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 i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B570 across various settings and resolutions. The data provided offers a clear picture of how this combination handles the game, revealing where the bottlenecks lie and what users can expect in terms of playability.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 121 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 79 FPS, a 34.7% decrease. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 44 FPS, which is 63.6% below the 1080p Low figure. This steep decline indicates that the Intel Arc B570 is the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises, a typical scenario for a mid-range GPU.

The trend is consistent across all quality presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 80 at 1080p, to 52 at 1440p, and finally to 29 at 4K. The Ultra preset follows a similar trajectory: 62 FPS at 1080p, 41 at 1440p, and 22 at 4K. The performance hit from 1080p to 4K is roughly 60-65% regardless of the preset, confirming that resolution scaling is the dominant factor.

This scaling behavior strongly suggests that the game's rendering load is almost entirely on the GPU. The 16-core Intel Core i7-13700K provides ample processing headroom, so it is not the constraining component in this scenario. The data indicates that for smooth gameplay at 4K, users would need to significantly lower graphical settings, and even then, the average FPS may not reach the 60 FPS threshold. The Arc B570's 10 GB of VRAM and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game, but its raw compute power is what dictates these results.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B570 ranks at 2256 out of 2825 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the lower 20th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it is a functional configuration, it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title. The ranking is likely pulled down by the GPU's performance ceiling.

The GPU itself, the Intel Arc B570, has an average benchmark score of 20556 and sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (score 20534, deltaPct 0.1), the Intel Arc A750 (score 20582, deltaPct -0.1), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X (score 20662, deltaPct -0.5). These are extremely close scores, suggesting the B570's raw compute is on par with those cards. However, in this specific game, the combo's rank suggests that the overall system performance is not as competitive as the synthetic benchmarks might imply.

The CPU, the Intel Core i7-13700K, is a high-end processor with an average benchmark score of 46881, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (score 46971, deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (score 46654, deltaPct 0.5). The CPU's performance is clearly not the bottleneck here; the low combo rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at demanding resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K resolution?

A: Technically, yes, but not at a consistently playable frame rate. The data shows average FPS of 29 at High, 33 at Medium, and 22 at Ultra settings at 3840x2160. Only the Low preset, with an average of 44 FPS, approaches a playable level, but it still falls short of a smooth 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high frame rate?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution is where this combo excels. At 1080p, the average FPS is 80 on High, 93 on Medium, and 121 on Low. These numbers are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p the optimal resolution for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals based on the data?

A: The Arc B570's average benchmark score is 20556, which is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534) and the Intel Arc A750 (20582). The deltaPct values are 0.1% and -0.1% respectively, indicating performance parity within a fraction of a percent in synthetic tests.

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

A: No. The CPU has a high average benchmark score of 46881 and sits in the 89th percentile. Its performance is far above what is needed, and the FPS scaling with resolution clearly indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 121 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 62 FPS. This represents a 48.8% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the combo rank change between resolutions?

A: The provided data gives one overall combo rank of 2256 out of 2825 for the game, but does not specify separate ranks for each resolution. However, the FPS data shows that the system's relative performance position would be better at 1080p, where it can achieve high frame rates, than at 4K, where it struggles.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all four presets and three resolutions. Starting at 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of high refresh rate gaming. The Low preset averages 121 FPS, making it the fastest configuration tested. Medium settings still deliver a very smooth 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 80 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset brings it down to 62 FPS, which is still playable for most users.

At 2560x1440, the performance cost of the higher pixel count becomes apparent. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, a significant drop from 121 FPS at 1080p. Medium settings average 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 70. High settings drop to an average of 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS. At this resolution, users targeting a steady 60 FPS will likely need to stick with Low or Medium presets.

The 3840x2160 resolution is where the GPU's limitations are most evident. The Low preset is the only one that averages above 40 FPS, hitting 44 FPS. The Medium preset averages 33 FPS, with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 39. High settings average 29 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 22 FPS. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS mark, and the minimum FPS values suggest noticeable stuttering may occur. This resolution is not recommended for this combo if a smooth experience is desired.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the defining component in this system's gaming performance. Its specifications show a mid-range part: 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. The GPU has a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is generally adequate for a game from 2016, but the compute throughput is the limiting factor.

The GPU's synthetic benchmark scores (Passmark G3D of 14195 and 3DMark Steel Nomad of 2649) place it in the 65th percentile, which is respectable but not high-end. In the context of The Technomancer, the data clearly shows the GPU as the bottleneck. The consistent ~60% FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a hallmark of GPU-bound performance. The GPU's 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 200.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra.

The Arc B570's performance is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the Intel Arc A750 (deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (deltaPct 0.1). This means its performance class is well-established, and its struggles with this game at high resolutions are expected for this tier of hardware. The 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are standard for this class of card.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a powerful processor that is not challenged by The Technomancer. With 16 cores and 24 threads, it offers a massive amount of parallel processing power. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, which can boost up to 5.40 GHz, and it features a large 30 MB L3 cache. This hardware is far more than what a 2016 Action RPG requires.

The CPU's benchmark results are impressive. It scores 30745 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2116 in single-core, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its Passmark multithread score is 45887, and its single-thread score is 4333. These numbers demonstrate that the processor has immense headroom in gaming workloads. The game's performance scaling with resolution, as seen in the FPS data, is a direct indicator that the CPU is not the limiting factor.

In this pairing, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data without becoming a bottleneck. The data confirms it does this flawlessly. The nearest CPU rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (deltaPct -0.2) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (deltaPct 0.5), show that the i7-13700K's performance is at the top of its class, making it an excellent match for a mid-range GPU like the Arc B570. The CPU will not prevent the GPU from reaching its maximum potential.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, 1080p is the clear choice. At this resolution, the High preset delivers an average of 80 FPS, providing a great balance between visual quality and performance. The Medium preset offers an even higher 93 FPS average if a higher refresh rate is the priority.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the recommendation is to use the Low or Medium preset. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, which is excellent. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, which is right at the threshold for smooth gameplay. High settings drop to 52 FPS, which may be acceptable for some but is not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as the 41 FPS average will feel sluggish.

At 4K, a playable experience is difficult to achieve. The data shows that even the Low preset only averages 44 FPS. This suggests that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combo if a consistent 60 FPS is required. For users who insist on 4K, the Low preset is the only one that is somewhat playable, but they should expect frame rates in the 40s. The Medium preset is borderline, with an average of 33 FPS and a minimum of 28, which will likely result in noticeable stutters and a less responsive feel. It is best to avoid High and Ultra settings at this resolution, as they produce average FPS in the 20s, which is not a satisfactory experience.