The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an Action RPG released in 2016, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, using benchmark data to interpret how this combination handles the game. The data set provides a complete matrix of average frame rates across three resolutions and four quality settings, allowing for a detailed breakdown of where this combo excels and where it falls short.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 provides the best balance, delivering 90.5 FPS on High settings and 106.4 FPS on Medium. At 1920x1080, the combo is often above 142 FPS, but 3840x2160 dips below 60 FPS on High and Ultra settings.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from High to Ultra settings?

A: The penalty is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 142.6 on High to 112.4 on Ultra, a reduction of 30.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, the drop is from 90.5 to 70.5 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls from 50 to 39.8 FPS.

Q: Is the RX 6800 XT capable of running the game at 4K smoothly?

A: The data indicates that 4K (3840x2160) is only playable on Low settings, where the average FPS is 76.9. On Medium, it drops to 59.1, and on High it falls to 50, which may not be smooth enough for all players.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread performance?

A: The CPU's benchmark scores show a strong scaling from single to multi-threaded workloads. For instance, in Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 1453, while the multi-core score is 10297, indicating the 6-core, 12-thread design is effectively utilized.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is in the 87th percentile, meaning it outperforms 87% of all GPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score is 49982.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in this specific game?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks 638th out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer, placing it in the top 38% of all configurations tested.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the primary driver of frame rates in The Technomancer, and its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a 512.0 GB/s bandwidth. This memory capacity is more than sufficient for the game's demands at all tested resolutions, preventing VRAM from being a bottleneck. The GPU's architecture, RDNA 2.0, is built on a 7 nm process and features 4608 shading units. Its clock speeds are high, with a base of 1825 MHz, a game clock of 2015 MHz, and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. These clocks are the key to its performance, as they allow the GPU to process the game's geometry and effects rapidly.

The benchmark results show a clear correlation between GPU load and frame rate. The GPU's passmark G3D score of 24980 and its 87th percentile ranking place it well above most competitors. When compared to its nearest rivals in the database, it sits within a tight performance band. The data shows it is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Arc A550M, 1.9% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 50HX, and 2.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. It trails the NVIDIA RTX A1000 by 1.7%. This indicates that the RX 6800 XT is consistently competitive, and its performance in The Technomancer is directly tied to these compute capabilities.

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions confirms the GPU's central role. At 1920x1080, the CPU has more headroom, allowing the GPU to push average FPS to 180.3 on Low. As resolution increases to 3840x2160, the pixel fill rate demand grows, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with the average FPS on Low dropping to 76.9. This pattern is expected for a high-end GPU, where lower resolutions are CPU-bound and higher resolutions become increasingly GPU-bound. The GPU's 128 ROPs and 288 TMUs are tasked with the final output, and the data suggests they handle 1440p exceptionally well.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F plays a supporting role, ensuring the GPU is fed with data. This processor features 6 cores and 12 threads, operating at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its architecture, Comet Lake, is built on a 14 nm process. For a game like The Technomancer, the CPU's job is to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. The benchmark data shows a capable processor, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10297 and a single-core score of 1453. The single-core performance is critical for games, and the 4.30 GHz boost clock helps maintain high minimum frame rates.

The evidence of the CPU's role can be seen in the frame rate scaling at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Medium settings is relatively small, with a change from 180.3 to 166.2 FPS. This suggests that at these lower settings, the CPU is beginning to cap performance. The CPU's benchmark scores support this, with a PassMark single-thread score of 2541 and a multi-thread score of 12115. While the GPU has the raw power to render frames quickly, the CPU must keep up with the game's processing demands.

The 12 MB of shared L3 cache is ample for the game's data, and the dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth provides sufficient throughput. The CPU's performance relative to others is solid, ranking in the 73rd percentile. Its nearest rivals show a tightly contested grouping: it is 0.4% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7552, 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-8500, and 1.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546. It trails the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.8%. This data confirms that the i5-10400F is not a bottleneck, but its influence is more pronounced in scenarios with high frame rates, such as 1080p Low, where the gap between settings narrows.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware combination. For a consistent 60 FPS or higher experience, the data suggests that 2560x1440 with High settings is the sweet spot, yielding an average of 90.5 FPS. This setting provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining a high frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings are viable, but the jump from High to Ultra provides a marginal benefit. The average FPS on High is 142.6, while Ultra drops to 112.4, a 30.2 FPS penalty for likely minimal visual gains.

At 4K, the recommendations change drastically. The data shows that High settings are not viable for smooth gameplay, with an average of 50 FPS. Ultra is even worse, at 39.8 FPS. To achieve a playable experience at 3840x2160, the user must select Low settings, which provides 76.9 FPS. Medium is a compromise, offering 59.1 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target but may not be stable enough for all users. The data suggests that for the best experience, users should target 1440p High to balance visual fidelity with performance.

The performance scaling shows diminishing returns on higher settings. The gap between Low and Medium at 2560x1440 is 31.3 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 20 FPS. This indicates that the game's Ultra preset introduces effects that are disproportionately taxing on the GPU. The data points to High as the most efficient preset in terms of performance per frame, as it provides a substantial increase in FPS over Ultra while likely offering most of the visual benefits.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for The Technomancer, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT holds the 638th position out of 1656 total combinations. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested configurations. Given that the GPU is in the 87th percentile and the CPU is in the 73rd percentile, a top-40% ranking is consistent with the hardware's individual strengths. The ranking suggests that while the components are strong, there are many other combinations that achieve higher frame rates in this specific title.

The ranking is a direct result of the measured FPS across the board. While the combo excels at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, its performance at 3840x2160 on higher settings drags down its overall standing. Many other combos may feature more powerful CPUs or GPUs that handle 4K Ultra settings with more ease. The data indicates that this pairing is a high-performance 1440p machine, but it is not optimized for 4K Ultra. The 638th rank reflects this strength at lower resolutions and its relative weakness at the highest resolution settings.

The comparison to other combos is not directly available in the data, but the rank implies that 1018 other combinations performed better in this game. This is not a reflection of poor hardware, but rather a signal of the variety of high-end components that can run The Technomancer. The combo's position in the ranking is a useful metric for users who prioritize high refresh rate gaming at 1440p, as it is clearly capable of exceeding 100 FPS on Medium and High settings at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average FPS values provides a granular view of performance. At 1920x1080, the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT deliver exceptional frame rates. On Low settings, the average FPS is 180.3. This drops to 166.2 on Medium and 142.6 on High. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still yields a very playable 112.4 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, with all presets providing a smooth experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 137.7 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. Medium settings produce an average of 106.4 FPS, and High settings drop to 90.5 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, sees a significant drop to 70.5 FPS. This resolution offers the best balance for demanding games, with High settings providing a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with the higher pixel count. The Low preset is the only one that remains comfortably above 60 FPS, with an average of 76.9. Medium settings average 59.1 FPS, which is borderline playable. High settings fall to 50 FPS, and Ultra drops to 39.8 FPS, indicating that these presets are not suitable for a smooth experience at 4K.

The data across all resolutions shows clear scaling patterns. The performance delta between Low and Ultra is consistent, highlighting the GPU's capabilities. At 1080p, the range is from 112.4 to 180.3 FPS. At 1440p, the range is from 70.5 to 137.7 FPS. At 4K, the range narrows significantly, from 39.8 to 76.9 FPS. This narrowing at 4K confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU has more influence at 1080p. The measured data offers a definitive guide for users seeking to maximize their experience with this hardware combination.