The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for modern hardware. This analysis examines the performance pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, using measured FPS data across resolutions and settings. The data provides a clear picture of how this combination handles the game's engine, revealing where the bottlenecks lie and which settings offer the most playable experience. The following sections break down the combo's standing, the roles of the GPU and CPU, and the practical implications for a player.

How This Combo Ranks

The performance of this specific hardware combination for The Technomancer is quantified by its position among a large pool of tested systems. The combo ranks 1721st out of 2825 total combos tested for this game. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the overall performance distribution, indicating that while this system is far from the top-tier for this title, it also does not fall into the lowest echelon. This ranking is a direct result of the balance between the CPU's capabilities and the GPU's limitations within the context of this specific game engine.

The GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, is a significant factor in this ranking. Its performance metrics, when viewed against its nearest rivals, show a tightly contested field. The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. Compared to its closest competitors, the data shows a very narrow margin of difference. For instance, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL has an average score of 21153, which is a performance delta of -0.6%, meaning the RTX 5050 is just barely behind. Similarly, the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, a -1.6% delta. The only rival it surpasses in this immediate group is the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, which scores 20713, a delta of 1.6% in favor of the RTX 5050. This clustering indicates that the RTX 5050's raw compute power is competitive with a specific tier of GPUs, but it is not a class leader.

The CPU, however, is a much stronger component. The Intel Core i7-14700K sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, a position that underscores its high performance. Its average benchmark score of 69355 puts it in direct competition with processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515 (a -0.2% delta), and it even edges out the AMD EPYC 9115, which scores 69288 (a 0.1% delta in the i7's favor). This high CPU percentile, contrasted with the GPU's 66th percentile and the combo's overall 1721st rank, strongly suggests that the system's overall performance in The Technomancer is being held back by the graphics card, not the processor.

This combination of a top-tier CPU and a mid-range GPU creates a system that is more capable than its final ranking might suggest. The data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck; it has ample headroom to feed frames to the GPU. The ranking is a measure of the whole system, and the GPU's performance ceiling is what ultimately defines the system's position in the database.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus. This memory configuration provides a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. For a game like The Technomancer, which was released in 2016, this amount of VRAM is generally sufficient for texture storage at most settings. However, the 128-bit memory bus can become a limiting factor at higher resolutions, where the demand for memory bandwidth increases significantly.

The GPU's clock speeds are set with a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These clocks, combined with the 2560 shading units, determine the raw shader processing throughput. The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 13.17 TFLOPS. These specifications place the RTX 5050 in a performance tier that is adequate for 1080p gaming and can handle higher resolutions with adjustments to settings.

The benchmarks for this GPU show a mixed profile. Its Passmark G3D score is 17326, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2502. In contrast, its Geekbench OpenCL score is 90334, and its Vulkan score is 89381. The disparity between these scores highlights different strengths in various workloads. For The Technomancer, the game's engine likely relies on DirectX 11, where the GPU's Passmark DirectX 11 score of 150 is a more relevant indicator of its performance. The data suggests that the GPU is capable, but its performance in this title will be constrained by its memory bandwidth and raw compute relative to more powerful cards.

The GPU's 66th percentile ranking versus all GPUs supports this assessment. It is not a high-end part, but it is also not an entry-level one. In the context of The Technomancer, the RTX 5050's role is to provide playable frame rates, and the measured data shows it does this effectively at 1080p and 1440p, but it begins to struggle at 4K with higher settings due to its hardware limits.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling across resolutions. The impact of increasing resolution is substantial, indicating that the GPU is the primary performance limiter in this system for this game. At 1080p with High settings, the system averages 98 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 1440p, the average FPS drops to 64 FPS, a reduction of 34 FPS. This is a significant drop, showing the GPU is working much harder. Moving to 4K at High settings, the average FPS falls to 35 FPS, a further drop of 29 FPS from the 1440p result.

