The Technomancer

This combo, the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, lands at rank 972 out of 1656 tested combinations for The Technomancer. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, meaning it trails a significant number of other pairings, but it is by no means a weak performer. The data shows this is a workable setup for the game, though the ranking suggests that other builds with more substantial CPUs or GPUs will pull ahead, especially at higher resolutions.

The positioning is heavily influenced by the CPU's modest 4-core, 8-thread configuration, which is a limiting factor in a game that can scale with more threads. The GPU, while capable, is also not a top-tier part, ranking in the 66th percentile among all GPUs. The combination of a mid-range CPU and GPU results in a pairing that is adequate for 1080p and 1440p play but will struggle to maintain high frame rates at 4K, particularly on higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

With a rank of 972 out of 1656 combos, this system sits in the 59th percentile of tested configurations for The Technomancer. This is a clear signal that while the hardware is competent, it is not optimized for the game's most demanding scenarios. The ranking indicates that there are roughly 684 tested combinations that deliver better performance, which is a substantial number. This suggests that for a game like The Technomancer, which was released in 2016 and has a broad range of hardware demands, this combo is a solid mid-pack option but not a top-tier contender.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 13516 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, but its nearest rivals in that metric include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which has a nearly identical average score. This is an outlier comparison, as the Threadripper is a workstation-class chip, yet the i3-12100F matches its average in these specific benchmarks. However, in gaming, the core count difference matters. The CPU's multithreaded performance, as seen in the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11912, is decent for a quad-core, but it is far behind what a higher-core-count processor would offer in a game that can use them. The GPU's ranking is more straightforward; it is a mid-range part that is outclassed by many others, but it is also more capable than a large portion of the database.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the primary driver of frame rates in this pairing, and its characteristics are well-documented in the data. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The boost clock of 2460 MHz is a key factor in its performance, allowing it to push through the game's rendering tasks. The GPU's benchmark scores support its mid-range status: it has a Passmark G3D score of 19545 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302. Its average benchmark score of 23181 places it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs.

In the context of The Technomancer, the GPU's frame rate output is directly tied to the settings and resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo hits 167.4 FPS, but at 4K with Ultra settings, it drops to 30.5 FPS. This wide range shows that the GPU has enough power for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming, but it is the bottleneck when pushing to higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this game, as The Technomancer is not a VRAM-heavy title, but it does mean the card is not future-proof for more demanding games. The GPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is also telling; it is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6600M and the Intel Arc B580, with delta percentages of -0.6% and 0.7% respectively.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is found at 1080p with Medium or High settings. At 1080p Medium, the system delivers 131.7 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while High settings still offer a very playable 113.2 FPS. The jump to Ultra at 1080p drops the frame rate to 83.6 FPS, which is still acceptable, but the performance cost is not worth the visual gain on a 1080p panel. For 1440p, the sweet spot is Medium settings, which yields 83.3 FPS. High is also viable at 70 FPS, but Low is the only setting that guarantees a high refresh rate experience, at 107.6 FPS.

At 4K, the data shows that this combo is not suitable for high settings. The only playable option is Low, which produces 60.2 FPS. Medium drops to 46.1 FPS, and High falls to 39.9 FPS, which is not a smooth experience. Ultra is effectively unplayable at 30.5 FPS. The recommendation is to stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best balance of visual quality and performance. The GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, and the CPU does not have the headroom to compensate for lower frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Technomancer at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produces an average of 60.2 FPS. Higher settings result in frame rates below 47 FPS, which is not recommended.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: 1080p is the ideal resolution, as it delivers over 83 FPS on all settings. 1440p is also viable, but it requires dropping to Medium or Low for the best frame rates.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rival in benchmarks?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534. This is a 0.1% difference, showing the CPU holds its own in synthetic tests.

Q: Is the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM enough for this game?

A: Yes, The Technomancer does not require a large amount of VRAM, and the 8 GB on the RTX 4060 is more than sufficient for the game's highest settings.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings yield 107.6 FPS, while Ultra drops to 57.2 FPS. This is a 50 FPS difference, showing a significant performance cost for higher visual quality.

Q: How does this GPU rank against all other GPUs?

A: The RTX 4060 is in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23181. It is a mid-range card that is outclassed by higher-end models.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and consistent performance drop as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 113.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops the frame rate to 70 FPS, a decrease of 38.2%. At 4K High, the frame rate falls to 39.9 FPS, which is a 64.7% drop from 1080p. This pattern is consistent across all settings, indicating that the GPU is struggling to fill the increasing pixel count.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more manageable, but the jump to 4K is severe. For example, at Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 131.7 FPS at 1080p to 83.3 FPS at 1440p, and then to 46.1 FPS at 4K. The large performance hit at 4K suggests that the RTX 4060 is not designed for that resolution in this title. The CPU is less of a factor here, as the frame rate drops are primarily due to the GPU's rendering load. This data confirms that the system is best used at 1080p or 1440p, where the GPU can maintain playable frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a quad-core processor with 8 threads, based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.30 GHz. The CPU has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a reasonable amount for a budget chip. Its benchmark scores are respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11912 and a single-core score of 1681. The Passmark multithread score of 14015 and single-thread score of 3444 further illustrate its capabilities. The CPU's percentile rank of 72% indicates it outperforms a majority of processors in the database.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration is sufficient for this game, as it does not require a high core count to run well. However, the data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are more attributable to the GPU's limitations. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 167.4 FPS, which shows it is not holding the system back. The CPU's performance is consistent with its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-7700K, which has an average score of 13280, a 1.8% difference. This shows that the i3-12100F is a capable processor for this game, but it is not a high-end part, and its limits will be apparent in more CPU-intensive titles.