The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for modern hardware. This analysis examines the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER combination, using measured frame rate data to determine performance characteristics across resolutions and settings. The data shows this pairing ranks 388th out of 1656 tested combinations, placing it in the top 23.4% of all systems tested for this title, which indicates a strong overall capability for a game of this era.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 136.2 FPS. This is a very high frame rate that easily exceeds the refresh rate of standard 60Hz monitors and is sufficient for high-refresh-rate displays.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-9400's average benchmark score is 2305. It performs within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-8809G, which has a score of 2319, and is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2300. This indicates the CPU is a solid mid-range performer relative to its peers.

Q: What is the performance delta between the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER and the Intel Arc A550M?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER has an average benchmark score of 48704, while the Intel Arc A550M scores 49737. This results in a deltaPct of -2.1, meaning the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is 2.1% slower than the Arc A550M in this specific aggregate benchmark.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves an average of 95.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 50.5 FPS. This represents a significant 45.4 FPS drop, or a 47.3% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: What is the boost clock of the Intel Core i5-9400?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This boost capability is crucial for handling the single-threaded workloads that older game engines often rely on.

Q: What is the VRAM capacity and type of the GPU?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus. This large memory pool provides substantial headroom for high-resolution textures and future game requirements.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing for The Technomancer. Its high memory bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s and 16 GB VRAM capacity ensure that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are handled without bottlenecks. The GPU's performance percentile of 86 indicates it outperforms 86% of all GPUs in the database, making it a high-end part that is more than capable for this title.

The benchmark results show that the GPU's raw power is the primary driver of frame rates, especially as settings increase. For instance, at 2560x1440, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average FPS from 151.1 to 89.5. This 40.8% performance cost for higher visual fidelity is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's average benchmark score of 48704, which is only 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA CMP 50HX's score of 49071, confirms its position as a top-tier performer that can easily handle the graphical demands of a game from 2016.

The GPU's architecture, Ada Lovelace, supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for modern rendering techniques. However, for a game like The Technomancer, which predates these features, the GPU's raw throughput in traditional rasterization is what matters most. The data shows that even at the most demanding preset, 4K Ultra, the GPU maintains an average of 50.5 FPS, which is playable, though not at high refresh rates. The GPU is clearly the component that scales performance with resolution and settings, as evidenced by the wide variance in FPS across the measured configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend: performance scales predictably with resolution, and the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p High settings, the average frame rate is 150.5 FPS. When resolution increases to 1440p, the average drops to 116.3 FPS, a 22.7% decrease. Moving to 4K, the average falls to 64.3 FPS, a 57.3% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern of diminishing returns at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the system achieves 136.2 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, this drops to 89.5 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 50.5 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 62.9% at Ultra settings, compared to a 44.9% drop at Low settings (from 173.9 FPS to 95.9 FPS). This suggests that the game's Ultra settings place a heavier load on the GPU, making the resolution scaling more dramatic.

This data indicates that the Intel Core i5-9400 is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. Instead, the consistent and substantial FPS drops with increasing resolution confirm that the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's rendering capabilities are what determine the final frame rate. The system is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, but 4K gaming will require compromises in settings to achieve higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers very high frame rates across all settings. The Low preset averages 173.9 FPS, Medium averages 159.7 FPS, High averages 150.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 136.2 FPS. The performance difference between Low and Ultra is 37.7 FPS, which shows that even at the highest quality settings, the system is far from being stressed.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. The Low preset averages 151.1 FPS, Medium averages 137.3 FPS, High averages 116.3 FPS, and Ultra averages 89.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra widens to 61.6 FPS, highlighting the increased load on the GPU. The Ultra preset still provides a very playable experience for most users.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent. The Low preset averages 95.9 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium averages 75.9 FPS, and High averages 64.3 FPS. However, the Ultra preset drops to an average of 50.5 FPS. This is the first configuration where the system falls below the 60 FPS target that many consider the minimum for a smooth experience. The data clearly shows that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario for this hardware combination.

Settings Recommendations

For players aiming for the highest possible frame rates on high-refresh-rate monitors, the 1080p Ultra preset is the best choice. With an average of 136.2 FPS, it provides a fluid and responsive experience that takes full advantage of the GPU's capabilities. There is no need to lower settings at this resolution, as the system has ample performance headroom.

At 2560x1440, the High preset offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. The average of 116.3 FPS is well above the 60 FPS target and provides a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 89.5 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, but High is recommended for a more consistent and future-proof experience.

For 4K gaming on a 60Hz display, the High preset is the optimal choice. The average of 64.3 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a smooth experience without sacrificing too much visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 50.5 FPS, is playable but may feel less fluid. The Medium preset at 75.9 FPS is a safer bet for maintaining a solid 60 FPS with some visual compromises. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot for 4K, offering the best visual experience while remaining playable.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz provide the necessary single-thread performance for older game engines. The CPU's average benchmark score of 2305 places it at the 50th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a mid-range processor. Its performance is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with a 0.2% delta compared to the Intel Core i3-10305 and a 0.4% delta compared to the Intel Xeon E-2134.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data indicates that the i5-9400 is sufficient for this task. At 1080p, where the GPU load is lower, the system still achieves over 136 FPS even at Ultra settings. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see a performance ceiling around a certain FPS, regardless of resolution. The data does not show this ceiling, as FPS continues to scale up at lower resolutions.

The CPU's 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are adequate for this game. While a newer or higher-end CPU might provide a slight edge in minimum frame rates, the average FPS data shows that the i5-9400 is not holding back the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER in this title. The combination is well-balanced, with the GPU being the clear performance driver. The 65 W TDP of the CPU also makes it an efficient partner, ensuring that the system's power delivery is focused on the GPU, which has a 285 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 600 W.