The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting scaling challenge for the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, but which transitions into a more balanced state at 1080p, where the processor's capabilities become more relevant. The measured frame rates indicate that this pairing is best suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming or very smooth 1080p experiences, with 4K requiring significant settings compromises.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is the defining characteristic of this combo's performance profile. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 114.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 73.6 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 41.8 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 63.5% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is steep and consistent, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The Radeon RX 6700 XT is the limiting component; its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated by the increasing pixel count and texture detail.

The data shows that the transition from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. At Medium settings, 1440p yields 85.7 FPS, but 4K drops to 49.8 FPS, a 41.9% decrease. This steep cliff suggests that the GPU's compute resources, specifically its 13.21 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, are insufficient to maintain fluid frame rates at 4K without dropping to Low settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 63.4, which is playable but represents a significant visual downgrade. The scaling pattern strongly suggests that this combo is not intended for native 4K gaming; its optimal zone is clearly 1440p, where even Ultra settings maintain a respectable 55.6 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 provides a solid foundation for this GPU. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability, scoring 15935 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 18747 in Passmark multithread. Its single-thread performance is also notable, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3456 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 910. These scores place the CPU in the 77th percentile of all tested processors, indicating it is more than capable of feeding the GPU in most scenarios.

However, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 172.3 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output. Yet, the gap between 1080p Low (172.3 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (90.7 FPS) is a 47.4% drop, which is purely a GPU-side effect of increased graphical load. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 2.50 GHz base clock (boosting to 4.40 GHz) are sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck in this older title. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 shows that the processor handles multithreaded workloads effectively, which is relevant for an Action RPG that may spawn multiple AI-controlled entities. In essence, the i5-12400 is never the primary constraint; the data consistently points to the GPU as the performance limiter.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for this combo. For a 1440p monitor, the High preset at 73.6 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. It is 14.1% faster than Ultra (55.6 FPS) while providing a much better experience than Medium (85.7 FPS) if visual quality is a priority. The jump from High to Ultra costs 18.0 FPS, a significant 24.5% performance penalty for what is typically a marginal visual gain.

For 1080p users, the High preset at 114.5 FPS is the clear winner. It is well above the 90 FPS threshold for competitive smoothness and provides a substantial improvement over Medium (131 FPS) in visual terms. The Ultra preset at 90.7 FPS is also viable, but the data suggests that High is the "sweet spot" for this resolution, delivering 23.8 more FPS than Ultra. At 4K, the situation is dire; only the Low preset (63.4 FPS) achieves playable frame rates. Medium (49.8 FPS) and High (41.8 FPS) are not recommended for a responsive experience, and Ultra (28.9 FPS) is effectively unplayable. Therefore, the recommendation is to target 1440p High or 1080p High for the best measured experience.

FAQ

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

A: 2560x1440. The data shows the strongest balance between visual quality and performance, with High settings achieving 73.6 FPS. 1080p is also excellent, but 1440p extracts more from the GPU without suffering the severe frame rate drops seen at 4K.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Only with significant compromises. The measured data shows that 4K Ultra produces just 28.9 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 4K High, the average FPS is only 41.8. To achieve 63.4 FPS at 4K, you must use the Low preset, which negates the visual benefits of the resolution.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: The CPU is not the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 172.3 FPS, indicating the Intel Core i5-12400 can support very high frame rates. The performance difference between settings at 1080p is entirely due to the GPU's workload, not the processor.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth the performance cost?

A: No. At 1440p, Ultra (55.6 FPS) is 18.0 FPS slower than High (73.6 FPS). At 1080p, Ultra (90.7 FPS) is 23.8 FPS slower than High (114.5 FPS). The visual gains from Ultra are not justified by the significant FPS losses.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 1440p?

A: At High settings, the 1080p average FPS of 114.5 is 55.6% higher than the 1440p average FPS of 73.6. This is a substantial difference, making 1080p the choice for players prioritizing maximum frame rates.

Q: What does the 77th percentile ranking for the GPU mean?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT performs better than 77% of all tested GPUs. This indicates it is a high-end part, which aligns with its ability to deliver strong results at 1440p, but it is not in the top tier required for consistent 4K gaming.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the undisputed performance driver in this pairing. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s, which is ample for The Technomancer's textures at 1440p. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs are responsible for the pixel-pushing duties, and its boost clock of 2581 MHz (base 2321 MHz) ensures high throughput. The benchmark results show that this GPU is in the 77th percentile of all tested GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 19786.

The GPU's role is clearly illustrated by the resolution scaling. As the resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops by 63.5% at High settings. This is a direct consequence of the GPU having to render more pixels. The RDNA 2.0 architecture, built on a 7 nm process, delivers 13.21 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power. This is sufficient for excellent 1440p performance but falls short for 4K Ultra. The nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6800, has an average benchmark score that is 0.7% higher, but this combo's GPU is clearly a step above the older Radeon RX 480, which scores 1% lower on average. The data confirms that the RX 6700 XT is a high-end 1440p card, and its performance in The Technomancer aligns with that positioning.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent results across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 172.3 FPS, which is extremely high. Medium settings produce 131 FPS, while High settings yield 114.5 FPS. The Ultra preset, while still smooth, drops to 90.7 FPS. This shows that even at maximum settings, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors without issue.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the GPU's load. Low settings hit 112.5 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings produce 85.7 FPS, and High settings are very playable at 73.6 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 55.6 FPS, which is the first sign of strain but remains above the 50 FPS playability threshold for many users.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 63.4 FPS. Medium settings fall to 49.8 FPS, which is borderline. High settings are below playable thresholds at 41.8 FPS, and Ultra is effectively unplayable at 28.9 FPS. The data shows a clear performance cliff between 1440p and 4K, confirming that 4K is not a viable option for this combo without major visual sacrifices.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination ranks 909th out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 55th percentile of all systems tested, which is a solid mid-to-high-tier ranking. It is important to contextualize this rank: it reflects the performance of the entire system, not just the individual components. The ranking indicates that while this combo is not at the bleeding edge of performance, it outperforms the majority of other tested configurations.

The individual components offer context for this ranking. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19850 places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700, being a virtual tie (0.1% delta). The GPU's average score of 33721 also places it in the 77th percentile of all GPUs. The fact that both components are in the same percentile bracket suggests a balanced pairing. However, the combo's overall rank of 909 out of 1656 suggests that The Technomancer is a demanding title that punishes the system's combination of a mid-range CPU and a high-end GPU more than individual benchmark scores would suggest. The rank confirms that this is a competent gaming rig, but not a top-tier system for this specific game, likely due to the game's age and its reliance on specific GPU features.