The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling due to its age and engine characteristics. When paired with the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, the measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, showcasing the strengths of the modern GPU while also exposing the limitations of the older six-core processor. The benchmark results indicate a system capable of high refresh rate gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K remaining a viable but more demanding target depending on the quality preset selected.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K offers a clear picture of where the performance bottleneck lies within this combination. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 157 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High reduces this to 128 FPS, a drop of 29 FPS. The jump to 3840x2160 High brings the average down to 70 FPS, a substantial 58 FPS decrease from the 1440p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating that the GPU becomes increasingly stressed as the pixel count rises, which is expected behavior for a high-end graphics card.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 144 at 2560x1440 to 82 at 3840x2160, a 43% reduction in performance. This significant drop suggests that at 4K, the RTX 4080 is operating near its limits with this game, and the frame rate becomes highly sensitive to the number of pixels being rendered. The data shows that while the GPU can handle the load at lower resolutions, the sheer pixel throughput required at 3840x2160 forces a considerable performance penalty.

At 1080p, the scaling is less dramatic but still present. The difference between the Low preset at 183 FPS and the Ultra preset at 144 FPS is 39 FPS, showing that while the CPU can feed the GPU enough data, the increased graphical fidelity still has a measurable impact. However, the fact that the frame rate remains above 140 FPS even at Ultra suggests that the system is not fully GPU-bound at this resolution, leaving some headroom for the processor to keep up. The data points to a configuration where 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots for high refresh rate monitors, while 4K is better suited for a 60 Hz display with adjusted settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, plays the dominant role in this pairing. The memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is a critical factor for The Technomancer, as the game’s texture-heavy environments and effects can quickly consume memory resources. The benchmark results show that the GPU has ample headroom at 1080p and 1440p, where it easily maintains high frame rates across all settings. The boost clock of 2505 MHz and the 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power are clearly sufficient to handle the game’s DirectX 12 workload without breaking a sweat.

The RTX 4080’s performance becomes the limiting factor only when the resolution is pushed to 3840x2160. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 55 FPS, which is a demanding scenario. This is not a reflection of a weak GPU, but rather an indication that the game’s engine, released in 2016, is not optimized for the extreme pixel counts of modern 4K displays. The GPU is still able to deliver playable frame rates, but the margin for error is reduced. The data suggests that the card’s 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores are not heavily utilized in this title, as The Technomancer likely does not feature advanced ray tracing, making the raw rasterization performance the primary driver.

The GPU’s performance percentile of 86 versus all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 54247, places it in the top tier of graphics cards. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, scores a nearly identical 54209, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.1. This indicates that the standard RTX 4080 is virtually indistinguishable from the SUPER variant in terms of raw compute capability, which is relevant for understanding its headroom in this game. The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the star of the show, providing a smooth experience at lower resolutions but ceding ground to the CPU at 1080p where the frame rate ceiling is reached.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pair ranks at 656 out of 3696 combinations for The Technomancer. This puts the combo in the top 17.8% of all tested systems, which is a strong result given the age of the CPU. The rank reflects a system that is well-balanced for this particular title, though not necessarily the absolute best, as newer processors with higher single-thread performance could potentially push the average frame rates higher, especially at 1080p.

The combo’s rank is influenced by the CPU’s position in the overall market. The i5-10400F has a percentile of 68 versus all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 14185 is closely matched by rivals such as the Intel Xeon 6756E (14163, deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, deltaPct -0.6). This suggests that the CPU is a mid-range performer that does not bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios, but it also does not provide the extra headroom that a higher-end processor might offer. The rank of 656 indicates that while this is a capable combination, there are many other tested systems that achieve higher frame rates, likely due to more modern CPUs.

