The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination. Benchmark results across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently GPU-bound, with the CPU providing ample headroom. The data shows a pairing that can achieve playable frame rates at lower resolutions and settings, but which is overwhelmed by the demands of 4K and maximum graphical presets.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 as the limiting component in this system. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 46.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same High preset, the average drops to 27.3 FPS, a reduction of approximately 41%. The jump to 2160p (4K) at High settings yields only 17.2 FPS, a further decrease of about 37% from 1440p. This steep, consistent decline with each resolution increase is the signature of a GPU that has exhausted its pixel-pushing capacity.

The scaling pattern across different settings reinforces this conclusion. At Low settings, the frame rate falls from 70.8 FPS at 1080p to 45.1 FPS at 1440p, and then to 23.8 FPS at 4K. While the absolute numbers are higher, the percentage loss between 1440p and 4K is roughly 47%, indicating that even with reduced graphical complexity, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for higher resolutions. The Ultra preset demonstrates the most extreme bottleneck, with the frame rate collapsing from 33.9 FPS at 1080p to 24.3 FPS at 1440p and finally to a nearly unplayable 9.9 FPS at 4K.

This data indicates that the Intel Core i5-12600KF is not the primary constraint in this scenario. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, has sufficient processing power to feed the GTX 1650 at 1080p and 1440p. The performance degradation is directly proportional to the increase in pixel count, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited workload. The system is most balanced at 1080p, where the GPU can still maintain a respectable frame rate, but the scaling curve suggests that any resolution above this will be a struggle.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at 1080p with the Low preset. This configuration yields an average of 70.8 FPS, which provides a smooth and responsive gameplay experience. The step up to Medium settings at 1080p produces 54.5 FPS, a 23% reduction from Low, which may be acceptable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over a higher frame rate. High settings at 1080p, at 46.4 FPS, represents the limit of what is comfortably playable, as it approaches the threshold where frame pacing can become inconsistent.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combination. At 1080p, it only manages 33.9 FPS, and this figure drops to 24.3 FPS at 1440p. The performance cost of the Ultra preset's additional effects is disproportionate to the visual improvement, and the resulting frame rates are below the standard for a fluid action RPG. For 1440p, the data suggests that only the Low preset, at 45.1 FPS, offers a playable frame rate. Medium at 1440p drops to 34.7 FPS, which is marginal, while High and Ultra at 27.3 and 24.3 FPS respectively fall into the territory of a slideshow.

At 4K, no preset offers a playable experience. The highest average FPS at this resolution is 23.8 with Low settings, which is insufficient for a game that requires timely input responses. The data indicates that this hardware combination is fundamentally unsuited for 4K gaming in The Technomancer. The measured rows suggest a clear hierarchy: for a smooth experience, 1080p with Low or Medium settings is the target; for a playable one, 1080p High or 1440p Low are the boundaries.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 20 MB shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance, scoring 23,444 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 27,575 in Passmark multithread. Its single-thread performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,309 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3,925.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The measured FPS data shows a consistent decline with resolution increases, which points to the GPU as the bottleneck. The CPU's strong benchmark scores suggest it is more than capable of handling the game's physics and AI calculations at 1080p, where the GPU is still able to produce high frame rates. The processor's high boost clock and efficient architecture ensure that it is not the cause of the frame rate drops seen at higher resolutions.

The CPU's performance relative to its direct rivals is noteworthy. Its average benchmark score is 27,827, which places it nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K, which has a deltaPct of 0. It is also 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i5-12600K and 0.2% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H. This indicates that the i5-12600KF is a high-performing processor in its class, and its capabilities are not the limiting factor in this gaming scenario. The benchmark data confirms that the CPU has ample headroom for the GPU to be the primary determinant of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks at position 1,578 out of 1,656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 5% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a low-performing pairing for this specific game. The low rank is primarily a consequence of the GPU's limited capabilities, as the CPU is a strong performer in its own right.

This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. The combo's inability to maintain playable frame rates at 1440p and 4K, and its struggle with the Ultra preset even at 1080p, place it far behind more balanced or higher-end configurations. The rank reflects the overall experience, which is one of constant compromise on visual settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The data suggests that this combination is at the lower end of the performance spectrum for this title, and users with this setup should expect to play with reduced settings to get acceptable performance.

The GPU's own benchmark data reinforces this position. The GTX 1650 has a percentile ranking of 43 against all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 8,713. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, which is 0.4% faster, and the NVIDIA Quadro P2200, which is 0.5% slower. While the GPU is not the absolute weakest on the market, its 4 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for the demands of a modern Action RPG at higher resolutions, which is reflected in its low game-specific rank.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operation pipelines. It has a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Its memory configuration consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. The GPU has a TDP of 75 W and is a dual-slot card.

The GPU's role in The Technomancer is the decisive factor in system performance. Its 4 GB VRAM is a critical limitation at high resolutions and with high-resolution textures. The data shows that the frame rate drops dramatically as resolution increases, a direct consequence of the GPU's limited memory bandwidth and fill rate. The GPU's FP32 performance is 2.984 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards and is reflected in its inability to handle the game's rendering load at higher settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores align with its in-game performance. It scores 7,880 in Passmark G3D and 35 in Passmark DirectX 12. These figures, combined with its 43rd percentile ranking, indicate a GPU that is entry-level in nature. The GTX 1650 is positioned for 1080p gaming at medium to low settings in less demanding titles, but The Technomancer appears to be more demanding than average. The memory clock of 2001 MHz, or 8 Gbps effective, is not sufficient to feed the GPU's processing units at higher resolutions, leading to the observed performance bottlenecks.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are as follows:

• Ultra: 33.9 FPS
• High: 46.4 FPS
• Medium: 54.5 FPS
• Low: 70.8 FPS

This is the only resolution where all presets are technically playable, with the Low preset offering the best smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Ultra: 24.3 FPS
• High: 27.3 FPS
• Medium: 34.7 FPS
• Low: 45.1 FPS

Here, only the Low preset provides a consistently playable frame rate, with Medium being borderline.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Ultra: 9.9 FPS
• High: 17.2 FPS
• Medium: 21.1 FPS
• Low: 23.8 FPS

No preset at 4K reaches a playable threshold. The performance gap between the Medium and Low presets at 4K is minimal, at just 2.7 FPS, indicating that the GPU is completely saturated. The difference between High and Medium at 1440p is 7.4 FPS, while at 1080p it is 8.1 FPS, showing that the GPU's scaling is consistent across resolutions. These numbers paint a clear picture of a system that can handle 1080p gaming but is out of its depth at higher resolutions.