The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060, using only the provided benchmark data to assess its capabilities across various settings and resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data for this configuration reveals a clear progression of performance across the four available quality presets. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 103 FPS, which is a strong baseline for smooth gameplay. However, the Low preset pushes the frame rate to 157 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves 120 FPS. The Ultra preset, while visually demanding, still produces a playable 80 FPS average at this resolution. Given the data, the High preset at 1080p offers the best balance, providing a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while likely delivering a significantly better visual experience than the Low preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance landscape shifts. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is right at the threshold for a fluid experience on standard 60Hz displays. The Medium preset provides a more comfortable 79 FPS average, with a minimum of 67 FPS recorded. The Low preset reaches 102 FPS, but this comes at a substantial visual cost. The Ultra preset drops to 52 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target. For a consistent experience at 1440p, the Medium preset appears to be the optimal choice, as it maintains an average well above 60 FPS and its recorded minimum of 67 FPS indicates solid frame pacing.

At 3840x2160, the configuration begins to struggle with higher settings. The High preset averages only 37 FPS, and Ultra drops to 29 FPS, both of which are not ideal for a smooth experience. The Medium preset yields a 43 FPS average with a minimum of 37 FPS. The Low preset is the only option that approaches playability, with an average of 56 FPS. Based on this data, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only reasonable recommendation, as it is the only setting that stays near the 60 FPS target, though it may still experience dips.

The data indicates that the most efficient experience is found by pairing the High preset with a 1080p resolution, where the system has ample headroom. For users prioritizing higher resolutions, dropping to Medium at 1440p or Low at 4K is necessary to maintain a target frame rate near 60 FPS. The optimal experience, balancing visual fidelity and performance, is achieved at 1080p with the High preset, which avoids the frame rate sacrifices required at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is a significant factor in this configuration's performance. It is based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. These specifications, along with its 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs, contribute to its measured performance, which places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 and a Passmark G3D score of 17631, indicate a mid-range capability. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which has a similar average benchmark score, with the RX 9060 trailing by just 0.7%. This suggests that the RX 9060 is competitive with that particular NVIDIA card. The data shows that the GPU is a strong performer, but it is not without limitations, particularly at higher resolutions where its 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus may become constraining factors.

The relationship between the GPU and the game's results is most evident in the performance drop from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 103, but this falls to 67 FPS at 1440p and 37 FPS at 4K. This dramatic scaling shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions, as the workload on the graphics card increases significantly. The 8 GB VRAM capacity could also be a limiting factor in The Technomancer at 4K, as the higher resolution textures and effects may require more memory than is available. The data suggests that the RX 9060 is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but it is not powerful enough to deliver high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings.

FAQ

Q: At what resolution and settings does this combo achieve the highest average frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate of 157 FPS is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is followed by 120 FPS at the same resolution with the Medium preset.

Q: Is this system capable of maintaining 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, and the High preset averages 67 FPS. The Low preset is even higher at 102 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls below 60 FPS with an average of 52 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129. This indicates they have very similar overall performance levels.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this configuration?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 29 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset. The High preset at 4K is the next lowest at 37 FPS.

Q: What is the frame time variance like for the Medium preset at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 120, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. This indicates a variance of 36 FPS between the minimum and maximum recorded values.

Q: Is the 4K resolution viable for this system?

A: The data suggests it is only marginally viable. At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves an average of 56 FPS, which is close to 60 FPS. All other presets, including Medium at 43 FPS, fall below this threshold, indicating a less smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 is ranked 1632 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the system in the middle of the pack, indicating that it is neither a top-tier nor a low-end performer for this specific game. The rank suggests that while the system can handle the game, there are many other hardware combinations that yield better results.

This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates. The system performs well at 1080p, achieving high frame rates, but it falls behind more powerful configurations at higher resolutions. The GPU's performance, which is in the 59th percentile, is a limiting factor. The data shows that the RX 9060 is a capable mid-range card, but its performance is not exceptional, especially when compared to higher-end models.

