The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an Action RPG from 2016, presents an interesting testbed for the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060. The benchmark data reveals a combination that is heavily influenced by the graphics card, with the CPU providing ample headroom. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings tell a clear story of a system where the GPU is the primary engine of performance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across the three tested resolutions shows a predictable and steep decline as pixel count increases, but the rate of that decline is the key insight. At 1920x1080, the combo is clearly not strained, with the High preset delivering 111 FPS and the Low preset hitting 169 FPS. This suggests that at 1080p, the system is capable of far more than the game demands, and the frame rate is likely being limited by the game's engine or the CPU's single-thread performance, though the CPU is top-tier.

Moving to 2560x1440, we see a significant drop. The High preset falls from 111 FPS to 72 FPS, a reduction of about 35%. The Low preset drops from 169 FPS to 110 FPS, a similar proportional decrease. This is the classic signature of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck. The workload is scaling with the pixel count, and the RTX 4060's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are starting to feel the pressure, though the frame rates remain very playable.

The jump to 3840x2160 (4K) is where the combination truly struggles. The High preset collapses to 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to just 31 FPS. The Low preset manages 61 FPS, but this is still a massive fall from the 169 FPS seen at 1080p. This data strongly implies that at 4K, the RTX 4060 is the definitive limiting component. The GPU's raw compute power and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at this resolution, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, is effectively waiting for the GPU to finish its work, a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling pattern is a textbook example of how a mid-range GPU interacts with a flagship CPU. The i9-14900K provides a massive foundation, but the RTX 4060's performance ceiling is hit quickly as resolution increases. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, while the CPU would remain a constant, non-issue.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with the High preset for this combo?

A: The benchmark data shows an average FPS of 111 at 1920x1080 with the High preset.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K (3840x2160) with the Medium preset?

A: At 3840x2160 with the Medium preset, the combo achieves an average FPS of 47, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 2560x1440?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly from the 1080p results (e.g., from 111 to 72 FPS on High), which is a typical indicator of a GPU-bound workload as the pixel count increases.

Q: What is the best FPS result recorded for this combo in the entire dataset?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 169, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

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

A: The combo is ranked 1984 out of 3696 tested combinations, placing it in the 46th percentile of performance.

Q: Does the RTX 4060 have enough VRAM for Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo only manages an average of 31 FPS. While the VRAM size is not directly cited as the cause, the very low performance suggests the 8 GB VRAM and the GPU's overall bandwidth are insufficient for this demanding configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 3696 total tested combinations for The Technomancer, the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo ranks at 1984. This places it almost exactly in the middle of the pack, at the 46th percentile. This rank is a strong indicator that while this is a capable setup, it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title. The ranking suggests that many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs deliver higher average frame rates.

This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the resolution scaling data. The i9-14900K is a top-5 percentile CPU, but the RTX 4060 sits at the 61st percentile among all GPUs. The combination's overall rank of 1984 is a compromise between these two positions, heavily weighted by the GPU's limitations. The data implies that to climb significantly higher in the rankings, a more powerful GPU would be required, as the CPU is unlikely to be the cause of the combo's mid-pack standing. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance ceiling in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset yields an average of 169 FPS, making it the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149 FPS. The High preset is next, with an average of 111 FPS. The most demanding setting, Ultra, still produces a very respectable average of 86 FPS. At this resolution, every preset is highly playable, and even the most demanding settings are easily handled.

At 2560x1440, performance begins to drop. The Low preset average falls to 110 FPS. The High preset averages 72 FPS. The Medium preset averages 85 FPS, with a range of 72 to 97 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 56 FPS. While the frame rates are lower than at 1080p, they remain playable for most users, with the Low and Medium presets offering smooth experiences.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only one to break 60 FPS, averaging 61 FPS. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 40 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of just 31 FPS. These figures indicate that for a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, only the Low preset is viable, and for higher quality settings, a more powerful GPU is necessary.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate.

For a 1080p display, the data shows that the High preset, at 111 FPS, offers a superb balance of visual fidelity and performance. For those with high refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset at 130 FPS or even the Low preset at 169 FPS would be better choices to maximize frame rates. The Ultra preset, while still playable at 86 FPS, offers a marginal visual improvement over High for a significant FPS cost.

At 1440p, the High preset at 72 FPS is a solid choice for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 85 FPS is also an excellent option, providing a higher frame rate with a slight reduction in visual quality. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is on the edge of what is considered playable, and users prioritizing smoothness may prefer the Medium or High presets.

At 4K, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only way to achieve a stable 60 FPS experience, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset, at 47 FPS, is a viable compromise for those who prefer higher visual quality over a locked 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets, with averages of 40 and 31 FPS respectively, are only suitable for slower-paced gameplay or for users who prioritize image quality above all else. The data strongly recommends the Low or Medium presets for a playable 4K experience with this combo.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a powerhouse with 24 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2655. These figures place the CPU in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, indicating its immense processing capability.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be one of providing a stable, high-performance foundation that never becomes a bottleneck. The FPS data shows a clear GPU-bound trend, where performance scales inversely with resolution. At 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU's strong single-core performance helps achieve very high frame rates like 169 FPS on Low. However, as the resolution increases and the GPU becomes the limiting factor, the CPU's vast resources are left largely unused.

The data implies that the i9-14900K is overkill for this game. Its 24 cores and 32 threads are far more than The Technomancer, a 2016 title, can utilize. The measured results would likely be identical with a much weaker CPU, as the RTX 4060 is the clear performance limiter in almost all scenarios. The CPU's high benchmark scores do not translate into higher FPS in this game because the workload is primarily on the GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM and 272.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, is the definitive performance bottleneck for this combo in The Technomancer. Its boost clock of 2460 MHz and 3072 shading units provide adequate performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it struggles at 4K.

The GPU's role is directly illustrated by the resolution scaling. The sharp FPS drops from 1080p to 1440p and again to 4K are classic signs of a GPU that is running out of resources. The 128-bit memory bus and the 8 GB VRAM capacity are likely contributing factors to the poor 4K performance, especially on Ultra settings where the game demands more memory and bandwidth. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2302 and Passmark G3D score of 19545 place it in the 61st percentile, confirming its mid-range status.

The benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4060 is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but it is not designed for 4K gaming. The data shows that to achieve higher frame rates at 4K, a GPU with more VRAM and a wider memory bus would be necessary. The GPU's performance ceiling is the single most important factor determining the combo's overall rank and its playable settings at higher resolutions.