The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphical presets. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060, using measured frame rate data to understand the role each component plays. The data shows a system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but one that encounters clear limitations as resolution increases, particularly at the highest settings.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration provides substantial processing headroom for modern gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 33,440.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,160 in single-core, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 69,355 places it in a tight competitive cluster; it trails the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X by a mere 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX by 0.7%, while leading the AMD EPYC 9115 by 0.1%. This indicates that in raw computational power, the i7-14700K is effectively at parity with these high-end rivals.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s high single-thread performance is critical for maintaining frame pacing and handling the game’s AI and physics logic. The measured FPS data suggests that at 1080p, the processor is not the primary bottleneck. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 157 FPS. This high frame rate, which far exceeds the refresh rate of standard monitors, indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with more than enough data. The 20-core count, while not fully utilized by most games, ensures that background tasks and any game engine threads that do scale are handled without causing stutter. The processor’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache also aids in keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency.

However, the data also reveals that the CPU’s performance is not the limiting factor in this pairing. As we move to higher resolutions, the frame rate drops in a pattern that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At 4K, the average FPS at Low settings is 56, which is a significant drop from the 157 FPS at 1080p. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU workload is largely resolution-independent. The fact that FPS scales inversely with resolution confirms that the i7-14700K is more than adequate for this game, providing a solid foundation that allows the GPU to become the deciding factor in performance.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2990 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 17,631 in Passmark G3D and 3,322 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, which places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 16,014 is very close to its nearest rivals; it is 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, but 1% ahead of both the AMD Radeon R9 370X and the AMD Radeon RX 7700. This establishes the RX 9060 as a solid mid-range performer.

The GPU’s role in The Technomancer is decisive. The measured frame rates show a clear and consistent drop as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator of GPU limitation. For example, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 103 at 1920x1080 to 67 at 2560x1440, and then to 37 at 3840x2160. This pattern demonstrates that the GPU’s rendering workload is the primary constraint on performance. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is also a point of consideration. While it is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, the data suggests that at 4K Ultra settings, where texture memory demands are highest, the card produces an average of only 29 FPS. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 1792 shading units are tasked with filling an increasing number of pixels, and the results show that it struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, particularly on higher presets.

The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s is also a factor. At higher resolutions, the demand for texture data increases, and the 128-bit bus can become a limiting factor. The data shows a 47% drop in average FPS from 1440p to 4K at High settings (from 67 to 37), which is a more significant decline than the 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p (from 103 to 67). This non-linear scaling suggests that at 4K, the GPU is not only pixel-bound but also potentially constrained by its memory subsystem, as it struggles to feed the shaders with enough data.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of how the settings presets affect performance. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of very high frame rates across all presets. The Low preset yields an average of 157 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth. Medium settings still deliver a highly playable 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS. High settings provide 103 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. Even Ultra settings, which often demand the most from hardware, produce an average of 80 FPS. For 1080p gaming, the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, as it maintains an average above 100 FPS while presumably enabling more advanced visual effects than the Low or Medium presets.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The High preset yields an average of 67 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset provides a more comfortable 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS, ensuring smoother gameplay. The Low preset is the most performant, achieving 102 FPS. However, for a more visually rich experience, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot, as it offers a significant frame rate advantage over High (79 vs. 67 FPS) while likely retaining a substantial amount of graphical detail. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 52 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced games but is less ideal for action sequences.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly struggling. Even the Low preset only manages an average of 56 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 43 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth play. The High preset yields 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 29 FPS. Based on the data, the Low preset is the only reasonable option for 4K gaming with this combination, as it is the only one that approaches a consistently playable frame rate. The Medium preset at 4K, with its 37 FPS minimum, would result in noticeable stuttering. Therefore, for the best experience, users should prioritize 1080p, where High settings provide an excellent experience, or 1440p, where Medium settings offer a good balance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 achieves a rank of 1632 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested system configurations, meaning that 58% of the tested combos performed better. This rank is a holistic measure that considers performance across all resolutions and settings. Given that the CPU is a top-tier processor (94th percentile) and the GPU is a mid-range card (59th percentile), the overall rank is heavily weighted by the GPU's performance. The data indicates that this combo is not designed for maximum settings at high resolutions, but rather for solid performance at more modest settings.

The rank is particularly telling when compared to the individual component rankings. The CPU’s high percentile suggests that it is not the cause of the combo’s mid-pack position. Instead, the GPU’s performance, which is in the lower half of the percentile range, is the primary driver of the overall rank. This means that while the CPU is a top performer, the combo is held back by the GPU’s limitations, especially at 4K. The fact that the combo ranks in the bottom 58% of all tested systems suggests that in The Technomancer, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. Users with this CPU should consider it a platform that can easily support a more powerful GPU in the future, as the processor will not be the limiting factor.

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

The scaling of FPS across resolutions provides a textbook example of a GPU-bound system. At High settings, the average frame rate is 103 FPS at 1920x1080. Moving to 2560x1440 reduces this to 67 FPS, a drop of 36 FPS or roughly 35%. This is a substantial decrease, but the frame rate remains playable. Moving to 3840x2160, the average FPS plummets to 37, which is a further drop of 30 FPS, or about 45% from the 1440p figure. This shows a compounding effect where each step up in resolution has a greater relative impact on performance.

This pattern is characteristic of a GPU that is struggling to fill pixels. The number of pixels from 1080p to 1440p increases by about 78%, but the FPS decreases by only 35%. This is not a linear relationship, suggesting that other factors, such as memory bandwidth or fill rate, are also coming into play. However, the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe. The pixel count increases by 125%, and the FPS decreases by 45%. This non-linear scaling confirms that the GPU is the sole limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see the FPS remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU workload is the same. Instead, the FPS is inversely proportional to the resolution, which is the definitive sign of a GPU limitation. The data shows that the RX 9060 is simply not powerful enough to drive 4K resolutions in this game, and it also struggles at 1440p with high settings, making 1080p its optimal arena.

FAQ

Q: What average frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with the High preset, the measured average frame rate is 103 FPS.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 103 at 1080p to 37 at 4K, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU’s performance remains consistent, as it is not affected by resolution changes.

Q: Is the Medium preset at 1440p a good choice for this GPU?

A: Yes, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 yields an average of 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. This is significantly better than the High preset at the same resolution, which manages only 67 FPS.

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

A: The system can run the game at 4K, but with limitations. At the Low preset, it achieves an average of 56 FPS. However, at the Medium preset, the average drops to 43 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 29 FPS, which is not a smooth experience.

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

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 1632 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 157 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 80 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the highest visual settings.

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

1920x1080

• Low: 157 FPS average
• Medium: 120 FPS average (102 FPS min, 138 FPS max)
• High: 103 FPS average
• Ultra: 80 FPS average

2560x1440

• Low: 102 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average (67 FPS min, 90 FPS max)
• High: 67 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

3840x2160

• Low: 56 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average (37 FPS min, 50 FPS max)
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 29 FPS average