The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting scalability case for the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's capabilities become more apparent only at 1080p. This pairing delivers a smooth experience at 1440p High, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, clearly demonstrating the GPU's dominance in this workload. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 154.9 FPS at 1920x1080 to 99.6 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 55.3 FPS, and then further down to 52.2 FPS at 3840x2160, a cumulative drop of 102.7 FPS from the 1080p baseline. This represents a 66% decrease in performance when moving from Full HD to 4K, which is characteristic of a pixel-bound scenario. The scaling pattern indicates that the RX 9070 XT's rendering throughput is the constraint; as the pixel count quadruples, the GPU has to work exponentially harder, and the CPU's role diminishes.

The data suggests that the i5-11400F is not the bottleneck at 1440p or 4K. The performance deltas between resolutions are substantial and predictable, which would not be the case if the CPU were struggling to feed the GPU. At 1080p, the difference between Low (214.6 FPS) and Ultra (117.4 FPS) is 97.2 FPS, showing that the GPU is still the main driver of performance even at lower resolutions. The game is clearly not CPU-limited in this configuration, as the frame rates remain high enough to suggest headroom in the processor's capability. The resolution scaling analysis points to a system where the graphics card is the definitive performance arbiter, with the CPU providing ample support.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for The Technomancer. Its base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, combined with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, are more than sufficient for this title. The CPU's benchmark scores support this, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. This processing power ensures that the game’s logic, AI, and physics calculations are handled without introducing frame rate limitations.

The data shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this game. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 214.6 FPS, a figure that is far beyond what most displays can show, indicating that the CPU can push frames well past standard refresh rates. The i5-11400F's performance is closely matched by its nearest rivals, with a negligible deltaPct of 0.0% against the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and -0.2% against the Intel Core i7-1260P. This suggests that the processor's capability is consistent with other mid-range options, and in the context of The Technomancer, it provides a stable and high-throughput platform for the GPU to operate on. The CPU's role here is to enable the GPU's full potential, which it does effectively at all tested resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations, this pairing of the i5-11400F and RX 9070 XT holds a respectable position. The combo ranks 489th out of 1656 tested combinations, placing it in the top 30% of all systems. This is a strong showing, indicating that the overall performance of this duo is well above average for gaming. The rank reflects a balanced system that can handle demanding titles, though it is not at the absolute top tier of performance.

The ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's strength. The RX 9070 XT is a high-end card, as evidenced by its 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 39647. However, its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are not other high-end cards like itself; they are the AMD Radeon Pro 575 and NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile, with deltaPct values of -0.1% and 0.2% respectively. This is a data quirk, but it does not diminish the GPU's actual performance in The Technomancer. The combo's rank of 489 suggests that while the GPU is powerful, other combinations with even faster processors or multiple GPUs achieve higher scores in this specific game. Still, for a single CPU and single GPU setup, this rank indicates a high level of capability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with average frame rates ranging from 117.4 FPS at Ultra to 214.6 FPS at Low. The High and Medium presets deliver 154.9 FPS and 179.7 FPS, respectively. These numbers indicate that the system is capable of running the game at maximum refresh rates without any issues, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains very strong. The average FPS at Ultra is 75.1, which is playable, but the High and Medium presets are more comfortable, delivering 99.6 FPS and 117.4 FPS, respectively. The Low preset hits 149.7 FPS. At this resolution, the Ultra setting is the only one that dips below the 100 FPS mark, but it remains smooth enough for most players. At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become clear. The Ultra preset averages just 43 FPS, which is not ideal for a smooth experience. The High preset improves this to 52.2 FPS, while Medium reaches 63.9 FPS. Only the Low preset achieves a highly playable 83.3 FPS at 4K. This data shows a clear progression of performance scaling, with the system being overkill for 1080p and adequate for 1440p, but requiring settings compromises at 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the undisputed performance leader in this pairing. Its specifications are formidable, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock of 2970 MHz and its 4096 shading units allow for immense computational throughput, which is reflected in its 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 26795, further confirm its high-end status.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is to render the game's visuals, and the data shows it performs this task admirably up to 1440p. The 43 FPS result at 4K Ultra is a clear indicator that the card is reaching its limits with this game's demanding settings. The substantial drop from 75.1 FPS at 1440p Ultra to 43 FPS at 4K Ultra, a 32.1 FPS reduction, illustrates the massive increase in pixel shading workload. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor, as the game is unlikely to exceed that capacity, even at 4K. The card's performance is consistent with its 82nd percentile ranking, indicating it is a top-tier solution, but The Technomancer's engine at 4K Ultra is simply too heavy for it to maintain high frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this system is found at 2560x1440 with the High preset. This configuration yields an average of 99.6 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p is a 17.8 FPS difference (from 117.4 FPS to 99.6 FPS), which is a worthwhile trade-off for the improved visual fidelity. Ultra at this resolution is also viable at 75.1 FPS, but High offers a better balance of performance and quality.

For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it provides 117.4 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a great experience. The High preset at 1080p is also excellent, but the Ultra setting is the clear winner for maximum visual quality without sacrificing playability. At 4K, the High preset is the highest setting that maintains a playable frame rate, averaging 52.2 FPS. The Medium preset at 63.9 FPS is a safer option for more consistent performance, but the Low preset at 83.3 FPS is recommended if smoothness is the absolute priority. The data suggests that the system is best utilized at 1440p High for a premium experience, with 1080p Ultra being the choice for maximum settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with High settings provides the best balance, achieving an average of 99.6 FPS. This offers high visual quality with a smooth frame rate.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 52.2 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 83.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it only averages 43 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, from 154.9 FPS at 1080p High to 52.2 FPS at 4K High, indicating the graphics card is the bottleneck.

Q: How does this system's performance rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 489th out of 1656 tested combinations. This places it in the top 30% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 154.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 117.4 FPS. This is a difference of 37.5 FPS.

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

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 117.4 FPS. This is a very playable frame rate for a smooth experience.