frame rates, but Ultra is the best choice for a high-quality experience.

Q: Can this combo play at 4K with high settings?

A: The High preset at 4K yields 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but playable. For a smoother experience, Medium at 53 FPS is the recommended setting, as Low at 69 FPS is the only 4K setting above 60 FPS but with a visual quality loss.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p, as the frame rates are high (e.g., 191 FPS at Low). The CPU's strong single-core and multi-core performance allows the GPU to be the limiting factor at this resolution.