The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress test for a modern high-end CPU paired with a legacy mid-range GPU. The measured results for the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER combination reveal a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck, but the CPU’s capabilities still define the upper boundaries of performance at lower resolutions. The data paints a clear picture of how this pairing scales across resolutions and presets, offering specific insights into the roles of the processor and graphics card.

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

The frame rate data shows a steep and predictable decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p High settings, the combo produces an average of 71.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops that figure to 45.3 FPS, a reduction of 26.6 FPS. The jump to 4K High is even more punishing, landing at just 23.8 FPS. This represents a 48.1 FPS loss from 1080p to 4K, or approximately a 67% decrease in performance. Such a significant drop indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER is being overwhelmed by the pixel count, while the i9-14900K has ample headroom.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets. For instance, at Low settings, the average FPS goes from 112 at 1080p, to 71.8 at 1440p, and finally to 36.9 at 4K. The performance nearly halves with each major resolution step, which is a clear indicator that the limiting component is the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth, not the CPU’s processing power. The 4K results are particularly telling; even at Low settings, the system fails to maintain a smooth 60 FPS, confirming that 4K is largely out of reach for this graphics card in this title.

This data implies that the i9-14900K is not the factor holding back performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, since the processor’s workload would remain constant. Instead, the dramatic FPS drops with increasing resolution point directly to the GTX 1660 SUPER as the sole constraint. The 1080p results, which are the highest, likely represent the near-maximum output the CPU can feed to the GPU, but the GPU is still the first to reach its limit as the resolution climbs.

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

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs. In Cinebench R23, it scores 49872 in multi-core and 7040 in single-core tests. However, The Technomancer, being a game from 2016, is unlikely to leverage the full might of 24 cores effectively. The data suggests that its high single-core performance is what matters most for this title.

Given that the GPU is the clear bottleneck at higher resolutions, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p with lower settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 112 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset and suggests that the CPU is capable of pushing the GPU to its absolute limit. The i9-14900K’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 7040 score in Cinebench R23, is likely what allows it to maintain such high frame rates without becoming the limiting factor.

The processor’s 36 MB of shared L3 cache and support for fast memory also contribute to a stable platform. However, the benchmark results indicate that the CPU is never the primary constraint. Even at 1080p, where CPU load is typically highest, the frame rates are not limited by the processor. The data implies that the CPU’s role is to consistently feed the GPU with enough data to keep it busy, which it does effortlessly. The system’s performance is not a reflection of the CPU’s capabilities, but rather proof of its ability to stay well ahead of the GPU’s demands.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the definitive performance ceiling in this configuration. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it offers a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1785 MHz, and it has 1408 shading units. The GPU’s average benchmark score places it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, are within a 0.7% performance delta. This positions it as a solid 1080p-class card that struggles with higher resolutions.

The 4K results clearly show the GPU's limitations. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 21.9, which is barely playable. Even at 4K Low, the 36.9 FPS average is not smooth. The 6 GB VRAM buffer is likely a contributing factor, as 4K textures and high-resolution rendering can exceed this capacity, leading to performance hits. The data shows a consistent pattern where the GPU’s performance degrades linearly with pixel count, confirming that its processing power and memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K gaming in this title.

At 1440p, the card performs better but still cannot consistently hit 60 FPS. At 1440p High, the average is 45.3 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it is 55.5 FPS. Only at 1440p Low does it achieve a playable 71.8 FPS. The GTX 1660 SUPER is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it delivers excellent results. At 1080p Ultra, it manages 58.2 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target, and at 1080p High, it comfortably exceeds it with 71.9 FPS. The GPU’s 1408 shading units and 48 ROPs are simply not enough to handle the increased fragment work at higher resolutions, making 1080p its optimal battlefield.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Technomancer at 4K?

A: The data shows it cannot provide a smooth experience. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 21.9, and even at 4K Low, it only reaches 36.9 FPS. Both are well below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware in this game?

A: 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p High settings, the combo achieves 71.9 FPS, and even at 1080p Ultra, it maintains 58.2 FPS, providing the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: Is the i9-14900K or the GTX 1660 SUPER the bottleneck?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. Frame rates drop dramatically with resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU’s high scores suggest it has significant headroom.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score is 14286, which is very close to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (14314) and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14315), with performance deltas of -0.2%. It is also only 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 71.9. At 1440p High, it drops to 45.3 FPS. This is a significant decrease of 26.6 FPS, illustrating the performance cost of moving to a higher resolution.

Q: Is there a big difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 112, while at 1080p Ultra, it is 58.2. This is a difference of 53.8 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset demands nearly double the GPU resources compared to Low.

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

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the results are strong:

• Low: 112 FPS
• Medium: 83 FPS
• High: 71.9 FPS
• Ultra: 58.2 FPS

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably:

• Low: 71.8 FPS
• Medium: 55.5 FPS
• High: 45.3 FPS
• Ultra: 36 FPS

At 3840x2160, the experience becomes challenging:

• Low: 36.9 FPS
• Medium: 31.4 FPS
• High: 23.8 FPS
• Ultra: 21.9 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where the system consistently hits or exceeds 60 FPS on most presets. 1440p is playable but requires dropping to Low settings to reach a smooth frame rate. 4K is not viable for a consistent experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience is achieved by prioritizing resolution over visual fidelity. The best combination of smoothness and visual quality is 1080p with High settings, which yields 71.9 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold while still looking good. Choosing Ultra at 1080p drops performance to 58.2 FPS, which is slightly below 60 FPS and may be less smooth, but is still very playable for those who prefer maximum detail.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the data suggests that Low settings are required to achieve a playable experience, with an average of 71.8 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p drop to 55.5 FPS, which is a compromise that may be acceptable for some. High and Ultra settings at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall to 45.3 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively, which will feel less fluid.

At 4K, no setting provides a good experience. The highest FPS is 36.9 at Low settings, which is playable but far from ideal. All other settings at 4K result in averages below 32 FPS, making the game feel sluggish. The recommendation is to avoid 4K and stick to 1080p for the best overall experience, as the data indicates that the GPU's performance is not sufficient for higher resolutions in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 1472nd out of 1656 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU. The i9-14900K is a top-tier processor, ranking in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, but the GTX 1660 SUPER is a mid-range card from an older generation.

The ranking suggests that while the CPU is capable of delivering excellent performance, the GPU is holding the entire system back, especially in a game that stresses graphical fidelity. The combo’s performance is more representative of the GTX 1660 SUPER’s capabilities than the i9-14900K’s. The data implies that pairing this powerful CPU with a more capable GPU would yield dramatically better results, but as configured, the system is severely bottlenecked by its graphics card. This rank is a clear indicator that this specific combination is not well-balanced for this title.