The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a challenging workload for the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B370. The measured frame rates across all tested settings and resolutions are consistently low, with the combination ranking 2603rd out of 2825 tested combos in this title. This places the system firmly in the lower percentile of performance, indicating that the hardware is struggling to deliver a playable experience under most conditions. The data reveals a clear performance ceiling, and the following analysis breaks down the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, the impact of resolution scaling, and the most viable settings for this particular configuration.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor from the Core 13th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This processor is designed for heavy multitasking and demanding applications, as evidenced by its substantial cache configuration of 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows its average benchmark score is 46881, which is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, a negligible delta of -0.2%.

Despite this CPU’s high computational capacity, the measured frame rates in The Technomancer suggest that it is not the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces an average of 71 FPS, which is the highest result recorded for the entire combo. When the resolution is increased to 4K, the average FPS drops to 26 at Low settings. This pattern of performance degradation with increasing resolution points to the GPU being the bottleneck, as the CPU’s workload does not scale as dramatically with pixel count. The CPU has more than enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU simply cannot keep up at higher ones. The processor’s strong multi-threaded performance, with a PassMark multi-thread score of 45887, and its high boost clock of 5.40 GHz, are more than sufficient for a game from 2016. The fact that the combo ranks near the bottom of the database (2603 out of 2825) is not an indictment of the CPU, but rather a reflection of the GPU’s severe performance limitations in this title. The CPU’s role here is to provide a stable platform, which it does, but the game’s frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the graphics solution.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a 3 nm process node. Its memory is designated as "System Shared," meaning it relies on shared system memory rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a critical detail, as the memory bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which typically results in significantly lower performance compared to dedicated graphics memory. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. Its boost clock is 2400 MHz, and its FP32 performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS.

The benchmark data for this GPU is sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This score places the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, which is exceptionally low. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, delta -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, delta -0.5%), are legacy parts from over a decade ago. This comparison underscores the Arc B370’s lack of raw graphics horsepower. In The Technomancer, this translates to the measured frame rates. At 1080p High settings, the average FPS is 47, which drops to 31 at 1440p and a mere 17 at 4K. These numbers indicate that the GPU is overwhelmed by the game’s rendering demands. The shared memory architecture is likely a contributing factor, as the "System Shared" memory type and "System Dependent" bandwidth can create severe bandwidth constraints, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for texture and geometry data increases. The GPU’s low pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s further confirm its limitations, making it unable to process the necessary data to maintain playable frame rates in a demanding 3D environment like The Technomancer.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system’s scaling behavior. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 71 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 47 FPS, a substantial reduction of 24 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 26 FPS, representing a 45 FPS loss from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited scenario. The frame rate is inversely proportional to the number of pixels being rendered, which is a direct function of the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth. The CPU, with its high core count and clock speeds, is not the constraining factor here, as its workload per frame remains relatively constant regardless of resolution.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 47 at 1080p to 31 at 1440p and then to 17 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is approximately 64% (from 47 to 17 FPS). This non-linear scaling, where the performance hit becomes more severe at higher resolutions, is typical of a GPU that is running out of memory bandwidth or raw compute power. The Arc B370’s shared memory architecture is particularly susceptible to this, as the system RAM bandwidth is unlikely to match that of a dedicated GDDR6 solution. The data suggests that to improve frame rates, the user must reduce the graphical load on the GPU, either by lowering the resolution or by decreasing the in-game settings. The CPU is not the limiting component at any resolution tested, as even the most demanding 4K Ultra settings (13 FPS) leave the CPU with significant idle capacity. The system is unambiguously GPU-bound.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2603rd out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations in the database, which is a very poor showing. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part. To contextualize this, the CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, have nearly identical average benchmark scores (46971 and 47022, respectively, with deltas of -0.2% and -0.3%). If paired with a more capable dedicated GPU, this CPU would likely rank much higher. However, the Arc B370, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs and is comparable to the ATI Radeon HD 5770, drags the entire combo down.

