The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for modern hardware. This analysis examines the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, using measured benchmark data to determine its standing among other tested configurations. The results show a system that is overwhelmingly capable of delivering high refresh rate experiences, though the demands of maximum settings at 4K resolution prove to be a significant challenge.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT secures a rank of 875 out of 3696 tested combos for this specific title. This places the configuration in the top 23.7% of all systems tested, indicating a strong overall performance level. The rank reflects a balanced pairing where neither component is a clear bottleneck for the other in most scenarios, allowing the system to perform well above the median.

To understand the CPU’s contribution, its average benchmark score of 49394 puts it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. This is a high standing, but the data from its nearest rivals shows a tight cluster at the top. The Intel chip is a mere 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G. It is also 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. Conversely, it trails the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 by 0.8%. This indicates that while the i5-14600KF is a top-tier processor, the performance gap to its closest competitors is marginal, and the overall combo rank is heavily influenced by the GPU as well.

The GPU’s own benchmark standing is more complex. Its average score of 13543 places it in only the 55th percentile of all GPUs. However, this metric is skewed by a wide range of legacy and low-power cards. The nearest rivals based on average score are the AMD Radeon HD 7770M (0.1% slower), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (0.2% slower), NVIDIA P106-090 (0.5% slower), and AMD Radeon Pro 555 (1% slower). These are all significantly older or lower-tier components, which shows that the average benchmark score does not reflect the RX 9070 XT's actual gaming prowess in a modern title like The Technomancer. The combo’s high rank in-game, despite the GPU’s modest percentile rank, suggests that the average score is not a reliable predictor of performance for this specific game.

The data shows a system that is well-balanced for gaming. The CPU's high percentile and the GPU's actual measured frame rates suggest that the pairing is effective. The 875th rank out of 3696 is a strong result, but it also implies that a significant number of other configurations, likely featuring even more powerful GPUs, are capable of higher performance, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU plays a larger role.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the primary driver of graphical performance in this configuration. It is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is rated at 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. This substantial memory capacity and bandwidth are crucial for handling high-resolution textures and complex scenes at 1440p and 4K.

The GPU’s role in The Technomancer becomes clear when observing the frame rates across different settings. The 16 GB VRAM buffer is unlikely to be a limiting factor at any of the tested settings, as the game is from 2016 and does not require the massive memory pools of modern titles. Instead, the raw compute power, with a FP32 performance of 48.66 TFLOPS, is what drives the high frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p. The 4096 shading units and 128 ROPs provide the necessary pixel-pushing power for high resolutions.

The performance scaling from Low to Ultra settings shows the GPU is doing the heavy lifting. At 4K, the average frame rate drops from 83 FPS on Low to 43 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of nearly half. This is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, where the graphics card's processing limits are reached as the workload increases. The GPU’s clock speeds are also indicative of its performance class; the high boost clock of 2970 MHz allows for significant throughput, which is reflected in the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

The data suggests that the RX 9070 XT is a powerful GPU that can handle The Technomancer with ease at most settings. The only scenario where it struggles is the combination of 4K resolution and the Ultra preset, where it falls below the 60 FPS threshold. This is not a sign of a weak GPU, but rather proof of the extreme demands of rendering a game at 4K with maximum quality settings. The GPU's performance is the primary factor in the FPS differences between resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling of average frame rates across the three tested resolutions provides clear insight into the system's bottleneck. At 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound in some scenarios, as the GPU is capable of producing very high frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves an average of 233 FPS. This high number suggests that the CPU is able to feed the GPU enough data to maintain such a high output. However, the Intel Core i5-14600KF has a high single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4594, which helps in this scenario.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates remain highly playable. The average FPS at 1440p Low is 152, which is a significant drop from the 1080p figure. This indicates that the GPU is starting to become more of a limiting factor, but the system still has ample headroom. The transition from 1080p to 1440p sees an average drop of about 34.7% across all settings, which is a typical scaling factor for a high-end GPU. The load is shifting from the CPU to the GPU as the number of pixels increases.

