The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a surprisingly demanding workload for modern hardware. Benchmark results for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile show a configuration that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet reveals significant CPU headroom at 1080p. The measured data indicates that this combination delivers a highly playable experience across all settings, with performance scaling that clearly defines the role of each component. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain how resolution and settings impact the experience, what the GPU and CPU contribute, and which configurations offer the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, pointing directly at the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 160 FPS at 1920x1080 to 105 FPS at 2560x1440, a 34% reduction, and then to 58 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 45% drop. This pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior: as the pixel count increases, the rendering load on the graphics card grows exponentially, while the CPU's workload remains relatively static. The data shows that even the most powerful mobile GPU, the RTX 5090 Mobile, sees its performance roughly cut in half when moving from 1080p to 4K.

The scaling is even more pronounced at the lowest settings. At Low, the frame rate drops from 245 FPS at 1080p to 160 FPS at 1440p, and then to 88 FPS at 4K. This indicates that even when the graphical load is minimized, the GPU is still the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is a 64% reduction, which is significant but slightly smaller than the 64% drop seen at High settings. This suggests that at Low settings, the game's engine becomes slightly more efficient at leveraging the GPU's raw compute power, but the pixel throughput requirement remains the dominant constraint.

Looking at the frame time implications, the 4K Medium preset provides an average of 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS, showing that the RTX 5090 Mobile can sustain a near-60 FPS experience at 4K with some headroom. However, the Ultra preset at 4K drops to an average of 45 FPS, making it less suitable for smooth gameplay. At 1440p, the scaling is more forgiving: Ultra averages 82 FPS, while High hits 105 FPS, and Low reaches 160 FPS. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for high refresh rate monitors, as even the most demanding preset remains playable.

The 1080p results are where the GPU's performance ceiling is truly exposed. The jump from 125 FPS at Ultra to 245 FPS at Low shows a massive 96% performance increase, indicating that the GPU is no longer the sole bottleneck. The fact that the frame rate can nearly double with lower settings at 1080p suggests that the CPU begins to play a more significant role, but the GPU's raw power is still sufficient to push frame rates far beyond what most displays can handle. Overall, the data shows that this configuration is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates at High settings, while 4K is viable for Medium settings, and 1080p is reserved for maximizing frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile is the defining component in this system's gaming performance, as evidenced by the resolution scaling data. With 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU has a massive 896.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is particularly relevant for a game like The Technomancer, which features dense environments and high-resolution textures. The benchmark results show that the GPU's memory subsystem is not a bottleneck, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution, indicating that the GPU has ample bandwidth to feed its 10,496 shading units.

The GPU's clock speeds are relatively modest, with a base clock of 990 MHz and a boost clock of 1515 MHz. This is a common characteristic of high-end mobile GPUs, which must balance performance with thermal and power constraints within a laptop chassis. The 95 W TDP further emphasizes this, as it is a significant power budget for a mobile part but still limits the GPU's maximum clock speeds compared to desktop counterparts. Despite these clocks, the GPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Passmark G3D score of 30034 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 5871, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs.

The measured FPS data confirms the GPU's dominance. At 4K, the average frame rate at High settings is 58 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The fact that increasing the settings to Ultra drops the average to 45 FPS shows that the GPU is working at its limits. The GPU's raw compute power, measured at 31.80 TFLOPS for FP32, is being fully utilized at this resolution. The data shows a clear hierarchy: Ultra is too demanding for 4K, High is borderline, and Medium delivers a comfortable 67 FPS average.

At lower resolutions, the GPU's role shifts from being the sole bottleneck to providing massive headroom. At 1440p, the RTX 5090 Mobile can deliver 160 FPS at Low settings, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. This indicates that the GPU is not being fully utilized at this resolution and settings combination, and the CPU is likely becoming the limiting factor. However, the GPU still has the power to run the game at Ultra settings with an 82 FPS average, proving that it is a highly capable part for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming. The data confirms that this GPU is a top-tier mobile solution, but its performance in The Technomancer is ultimately capped by the game's engine and the resolution chosen.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 plays a supporting but critical role in this configuration, providing enough processing power to keep the RTX 5090 Mobile fed at lower resolutions. With 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, this CPU is a compute powerhouse. Its benchmark scores reflect this, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,314 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20,992, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900K, which it trails by 1.7% in average benchmark score, and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, which it leads by 2%.

