The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an action RPG from 2016, scales predictably across the tested resolution and settings ladder when paired with the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080. The benchmark data shows a system that is decisively GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, the roles of the processor and graphics card, and the optimal settings for this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

Resolution scaling reveals a clear picture of where the performance bottleneck lies in this configuration. The data indicates a smooth and expected decline in average frame rates as resolution increases, with the frame rate gap between settings narrowing at higher resolutions. At 4K (3840x2160) with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 57 FPS. This is the most demanding scenario, and it represents a substantial drop from the 103 FPS achieved at 2560x1440 with the same Ultra preset. The difference between these two points, a 46 FPS drop, highlights the massive fill-rate and compute demand that 4K presents to the RTX 5080.

Moving to High settings, the game runs at 132 FPS at 2560x1440, which is a significant increase over the 73 FPS at 3840x2160. The data shows a 59 FPS difference between these two resolutions on High settings. At the Low preset, the game achieves 159 FPS at 1440p versus 111 FPS at 4K, a 48 FPS difference. These figures show that the RTX 5080 is the limiting component at 4K, as the workload becomes too heavy for the GPU to maintain the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe, indicating that the GPU is still the primary driver but with more headroom. At 1080p with High settings, the game produces 157 FPS, which drops to 132 FPS at 1440p, a difference of 25 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p runs at 144 FPS, compared to 103 FPS at 1440p, a difference of 41 FPS. These numbers suggest that the CPU begins to play a more significant role at 1080p, where the GPU can produce frames more easily. The data shows that the RTX 5080 is the limiting factor in this build, as the frame rate drops are proportional to the pixel count increase.

The only screenshot with min and max frame data, the Medium preset, shows the frame pacing at each resolution. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 141 FPS and the maximum is 191 FPS, for an average of 166 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 123 FPS and the maximum is 166 FPS, with an average of 144 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 72 FPS and the maximum is 98 FPS, with an average of 85 FPS. This data indicates that the frame pacing is consistent and the lows are not extreme, suggesting a stable experience with no significant stuttering.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It belongs to the 10th Gen Core series, built on the Comet Lake architecture. This CPU has a 12 MB shared L3 cache and a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus. In this game, the CPU is not the primary bottleneck, but its performance is sufficient to keep up with the RTX 5080 at 1080p and 1440p.

The benchmark results for the i5-10400F show a multi-threaded and single-threaded score. In Cinebench R23, it earns a multi-core score of 10283 and a single-core score of 1451. The 3DMark 16 threads score is 4748, while the 2-thread score is 1350. These scores are in line with a mid-range processor from its generation. The CPU's percentile vs all CPUs is 68, which places it in the upper portion of the database. Its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score is the Intel Xeon 6756E, which has an average score of 14163, a 0.2% difference, and the AMD EPYC 7552, with a 14115 average score, a 0.5% difference.

The game's CPU usage is not directly measured, but the frame rates at 1080p suggest that the i5-10400F can provide enough performance to push the RTX 5080 to its limits. At 1080p, the average frame rates are 144 FPS on Ultra and 183 FPS on Low, a difference of 39 FPS. This difference is due to the GPU load, not the CPU. The CPU is likely not the limiting factor at these settings, as the GPU is still the primary variable. The data shows that at 1080p, the GPU is the most important component, and the CPU is sufficient to avoid a bottleneck.

The boost clock of 4.30 GHz is important for this game, as it relies on a few threads for core simulation. The single-thread performance of the i5-10400F is strong, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 688 and a Passmark single-thread score of 2541. The 2-thread score in 3DMark is 1350, which is about 28% of the 16-thread score of 4748. This indicates that the CPU can handle a mix of threads, but the game is not heavily threaded, and the single-thread speed is more important. The data shows that the i5-10400F has enough single-thread performance to support the RTX 5080 in this game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the star of this configuration. It is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 10752 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output pixels. It has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, with a memory clock of 1875 MHz (30 Gbps effective). The GPU is paired with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s.

The RTX 5080 has a boost clock of 2617 MHz, which is a high frequency for a GPU, and this contributes to its performance. Its memory bandwidth is a strong spec for high resolutions, and the 16 GB of VRAM is more than enough for The Technomancer. The game's texture sizes and the data show that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. The GPU's benchmark scores include a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 8637 and a Passmark G3D score of 36565. Its percentile with all GPUs is 87, which indicates it is a high-end card.

