The Technomancer

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1363rd out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places the combination in the lower 18th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while the CPU is exceptionally strong—sitting in the 89th percentile of all processors—the GPU's 58th percentile standing becomes the decisive factor. The data shows a system where the processor vastly outperforms the graphics card, creating a significant bottleneck that limits overall gaming performance in this Action RPG.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1363 out of 1656 tested configurations places it firmly in the lower tier of systems capable of running The Technomancer. This ranking reflects the inherent imbalance between the two components. The Core i7-12700K, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, delivers an average benchmark score of 35684, placing it just 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13800H. This CPU performance is exceptional, as evidenced by its 89th percentile ranking among all processors tested.

However, the RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 16074 places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, scoring just 0.5% higher. The GPU's DirectX 12 score of 53 and DirectX 11 score of 110 from Passmark testing illustrate its mid-range capabilities. When these two components are combined, the GPU becomes the limiting factor in The Technomancer, preventing the system from achieving the frame rates that the CPU alone could theoretically support. The rank of 1363 suggests that most other tested combinations, including those with less powerful CPUs but more balanced GPUs, deliver better gaming performance in this specific title.

FAQ

Q: How does this combo perform at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 65.2 FPS. This is the most demanding settings configuration at this resolution, yet it remains comfortably playable, indicating that the GPU can handle the game's maximum visual fidelity at standard HD resolutions.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: Benchmark data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile with an average score of 35684, while the GPU sits at the 58th percentile with a score of 16074. The resolution scaling further confirms this, as frame rates drop dramatically when moving from 1080p to 4K, a pattern characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios.

Q: What frame rate can users expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 66.8. This provides a smooth experience for most gameplay scenarios, making it a viable option for users with 1440p displays who prioritize frame rate over maximum visual quality.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Even with Low settings, the average FPS is only 45.1, while Ultra settings yield just 25.2 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only feasible with reduced settings, and even then, the experience may not meet the standards of players accustomed to higher frame rates.

Q: What is the most balanced settings configuration for this combo?

A: The data suggests that 1080p High settings, delivering 83.1 FPS, or 1440p Medium settings at 66.8 FPS, offer the best balance between visual quality and performance. These configurations allow the GPU to operate within its optimal range without being overwhelmed by resolution demands.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its closest GPU rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 16074 is 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, which scores 15996. It also trails the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Radeon Pro 5700, both scoring 16351, by 1.7%. This places the RTX 2060 in a competitive but slightly below-average position among its immediate peers.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which strongly indicates GPU-bound behavior. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 83.1 FPS to 59.1 FPS, a reduction of 24.0 FPS or approximately 29%. This scaling continues at 3840x2160, where High settings produce only 27.4 FPS, representing a 67% drop from the 1080p result.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system delivers 129.2 FPS at 1080p, 86.5 FPS at 1440p, and 45.1 FPS at 4K. This pattern—where each resolution increase results in substantial frame rate losses—is characteristic of a system where the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint. The CPU's exceptional performance, evidenced by its 20 threads and 25 MB of shared L3 cache, is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as pixel count increases, the RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit memory bus become the limiting factors.

The scaling ratio between 1080p and 4K at High settings is approximately 3.03x, meaning the 4K frame rate is roughly one-third of the 1080p frame rate. This near-linear scaling with pixel count confirms that the GPU is operating at its maximum capacity across all resolutions, with no evidence of CPU-induced bottlenecks. Had the CPU been the limiting factor, the frame rate drops would have been less pronounced at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimal settings configurations. At 1920x1080, all settings presets deliver playable frame rates, with even the most demanding Ultra preset achieving 65.2 FPS. However, the jump from High to Ultra at this resolution costs 17.9 FPS (from 83.1 to 65.2), a significant reduction for what is typically a marginal visual improvement. The Low preset at 129.2 FPS offers the highest headroom, but Medium at 101.8 FPS represents a better balance for users seeking both quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the recommended configuration shifts to Medium settings, which deliver 66.8 FPS. This represents a 15% improvement over High settings at 59.1 FPS while maintaining acceptable visual quality. The Ultra preset at 43.7 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay, making it less desirable despite its visual benefits.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that even Low settings at 45.1 FPS may not provide a satisfactory experience for most users. The performance gap between Low and Medium at 4K is substantial—45.1 FPS versus 34.3 FPS—but neither reaches the 60 FPS mark. Users with 4K displays should consider reducing resolution to 1440p for a more consistent experience. The best overall experience, based on the measured data, is 1080p High settings, which provides 83.1 FPS and represents the sweet spot where visual quality and performance are most evenly matched.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance across all settings presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 129.2 FPS, Medium delivers 101.8 FPS, High produces 83.1 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 65.2 FPS. These figures show a consistent and predictable scaling pattern, with each successive preset tier costing approximately 20% of the previous frame rate. The spread from Low to Ultra is 64.0 FPS, indicating that the GPU has substantial headroom at this resolution even under maximum load.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance metrics shift downward across all presets. Low settings yield 86.5 FPS, representing a 42.7 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium achieves 66.8 FPS, High reaches 59.1 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 42.8 FPS, slightly narrower than at 1080p, which suggests the GPU is approaching its limits. The High preset at 59.1 FPS is particularly notable, as it sits just below the 60 FPS threshold, making Medium the more practical choice for consistent smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060's limitations become pronounced. Low settings produce 45.1 FPS, Medium drops to 34.3 FPS, High falls to 27.4 FPS, and Ultra manages only 25.2 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is just 19.9 FPS, compared to 64.0 FPS at 1080p. This compressed scaling range indicates that the GPU is saturated at 4K regardless of settings, with even the lowest quality preset unable to break past 50 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant compromises, and the 1440p Medium or 1080p High presets offer the most balanced experiences available in The Technomancer.