The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting challenge for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 across various resolutions and settings. The data provides a clear picture of how this combination handles the game's engine, revealing where the bottlenecks lie and what settings offer the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the rate of change is not uniform. This variance is key to identifying the limiting component in the system.

At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 219 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 143 FPS, a reduction of 76 FPS, or roughly 35%. When pushing to 4K Low, the average falls to 79 FPS, another significant drop of 64 FPS from the 1440p figure, or about 45%. This steep decline from 1440p to 4K strongly suggests the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor at higher pixel counts.

The pattern is similar when examining the High preset. At 1080p High, the average is 144 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 94 FPS, a 50 FPS decrease (about 35%). At 4K High, the average settles at 52 FPS, which is 42 FPS lower than the 1440p result (about 45%). The proportionality of these drops—roughly a 35% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a further 45% from 1440p to 4K—is a classic sign that the GPU's rendering throughput is the constraining resource.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling. The jump from 1080p Ultra at 112 FPS to 1440p Ultra at 73 FPS is a 39 FPS drop. The transition to 4K Ultra yields just 40 FPS, a 33 FPS decline from 1440p. This 45% reduction at the highest quality tier again points squarely at the graphics card. The game's engine, built for a 2016 release, does not appear to be heavily multi-threaded in a way that would bottleneck this 20-core processor. Instead, the data indicates that the RX 9070's raw pixel-pushing capability is what dictates performance at higher resolutions.

The minimum FPS data available for the Medium preset reinforces this. At 4K Medium, the average is 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average is 110 FPS with a minimum of 94 FPS. The 1080p Medium average is 169 FPS with a minimum of 143 FPS. The consistency of the minimum FPS being roughly 85-88% of the average across these resolutions suggests a stable frame pacing experience, without sudden spikes or hitches that could indicate a CPU-related stutter. The overall trend confirms that the system is GPU-bound in nearly all tested configurations, with the CPU providing ample headroom.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all hardware combinations tested for this game, the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination holds a specific position. The data shows a combo rank of 1114 out of 3696 tested combos. This places the system in the 70th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms roughly 70% of the other tested setups for this specific title.

This rank is noteworthy given the modern nature of both components. The RX 9070 is a current-generation GPU, and the i7-14700F is a high-end 14th Gen processor. A 70th percentile ranking suggests that while the combo is strong, it is not at the absolute top of the leaderboard for The Technomancer. This is a common occurrence with older games, where newer hardware may not scale perfectly due to engine limitations or driver overhead that can be more pronounced than in newer titles.

The rank is also a relative measure. It doesn't mean the performance is poor; rather, it indicates that a significant number of other tested combos, potentially with different hardware balances, achieve higher average frame rates in this specific game. For instance, a combo with a slightly less powerful CPU but a more powerful GPU might rank higher, as the game appears to be heavily GPU-dependent based on the resolution scaling analysis. The i7-14700F's massive multi-core capability, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122, is likely underutilized in this 2016 title. The rank reflects the combined performance of both parts, and the data suggests the GPU is the dominant factor in determining the final result.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of performance across the four settings presets. The goal is to balance visual fidelity with a smooth frame rate. For this combo, the choice of preset is heavily dependent on the target resolution.

At 1080p, the system has immense headroom. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 112 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. Even the most demanding setting is highly playable. The Low preset reaches 219 FPS, which would be ideal for competitive play on a high-refresh-rate monitor, but the visual compromise is significant. For most users, the High preset at 144 FPS or the Ultra preset at 112 FPS offers the best balance. The Medium preset at 169 FPS is also a strong choice, but the jump to High provides a noticeable visual upgrade for a relatively small performance cost.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset becomes more demanding. The average of 73 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for users with 144Hz monitors who prefer to stay in the triple-digit range. The High preset, at 94 FPS, is an excellent choice for 1440p. It provides a substantial visual boost over Medium while maintaining a frame rate that is smooth and responsive. The Medium preset at 110 FPS is the option for those who prioritize frame rate above all else. The Low preset at 143 FPS is also viable, but the visual sacrifice is usually too great for a 1440p panel. The High preset is recommended as the sweet spot for 1440p.