The nearest rivals to the RTX 5080 in terms of average benchmark score are the AMD Radeon 8060S, with an average score of 55757 (0.6% difference), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a score of 55698 (0.7% difference). The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 56083, which places it above these rivals. The RTX 5080's performance in this game is consistent with its high-end position in the market.

The GPU's clock speed of 2617 MHz is a key factor in the game's performance. At 1080p, the GPU is not the bottleneck, and the frame rate is high. At 1440p, the GPU is still capable of high frame rates, with 132 FPS on High settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with the frame rate dropping to 73 FPS on High and 57 FPS on Ultra. This shows that the GPU's raw speed is the main factor in the performance at high resolutions. The low settings at 4K produce 111 FPS, indicating that the GPU is not the sole bottleneck, but the CPU is not a factor either.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K with High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 3840x2160 with High settings is 73 FPS.

Q: How many frames per second does the game run at 1080p with Low settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 183 FPS.

Q: Which settings provide the highest average frame rate at 1440p?

A: The Low settings provide the highest average frame rate at 2560x1440, with 159 FPS.

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

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum frame rate is 72 FPS.

Q: What is the average frame rate for the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate for Ultra at 1920x1080 is 144 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5080 fare against its nearest rival in average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 56083, with the AMD Radeon 8060S a 0.6% lower score and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB a 0.7% lower score.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact measured average frame rates for all resolution and settings combinations. The data is from the benchmark database, and all numbers are from the FACT PACK.

At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows:

• Low: 183 FPS
• Medium: 166 FPS (min 141, max 191)
• High: 157 FPS
• Ultra: 144 FPS

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are:

• Low: 159 FPS
• Medium: 144 FPS (min 123, max 166)
• High: 132 FPS
• Ultra: 103 FPS

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are:

• Low: 111 FPS
• Medium: 85 FPS (min 72, max 98)
• High: 73 FPS
• Ultra: 57 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the frame rate decreases. The gap between Low and High settings is 26 FPS at 1080p (183 vs 157), 27 FPS at 1440p (159 vs 132), and 38 FPS at 4K (111 vs 73). The gap between High and Ultra is 13 FPS at 1080p (157 vs 144), 29 FPS at 1440p (132 vs 103), and 16 FPS at 4K (73 vs 57). The Medium settings sit between Low and High in performance, but the frame rate at Medium is higher than High at 1080p (166 vs 157), but at 1440p it's lower (144 vs 132). This suggests that the Medium preset is a balanced setting.

The maximum frame rates are only available for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the maximum is 191 FPS, at 1440p it is 166 FPS, and at 4K it is 98 FPS. The minimum frame rates for Medium are 141 FPS at 1080p, 123 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. These numbers indicate that the frame pacing is stable, with no sudden drops.

Settings Recommendations

The best setting in terms of a balance between visual quality and performance is the High preset at 2560x1440. This configuration produces an average frame rate of 132 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 103 FPS, which is a significant reduction, and it may not be worth the visual gain for the 29 FPS loss. The High settings at 4K, with an average of 73 FPS, are also a solid choice for users with a 4K monitor, as the game is playable.

For users with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra settings provide 144 FPS, which is a high frame rate and a great experience. The High settings at 1080p are also very good, with 157 FPS. The Low settings at 1080p are 183 FPS, but the visual quality is likely too low for most players. The Medium settings at 1080p are the best for those who want to maximize smoothness, with 166 FPS and a minimum of 141 FPS.

The data suggests that the High settings are the most efficient for this game. At 4K, High offers 73 FPS, which is a good frame rate for a 4K display. The Ultra at 4K is 57 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for a high refresh rate, but could be playable on a 60 Hz display. The Low settings at 4K, at 111 FPS, are a good option for players who prefer a high frame rate over visual detail.

In summary, the recommended settings are High at 1440p or 4K, and Ultra or High at 1080p. The RTX 5080 is powerful enough to handle this game at high settings at all resolutions, but the frame rate at 4K Ultra is the only configuration that falls below 60 FPS. The RTX 5080's 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for the game's textures, and the VRAM is not a limiting factor in any of the tested settings.