The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. This analysis breaks down the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B580, interpreting the data to show where this combination excels and where it struggles.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B580 at rank 1306 out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This ranking places it in the lower 21% of all tested systems, indicating that while the hardware is modern, its performance in this specific title is not among the top tier. The data suggests that the game’s engine, released several years prior to these components, does not fully leverage the strengths of this particular pairing.

The rank is a composite result of both the CPU and GPU contributions. The Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, placing it in the 77th percentile against all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i7-9700 with a score of 19831 and the Intel Core i7-8700 with a score of 19894. The performance deltas here are minimal, with the i5-12400 being 0.1% faster than the i7-9700 and 0.2% slower than the i7-8700. This indicates that the CPU is a solid, mid-range performer that is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios. The Arc B580, with an average benchmark score of 23021, sits in the 66th percentile for GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon 760M with a score of 22999 and the NVIDIA P106-100 with a score of 22950. The performance delta is tight, with the B580 being 0.1% faster than the 760M and 0.3% faster than the P106-100. However, the overall combo rank suggests that the synergy between these two components in The Technomancer is less effective than their individual benchmark scores might imply.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and codenamed Battlemage. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, with memory clocked at 2375 MHz, translating to 19 Gbps effective. These specifications contribute to a pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 427.2 GTexel/s, with a raw FP32 compute of 13.67 TFLOPS.

For The Technomancer, the GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth are significant factors. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern where performance scales directly with the resolution and settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 24.7, which is a demanding scenario that heavily taxes the GPU's memory subsystem and compute units. The 12 GB frame buffer is likely sufficient for the game’s textures, but the 456.0 GB/s bandwidth appears to be a limiting factor at the highest resolutions and settings. The GPU’s performance in the database, a 0.7% deficit against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, suggests it is a competitive mid-range part, but the data for this specific game shows it is not able to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake-S architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU features 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark results show a strong single-thread score of 2249 in Cinebench R23, which is crucial for gaming. The multi-core score of 15935 in the same test indicates it can handle multi-threaded workloads effectively.

In The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is evident in the lower resolution and settings where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 137.5, a figure that is significantly higher than the results at higher resolutions. This indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve high frame rates. The 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for this game's engine, as the CPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals (0.1% faster than the Core i7-9700) shows it is not a weak link. However, the data also shows that the CPU’s performance is not the primary factor limiting frame rates at higher resolutions, where the GPU's workload becomes the dominant constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1080p, the results are robust. The Ultra preset yields an average of 68.5 FPS, while High produces 87.5 FPS. Medium delivers 106.8 FPS, and Low achieves a very high 137.5 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the combination is capable of providing a smooth experience at most settings, with the Low preset offering a significant frame rate advantage.

Moving to 1440p, the performance drops as expected. The Ultra preset averages 45.6 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. High settings produce 56.7 FPS, and Medium delivers 69.4 FPS. The Low preset is the standout here, averaging 88.8 FPS, which is still very high and indicates that the GPU has enough headroom to deliver excellent performance when graphical load is reduced. At 4K, the results become more demanding. The High preset averages 31.6 FPS, which is borderline playable. Medium averages 36.5 FPS, and Low averages 51.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of only 24.7 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear hierarchy where the Low preset at any resolution provides the highest frame rates, and the Ultra preset at 4K is the most challenging scenario.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the limiting component in this system. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 137.5. When moving to 1440p Low, the FPS drops to 88.8, a reduction of 35.4%. Moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low, the FPS drops to 51.2, a further reduction of 42.3%. This pattern indicates a strong scaling with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound system.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU’s performance is not degrading with resolution, as its workload remains constant, but the GPU’s workload increases significantly. The drop from 1080p High (87.5 FPS) to 4K High (31.6 FPS) is a 63.9% reduction, which is a substantial hit. This confirms that the Intel Arc B580 is the bottleneck in this pairing when playing at 1440p and 4K. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance, is capable of maintaining high frame rates at 1080p, but the GPU cannot keep up with the increased pixel count and shading demands of higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 68.5 FPS, which is a good experience for most players. However, if a higher frame rate is preferred, the High preset at 87.5 FPS offers a better balance of visual quality and performance. For those seeking the highest possible frame rates, the Low preset at 137.5 FPS is the best choice, though it sacrifices visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the Medium preset provides an average of 69.4 FPS, which is a solid and smooth experience. The High preset at 56.7 FPS is also viable, but it may not be ideal for all users. The Low preset, at 88.8 FPS, is the best option for high-refresh-rate monitors, offering excellent performance. The Ultra preset, at 45.6 FPS, is best avoided unless a lower frame rate is acceptable. For 4K, the data indicates that only the Low preset, with an average of 51.2 FPS, offers a consistently playable experience. The Medium preset at 36.5 FPS and High preset at 31.6 FPS are below the ideal range for smooth gameplay, and the Ultra preset at 24.7 FPS is not recommended. The data suggests that for the best experience at 4K, users should prioritize the Low settings to maintain a playable frame rate.