The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data, derived from direct measurement, provides a clear picture of how this combination handles the game's engine, revealing scaling trends that point to the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions while the CPU's strength becomes apparent at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, clearly indicating a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 111.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 76.0 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 31.9%. The decline continues to 40.9 FPS at 3840x2160, which is a further 46.2% drop from the 1440p result. This steep curve demonstrates that the RX 6700 XT's rendering throughput is the limiting factor as pixel count increases.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. With Low settings, the frame rate goes from 170.4 FPS at 1080p to 111.0 FPS at 1440p (a 34.9% decrease) and then to 62.4 FPS at 4K (a 43.8% decrease from 1440p). For Ultra, the numbers are 89.8 FPS, 55.9 FPS, and 29.8 FPS respectively. The consistency of these relative drops, even when the absolute frame rates are vastly different, suggests that the game’s engine scales its load predictably with resolution, and the RX 6700 XT’s compute units and memory bandwidth are being saturated in a similar fashion regardless of the visual complexity.

The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough to suggest the CPU is not the primary constraint. For instance, the 170.4 FPS result at Low settings indicates the i5-14600KF can feed the GPU adequately at this resolution. However, as the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU's workload becomes heavier, and the frame rates drop in a way that is characteristic of a GPU limit. The scaling factor between 1080p and 4K at High settings is 2.73x (111.6 / 40.9), which is a significant performance hit that can be attributed almost entirely to the GPU's pixel processing capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing achieves a rank of 914 out of 1656 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the 55th percentile, meaning it performs better than 55% of all other tested CPU-GPU pairings. This is a solid mid-pack result, indicating that while the hardware is capable, there are many other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title.

The ranking is influenced by both components. The RX 6700 XT, with an average benchmark score of 33721, sits in the 77th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which scores 0.7% higher, and the AMD Radeon HD 7950, which scores 1.0% lower. This shows the GPU is a competent performer, but it is not at the top of the hierarchy. The CPU, on the other hand, is a much stronger component. The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49367, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14600K (0.4% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.6% lower), are all closely matched.

The combination's rank of 914 suggests that the overall performance is limited more by the GPU than the CPU. The CPU's high percentile ranking and strong benchmark scores indicate it is leaving performance on the table, as it is more than capable of handling the game's logic and draw calls. The GPU, while in the upper quartile, is the component that dictates the final frame rates, especially at higher resolutions. The data implies that pairing this CPU with a more powerful GPU would likely yield a significantly better rank, whereas upgrading the CPU would provide little to no benefit for this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate for this combination at 1920x1080 with High settings is 111.6 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has an average benchmark score of 33721. Its closest competitor, the AMD Radeon RX 6800, scores 0.7% higher, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 scores 1.0% lower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 3840x2160. For example, at High settings, the frame rate drops to 40.9 FPS, a significant reduction from 76.0 FPS at 2560x1440, showing the GPU's rendering capacity is being saturated.

Q: What is the best performance result recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 170.4 FPS, which was achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: This Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination ranks 914th out of 1656 tested combos for The Technomancer.

Q: Does the CPU have a high benchmark score relative to other processors?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49367, which places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high, starting at 170.4 FPS on Low and dropping to 89.8 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset yields 134.6 FPS, while High settings produce 111.6 FPS. These numbers show that the combination is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming, even with most settings maxed out.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset still manages a smooth 111.0 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p. High settings deliver 76.0 FPS, which is playable, and Medium settings provide 88.3 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, drops to 55.9 FPS, which may be less desirable for players seeking a consistent 60 FPS experience. The step from 1080p to 1440p represents a significant increase in pixel count, and the RX 6700 XT handles it competently, though the gap between Low and Ultra becomes more pronounced.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits are clearly exposed. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a playable average frame rate at 62.4 FPS. Medium settings drop to 46.1 FPS, and High settings to 40.9 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 29.8 FPS, which is not suitable for smooth gameplay. This resolution is very demanding, and the data shows that only the lowest settings can provide a frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a performance hit of roughly 44-47% across all presets, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting 1080p, the data suggests that the Ultra preset is a viable option, with an average of 89.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual fidelity while remaining well above 60 FPS. If a higher frame rate is preferred, the High preset at 111.6 FPS offers a better balance, sacrificing some visual effects for a significant performance boost.

At 1440p, the High preset offers the best overall experience, delivering 76.0 FPS. This is a solid frame rate for most monitors and provides good visual quality. The Medium preset at 88.3 FPS is also a strong choice for those who prioritize frame rate. The Ultra preset at 55.9 FPS is borderline, and players may need to accept a frame rate below 60 FPS for the highest settings. The Low preset at 111.0 FPS is an option for competitive play, but it negates the visual benefits of the resolution.

For 4K resolution, the options are more limited. The data shows that the Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, averaging 62.4 FPS. The Medium preset at 46.1 FPS may be acceptable for some, but it falls below the 60 FPS target. High and Ultra settings are not recommended for 4K gaming with this combo, as they produce frame rates in the 30-40 FPS range, which is too low for a responsive experience. Therefore, for a 4K display, the recommended setting is Low, with the understanding that visual quality will be significantly reduced.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a high-performance processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.30 GHz. This combination of high core count and high clock speeds makes it exceptionally strong in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 scores of 32889 and 4643, respectively.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. The benchmark results indicate that the i5-14600KF is not the bottleneck in this system. At 1080p with Low settings, the frame rate reaches 170.4 FPS, which is a very high value that demonstrates the CPU's ability to keep up with the GPU's output at lower resolutions. The fact that the frame rate scales down significantly as resolution increases points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 49367, further supports this conclusion. It is a top-tier processor that can handle any game's CPU demands. The data for this title suggests that the i5-14600KF has ample headroom. Even at 4K with Ultra settings, where the frame rate is a low 29.8 FPS, the CPU is likely not the cause of the slowdown. Instead, the GPU's pixel throughput is the constraint. This means that for The Technomancer, the CPU provides a stable foundation, and any performance gains would come from upgrading the graphics card.