The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a unique challenge for the Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet shows surprising CPU limitations at 1080p. This pairing delivers strong performance, but the scaling pattern indicates that the Radeon RX 7700 is the primary driver of frame rates, with the i5-10400F providing adequate, though not limitless, headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The most telling data point is the frame rate progression across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 179 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low reduces this to 117 FPS, a 35% decrease. Moving to 4K Low further cuts performance to 64 FPS, which is a 45% drop from 1440p and a 64% drop from 1080p. This steep decline is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario; the rendering load is increasing faster than the CPU can feed the graphics card, making the RX 7700 the limiting factor.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 117 at 1080p, to 77 at 1440p (a 34% drop), and then to 42 at 4K (a 45% drop from 1440p). Similarly, Medium settings show 137 FPS at 1080p, 90 FPS at 1440p, and 49 FPS at 4K. This consistent percentage drop between resolutions confirms that the GPU's workload is the bottleneck, not the CPU. The i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is capable of feeding the GPU at 1080p, but the GPU's raw throughput is what determines the final frame rate as resolution increases.

However, the data also shows the CPU is not entirely without influence. The jump from 1080p Low (179 FPS) to 1440p Low (117 FPS) is a 35% reduction, which is less than the theoretical pixel count difference. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is starting to become a secondary constraint, preventing the GPU from reaching even higher frame rates. The system is not purely GPU-bound; it is a mix, with the CPU limiting the absolute maximum FPS at lower resolutions and the GPU taking over as the dominant constraint at 1440p and 4K. In essence, the 4K results are almost entirely a function of the RX 7700's capabilities, while the 1080p results are a more balanced interaction between the two components.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 1440p provides the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. High settings at 1440p deliver an average of 77 FPS, which is highly playable and a significant step up in clarity from 1080p. While 4K is possible, the average FPS drops to 42 on High, which may be too low for some users.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to its direct competitors in synthetic benchmarks?

A: In the PassMark G3D benchmark, the RX 7700 scores 20974. This places it 1.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which scores 16129 in the nearestRivals data, and 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (score 16014). It is also 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (score 15679) and 0.1% behind the AMD Radeon R9 370X (score 15862). This indicates the RX 7700 is a solid performer in its class.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RX 7700?

A: The benchmark data suggests it is a minor bottleneck at 1080p but not at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 179 FPS, which is very high. However, the scaling to 1440p (117 FPS) is less than ideal, suggesting the CPU limits the absolute peak. At 4K, the performance is clearly GPU-bound, as the frame rates are in line with the GPU's expected workload.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The data shows a significant difference. Low settings at 1440p yield an average of 117 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 60 FPS. This is a 48.7% reduction in performance for the highest visual fidelity. Medium settings provide a middle ground at 90 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This specific configuration ranks 1275 out of 2825 total tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the 55th percentile, indicating it performs better than a slight majority of other systems, but it is not a top-tier setup.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect with Medium settings at 4K?

A: The measured data shows an average of 49 FPS at 4K with Medium settings. The minimum FPS recorded was 42, and the maximum was 57. This suggests that while the experience is playable, it may not be consistently smooth in demanding scenes.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the star of this pairing, and its specifications clearly dictate the performance ceiling in The Technomancer. The GPU is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, resulting in a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This substantial bandwidth is crucial for high-resolution textures. With a boost clock of 2459 MHz and a game clock of 2041 MHz, the GPU has the raw compute power to drive high polygon counts and effects. Its 2560 shading units handle the bulk of the rendering work, and its FP32 performance of 25.18 TFLOPS provides a clear picture of its theoretical compute capability.

The GPU's role is most evident in the 4K results. At 4K Ultra, the system only manages 33 FPS, which is a demanding workload. The RX 7700 is clearly working at its limits, and the frame rate is a direct consequence of its rendering power. The 16 GB VRAM is also a key factor; it ensures that the GPU does not run out of memory for textures at 4K, which would cause stuttering or texture pop-in. The data shows a smooth progression from Low (64 FPS) to Medium (49 FPS) to High (42 FPS) to Ultra (33 FPS) at 4K, which is a linear scaling of the GPU's workload.