The CPU's core configuration is more than sufficient for The Technomancer. The game, being a 2016 title, is unlikely to utilize all 16 cores effectively, but the high boost clock of 5.10 GHz on a few cores provides excellent single-threaded performance, which is often more critical for older game engines. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,044 and Passmark single-thread score of 4,147 indicate strong per-core performance. This is evident in the 1080p benchmark results, where the frame rates at Low settings reach 245 FPS, suggesting the CPU is still keeping up with the GPU's output.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the scaling from 1440p to 1080p. At High settings, the frame rate goes from 105 FPS at 1440p to 160 FPS at 1080p, a 52% increase. However, the frame rate increase from 1440p Low (160 FPS) to 1080p Low (245 FPS) is a 53% increase. This shows that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at 1440p, as the frame rate scales similarly to the resolution pixel count reduction. However, the fact that the 1080p Low result (245 FPS) is significantly higher than the 1440p High result (105 FPS) shows that the CPU has more than enough headroom to handle the game's physics and logic at high frame rates.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, provided by its quad-channel LPDDR5X support, is also a factor. This high bandwidth ensures that the CPU can quickly feed data to the GPU, reducing potential stutters. The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this configuration at any resolution below 1080p, and even at 1080p, it only becomes a limiting factor at the highest frame rates. The CPU's 64 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with game data locality. Overall, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a formidable partner for the RTX 5090 Mobile, ensuring that the GPU is never starved for data, which is a key reason why the system can achieve such high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system to play The Technomancer at High settings?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at High settings delivers an average of 105 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. This is the best balance of visual quality and performance, as 4K High settings drops to 58 FPS, which is just below the ideal threshold.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Medium settings, the system averages 67 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K High settings, the average drops to 58 FPS, and at Ultra settings, it falls to 45 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, 4K Medium is the recommended preset.

Q: How much performance is gained by lowering settings at 1080p?

A: The performance gain is massive. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate goes from 125 FPS at Ultra settings to 245 FPS at Low settings, a 96% increase. This shows that the GPU has significant headroom at 1080p and is not the primary bottleneck.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 4K or 1440p, as frame rates scale predictably with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU begins to play a larger role, but the high single-core performance of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 still allows for frame rates exceeding 240 FPS at Low settings.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 Mobile compare to its direct rival, the RTX 4070 Ti?

A: The RTX 5090 Mobile has an average benchmark score that is 0.8% higher than the RTX 4070 Ti, according to the nearestRivals data. This indicates that the mobile 50-series part is slightly faster overall in synthetic benchmarks, although real-world game performance can vary.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this system at 1440p?

A: The lowest average frame rate at 2560x1440 is 82 FPS, which is recorded at Ultra settings. Even at the highest visual quality preset, the system maintains a frame rate well above 60 FPS, indicating that 1440p is a very comfortable resolution for this hardware.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For a standard 60 Hz display at 4K, the Medium preset is the clear winner. It delivers an average of 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS, ensuring that the frame rate rarely dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 4K is a close second, with an average of 58 FPS, but the lower minimum frame rate makes Medium the safer choice for consistent smoothness. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 45 FPS, should be avoided unless visual fidelity is prioritized over smoothness.

For users with 1440p high-refresh-rate monitors, the High preset is the recommended starting point. It offers an average of 105 FPS, which is ideal for 100 Hz or 120 Hz displays. The Ultra preset, with an average of 82 FPS, is also viable for 75 Hz or 85 Hz monitors and provides the best visual quality. For competitive play or maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1440p reaches 160 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. The Medium preset at 1440p, averaging 123 FPS, is a good middle ground for those who want a balance of quality and speed.

At 1080p, the choice is between extreme frame rates and visual fidelity. The Ultra preset is the best choice for users with a 120 Hz to 144 Hz monitor, as it delivers an average of 125 FPS. The High preset, averaging 160 FPS, is better suited for 165 Hz or higher refresh rate displays. For those with 240 Hz monitors, the Low preset, with an average of 245 FPS, will maximize the display's potential. However, the Medium preset, averaging 188 FPS, offers a better visual experience than Low while still exceeding 144 Hz. Given the data, the High preset at 1080p provides the best overall experience for most users, as it combines high visual quality with a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most gaming monitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for The Technomancer with this hardware configuration is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS of 245. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this system, showing massive GPU headroom.
• Medium: Average FPS of 188, with a minimum of 160 FPS and a maximum of 216 FPS. The minimum frame rate here is higher than the average at 4K High.
• High: Average FPS of 160. This is a very strong result for a high-quality preset, exceeding the refresh rate of most monitors.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 125. This remains a very playable frame rate, suitable for high refresh rate displays.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS of 160. This is the same as the 1080p High result, showing the GPU's capability at this resolution.
• Medium: Average FPS of 123, with a minimum of 104 FPS and a maximum of 141 FPS. The minimum frame rate is well above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay.
• High: Average FPS of 105. This is the recommended preset for 1440p, providing a great balance of quality and performance.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 82. This is a very respectable result for the highest settings, proving the GPU's strength at this resolution.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS of 88. This is a playable frame rate at 4K, but the visual quality will be noticeably reduced.
• Medium: Average FPS of 67, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. This is the best choice for a smooth 4K experience, as the minimum frame rate is close to 60 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 58. This is just below the 60 FPS target, making it a borderline choice for 4K gaming.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 45. This is the most demanding configuration and is not recommended for smooth gameplay, though it is still playable.

The data shows a clear progression: the system is capable of exceeding 240 FPS at 1080p Low, which indicates that the CPU and GPU combination is extremely powerful. At 1440p, the frame rates are consistently high across all settings, making it the most versatile resolution. At 4K, the system can handle Medium settings with relative ease, but High and Ultra settings will require a compromise on frame rate. This breakdown confirms that the RTX 5090 Mobile is a high-end GPU, but The Technomancer's engine still presents a significant challenge at 4K, particularly at the highest visual presets.