The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a compelling case for high-refresh-rate play, and the combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a dominant performance profile. Benchmark data indicates that this pairing is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the processor's robust multi-threading ensures that frame pacing remains stable even when the graphics card is tasked with maximum detail settings. The measured results show a clear hierarchy of playability, with the system capable of exceeding 100 FPS at 1440p on high settings, but dropping below the 60 FPS threshold when pushing 4K Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data unequivocally points to the High preset as the optimal balance for this hardware combination, particularly for users targeting smooth gameplay at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080, High settings deliver 152 FPS, which is a 29% improvement over the Ultra preset’s 117.8 FPS while maintaining a visually rich experience. The gap becomes more pronounced at 2560x1440, where High achieves 102.5 FPS versus Ultra’s 77.2 FPS, a 33% margin that easily justifies the minor visual compromise. For 4K gaming, High remains the only viable option above 60 FPS, hitting 51.4 FPS—which is playable but not ideal, whereas Ultra at this resolution falls to 44.3 FPS, making it unsuitable for fast-paced action.

The Medium preset offers a strong alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over fidelity, providing 181.4 FPS at 1080p and 115.4 FPS at 1440p. However, the data shows that the jump from Low to Medium yields less than a 20% performance cost at 1440p, while the visual uplift is substantial. Low settings should be reserved for competitive scenarios or 4K users seeking 85.2 FPS, as this preset demonstrates that the GPU can handle the resolution when the load is minimized. The Ultra preset is effectively a showcase mode; it only makes sense at 1080p where the 117.8 FPS result remains display-synced, but it should be avoided at higher resolutions where the 44.3 FPS average at 4K creates a sub-optimal experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, proves more than sufficient for The Technomancer’s engine, which does not appear to scale beyond a handful of threads. The processor’s base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz provide ample single-thread headroom, as evidenced by its strong 3DMark single-thread score of 1043. Benchmark results show that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor; the widest FPS differences between presets at the same resolution are driven by GPU workload, not CPU stalls. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low (229.8 FPS) and Ultra (117.8 FPS) is nearly 49%, which is a GPU-bound scaling curve rather than a CPU bottleneck.

The processor’s multi-core capabilities are nonetheless relevant for maintaining consistent frame times. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28979 indicates that the CPU can handle background tasks and game logic without introducing micro-stutters, even when the GPU is producing high frame rates. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency. In this specific game, the CPU’s role is to stay out of the way, and the data suggests it succeeds; the system never shows a scenario where lowering resolution fails to increase FPS, which would be a sign of CPU limitation. The i7-12700KF’s performance is effectively a non-issue, ranking in the 89th percentile against all CPUs.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the primary driver of performance in this combination, and its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus proves adequate for The Technomancer’s texture demands. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz, combined with its 5888 shading units, delivers the raw compute needed to push high frame rates. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is a critical asset; the game’s open-world environments require constant texture streaming, and the data shows that the GPU scales predictably with settings, confirming it is not constrained by VRAM capacity at any preset. The 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is clearly sufficient, as the GPU manages to nearly double its 4K High output when moving to 1080p Low.

The RTX 4070’s performance in The Technomancer is best understood through its frame rate scaling. At 1440p, the GPU delivers 153.6 FPS on Low, but this drops to 77.2 FPS on Ultra—a 50% reduction that highlights the impact of the game’s more demanding effects. The GPU’s 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 37283 position it as a high-end part, yet its nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, show a delta of only -0.6%, suggesting that in synthetic tests, the competition is close. However, the measured game data shows that the RTX 4070 is more than capable of delivering a premium experience, particularly at 1440p where it exceeds 100 FPS on High settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database’s aggregate of 1656 tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds the 437th position for The Technomancer. This rank places the combo in the top 26% of all tested systems, which is a strong result given the game’s age and the relative newness of the GPU. The CPU’s individual performance, sitting in the 89th percentile, is slightly higher than the combo’s overall rank, implying that the GPU is the constraining factor in this pairing. The GPU’s 81st percentile ranking aligns more closely with the combined rank, reinforcing the notion that the RTX 4070 is the bottleneck, though not to a problematic degree.

