The Technomancer

The Technomancer is an Action RPG from 2016 that can still push modern hardware, and this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti produces a mixed bag of results. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p but starts to show its limitations as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets, offering a practical look at what this combo delivers.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, revealing where the bottleneck sits. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo hits an average of 142.9 FPS, which is a strong figure. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 95.9 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 50.2 FPS. The scaling is consistent, but the percentage loss is significant; the jump from 1440p to 4K alone represents a reduction of roughly 48% in average frame rate. This indicates that the RTX 3060 Ti is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the workload shifts heavily onto the GPU.

At High settings, the trend continues. The average FPS at 1080p is 96.4, which drops to 59.2 at 1440p and then to 33.4 at 4K. The 1440p High result is just shy of the 60 FPS target, making it a borderline experience. The 4K High result is below playable for most, as 33.4 FPS is a stutter-prone experience in an action RPG. The Ultra preset shows the same pattern, with 74.5 FPS at 1080p, 47.7 at 1440p, and only 28.4 at 4K. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo, regardless of settings, as even the Low preset cannot maintain 60 FPS.

The interesting part is the scaling between Medium and High at each resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Medium (110.8 FPS) and High (96.4 FPS) is about 13%, which is a modest cost for better visuals. However, at 1440p, the gap narrows slightly, with Medium at 74.4 FPS and High at 59.2 FPS, a difference of roughly 20%. This suggests the GPU is becoming more strained as resolution climbs, making the visual quality jump more expensive in relative terms. The data points to a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming, acceptable for 1440p with adjusted settings, and unsuitable for 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F brings 10 cores and 16 threads to the table, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. This is a modern 14th Gen part built on Raptor Lake architecture, and its benchmark scores are respectable. In Cinebench R23, it scores 21914 in multi-core and 3093 in single-core tests. These numbers indicate a processor that is far from a weak link in a gaming system, especially when paired with a mid-range GPU like the RTX 3060 Ti.

The CPU’s role in The Technomancer appears to be supportive rather than dominant. At 1080p Low, where the GPU workload is lower, the system achieves 142.9 FPS, but this is likely still GPU-limited, as the CPU has ample headroom with its 10 cores. The single-core performance, evidenced by the 3093 score in Cinebench R23, is strong enough to handle game logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck. The multi-core score of 21914 suggests that even if the game were to utilize more threads, the CPU is ready.

Looking at the nearest rivals for this CPU, the data shows it sits in a tight pack. It is virtually tied with the Intel Core i7-12800H, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, and AMD Ryzen 7 250, with deltaPct values of 0, 0.2, and -0.2 respectively. This means the i5-14400F is performing exactly in line with expectations for its class. In practice, the CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) are sufficient for this game. The data suggests that the i5-14400F is not the limiting factor; rather, it provides a stable platform that allows the GPU to be the sole determinant of frame rates, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU load increases.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the i5-14400F and RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1141 out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all possible pairings, which is perhaps lower than the individual component scores might suggest. The RTX 3060 Ti has a percentile of 69 among all GPUs, and the CPU has a percentile of 88 among all CPUs, so why is the combo ranked so low? The answer lies in the game's demanding nature at higher resolutions.

The combo rank is a holistic measure across all tested settings and resolutions. The poor 4K performance, where the GPU is overwhelmed, likely drags the overall rank down. For perspective, the GPU’s nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 6700M, RX 6600, and Radeon 890M, with deltaPct values of -0.2, -0.5, and -0.5 respectively. This shows the RTX 3060 Ti is a solid performer, just slightly behind those cards in aggregate benchmark scores. The CPU’s rivals, as mentioned, are equally matched.

The rank of 1141 out of 1656 means there are 515 combos that perform worse, but also many that perform better. This is not a top-tier combination for this specific title, but it is far from the bottom. The data indicates that the combo is held back by the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM and its performance ceiling at 4K, rather than any CPU deficiency. For a game that scales heavily with GPU load at higher resolutions, this rank makes sense. Users should interpret this as a mid-pack result, with the understanding that the combo excels at 1080p but struggles to climb the ranks due to its 4K limitations.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Technomancer at 4K?