At 4K, the GPU is clearly working hard. The Ultra preset drops to 40 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for a consistently smooth experience. The High preset yields 52 FPS, which is close but still not quite at the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset is the first to cross that line, with an average of 60 FPS and a minimum of 51 FPS. This makes Medium the recommended preset for 4K gaming. It offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, providing a stable experience that stays near the 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 79 FPS is an option for those who want more headroom, but the graphical downgrade is substantial. For a locked 60 FPS at 4K, the Medium preset is the clear choice.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average FPS data is as follows:

• 1920x1080
• Low: 219 FPS
• Medium: 169 FPS (min 143, max 194)
• High: 144 FPS
• Ultra: 112 FPS

• 2560x1440
• Low: 143 FPS
• Medium: 110 FPS (min 94, max 127)
• High: 94 FPS
• Ultra: 73 FPS

• 3840x2160
• Low: 79 FPS
• Medium: 60 FPS (min 51, max 70)
• High: 52 FPS
• Ultra: 40 FPS

The 1080p results show a linear step-down from Low to Ultra, with a 47 FPS difference between Low and Medium, a 25 FPS difference between Medium and High, and a 32 FPS difference between High and Ultra. The 1440p results show a similar pattern, with a 33 FPS drop from Low to Medium, a 16 FPS drop from Medium to High, and a 21 FPS drop from High to Ultra. The 4K results show the most constrained performance, with a 19 FPS drop from Low to Medium, an 8 FPS drop from Medium to High, and a 12 FPS drop from High to Ultra. The diminishing returns from setting changes at higher resolutions are clear.

The only preset with min/max data is Medium. At 1080p, the frame rate ranges from 143 to 194 FPS. At 1440p, it ranges from 94 to 127 FPS. At 4K, it ranges from 51 to 70 FPS. This data shows that the frame time variance increases at higher resolutions, but the minimums remain stable enough to avoid major stutters. The delta between min and max FPS is consistent at roughly 50 FPS, 33 FPS, and 19 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively, indicating a predictable performance envelope.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo capable of running the game at 4K?

A: Yes, but with caveats. The data shows that at 4K, the combo can achieve an average of 60 FPS on Medium settings and 52 FPS on High settings. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the Medium preset is the highest viable option. The Ultra preset drops to 40 FPS, which is below the standard for comfortable play.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: The High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 94 FPS, which is a smooth and responsive experience. The Ultra preset is also playable at 73 FPS, but the performance drop of 21 FPS may not be worth the marginal visual improvement for some users.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads. The resolution scaling data indicates that the game is primarily GPU-bound. The CPU's high thread count is likely not a limiting factor, as the frame rate drops consistently with increased resolution, which is a hallmark of GPU limitation.

Q: What is the maximum FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 219 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This shows the system has significant headroom at lower resolutions and settings, making it capable of driving very high refresh rate monitors when visual fidelity is not a priority.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for this game?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. The game is from 2016, and the data shows no signs of a VRAM-related performance ceiling. The frame rate scaling is consistent, and there are no anomalous drops that would suggest the GPU is running out of memory at any tested resolution or setting.

Q: How stable is the frame rate?

A: Based on the Medium preset data, the frame rate is stable. At 1080p, the minimum is 143 FPS against a 169 FPS average. At 1440p, the minimum is 94 FPS against a 110 FPS average. At 4K, the minimum is 51 FPS against a 60 FPS average. The minimums are consistently around 85% of the average, suggesting good frame pacing without severe hitches.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The processor's cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 33 MB shared L3 cache. Its benchmark scores are high, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122 and a Geekbench multicore score of 19620. It sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs based on its average benchmark score.

In the context of The Technomancer, this processor's role is to provide a stable foundation for the GPU. The measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The frame rates scale down proportionally with resolution, which is the expected behavior when the GPU's workload is the limiting factor. If the CPU were a constraint, the 1080p and 1440p frame rates would be closer together, as the CPU would be unable to feed the GPU enough frames at lower resolutions.

The processor's high single-core performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958, is more relevant for this game than its multi-core might. Many games from 2016 rely heavily on one or two threads. The i7-14700F's boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that these main threads have ample processing power. The data shows that the CPU provides a solid platform, but its full potential is not taxed by this title. The game's performance ceiling is clearly dictated by the GPU, as the 4K results show a significant drop-off that a more capable CPU could not prevent.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features the Navi 48 chip. It has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz. It has 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 6290, and it sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score.

This GPU is the primary driver of performance in The Technomancer. The resolution scaling analysis confirms this: the frame rate drops are significant and consistent as pixel count increases. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this title, and the memory bandwidth is ample. The data shows a clear progression from 219 FPS at 1080p Low to 40 FPS at 4K Ultra, a signal of the increasing workload placed on the graphics card.

The RX 9070's performance is the deciding factor for the overall experience. At 1080p, it is powerful enough to max out the game. At 1440p, it provides a great experience on High settings. At 4K, it requires a reduction to Medium settings to maintain a 60 FPS average. The GPU's benchmark scores, such as the Passmark G3D score of 25381, place it in a competitive position, but the game's engine and the demands of 4K rendering ultimately limit its performance. The data shows that the GPU is the component to monitor when adjusting settings, as it is the single biggest influence on the final frame rate.