The rank of 2603 out of 2825 means that 222 other combos perform worse than this one. While that is a small number, it also means that the vast majority of systems tested, including those with much older or lower-end CPUs, outperform this pair. This is a stark reminder that a high-end CPU cannot compensate for a severely underpowered GPU in a graphically intensive game. The data shows that the combo’s performance is not competitive, and the measured FPS numbers confirm this. For instance, the 4K Ultra average of 13 FPS is well below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 1080p Low average of 71 FPS is the only setting where the system approaches playability, but even that is not a high refresh rate experience. The combo rank is a direct reflection of the GPU’s limitations and should be interpreted as a strong warning against using this processor with an integrated graphics solution for gaming.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the only presets that yield an average frame rate above 60 FPS are at 1080p with Low settings, which achieves 71 FPS. This is the sole configuration where the system can maintain a smooth experience by conventional standards. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 55 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. For a better visual experience, 1080p High delivers 47 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced RPG but may feel stuttery in combat. The 1440p and 4K resolutions are all below 50 FPS on average, with the highest being 1440p Low at 47 FPS. The 4K settings are uniformly poor, with the highest average being 26 FPS at Low.

Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to play at 1080p with Low settings. This provides the highest frame rate and avoids the severe dips seen at other settings. If the user is willing to sacrifice some smoothness for better visuals, 1080p Medium (55 FPS) is a viable option, but it comes with a minimum FPS of 47, which indicates potential dips. The 1080p High setting (47 FPS) is another choice, but the lower average suggests it is more demanding than the system can comfortably handle. There is no benefit to playing at 1440p or 4K, as the frame rates are too low for a responsive experience. The data suggests that the graphical quality must be kept at a minimum to achieve playable performance. The 4K Ultra setting, with an average of 13 FPS, is essentially a slideshow and should be avoided entirely. The recommendation is clear: 1080p Low is the only preset that provides a consistently smooth frame rate, and it is the optimal choice for this combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset. All values are taken directly from the measured data.

1920x1080

• Low: Average 71 FPS.
• Medium: Average 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS.
• High: Average 47 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 37 FPS.

2560x1440

• Low: Average 47 FPS.
• Medium: Average 36 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS.
• High: Average 31 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 24 FPS.

3840x2160

• Low: Average 26 FPS.
• Medium: Average 20 FPS, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 23 FPS.
• High: Average 17 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 13 FPS.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern. At each resolution, the frame rate decreases as settings are increased. The largest gap between settings is at 1080p, where the difference between Low (71 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) is 34 FPS. At 4K, the gap between Low (26 FPS) and Ultra (13 FPS) is only 13 FPS, because the GPU is already so saturated that the additional load from higher settings has a smaller absolute impact. The medium settings provide the only entries with minimum and maximum FPS data, which are 47/63 at 1080p, 30/41 at 1440p, and 17/23 at 4K. These ranges help illustrate the frame pacing at those settings. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the frame rate can dip to 47 FPS, which is a 15% drop from the average, indicating some instability. In contrast, the 4K Medium range of 17 to 23 FPS is very narrow, showing that the GPU is consistently struggling. This breakdown confirms that the system is only usable at 1080p Low, with 1080p Medium being a borderline option for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate stability.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 71 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K or the Intel Arc B370 the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rates drop sharply as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, a pattern consistent with GPU-bound performance. The CPU’s high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745, suggest it has ample performance headroom.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2603rd out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations in the database.

Q: What is the only settings preset that delivers an average frame rate above 60 FPS?

A: The only preset to exceed 60 FPS on average is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which achieves an average of 71 FPS.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low?

A: At 1080p Low, the average frame rate is 71 FPS. At 4K Low, the average frame rate drops to 26 FPS, representing a loss of 45 FPS when moving to the higher resolution.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370’s benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, a delta of -0.2%, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a delta of -0.5%. These are very close scores, indicating similar performance levels.