The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that stresses both GPU and CPU. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER across various resolutions and settings, using the data provided to contextualize the experience.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 is the highest resolution where this combo can consistently hit 60 FPS or above. At High settings, the average is 61 FPS. At 1920x1080, the average at High settings is 93 FPS, offering a more comfortable margin.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in raw compute?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 18093. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18159, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, a 1.5% difference, and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383, a 1.6% difference. This places the RTX 2060 SUPER in a tightly contested performance band.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. For example, at 4K, dropping from High to Low settings increases the average FPS from 34 to 51, a 50% gain, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. The i5-12600KF places in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, and its performance is nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

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

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average FPS at Low settings is 142, while at Ultra settings it drops to 73. This represents a 49% reduction in average frame rate, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual fidelity.

Q: Does the combo's performance at 1440p High settings leave room for higher refresh rates?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 61, which is just at the threshold for 60Hz displays. However, dropping to Medium settings increases the average to 71 FPS, and to Low settings it jumps to 93 FPS, allowing for smoother motion on higher refresh rate monitors.

Q: How does this specific combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2609 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, indicating that while it is capable, many other configurations deliver higher frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary driver of frame rate in The Technomancer, especially at higher resolutions. Its memory configuration includes 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This is a crucial asset for a game like The Technomancer, as higher resolutions and texture settings demand significant memory throughput. The GPU's base clock is 1470 MHz, with a boost clock of 1650 MHz, and it features 2176 shading units.

The benchmark data shows a clear scaling pattern that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate at Low settings is 142 FPS, which drops to 109 FPS at Medium, 93 FPS at High, and 73 FPS at Ultra. This progression shows the GPU's workload increasing with each preset. The trend is similar at 2560x1440, where the average FPS goes from 93 at Low to 71 at Medium, 61 at High, and 48 at Ultra. The most dramatic drop is at 3840x2160, where the average at Ultra is 26 FPS, making the game essentially unplayable at that quality.

The GPU's performance relative to its peers is tight. Its average benchmark score is 18093, and its closest rivals are within a 1.6% window. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile scores 18159 (0.4% higher), while the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373 (1.5% higher). This indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is a well-established performer in its class, but not a standout. The data shows that the GPU's 62nd percentile ranking against all GPUs is a reflection of its mid-range positioning in the current landscape. For The Technomancer, this translates to a card that can deliver smooth 60 FPS gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain that target at 4K, even on High settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF provides the processing foundation for this system. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This Alder Lake architecture processor has a 20 MB shared L3 cache. In a game like The Technomancer, which is an Action RPG with complex world simulation and AI, the CPU handles game logic, physics, and draw calls. The high boost clock and multiple cores help ensure that the GPU is fed with data, preventing stutters and frame drops.

The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores demonstrate its strong multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities. It scores 23391 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3302 in single-core. In 3DMark, it scores 7956 in the 16-thread test and 1016 in the single-thread test. These numbers place it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 27799, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. For instance, the Intel Core i9-10900K has an average score of 27872, a -0.3% difference, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 27896, also a -0.3% difference.

In the context of the measured FPS data, the CPU appears to be more than sufficient. The significant frame rate drops observed when moving from Low to Ultra settings at 4K (from 51 FPS to 26 FPS) are characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would be more consistent across different quality presets. The data indicates that the i5-12600KF is a capable partner for the RTX 2060 SUPER, providing ample headroom to ensure that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance in The Technomancer.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for an optimal experience with this hardware combination. The goal is to achieve a smooth frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 resolutions.

For a 60 FPS target, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the highest quality setting that can be consistently maintained, with an average of 61 FPS. For those who prefer a higher refresh rate experience, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers an average of 71 FPS, which is a solid step up. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an excellent average of 93 FPS, and Ultra settings can still achieve a playable 73 FPS average, making it the best choice for maximum visual fidelity at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the options are limited. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 51 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 39 FPS, and High falls to 34 FPS. The Ultra preset is not a viable option, with an average of 26 FPS. Therefore, for 4K gaming, a compromise on visual quality is necessary, and even then, a 60 FPS average is not achievable with this combination. The best experience is clearly at 1440p or 1080p, where the user can balance visual fidelity and performance effectively.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this specific CPU-GPU pairing is positioned in the lower half of the performance spectrum for The Technomancer. The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER holds a rank of 2609 out of 3696 tested combos. This places it in the 29th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning that over 70% of the combos tested deliver higher average frame rates in this specific game.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the RTX 2060 SUPER's mid-range status. While the CPU is a high-end performer, ranking in the 79th percentile against all CPUs, the GPU's 62nd percentile ranking drags the overall combo down. The game's engine appears to be heavily GPU-dependent, especially at higher resolutions, which amplifies the GPU's influence on the final rank. The data indicates that the GPU is the performance bottleneck for this pairing. While the combo is perfectly capable of running the game at 1080p and 1440p with good settings, many other systems with more powerful GPUs will naturally achieve higher frame rates, thus securing better rankings. This rank is a useful indicator of the system's overall capability in this specific title, rather than a reflection of its performance in other applications.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER in The Technomancer.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average FPS is 51.
• Medium: The average FPS is 39, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45.
• High: The average FPS is 34.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 26.

At 4K, the game is clearly GPU-bound. The frame rate drops steeply with each increase in quality preset. The jump from Low to Medium is a 12 FPS loss, while the jump from Medium to High is a 5 FPS loss. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, averaging only 26 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average FPS is 93.
• Medium: The average FPS is 71, with a minimum of 61 and a maximum of 82.
• High: The average FPS is 61.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 48.

At 1440p, the performance is much more manageable. The High preset achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is exactly at the standard 60Hz refresh rate. The Medium preset provides a smoother experience at 71 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS, suggesting users should stick to High or Medium for the best balance. The Low preset offers a high 93 FPS average, suitable for high refresh rate monitors.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average FPS is 142.
• Medium: The average FPS is 109, with a minimum of 93 and a maximum of 126.
• High: The average FPS is 93.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 73.

At 1080p, this combo delivers strong performance across all settings. The Ultra preset is fully playable with a 73 FPS average. The High preset offers an excellent 93 FPS average, ideal for 144Hz displays. The Low preset pushes the frame rate to 142 FPS, ensuring maximum responsiveness. This is the resolution where the hardware shines, providing a wide range of options for both visual quality and performance.