The leap to 4K is where the GPU's workload becomes the definitive bottleneck. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 83, a 64% drop from the 1080p Low result. This is a massive reduction that clearly shows the GPU is now the sole limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 43, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. This scaling pattern is consistent with a system that is well-balanced at 1080p and 1440p but becomes GPU-limited at 4K. The CPU is powerful enough to not be a constraint at lower resolutions, but the sheer pixel count at 4K overwhelms the GPU when settings are maxed out.

The data indicates that the optimal gaming experience for this combo is at 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates with high visual quality. At 1080p, the system is overkill for this title, providing frame rates that exceed the refresh rate of most monitors. At 4K, the system is capable of playable performance on Medium settings but will struggle with the highest quality presets. This analysis of resolution scaling is critical for understanding how to get the most out of this hardware combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all tested configurations. The results are presented in the table below, showing the average, minimum, and maximum frame rates for each resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|:--------- |:------- |:------ |:------ |:------ |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | High | 55 | - | - |

| | Low | 83 | - | - |

| | Medium | 64 | 55 | 74 |

| | Ultra | 43 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | High | 100 | - | - |

| | Low | 152 | - | - |

| | Medium | 117 | 99 | 134 |

| | Ultra | 78 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | High | 153 | - | - |

| | Low | 233 | - | - |

| | Medium | 179 | 152 | 205 |

| | Ultra | 119 | - | - |

Starting at 1080p, the system demonstrates exceptional performance. Even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, achieves an average of 119 FPS. The Low preset reaches an average of 233 FPS, which is an excellent result for competitive or high refresh rate play. The Medium preset shows an average of 179 FPS, with a minimum of 152 FPS and a maximum of 205 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery.

At 1440p, the performance is still very strong. The Ultra preset averages 78 FPS, which is very playable on a high refresh rate monitor. The High preset averages 100 FPS, while the Low preset averages 152 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 117 FPS, with a minimum of 99 FPS and a maximum of 134 FPS. These numbers show that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combination, offering a great balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates.

At 4K, the system's limits become apparent. The Low preset is the only one that provides a truly high frame rate, averaging 83 FPS. The Medium preset averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74 FPS, which is playable but with some dips. The High preset averages 55 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, averaging only 43 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target and may not provide a consistently smooth experience, especially in action-heavy scenes.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in The Technomancer?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 875th out of 3696 tested combos, placing it in the top 23.7% of all systems.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14600KF compare to its closest rivals in CPU benchmarks?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G. It is also 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, but 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388.

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this hardware?

A: The data suggests that 2560x1440 (1440p) is the optimal resolution. It provides high average frame rates across all settings, with the Ultra preset still averaging 78 FPS, offering a great balance between visual quality and smooth performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K, the system can achieve 83 FPS on Low and 64 FPS on Medium settings. However, on High and Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 55 FPS and 43 FPS, respectively, which may not be ideal for all players.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between 1080p and 4K at the Low preset?

A: The average frame rate drops from 233 FPS at 1080p Low to 83 FPS at 4K Low. This is a significant reduction of 64%, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the VRAM capacity of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the user's display and performance priorities. For users with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as the system still delivers an average of 119 FPS, ensuring a fully smooth and visually rich experience. The headroom is so large that there is no practical reason to lower settings, as even the most demanding preset is easily handled.

For 1440p users, the Ultra preset is also a viable option, with an average of 78 FPS. This is ideal for a 75Hz or 144Hz monitor, as the frame rate is high enough to benefit from a high refresh rate display. If a user prefers to maximize frame rates for competitive play, the High preset offers an average of 100 FPS, which is an excellent target for 144Hz displays. The Medium preset, with an average of 117 FPS, is another strong option for those seeking even higher frame rates without a significant visual sacrifice.

For 4K users, the recommendation is more nuanced. The Ultra and High presets are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as they average 43 FPS and 55 FPS, respectively. The Medium preset is the best choice for a playable experience, with an average of 64 FPS. This should be suitable for a 60Hz monitor, though the minimum FPS of 55 indicates there may be occasional dips. The Low preset, with an average of 83 FPS, is the only option that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and is recommended for users who prioritize smoothness above all other visual considerations. The data clearly indicates that to maintain a 60+ FPS experience at 4K, users will need to compromise on graphical fidelity and select the Medium or Low preset.