The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting challenge for the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 pairing. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by the GPU's limits at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom for the game's engine. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to show exactly where this combo excels and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is the defining characteristic of this combo in The Technomancer. At 1080p with High settings, the system delivers 85.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that figure drops to 59 FPS, a 31% reduction. Pushing further to 4K, the average plummets to 30.6 FPS, which is a 64% decline from the 1080p result. This steep scaling curve is a clear indicator that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 becomes the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases.

The data shows that the GPU's rendering throughput is the bottleneck at higher resolutions. The transition from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing, with a near-halving of performance. This suggests that the 6 GB VRAM and the memory bandwidth are being saturated, forcing the graphics card to work far beyond its optimal range. At 1080p, the load is more balanced, allowing the CPU to feed frames efficiently, but the GPU still caps the maximum output.

For a practical perspective, 1080p is the sweet spot for this pairing. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a performance range from 130 FPS down to 68.8 FPS, indicating that the GPU can handle high refresh rates with reduced settings. However, at 4K, even the Low preset only manages 46.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many consider the minimum for smooth gameplay. The resolution scaling data strongly suggests that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming, but it is more than capable for 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In The Technomancer, its role is to ensure the GPU is fed with data, and the benchmark results indicate it performs this task without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's multi-core strength is evident in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35443, and its single-core performance is also robust, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2711.

The game's engine appears to be well-optimized for multi-threaded CPUs, as the i7-14700F's high core count and thread count are more than sufficient for the game's logic and AI. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough to suggest the CPU is not limiting performance. The difference between Low (130 FPS) and High (85.6 FPS) settings is primarily a GPU workload change, indicating the CPU has headroom to spare.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700F is positioned in a strong spot. Its average benchmark score of 54097 is only 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, making them virtually indistinguishable in raw compute power. This means that in a game like The Technomancer, the choice between these CPUs would not yield a significant difference in frame rates, as the GPU will be the limiting factor in most scenarios. The CPU's 65 W TDP is also a point of efficiency, ensuring it doesn't generate excessive heat that could impact system stability in long gaming sessions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, based on the Turing architecture, is the component that defines this combo's performance in The Technomancer. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The GPU has a boost clock of 1680 MHz and a pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s. The benchmark results clearly show that this GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates, especially at resolutions above 1080p.

The GPU's VRAM capacity is a likely point of contention at 4K. The transition from 1440p to 4K results in a significant performance drop, which is often a symptom of VRAM or memory bandwidth saturation. The 6 GB frame buffer is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the increased texture detail and resolution at 4K can exceed its capacity, causing the GPU to use slower memory access methods. This is reflected in the 4K High preset score of 30.6 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users.

The GPU's compute capabilities are moderate, as shown by its Passmark G3D score of 14111. This places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, has a score that is 0.5% higher, suggesting they are on par. In The Technomancer, this means the RTX 2060 will deliver consistent but not exceptional performance. The data suggests that for this game, the RTX 2060 is best paired with a 1080p monitor to achieve high frame rates, while 1440p is playable with adjusted settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the combo performs across different resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system is at its strongest. With Low settings, it achieves 130 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings yield 102.9 FPS, and High settings drop to 85.6 FPS. Even at Ultra, the average FPS is a respectable 68.8, ensuring smooth gameplay. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 47% performance drop, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings produce 81.3 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings deliver 68.1 FPS, and High settings drop to 59 FPS. At Ultra, the average falls to 40.6 FPS, which is approaching the lower limit of smooth gameplay. This resolution is playable, but users will need to compromise on settings to maintain a stable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 is clearly out of its depth. Low settings manage 46.3 FPS, but Medium and High drop to 33.3 and 30.6 FPS, respectively. Ultra settings are nearly unplayable at 24.4 FPS. The data indicates that 4K gaming with this combo is not a viable option for most users, as even the lowest settings cannot consistently hit 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing ranks 1343 out of 1656 combos. This places it in the lower 19th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. This ranking is a direct result of the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's demands.

The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather the GPU's inability to keep up with the game's graphical demands at 4K. When compared to other combos, the i7-14700F's high CPU score is wasted in many scenarios where the RTX 2060 becomes the limiting factor. The data suggests that for users prioritizing The Technomancer, a stronger GPU would be a more beneficial upgrade than a stronger CPU.

The rank also highlights the age of the RTX 2060. While it was a solid mid-range card at its release, it is now outclassed by newer generations. The combo's performance is acceptable for 1080p gaming, but it fails to provide a satisfactory experience at higher resolutions. This makes it a suitable choice for a budget-oriented 1080p build, but not for users with 1440p or 4K displays.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At High settings, it achieves 85.6 FPS, and even at Ultra, it maintains 68.8 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: No, the benchmark results indicate it cannot. At 4K with Low settings, it averages only 46.3 FPS, and at High settings, it drops to 30.6 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a bottleneck for the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. The FPS differences between settings are primarily due to GPU workload, and the CPU's high core count and clock speeds provide ample headroom.

Q: How does the RTX 2060's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: Its average benchmark score is 16074, which is only 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S. This indicates they are nearly identical in performance, making the choice between them negligible for this game.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 81.3 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 40.6 FPS. This represents a 50% drop in performance, showing the significant impact of graphical settings on this GPU.

Q: Is this combo's ranking in the database indicative of good performance?

A: It ranks 1343 out of 1656 combos, placing it in the lower 19th percentile. This is a below-average ranking, primarily due to the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. It is a good performer for 1080p but struggles beyond that.