The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting challenge for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, using data from a benchmark database. The combination ranks 504th out of 1656 tested combos for this title, placing it in the upper third of all configurations. The data reveals a system capable of high refresh rate gameplay at lower resolutions, with predictable scaling as settings and resolution increase.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in The Technomancer?

A: The combo ranks 504th out of 1656 tested combinations, placing it in the top 30% of all configurations.

Q: What is the best average FPS achieved by this setup?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 225.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combination handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, it produces an average of 52.9 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings and 42 FPS at Ultra settings, though the latter dips below the 60 FPS threshold commonly desired for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its closest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, sitting just 0.1% behind it. It also leads the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have and what is its memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 3080 features 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s.

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile compared to all other graphics cards?

A: The RTX 3080 falls in the 80th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35787.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this pairing at rank 504 out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This position is not merely a sum of its parts; it reflects a balanced interaction between the CPU's processing power and the GPU's rendering capabilities. In general benchmarks, the CPU sits in the 72nd percentile, while the GPU is in the 80th, yet the in-game rank suggests the combination is slightly less dominant than either component's individual standing. This is a common outcome in titles where engine limitations or single-threaded dependencies can cap performance.

To contextualize the CPU's contribution, its average benchmark score of 13516 is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534, a negligible 0.1% difference. It also outperforms the Intel Core i7-1250U by 0.4% and the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%. These figures indicate that the i3-12100F is a competitive performer in synthetic tests, capable of keeping pace with much more expensive processors in certain workloads. The GPU, with an average score of 35787, is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro Duo and 0.9% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, but leads the AMD Radeon 880M by 0.4%.

The 504th rank out of 1656 suggests that while this combo is powerful, many other top-tier combinations achieve higher frame rates in this specific title. The data indicates that the system is more than capable for the majority of users, but it is not at the absolute pinnacle of performance for The Technomancer. The ranking implies that the bottleneck shifts between components depending on the resolution and settings, which is explored in the subsequent sections.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this configuration. It is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, manufactured on an 8 nm process by Samsung. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1710 MHz. Its memory subsystem is a significant asset: 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus yields a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for feeding the 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 render output units at high resolutions.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. The performance scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is not linear. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces 146.4 FPS, but this drops to 93.1 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 52.9 FPS at 3840x2160. This pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is sufficient for this game, as the data shows no signs of a memory capacity bottleneck at 4K, with the Ultra preset still delivering playable frame rates.

The GPU's general benchmark scores confirm its high-end status. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 25086 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 167014. Its performance in the 80th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 35787, places it alongside the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which scores 36101. The RTX 3080's specific strengths in rasterization are evident in this title, as The Technomancer does not utilize ray tracing, allowing the card's raw compute power to be fully directed towards traditional rendering.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset delivers an average of 225.4 FPS, which is 53 FPS higher than the High preset's 146.4 FPS. The Medium preset sits between them at 172.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 115.1 FPS. These figures suggest that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU sufficiently to achieve very high frame rates, even at the highest visual quality.

Moving to 2560x1440, the demands on the GPU increase, but performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 143.3 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. High settings produce 93.1 FPS, and Medium produces 110.8 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 76.4 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS standard. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a reduction of approximately 47%, indicating that the GPU is becoming a more significant factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Low preset achieves 82 FPS, which is still very playable. However, the higher presets show a steep decline. Medium averages 62.6 FPS, High averages 52.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 42 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 40 FPS, a 49% reduction. This pattern indicates that the RTX 3080 is being fully utilized, and the 4K Ultra setting is the only configuration in the data set that falls below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's display and performance targets. For users with 1920x1080 monitors, the Ultra preset is highly recommended, as it delivers 115.1 FPS, which is well above the threshold for high refresh rate displays. Even at the highest quality, the system has significant headroom, making this resolution the most forgiving.

At 2560x1440, the High preset offers a balanced experience with 93.1 FPS. For those seeking the highest visual fidelity, Ultra is still viable at 76.4 FPS. However, if a user prefers to maximize frame rates for competitive play, the Medium preset at 110.8 FPS provides a substantial boost. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot at this resolution, offering a strong visual experience without sacrificing smoothness.

For 4K gaming at 3840x2160, users must make a compromise. The High preset averages 52.9 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 62.6 FPS is the best option for maintaining a stable 60 FPS experience, as it provides an average frame rate above that threshold. The Ultra preset at 42 FPS is the only setting that falls below this standard, and it is only recommended for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate and can tolerate occasional dips. The Low preset at 82 FPS is the only way to achieve high refresh rates at 4K, but it significantly reduces visual fidelity.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. Despite its modest core count, its single-threaded performance is a key asset. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1681 in single-core and 11912 in multi-core. Geekbench results show 2224 single-core and 7413 multi-core. These scores indicate that the CPU is highly efficient in per-core tasks, which is often critical for game engines.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 225.4 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the i3-12100F is not a limiting factor at this resolution. However, as the resolution increases to 3840x2160, the frame rates drop across all settings, demonstrating that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The CPU's performance in this title is sufficient to maintain high frame rates, but it is not so powerful that it can overcome the GPU's limitations at 4K.

The CPU's general benchmark standing is strong, with a 72nd percentile rank among all processors. Its average score of 13516 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which is a much more expensive and higher-core-count processor. This underscores the i3-12100F's efficiency. While it may not have the multi-threaded might of larger CPUs, its 8 threads and high clock speeds are well-suited for gaming workloads. The data suggests that in this title, the i3-12100F provides a solid foundation for the RTX 3080, ensuring that the GPU is not starved of data at mainstream resolutions.