The fact that the combo ranks in the 82nd percentile of all tested combos shows that it is a viable option for this game. The data shows that the performance is not limited by the GPU in most cases, so the CPU’s contribution to the overall rank is significant. If the CPU were replaced with a faster model, the frame rates at 1080p would likely improve, but the 4K performance would remain the same, as the GPU is the limiting factor there. This makes the combo’s rank a reflection of its strengths at lower resolutions, where it excels, and its limitations at higher resolutions, where the GPU takes over.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 100 FPS. This is a solid result for high refresh rate gaming, though it is lower than the 144 FPS seen at Medium settings.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is more likely the limiting factor at 1920x1080. The frame rates across different settings are very high (144-183 FPS), and the performance gap between presets is relatively small, indicating the GPU is not fully saturated.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: The benchmark data shows the RTX 4080 has an average score of 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER has a score of 54209, a deltaPct of 0.1. This indicates they are effectively equal in performance, so you would not see a meaningful difference in frame rates.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144 Hz monitor?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 is the best fit. With High settings, the average FPS is 128, which is close to the 144 Hz refresh rate. The 1080p results are higher, but the visual fidelity is lower.

Q: Does the game use the RTX 4080’s ray tracing capabilities?

A: The FACT PACK does not list any specific ray tracing performance data for this game. The high frame rates at 1440p and the game’s 2016 release date suggest that ray tracing is not a significant factor in these results.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows a minimum FPS of 70 at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, while the average is 82 FPS. This indicates some frame time variance, but it remains playable.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of performance for each resolution, making it possible to recommend specific presets for different gaming priorities. For players seeking the highest possible frame rates at 1920x1080, the Low preset offers an average of 183 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. However, the Medium preset at 166 FPS provides a better balance between visual quality and performance, and the Ultra preset at 144 FPS still delivers a very smooth experience. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, so there is little reason to sacrifice visual fidelity for a marginal FPS gain beyond the Medium preset.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice for most users. It delivers an average of 128 FPS, which is excellent for a high refresh rate monitor, while maintaining good visual quality. The Ultra preset drops to 100 FPS, which is still playable but may not be worth the performance hit for the incremental graphical improvement. For those who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 159 FPS is an option, but the visual downgrade is significant. The Medium preset at 144 FPS is a solid middle ground, offering a high frame rate with better graphics than Low.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. The Ultra preset is the only one that dips below 60 FPS, with an average of 55 FPS, making it less suitable for a smooth experience. The Medium preset, with an average of 82 FPS and a minimum of 70 FPS, is the best choice for 4K gaming, as it provides a good balance of visual quality and performance. The High preset at 70 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset offers more headroom to avoid drops. The Low preset at 107 FPS is the most performant but sacrifices too much visual detail for a 4K experience. Based on the data, Medium or High at 4K is the recommended path.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10283 and single-core score of 1451, place it as a solid mid-range performer. In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is sufficient to keep up with the RTX 4080, as the frame rates are consistently high across all settings.

The CPU’s performance becomes more critical at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is only 39 FPS (183 to 144), which suggests that the CPU is hitting its limits and cannot push much beyond 183 FPS. The single-thread performance is a key factor here, as The Technomancer may not be perfectly optimized for multi-threading. The 3dmark single-thread score of 688 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1451 indicate that the CPU is not a top-tier performer in this regard, which could be holding back frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support (42.7 GB/s bandwidth) are adequate for this game, but they do not provide the same level of performance as newer platforms. The CPU’s percentile of 68 versus all CPUs means it is better than average, but it is not in the top tier. The data indicates that while the CPU is not a weak link for 1440p and 4K gaming, it does limit the maximum achievable frame rate at 1080p. For this combo, the CPU is a capable partner for the GPU, but it is the reason why the 1080p frame rates do not go even higher.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section provides the exact measured frame rates for every resolution and settings combination tested.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 183 FPS
• Medium: Average 166 FPS, Minimum 141 FPS, Maximum 191 FPS
• High: Average 157 FPS
• Ultra: Average 144 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 159 FPS
• Medium: Average 144 FPS, Minimum 123 FPS, Maximum 166 FPS
• High: Average 128 FPS
• Ultra: Average 100 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 107 FPS
• Medium: Average 82 FPS, Minimum 70 FPS, Maximum 94 FPS
• High: Average 70 FPS
• Ultra: Average 55 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern where the average FPS decreases as resolution and settings increase. The Medium settings are the only ones that include minimum and maximum FPS values, providing a glimpse into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the frame rate ranges from 141 to 191 FPS, showing a 50 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 123 to 166 FPS, a 43 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range narrows to 70 to 94 FPS, a 24 FPS spread. This suggests that as the GPU becomes more stressed, the frame times become more consistent, which is a typical characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The lack of min/max data for other settings means that the average values should be considered the primary metric for comparison.