The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combo demonstrates that the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU at 1080p, where frame rates reach their zenith. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the average FPS drops significantly, indicating that the rendering load on the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable scaling pattern that is typical for a modern GPU paired with a high-end CPU. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 112.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average FPS drops by 34% to 74.5 FPS, which is a substantial but expected hit. The most dramatic decline occurs when jumping to 4K (3840x2160), where the average FPS falls to 39.1 at Ultra settings. This represents a 65% reduction from the 1080p result, underscoring the immense pixel-pushing demand at 4K resolution.

The data indicates that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU’s capability is the upper bound; the i7-14700KF’s strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6290, ensures that even the highest preset is not CPU-limited. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU’s workload scales exponentially. The RX 9070, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth, is a capable 1440p card, but at 4K, its limits are clearly exposed, particularly when the Ultra preset is selected. The difference between 1080p Low (217.2 FPS) and 4K Low (80.3 FPS) is a 63% reduction, showing that even at the lowest settings, the pixel count is the dominant factor.

The scaling from Medium to High also shows the GPU's strain. At 1080p, moving from Medium (166.8 FPS) to High (142.7 FPS) is a 14% drop, but at 4K, the same move from Medium (60.6 FPS) to High (48.6 FPS) is a 20% drop. This suggests that the higher resolution magnifies the cost of each incremental setting increase, making the GPU the clear performance arbiter in this scenario.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the central figure in this game's performance profile. Its benchmark results place it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 34780. The data shows that its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA A2 (with a -0.2% deltaPct) and the NVIDIA Quadro GV100 (with a 0.3% deltaPct), indicating that the RX 9070 sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier. The GPU's architecture, RDNA 4.0, and its 3584 shading units are the key drivers of its performance. Its boost clock of 2520 MHz is a significant factor in the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is a crucial asset, especially for a game like The Technomancer. While the game's 2016 release date means it may not require massive memory pools, the RX 9070's capacity ensures that there is no VRAM-related bottleneck at any tested setting or resolution. The memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s provides ample data throughput for the GPU's 128 ROPs to handle the pixel output. At 4K Ultra, the GPU's processing limits are the defining constraint, as the 39.1 FPS average is the lowest recorded. This is not a deficiency of the CPU but a clear indication that the GPU is working at full capacity to process the 8.3 million pixels at that resolution. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 25381 further corroborates its position as a strong performer, but the data suggests that for this specific title, 4K Ultra is beyond its comfortable reach.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF plays a supporting but essential role in this combo. With 20 cores and 28 threads, its multi-threaded capabilities are immense, as shown by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557. However, in a game like The Technomancer, the single-threaded performance is often more critical. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6290 and its boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensure that it can quickly process game logic and draw calls, preventing any CPU-induced frame drops at lower resolutions.

The CPU’s percentile rank against all CPUs is 96, meaning it outperforms 96% of all processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700K (with a 0% deltaPct) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (with a -0.4% deltaPct), showing that the 14700KF is at the top of the performance stack. The data indicates that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this game. At 1080p Low, the system hits 217.2 FPS, a figure that would stress most CPUs, but the 14700KF's robust architecture handles it without issue. The gap between 1080p Low (217.2 FPS) and 1440p Low (144.8 FPS) is a 33% drop, which is primarily due to the GPU's increased workload, not a CPU shortfall. This is a clear sign that the CPU has ample headroom, and the performance ceiling is set by the RX 9070 in all scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 217.2, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How much does the frame rate drop when moving from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS falls from 74.5 at 2560x1440 to 39.1 at 3840x2160, which is a 47.5% reduction.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 9070 in this game?

A: No, the data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The 14700KF has a high single-core score of 6290 in Cinebench R23, and the frame rate drops are primarily correlated with resolution increases, which affect the GPU workload.

Q: Which component is more responsible for the performance difference between 1080p and 4K?

A: The GPU. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the limiting component, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance remains constant, but the GPU's rendering load increases dramatically with pixel count.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination is ranked 566 out of 1656 total tested combos, placing it in the top 34% of all configurations.

Q: How does the RX 9070 compare to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro GV100?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 34780, while the Quadro GV100 has a score of 34677, with a deltaPct of 0.3%, indicating the RX 9070 is slightly faster.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: 217.2 FPS
• Medium: 166.8 FPS
• High: 142.7 FPS
• Ultra: 112.9 FPS

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 144.8 FPS
• Medium: 111.4 FPS
• High: 93.1 FPS
• Ultra: 74.5 FPS

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 80.3 FPS
• Medium: 60.6 FPS
• High: 48.6 FPS
• Ultra: 39.1 FPS

The data shows that the step from Low to Medium is the most cost-effective upgrade in performance per setting increase, while the step from High to Ultra is the most demanding. For instance, at 1440p, moving from Low to Medium costs 23% of the frame rate, but moving from High to Ultra costs 20%, a similar relative cost despite the higher absolute starting point.

Settings Recommendations

For a smooth gaming experience, the data suggests that the High preset at 2560x1440 is the optimal balance, delivering an average of 93.1 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset while maintaining high fluidity. Users with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors could consider the Medium preset, which yields 111.4 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss may not be worth the extra 20% performance for most players.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the only viable option for a consistent experience, offering 60.6 FPS. The High preset at 4K drops to 48.6 FPS, which may be playable but is less than ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 39.1 FPS, is not recommended for a playable experience. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as the 112.9 FPS average ensures a highly responsive experience without compromising on visual quality. The data clearly indicates that the Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p, while High is the sweet spot for 1440p, and Medium is the practical ceiling for 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 achieves a rank of 566 out of 1656 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 66th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms the majority of tested systems. While it is not at the absolute top tier, this rank is respectable, considering the game's age and its tendency to be GPU-bound at high resolutions. The CPU's top-tier performance, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, ensures that the combo will not be held back by processing power, but the GPU's 79th percentile standing is likely what prevents the pair from ranking higher overall.

The performance data suggests that the combo is well-balanced, with the CPU providing a strong foundation for the GPU to operate at its full potential. The combo’s rank indicates that in a game like The Technomancer, which favors high clock speeds and strong single-thread performance, this setup is more than adequate. However, the relatively lower rank compared to the individual component percentiles suggests that the game's engine or the 2016-era coding may not fully utilize the massive multi-threading capabilities of the 14700KF, leaving performance primarily in the hands of the GPU. The 566th rank is a solid result, reflecting a system that can handle the game with high fidelity at 1440p and with playable settings at 4K.