In contrast, the CPU's role is less critical. The i5-10400F has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2541 and multithread score of 12115 are respectable, but they are not extraordinary. The data suggests that while the CPU is sufficient to keep up with the GPU at 1440p and 4K, it is the RX 7700 that determines the final frame rate. The GPU's 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs, compared to the CPU's 68th percentile, reinforces that the graphics card is the more significant component for this specific game, which is common for an Action RPG with demanding visuals.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 4K, the data suggests that Low settings are the best choice for a smooth experience, yielding an average of 64 FPS. Medium settings are a viable alternative, averaging 49 FPS, but the minimum FPS of 42 indicates it may dip into less comfortable territory. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended for consistent playability, as they average 42 and 33 FPS respectively.

At 1440p, the sweet spot is High settings, which delivers an average of 77 FPS. This provides a great balance of visual quality and performance. For players who prefer maximum frame rates, Low settings at 1440p offer 117 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. Ultra settings at 1440p are also acceptable, with an average of 60 FPS, though this is just on the edge of what many consider smooth. Medium settings at 1440p (90 FPS) are a safe middle ground for those who want a slight performance buffer.

At 1080p, the system is capable of very high frame rates. High settings deliver 117 FPS, and Medium settings reach 137 FPS. Low settings push the system to 179 FPS, which is near the limits of what the CPU can provide. Ultra settings at 1080p are the only preset that brings the average below 100 FPS, settling at 92 FPS. For the best overall experience, the data recommends using High settings at 1440p for a high-fidelity, high-refresh-rate experience, or Medium settings at 4K for a visually impressive but slightly less smooth presentation.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination ranks 1275 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This rank places it in the top 55% of all systems tested, which is a solid but not exceptional position. The data indicates that this system is a competent performer, capable of handling the game well at 1440p, but it does not reach the top tiers of performance.

This ranking is a direct result of the components' individual performance. The CPU, with its 68th percentile ranking, is a strong mid-range processor. The GPU, at the 58th percentile, is a capable mid-range graphics card. When combined, they form a system that is greater than the sum of its parts in some scenarios but also reveals the CPU's limitation at lower resolutions. The combo's rank is not as high as the CPU's individual percentile, which suggests that the GPU is holding the system back in some way, or that the game is more dependent on GPU power than CPU power.

In comparison to its nearest rivals, the RX 7700's synthetic benchmark scores are closely matched with several other GPUs. Its PassMark G3D score of 20974 is 1.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129, which is a notable performance lead. However, it is only 1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16014). This shows that in synthetic tests, the RX 7700 is a competitive product, and its overall combo rank in the game is likely a result of the game's specific engine and optimization, rather than a fundamental flaw in the hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The detailed FPS measurements provide a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: The average FPS is 179, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the highest performance point for this combo, indicating the CPU is the primary limiter here.
• Medium: The average FPS is 137, with a minimum of 117 and a maximum of 158. This shows a solid, stable frame rate with a tight variance.
• High: The average FPS is 117, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is a very playable frame rate for most users.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 92, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the only 1080p preset that dips below 100 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: The average FPS is 117, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is identical to the 1080p High result, showing the GPU is now the primary factor.
• Medium: The average FPS is 90, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103. The variance here is wider than at 1080p, suggesting more demanding scenes.
• High: The average FPS is 77, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the recommended setting for a 1440p experience.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 60, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the baseline for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: The average FPS is 64, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the only 4K preset that provides a consistently smooth frame rate.
• Medium: The average FPS is 49, with a minimum of 42 and a maximum of 57. This shows the system is struggling to maintain 60 FPS but remains playable.
• High: The average FPS is 42, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is on the edge of playability and may cause issues in fast-paced combat.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 33, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is not recommended for a playable experience.

The data across all resolutions shows a clear and logical progression. The system provides the best experience at 1080p and 1440p, with performance dropping significantly at 4K. The RX 7700's 16 GB of VRAM ensures that even at 4K, there are no memory-related stutters, but the raw compute power is insufficient to maintain high frame rates on the highest settings.