The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently pushed to its limits, particularly at higher graphical presets. This analysis examines the performance data to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU, and what it means for a playable experience with this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 109.3 FPS, but this plummets to 37.1 FPS at 4K Low, representing a 66% reduction in frame rate. This massive decline as pixel count increases is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario; the GTX 1660 Ti is responsible for rendering every pixel, and the jump to 4K quadruples that workload, overwhelming the graphics card's capabilities.

The scaling pattern remains consistent across all presets. Moving from 1080p to 1440p on High settings drops performance from 70.6 FPS to 45.7 FPS, a 35% decrease. The subsequent jump from 1440p to 4K on High is even more punishing, with the average falling to 25.2 FPS, a further 45% reduction. This steepening curve suggests that while the card can handle the transition to 1440p with some adjustments, 4K resolution is simply beyond its practical limits for this title, even at the lowest quality settings where it can only muster 37.1 FPS.

The data implies that the i5-12400F with its 6 cores and 12 threads is not the limiting factor in this game. The frame rate is highly responsive to changes in resolution, a characteristic of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less variation in FPS between 1080p and 4K, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU's rendering load increased. The consistent and dramatic FPS drops point directly to the GTX 1660 Ti's rendering throughput as the ceiling for performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for gaming. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518 and a single-core score of 2332, indicate strong processing power. However, in this specific title, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU's. The frame rates at lower resolutions, particularly 1080p Low at 109.3 FPS, show that the processor is more than capable of feeding the graphics card with data, as it is not the factor preventing higher frame rates at higher resolutions.

The processor's boost clock of 4.40 GHz and architecture are more than sufficient for a title from this era. The average benchmark score of 19221 places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, showing it outperforms many rivals. For instance, it is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-8700K and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U. This headroom suggests that in less graphically intense scenes or at lower resolutions, the i5-12400F could likely push even higher frame rates, but the GTX 1660 Ti's performance ceiling is reached first.

The fact that 1080p Low yields over 100 FPS shows the CPU can handle the game's logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck. The performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings (109.3 FPS vs 72.2 FPS) is a 34% drop, which is a significant margin that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations. The data strongly suggests that the i5-12400F is a capable partner that is being held back by the GPU in this configuration, rather than being a source of performance constriction.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the definitive performance limiter in this system for The Technomancer. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, it is a capable card, as evidenced by its Passmark G3D score of 12871, placing it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. However, the game's demands at higher settings and resolutions quickly exceed its capabilities. The data shows a clear ceiling for this GPU, with the highest average frame rate being 109.3 FPS at 1080p Low, and performance degrading sharply as the rendering load increases.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s and its 192-bit memory bus are sufficient for 1080p, but the jump to 4K with its massive pixel count places a heavy strain on the memory subsystem and the GPU's processing units. The 5.437 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is simply not enough to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, where the combo only achieves 22.3 FPS. The card's performance is comparable to its rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 570X, which it leads by 0.4%, but this does not change the fact that the card is out of its depth at higher resolutions.

The GTX 1660 Ti's role is clear: it defines the maximum graphical fidelity and resolution at which this system can operate smoothly. At 1080p, it manages a solid 70.6 FPS on High settings, but pushing to Ultra drops that to 55.8 FPS. At 1440p, the strain becomes more apparent, with Ultra settings yielding only 38.8 FPS. The card is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can balance visual quality and performance, but it is not designed for the extreme demands of 4K in a game like The Technomancer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system shows its strength. With Low settings, it hits 109.3 FPS, which is highly fluid. Moving to Medium yields 84.5 FPS, still excellent for play. High settings produce 70.6 FPS, a very good target for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset is the most demanding at this resolution, resulting in 55.8 FPS, which is playable but shows the first signs of the GPU struggling.

At 1440p, the performance drops are more pronounced. Low settings provide 72.2 FPS, which is still very good. Medium settings fall to 53.8 FPS, which is acceptable for many players. High settings produce 45.7 FPS, a noticeable step down that may be less desirable for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields only 38.8 FPS, which is beginning to dip below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

At 4K, the system is clearly overmatched. The only playable-ish result is with Low settings, which averages 37.1 FPS. Medium settings drop to 28.1 FPS, and High falls to 25.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst, with an average of 22.3 FPS, which is a slideshow and not recommended for any serious gameplay. The data shows a clear and predictable degradation of performance as both resolution and settings increase, with the 4K results rendering the game effectively unplayable at all but the lowest settings.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system consistently achieves high frame rates across all settings, with an average of 55.8 FPS at Ultra and 70.6 FPS at High.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the limiting component. The frame rate drops dramatically with increases in resolution, a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, while the CPU has ample processing power.

Q: Can I play The Technomancer at 4K with this hardware?

A: Technically yes, but the experience will be poor. At 4K, the highest average frame rate is 37.1 FPS with Low settings, and it drops to 22.3 FPS at Ultra, which is not a playable experience.

Q: How does the frame rate scale between 1080p and 1440p on High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average frame rate is 70.6 FPS. This drops to 45.7 FPS at 1440p High, which is a 35% reduction in performance.

Q: What settings preset provides the smoothest experience at 1080p?

A: The Low preset at 1080p yields the highest average frame rate at 109.3 FPS. However, the High preset at 70.6 FPS offers a better balance of visual quality and performance and is still very smooth.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its closest rivals based on the data?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 13925. It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 570X and 0.8% ahead of both the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution. For players prioritizing the highest possible frame rate, the Low preset at 109.3 FPS is the clear choice. However, the High preset, delivering 70.6 FPS, is the recommended starting point as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a frame rate that is well above 60 FPS, ensuring a smooth and responsive gameplay experience in this Action RPG.

At 2560x1440, the system can still function, but compromises are necessary. The Low preset, at 72.2 FPS, is the only option that provides a consistently high frame rate. The Medium preset at 53.8 FPS is playable for some, but the High and Ultra presets at 45.7 FPS and 38.8 FPS, respectively, dip too low for a consistently fluid experience. The data suggests that 1440p is only viable when visual fidelity is sacrificed for performance.

Playing at 3840x2160 is not recommended. Even the Low preset at 37.1 FPS is below the standard for smooth play. All other presets at this resolution result in average frame rates in the 20s, which will be a noticeably stuttering and unenjoyable experience. The data clearly shows that 1080p is the intended resolution for this hardware setup, and the High preset offers the best overall balance of visual quality and measured performance.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ranks 1479 out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the lower percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions and settings, as the game's demands quickly outpace what the GTX 1660 Ti can deliver.

The ranking suggests that while the CPU is a strong performer, the overall system is held back by the graphics card. The i5-12400F's benchmark scores are competitive, ranking in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, but the GPU's 55th percentile ranking is the deciding factor for this game. The data for The Technomancer shows a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming but struggles significantly as the resolution increases, leading to its low overall position in the database rankings.

This rank of 1479 out of 1656 combos serves as a clear indicator that users with this hardware should not expect to play The Technomancer at high resolutions or with maximum settings. The performance data collected shows that the system's best use case is 1080p with a balance of settings, and that pushing beyond that will result in a subpar experience. The low rank is a quantitative reflection of the qualitative performance data, confirming that this is a mid-range to entry-level setup for this particular title.