The CPU's performance also plays a role in this ranking. The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, has a nearly identical average score, with the i5-9400 trailing by only 0.2%. This indicates that the CPU is a solid, average performer that is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck in most gaming scenarios, but it also doesn't provide a performance advantage.

The ranking of 1632 out of 2825 reflects a system that is competent but not outstanding. It will provide a good experience for gamers using 1080p or 1440p monitors, but it will not be able to compete with high-end systems at 4K. The combination of a mid-range CPU and GPU results in a balanced, but not exceptional, gaming machine for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and significant impact from resolution scaling. The performance drops are substantial when moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. For instance, with the High preset, the average frame rate decreases from 103 FPS at 1080p to 67 FPS at 1440p, and then to 37 FPS at 4K. This represents a 64% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K, which is a common pattern for games that are heavily GPU-bound.

This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration. The frame rate drops are relatively consistent with the increase in pixel count. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the pixel count increases by about 78%, and the frame rate drops by about 35%. From 1440p to 4K, the pixel count increases by about 125%, and the frame rate drops by about 45%. While the frame rate drops are not perfectly proportional to the pixel count increase, they are significant enough to suggest that the GPU is working at its limit at higher resolutions.

The CPU's role in this scaling is less prominent. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be more similar across resolutions, as the CPU's workload doesn't increase as much with resolution. The data shows a clear and dramatic decrease in FPS at higher resolutions, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. The Intel Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, appears to be sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot maintain its performance as the resolution increases.

In summary, the data shows that this system is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, where the GPU has enough headroom to deliver high frame rates. However, at 1440p and especially 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, causing a substantial drop in performance. The scaling behavior confirms that for this game, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the component that determines the playable resolution and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination. All data points are taken directly from the provided measurements.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance. With the Low preset, it achieves an average of 157 FPS. The Medium preset averages 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. The High preset averages 103 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 80 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the system capable of excellent frame rates even at the highest settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance decreases. The Low preset averages 102 FPS. The Medium preset averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. The High preset averages 67 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 52 FPS. This data shows that the system can still provide a good experience at 1440p, but the frame rates are noticeably lower than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is significantly reduced. The Low preset is the only one that averages above 50 FPS, with a value of 56 FPS. The Medium preset averages 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. The High preset averages 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. These numbers highlight the challenge of running this game at 4K with this hardware, as even the lowest settings result in an average frame rate below the 60 FPS target.

The data for the Medium preset at each resolution provides a useful comparison of the scaling. At 1080p, the average is 120 FPS. This drops to 79 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 41 FPS. At 4K, the average drops to 43 FPS, a decrease of 36 FPS from 1440p. This consistent decrease across resolutions reinforces the conclusion that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as its workload scales directly with the number of pixels rendered.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its performance is measured at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. This places it as a solid mid-range processor, comparable to the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which it trails by only 0.2% in average score.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. The data suggests that the i5-9400 is sufficient for this task at lower resolutions. The high frame rates at 1080p, such as 157 FPS on Low and 120 FPS on Medium, indicate that the CPU is not limiting performance at this resolution. The system is able to fully utilize the GPU's capabilities.

However, the CPU's performance becomes more relevant when considering the overall system balance. While the GPU is the clear bottleneck at higher resolutions, the CPU's mid-range performance means it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The system's overall rank of 1632 out of 2825 combos reflects this balance. A more powerful CPU would not significantly improve 4K performance, as the GPU is the limiting factor, but it could potentially provide a small boost in minimum frame rates in CPU-intensive scenes.

The CPU's specifications, including 9 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, are adequate for gaming. It is not a top-tier processor, but it provides a competent foundation for this mid-range GPU. The benchmark data indicates that it is a well-matched partner for the RX 9060, as neither component is so powerful that the other becomes a major bottleneck in most gaming scenarios at 1080p and 1440p. The limiting factor for this system in The Technomancer is unequivocally the GPU, as shown by the resolution scaling data.