Compared to other configurations in the database, this combo outperforms the majority of systems, but it is not at the absolute top tier. The data suggests that users with higher-end GPUs would see better 4K performance, but the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are well-matched to the CPU’s capabilities. The rank of 437 out of 1656 means that there are 436 faster combos, which is a small fraction of the total, and the delta between this combo and the top-performing ones is likely driven by GPUs with higher memory bandwidth and more shading units. For a 1440p-focused system, this combo is exceptionally well-positioned, delivering high frame rates without the need for a more powerful processor.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear resolution scaling pattern that defines the system’s character. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on High settings, the frame rate drops from 152 FPS to 102.5 FPS, a 33% reduction. This is a substantial hit, but it is a typical cost of increasing pixel count by 78%. The scaling from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) is even more punishing; the High preset falls from 102.5 FPS to 51.4 FPS, a 50% decrease. This steep drop indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU’s performance headroom is not being taxed at these frame rates.

The pattern is consistent across all presets. At Low settings, the system delivers 229.8 FPS at 1080p, 153.6 FPS at 1440p, and 85.2 FPS at 4K, showing a similar percentage decline. This uniformity confirms that the GPU is the scaling bottleneck; if the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would plateau at lower resolutions. The data shows that the RTX 4070’s 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and 192-bit bus are adequate for 1440p but are stretched at 4K, where the demand for pixel throughput exceeds the GPU’s ability to maintain high frame rates. For users prioritizing 4K, the Low preset is the only way to achieve 85.2 FPS, while High settings will hover around 51.4 FPS, which is playable but not ideal.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system’s capabilities across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates: Low settings produce 229.8 FPS, Medium produces 181.4 FPS, High produces 152 FPS, and Ultra produces 117.8 FPS. These numbers indicate that the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond 200 FPS in less demanding scenes, making this an excellent setup for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors. The 47% difference between Low and High settings shows the GPU’s headroom, while the 38% drop from High to Ultra highlights the cost of maximum detail.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still very high but show more GPU strain: Low produces 153.6 FPS, Medium produces 115.4 FPS, High produces 102.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 77.2 FPS. The High preset remains above the 100 FPS threshold, making it the sweet spot for 1440p gaming. The Medium preset at 115.4 FPS is also a strong choice for those wanting a bit more smoothness. At 3840x2160, the system’s limits are exposed: Low produces 85.2 FPS, Medium produces 62.1 FPS, High produces 51.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 44.3 FPS. Only the Low preset manages to stay above 60 FPS, while High is borderline playable and Ultra is below the acceptable threshold for most gamers. These exact figures demonstrate a system that is perfectly suited for 1440p High or 1080p Ultra gaming, with 4K being a secondary consideration.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with High settings delivers 102.5 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and frame rate. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves 85.2 FPS, while High drops to 51.4 FPS, making 1440p the recommended choice.

Q: How does the Ultra preset affect performance compared to High?

A: At 1080p, Ultra reduces the frame rate from 152 FPS (High) to 117.8 FPS, a 23% decrease. At 1440p, the drop is from 102.5 FPS to 77.2 FPS, a 25% decrease. At 4K, Ultra falls to 44.3 FPS from High’s 51.4 FPS, making it the least viable setting.

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

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. When moving from 1080p to 4K on High settings, the frame rate drops from 152 FPS to 51.4 FPS, a 66% reduction, while the CPU’s 12 cores and 20 threads remain underutilized. The GPU’s 81st percentile ranking versus the CPU’s 89th percentile confirms this.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. The Low preset at 4K achieves 85.2 FPS, which is playable, while the High preset at 51.4 FPS is borderline. The Ultra preset at 44.3 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: It ranks 437th out of 1656 tested combinations for this game, placing it in the top 26% of systems. The CPU alone ranks in the 89th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 81st, indicating the GPU is the weaker link.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 153.6 FPS, while Ultra produces 77.2 FPS. This represents a 50% reduction in performance, showing the significant cost of the highest detail settings.