The Technomancer

The Technomancer is a 2016 Action RPG that places heavy demands on both processor and graphics hardware, even a decade after its release. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the Intel Arc B580 across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a configuration that is capable of smooth 1080p play but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a 60 FPS average?

A: At 1440p, the combination achieves over 60 FPS on High (57.2 FPS is close but below), with Medium hitting 70.5 FPS and Low reaching 86.6 FPS. For a guaranteed 60 FPS experience, 1080p is the safer choice, as High settings deliver 87.5 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to the GeForce RTX 4060 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B580's average benchmark score is 23,021, which is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's score of 23,181. The data indicates the two cards are very closely matched, with the RTX 4060 holding a slight edge.

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

A: The frame rate drops from 134.5 FPS on Low to 68.3 FPS on Ultra at 1920x1080. This represents a 49% reduction in performance, showing that the Ultra preset imposes a significant load on the GPU.

Q: Is the Core i5-12600KF a bottleneck for the Arc B580 in this game?

A: The data suggests not at 4K, where the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. At 1080p, the CPU's performance is sufficient to push frame rates to 134.5 FPS on Low, indicating it is not a major constraint even at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1,310 out of 1,656 total tested combinations, placing it in the lower-mid range of the database. This ranking reflects its performance across all games, not just The Technomancer.

Q: How much faster is the i5-12600KF compared to the i9-10900K?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The i5-12600KF scores 27,827, while the i9-10900K scores 27,829, a delta of 0%. They are effectively tied in overall processing power.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the defining component in this configuration's gaming performance. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a 456.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is crucial for feeding the 2,560 shading units at high resolutions. The GPU's boost clock is listed at 2670 MHz, and its FP32 compute power is rated at 13.67 TFLOPS. These figures establish the card's capability for modern titles, and the measured data in The Technomancer confirms it is a solid performer at mainstream resolutions.

The role of the GPU becomes clear when examining the frame rates. At 1080p, the card has ample headroom, delivering 134.5 FPS on Low settings. This shows that the GPU is not fully saturated at lower resolutions and settings, as the frame rate scales significantly with graphical fidelity. The Arc B580's performance in synthetic tests, such as a Passmark G3D score of 15,748 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,068, positions it as a capable mid-range part. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, has a nearly identical average benchmark score, differing by only -0.7%, suggesting comparable rasterization performance.

However, the GPU's limits are exposed at 4K. The Arc B580 is a 190 W part with a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, and the data shows that it cannot maintain high frame rates at 3840x2160. The frame rates at this resolution fall below 50 FPS on all presets, indicating that the sheer number of pixels overwhelms the GPU's fill rate and shading power. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for this 2016 title, but the GPU's raw compute power is the limiting factor at 4K, not the memory size.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and clearly illustrates the bottleneck shift. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 87.5 FPS at 1080p to 57.2 FPS at 1440p, a 35% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the frame rate further plummets to 34.4 FPS, another 40% decrease. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the dominant limiting factor as resolution increases.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 134.5 FPS at 1080p to 86.6 FPS at 1440p and then to 46.5 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly harsh, with the frame rate often halving. For instance, on Medium settings, 70.5 FPS at 1440p becomes 40.2 FPS at 4K. This trend strongly suggests that the Arc B580's rendering pipeline, including its pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s, is saturated by the 8.3 million pixels of a 4K display.

The data shows that the Core i5-12600KF is not the limiting factor in this title. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU's workload is highest relative to the GPU, the system achieves 134.5 FPS. This performance, combined with the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,444, indicates that the processor has ample headroom. The i5-12600KF's 10 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for a 2016 Action RPG, and the bottleneck is firmly with the GPU as resolution scales to 1440p and beyond.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1440p is the optimal choice for this configuration. The data shows an average of 57.2 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium. While not perfectly smooth, this setting offers a playable experience with the highest visual fidelity that remains near the target frame rate.

At 1080p, the High preset is the clear winner, delivering 87.5 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience with good visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 68.3 FPS, is also playable but offers a marginal visual gain for a 22% performance hit compared to High. For gamers prioritizing frame rate, the Medium preset at 104.3 FPS is an excellent option that still looks good.

The 4K resolution is not recommended for this game with this GPU. The highest playable setting at 3840x2160 is Low, which averages 46.5 FPS. This is below the standard for smooth gameplay, and the visual quality at Low settings is poor. The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst performer, with an average of 27.7 FPS, which is not a playable experience. The data indicates that this combination is not suited for 4K gaming in The Technomancer.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for The Technomancer, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Arc B580 holds a rank of 1,310 out of 1,656 total tested combos. This places it in the 21st percentile, meaning that roughly 79% of other tested configurations performed better in this game. This ranking is a strong indicator that while the combo is functional, it is far from being a top-tier performer for this title.

The ranking is influenced by the GPU's performance limits at higher resolutions. While the CPU is a strong performer, as evidenced by its 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, the Arc B580's 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs pulls the overall combo down. The game's engine appears to be quite demanding on the graphics card, and the Arc B580's mid-range positioning is not enough to secure a higher standing.

This rank of 1,310 is a holistic measure of the combo's performance across all tested settings and resolutions. It shows that the system is more capable than entry-level hardware but is outclassed by higher-end graphics cards. The data suggests that users with this combo should target 1080p or 1440p for the best experience, as the 4K results are poor and likely contributed to the lower overall ranking. The system is a competent 1080p machine and a good 1440p performer, but it is not designed for high-refresh-rate or 4K gaming in this specific title.