The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a fascinating case study in hardware scaling due to its age relative to the components tested. The pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 with the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT yields a combo that ranks 670th out of 1656 tested configurations, placing it in the upper tier of the benchmark database. Analysis of the measured FPS data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but exhibits signs of CPU limitation at 1080p, particularly when settings are lowered to reduce the GPU workload.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combination in The Technomancer?

A: The data indicates 2560x1440 is the optimal target. At High settings, it delivers an average of 90.8 FPS, which is substantially smoother than the 46.6 FPS average at 3840x2160, while still offering a significant visual upgrade over 1920x1080.

Q: How much of a performance drop occurs when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The drop is dramatic. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 135.4 at 1920x1080 to 46.6 at 3840x2160, a reduction of approximately 65%. This massive decline highlights the immense strain placed on the GPU at 4K resolution.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT the primary bottleneck in this configuration?

A: At 4K resolution, yes. The GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the FPS scales directly with settings changes. However, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average of 175.3 FPS suggests the CPU’s six cores are reaching their limit, preventing even higher frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i3-10305 and 0.2% faster than the Intel Core i3-1125G4, but 0.6% slower than the Intel Core i7-8809G.

Q: What is the GPU's standing relative to other graphics cards in the database?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT sits in the 76th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a high-performing part. Its average benchmark score of 32619 places it slightly ahead of the AMD FirePro S9300 X2 by 0.2% and the AMD FirePro S10000 by 0.7%, but behind the NVIDIA P104-100 by 0.4%.

Q: Is the GPU's 16 GB of VRAM a factor in this game's performance?

A: The FACT PACK confirms the GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. While the game's specific VRAM usage is not measured, the high memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s provides ample headroom for the texture-heavy environments typical of an Action RPG.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the undisputed workhorse in this configuration, and its specifications in the FACT PACK explain why. It features a substantial 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, a 256-bit bus, and a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. These are high-end traits that allow for high-resolution texture streaming without stuttering. The GPU's boost clock of 2430 MHz and its 3840 shading units provide the raw compute power needed to render the game's detailed worlds.

The benchmark results confirm this role. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 24176 is a strong indicator of its DirectX 11 performance, which is relevant for a 2016 title. More importantly, the measured FPS data shows how the GPU's workload scales with graphical settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 37.6, indicating the GPU is fully saturated. Lowering to 4K Low yields 72.4 FPS, a 92% performance increase that is only possible when the GPU has more headroom. This pattern solidifies the GPU as the primary determinant of frame rate in most scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a classic resolution scaling curve, but with a sharp inflection point that points to the CPU. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average FPS drops from 135.4 to 90.8. This is a substantial 33% reduction, which is a typical consequence of increasing pixel count. However, the jump from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 is far more punishing, with the average FPS plummeting to 46.6, a 49% drop.

This exponential increase in performance cost at 4K strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU enough frames to reach 135.4 FPS on High. But at 4K, the GPU's rendering workload becomes so immense that it can no longer maintain high frame rates, regardless of CPU capability. The fact that the 1080p Low setting only reaches 175.3 FPS, rather than a much higher number, hints that the Intel Core i5-9400's six threads are beginning to cap performance in this older title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable. The Low preset yields an average of 175.3 FPS, ensuring maximum fluidity for competitive play. Medium is nearly as fast at 160.3 FPS, while High remains excellent at 135.4 FPS. The Ultra preset, which often adds demanding effects, still manages a very playable 107.6 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the experience remains strong. The Low preset achieves 133.6 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. Medium drops to 105.3 FPS, and High comes in at 90.8 FPS, which is ideal for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor. The Ultra preset falls to 71.3 FPS, which is still playable but represents the first significant compromise.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits are clear. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience at 72.4 FPS. Medium drops to 55.3 FPS, High to 46.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37.6 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold many consider the minimum for a playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For a 60Hz 4K display, the Low preset is the only viable option, as it is the sole 4K preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 55.3 FPS is a borderline case, but its lower average makes it risky for maintaining a locked 60 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, averaging 90.8 FPS. This is comfortably above 60 FPS and leaves headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 71.3 FPS is also acceptable, but the 20 FPS penalty over High is a significant cost for marginal visual gains.

At 1920x1080, users have a wide choice. The High preset at 135.4 FPS is the recommended choice for most, as it delivers a high frame rate while still providing good graphical quality. The Ultra preset at 107.6 FPS is also excellent for those who prioritize image quality above all else, as it still exceeds 100 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 provides the foundational processing power for this system. Its six cores and six threads run at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This configuration is typical of a mid-range desktop processor from the Coffee Lake generation. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and single-core score of 1125 demonstrate a balanced level of performance.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU, but it is not irrelevant. The 1080p Low result of 175.3 FPS is telling. This is a very high frame rate, but it is not as high as the GPU's raw potential might suggest. This indicates that at lower resolutions and settings, the game's logic and draw calls are demanding enough that the i5-9400's six threads become a limiting factor. Its 9 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory are sufficient, but the lack of additional threads means it cannot push frame rates into the 200+ territory in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ranks 670th out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 60th percentile of all configurations, which is a strong showing for a system pairing a 2018 mid-range CPU with a 2023 high-end GPU. The rank reflects the GPU's dominance in this game; it is a very fast card that carries the system to a high position.

The data suggests this ranking is primarily a signal of the RX 7800 XT's power. The CPU, while competent, is not a top-tier part in the database, as evidenced by its 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs. However, because The Technomancer is so GPU-intensive at higher resolutions, the CPU's relative weakness does not significantly hamper the overall combo ranking. The result is a system that performs exceptionally well at 1440p and can even handle 4K at reduced settings, solidifying its position in the upper half of the benchmark charts.