This scaling behavior is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its high performance, is able to maintain a high frame rate at 1080p, but as the pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 34.7% decrease in performance, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is a 45.3% decrease. These are substantial losses that highlight the GPU's struggle to maintain performance as the rendering load increases.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 150 FPS at 1080p to 98 FPS at 1440p, and then to 54 FPS at 4K. At Ultra settings, the progression is from 77 FPS at 1080p to 50 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 28 FPS at 4K. The consistent nature of these drops confirms that the GPU's performance ceiling is the main constraint. The CPU is not holding the system back at any of these resolutions; the data clearly shows that the graphics card is the component that determines the frame rate limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS values provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all tested configurations. The data shows a consistent hierarchy, with lower resolutions and lower settings producing higher frame rates.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 150 FPS average
• Medium: 115 FPS average (98 min, 132 max)
• High: 98 FPS average
• Ultra: 77 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 98 FPS average
• Medium: 75 FPS average (64 min, 87 max)
• High: 64 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 54 FPS average
• Medium: 41 FPS average (35 min, 48 max)
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 28 FPS average

At 1080p, the system is capable of delivering very high frame rates. The jump from Low to Ultra settings sees a drop from 150 FPS to 77 FPS, a 48.7% reduction in performance for the maximum visual quality. The Medium setting provides a balanced experience, with an average of 115 FPS and a minimum of 98 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Moving to 1440p, the performance is still respectable. The Low setting yields an average of 98 FPS, which is the same as the High setting at 1080p. This shows that the GPU can handle the increased pixel count if the settings are reduced. The Ultra setting at 1440p, with an average of 50 FPS, is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action.

At 4K, the system's limitations become evident. Only the Low setting, with an average of 54 FPS, approaches a smooth experience. The Medium setting averages 41 FPS, and the High setting drops to 35 FPS. The Ultra setting, at 28 FPS, is not playable, as the frame rate is too low for a responsive experience. This data clearly indicates that 4K gaming is only possible with significant compromises to visual settings.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 2560x1440 offers the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. At this resolution, most settings provide playable frame rates, with High averaging 64 FPS and Ultra averaging 50 FPS.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K?

A: Yes, but with major compromises. The data shows that only the Low settings preset, which averages 54 FPS, provides a playable frame rate. Higher settings at 4K result in average FPS below 41, which is too low for a smooth experience.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor for this game?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-14700K is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the RTX 5050 is in the 66th percentile. The measured FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its immediate rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. It is very closely matched with its rivals, performing -0.6% worse than the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (21153) and -1.6% worse than the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (21379). It performs 1.6% better than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (20713).

Q: What is a good settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: For 1080p, the High preset is recommended, as it averages 98 FPS and provides a strong visual experience. The Ultra preset is also viable, averaging 77 FPS, but the performance cost may not be justified for the visual gain.

Q: What kind of performance can be expected at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 1440p with Medium settings, the system averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This is a smooth and consistent performance level, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guideline for the optimal settings presets at each resolution. The goal is to achieve a frame rate that is consistently above 60 FPS for a smooth experience, or at least maintain a playable level above 30 FPS.

For 1080p, the High preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 98 FPS, which provides a significant performance buffer and ensures smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset is also an option, but the drop to 77 FPS represents a 21.4% performance decrease for a level of visual quality that may be difficult to discern in the heat of action. The Medium preset, at 115 FPS, is for those who prioritize higher frame rates above all else, but the High preset offers a better balance.

For 1440p, the High preset is the recommended starting point. It averages 64 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. If a more stable frame rate is desired, dropping to Medium settings yields an average of 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, providing a smoother experience. The Ultra preset, at 50 FPS, is playable but not ideal for a game that may require precise timing.

For 4K, the options are limited. The Low preset is the only one that provides an average frame rate above 50 FPS, coming in at 54 FPS. This is the only setting that can be considered for a playable 4K experience. The Medium preset, at 41 FPS, is a compromise that may be acceptable for slower-paced exploration, but it is not recommended for combat scenarios. The High and Ultra presets are not viable at this resolution, as their average frame rates are too low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a powerhouse component that plays a critical, albeit secondary, role in this system's performance with The Technomancer. It features 20 cores and 28 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This high core count and clock speed make it exceptionally capable of handling any game's logic, physics, and AI calculations, ensuring that it is not the source of any frame rate limitations.

The CPU's benchmark results confirm its high-end status. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 33440.5, and its single-core score is 2160. It also achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 20767 and a single-core score of 2569. These scores place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, a signal of its raw processing power. The data shows that it is a direct rival to processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, with a negligible performance delta of -0.2%, and it slightly outperforms the AMD EPYC 9115.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to prepare frames for the GPU to render. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 150 FPS. This high frame rate is only possible if the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data. The i7-14700K easily provides this, demonstrating that it is not a bottleneck. As the resolution increases, the frame rate drops, but this is solely due to the GPU's inability to render the increased number of pixels, not because the CPU has reached its limit. The CPU's high performance ensures that the system's overall capability is always constrained by the GPU, which is the weaker link in this pairing for this particular game.