The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, places unique demands on a system. With the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390, the benchmark results reveal a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor, particularly as resolution increases. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to determine the platform's strengths, weaknesses, and optimal usage scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting factor in this pairing. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 52 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that average falls to 34 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS. At 4K, the average plummets to 19 FPS, making the game effectively unplayable at that resolution with High settings. This scaling pattern—a roughly 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, followed by another 44% drop from 1440p to 4K—indicates that the GPU is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth as the pixel count increases.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck here. The i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is capable of pushing higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 79 FPS average at 1080p Low settings. The fact that the frame rate nearly doubles from 40 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 79 FPS at 1080p Low demonstrates that the GPU is the limiting factor; the CPU has headroom to spare. If the processor were the constraint, we would expect to see a more consistent frame rate across different quality presets at the same resolution. Instead, the variance is massive, pointing squarely at the Arc B390's compute and memory limitations.

The 4K results are particularly telling. At 4K Ultra, the combo only manages 15 FPS, which is a slideshow. Even dropping to 4K Low only brings the average up to 28 FPS. The Arc B390, which scores in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, simply lacks the raw horsepower to handle the pixel throughput required at 3840x2160. This is a clear case where the resolution scaling curve is exponential, not linear, due to the GPU's limited 24 ROPs and system-shared memory architecture. The 1440p results are in a playable range for a slower-paced Action RPG, but the 4K results are strictly for static screenshots or testing purposes.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2500th out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 12% of all system configurations, which is a poor showing for a game from 2016. The ranking reflects the stark imbalance between the CPU and GPU. The i5-10400F is a capable processor, scoring in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, but it is being held back by a GPU that scores in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

This rank is not a reflection of the CPU's gaming potential. Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, it is essentially tied with the Intel Xeon 6756E (0.2% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7552 (0.5% delta), and it is slightly ahead of the Intel Core 7 160UL and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. This indicates the i5-10400F is a solid mid-range performer in synthetic benchmarks. However, the GPU's nearest rivals—the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710—are all legacy or entry-level parts from a decade ago. The Arc B390 is only 1.3% to 2.7% faster than these ancient GPUs in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This puts the entire system's gaming performance in perspective: it is competing with hardware from 2012-2014, not modern gaming PCs.

The 2500th place ranking is a direct consequence of this GPU pairing. In a system where the CPU is in the 68th percentile and the GPU is in the 9th, the overall gaming experience will always be dragged down to the GPU's level. The data indicates that this combo is severely GPU-bound in The Technomancer, and the low rank confirms that this is not a viable configuration for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K resolution?

A: Technically, yes, but not at a playable frame rate. The data shows the average FPS at 4K ranges from 15 FPS on Ultra settings to 28 FPS on Low settings. This is far below the 30 FPS minimum typically considered playable, so 4K is not a realistic option for this game.

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

A: The 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution is the only one that provides a consistently playable experience. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 40 on Ultra to 79 on Low, with the Medium preset hitting 61 FPS. The 1440p results are borderline, with High settings averaging 34 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F or the Intel Arc B390 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark data clearly indicates the Intel Arc B390 is the bottleneck. The FPS scales dramatically with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU limitation. The CPU's benchmark scores (e.g., Cinebench R23 multicore of 10283) are far above what is needed to drive the frame rates achieved here.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482. This is only 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). This shows it is performance-equivalent to very old, entry-level graphics solutions.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 40 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. The minimum FPS recorded was 34, and the maximum was 46. This is a playable, if not perfectly smooth, experience for a game like The Technomancer.

Q: Does the CPU have enough cores and threads for this game?

A: Yes. The i5-10400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, which is more than sufficient for a 2016 Action RPG. Its performance in multi-threaded tests (e.g., Passmark multithread score of 12115) shows it can handle the game's logic and physics without breaking a sweat, further confirming the GPU is the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full set of measured FPS data for The Technomancer with the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B390 is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 79 FPS. This is the highest frame rate achieved in any configuration.
• Medium: Average 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS.
• High: Average 52 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 40 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 52 FPS.
• Medium: Average 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS.
• High: Average 34 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 26 FPS.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 28 FPS.
• Medium: Average 22 FPS, with a minimum of 19 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS.
• High: Average 19 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 15 FPS.

These numbers illustrate a clear hierarchy. The 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS barrier. The 1080p Medium and High presets are perfectly playable. The 1440p Low and Medium presets are borderline, suitable for a game that does not require twitch reflexes. The 4K results are all below 30 FPS and should be avoided for actual gameplay. The difference between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra is a 39 FPS swing, further emphasizing the GPU's inability to handle higher graphical workloads.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide adequate bandwidth for gaming. The data shows this CPU is more than capable of handling the demands of The Technomancer.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-10400F performs admirably. It scores 10283 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1451 in single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 12115, and its single-thread score is 2541. These scores place it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range performer. However, in this specific gaming context, the CPU's role is largely to feed the GPU. The frame rates in The Technomancer are so low that the CPU is never under significant stress.

The data proves the CPU is not the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be similar across different resolutions. Instead, we see that lowering the resolution from 4K to 1080p yields a massive performance uplift (e.g., from 28 FPS to 79 FPS on Low settings). This is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The i5-10400F is waiting on the Arc B390 to finish rendering each frame. The CPU has the headroom to push far more frames, but the GPU cannot keep up. The 12 threads might help in other, more CPU-intensive games, but in The Technomancer, the CPU is effectively a bystander.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal way to play The Technomancer with this hardware is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The single most important choice is the resolution. Users should stick to 1920x1080 to get a smooth experience.

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the recommended starting point. It delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 52 ensures that there are no major stutters, and the maximum of 70 FPS shows there is some headroom. This preset provides a significant visual upgrade over Low without the performance penalty of High.

If a user prioritizes frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice. It averages 79 FPS, providing a very fluid experience. This is likely the best option for players who want to ensure the game never dips below 60 FPS. The visual hit is noticeable, but the performance gain is substantial.

The High preset at 1080p is also viable, averaging 52 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for a slower-paced Action RPG, and it offers better shadows and textures than Medium. However, users should be prepared for occasional dips, as the minimum FPS is not recorded but the average is close to the 50 FPS mark.

The Ultra preset should be avoided. At 1080p it only averages 40 FPS, which is below the standard for a comfortable gaming experience. The 1440p and 4K resolutions are not recommended for active play. The 1440p Medium preset at 40 FPS is the only 1440p option that is remotely playable, but the 1080p Medium preset offers a better frame rate with a similar overall experience. In summary, the data suggests that 1080p Medium is the "sweet spot" for this combo, with 1080p Low serving as the high-refresh-rate alternative.