A: Not at playable frame rates. Measured results show a maximum of 50.2 FPS at 4K Low settings, which drops to 33.4 FPS at High and 28.4 FPS at Ultra. None of these reach the 60 FPS threshold, making 4K impractical for this pairing.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1080p is the clear sweet spot. The data shows all presets, including Ultra, exceed 74 FPS at this resolution, with Low settings hitting 142.9 FPS. This resolution ensures a smooth experience without compromise.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system scales well, but the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K (e.g., 96.4 to 33.4 at High settings) is steep, indicating the RTX 3060 Ti cannot keep up with the increased pixel workload.

Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti compare to its closest rivals?

A: The data shows it is nearly identical in performance to the AMD Radeon RX 6700M, RX 6600, and Radeon 890M, with deltaPct values of -0.2, -0.5, and -0.5 respectively. This means it is a competitive mid-range card, but not a standout.

Q: Does the CPU have enough cores for this game?

A: Yes. The i5-14400F has 10 cores and 16 threads, which is more than sufficient for a 2016 Action RPG. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 indicates it can handle any CPU-bound tasks without becoming a bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: The difference is roughly 20%, with Medium averaging 74.4 FPS and High averaging 59.2 FPS. This makes Medium the better choice for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, while High is playable but below that target.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is an Ampere architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1410 MHz with a boost of 1665 MHz, and it features 4864 shading units. These specs put it in the mid-range tier, and its benchmark scores reflect that. In Passmark G3D, it scores 20349, and in Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 109075. The GPU’s percentile of 69 among all GPUs confirms it is a capable but not top-tier component.

In The Technomancer, the GPU’s role is critical, as the game’s visuals are demanding. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, it may start to struggle with texture storage, though the data does not explicitly confirm a VRAM limit. What the data does show is that the GPU’s performance drops off a cliff at 4K. Compared to its rivals, the RTX 3060 Ti is slightly behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700M and RX 6600, but the differences are tiny (0.2-0.5%). This means that in practice, the card is a solid choice for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming.

The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is a strong asset, but it is not enough to overcome the sheer pixel count at 4K. The data shows that at 4K High, the card only manages 33.4 FPS, which is less than half of the 1440p High result of 59.2 FPS. This is a clear sign that the GPU is overworked. The card’s FP32 performance of 16.20 TFLOPS is respectable, but it is not sufficient for high-refresh 4K gaming in this title. The RTX 3060 Ti is a classic 1080p powerhouse that can handle 1440p with some settings tweaks, but it is out of its depth at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the best experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the clear choice. It delivers an average of 74.5 FPS, which is well above the playable threshold, and offers the best visual fidelity. There is no reason to lower settings at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset maintains a smooth frame rate. If a higher refresh rate monitor is in use, the High preset at 96.4 FPS or Medium at 110.8 FPS are excellent alternatives, but Ultra is the default recommendation.

For 1440p, the data suggests that Medium is the optimal preset. It achieves 74.4 FPS, which is comfortably above 60 FPS, providing a smooth and responsive experience. High settings at 59.2 FPS are borderline; they are playable but may dip below 60 in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 47.7 FPS is not recommended, as it sacrifices too much smoothness for marginal visual gains. The Low preset at 95.9 FPS is unnecessary unless seeking maximum performance, but Medium offers the best balance of quality and speed.

For 4K, the data is clear: no preset provides a consistently playable experience. The best result is Low at 50.2 FPS, which is still below 60 FPS. Medium (36.5 FPS), High (33.4 FPS), and Ultra (28.4 FPS) are all too low for an action game. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely with this combo, or if forced, use Low settings and accept the frame rate. The practical choice is to stick with 1440p Medium for the best overall experience, or 1080p Ultra if visual quality is the priority. The data strongly favors 1080p as the resolution where this combo shines.