The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress profile for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070, using the provided benchmark data to understand how this combination handles the game across different resolutions and settings. The data indicates a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, but one that becomes increasingly GPU-limited as resolution scales upward.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 146.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 92.5 FPS, a reduction of approximately 37%. At 4K, the average falls further to 49.4 FPS, which is roughly 66% lower than the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern strongly suggests that the system is primarily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is substantial, and the jump to 4K imposes a heavy load on the Radeon RX 9070. The fact that the 1080p High result (146.2 FPS) is not drastically higher than the 1440p Low result (146 FPS) is particularly telling. It indicates that at 1080p High, the CPU has enough headroom to push the GPU to its limits, and the GPU becomes the bottleneck. When settings are reduced to Low at 1440p, the GPU load decreases, allowing the frame rate to remain high, but it does not exceed the 1080p High figure, suggesting the GPU is still the limiting factor.

The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at each resolution provides further insight. At 4K, the difference between Low (79.7 FPS) and Ultra (42.4 FPS) is a wide margin of 37.3 FPS. This indicates that the visual effects and rendering load associated with the Ultra preset heavily tax the GPU. At 1080p, the same Low-to-Ultra gap is 106 FPS (220.1 vs. 114.1), showing that the GPU has more headroom at lower resolutions, but the relative performance cost of Ultra settings remains significant. The data points to a system where the Radeon RX 9070 is the primary constraining component at all tested resolutions, with the CPU providing sufficient support.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and single-core score of 4642 indicate strong computational capability. The processor’s performance percentile of 93 vs. all CPUs places it in the top tier of available processors.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role appears to be one of consistent support rather than a bottleneck. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 220.1 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach such high numbers. The PassMark single-thread score of 4270 is also high, which is beneficial for a game that may rely on a few main threads for game logic and physics.

The data does not show any scenario where the CPU is clearly holding back performance. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 42.4. This is a low frame rate, but it is a direct consequence of the GPU struggling with the high-resolution rendering load, not a sign of CPU limitation. The consistent scaling across resolutions, where the frame rate drops smoothly as pixel count increases, is a classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s robust single-threaded and multi-threaded scores ensure it can keep up with the game’s demands, even at high frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 is ranked 533rd out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the 68th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it performs better than the majority of combinations. However, it is not at the very top tier, suggesting that there are other combos that achieve higher frame rates in this specific game.

This ranking should be interpreted in light of the component specifications. The CPU and GPU are both high-end parts, but their combined performance in this title places them in the upper-middle portion of the rankings. The game’s age and its specific engine optimizations may favor other hardware configurations. The rank of 533 out of 1656 is a solid result, showing that this system will provide a good experience, but it is not the absolute best performer for this title.

It is notably the individual components have their own benchmark positions. The CPU has a percentile of 93 vs. all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 49166 is very close to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which has an average score of 49062 and a delta of 0.2%. The GPU has a percentile of 79 vs. all GPUs, with an average score of 34780. The combo’s rank in the game is a result of how these two components interact with The Technomancer’s specific workload.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system is capable of very high frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 220.1. Medium settings yield 171.6 FPS, and High settings produce 146.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 114.1 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for high refresh rate monitors, even with maximum visual quality.

At 1440p, the frame rates remain strong but show a more pronounced impact from the GPU load. The Low preset delivers an average of 146 FPS, which is identical to the 1080p High result. Medium settings produce 109.4 FPS, and High settings drop to 92.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields 71.9 FPS, which is still playable but marks a significant decrease from the 1080p result. This resolution is a good balance between visual fidelity and performance.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings produce an average of 79.7 FPS, which is a playable frame rate. Medium settings drop to 59.9 FPS, and High settings fall to 49.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding scenario tested, yielding an average of 42.4 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider ideal for smooth gameplay, indicating that users targeting 4K will need to adjust settings to achieve higher frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a high-end graphics card based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture, featuring the Navi 48 chip. It has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The card’s boost clock is 2520 MHz, and its game clock is 2070 MHz. These specifications indicate a powerful GPU designed for high-resolution gaming.

The benchmark data clearly shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in this system’s performance in The Technomancer. The scaling of frame rates with resolution and settings is a direct reflection of the GPU’s workload. At 4K, the card’s pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s are heavily taxed, leading to lower frame rates. The 16 GB of VRAM is ample for this game, and the data does not suggest any memory capacity issues.

The GPU’s performance is also reflected in its benchmark scores. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6290 and PassMark G3D score of 25381 are indicative of its raw power. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA A2 with a score of 34866 and a delta of -0.2%, show that it is in a competitive performance class. In this game, the GPU’s role is to render the complex scenes of The Technomancer, and the data shows that it is the primary determinant of the final frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as it delivers an average of 114.1 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on most monitors. If a higher frame rate is desired, the High preset at 146.2 FPS offers a significant boost with a likely minor visual difference.

At 1440p, the High preset provides an average of 92.5 FPS, which is a good balance for most users. The Medium preset at 109.4 FPS is also an excellent choice for those seeking higher refresh rates, as it maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 71.9 FPS is still playable and will be preferred by users who prioritize visual quality over raw speed.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that the High preset is not ideal, as it averages 49.4 FPS. The Medium preset at 59.9 FPS is closer to a playable threshold, but the Low preset at 79.7 FPS is the only option that provides a clearly smooth experience. Users targeting 4K will need to compromise on visual settings to achieve consistent frame rates. The Low preset is recommended for a smooth 4K experience, while Medium can be used if a slightly lower frame rate is acceptable.