The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, particularly for integrated graphics solutions. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the AMD Radeon 880M, based on measured frame rate data. The results show a configuration that is heavily constrained by its GPU, with performance characteristics that dictate specific settings and resolutions for a playable experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a 28 W TDP. Its cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12804.5 and a single-core score of 1647.5, place it in the 79th percentile among all CPUs.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The measured frame rates show significant drops as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 66 FPS, but this drops to 44 FPS at High settings. If the CPU were the primary bottleneck, we would expect less variation between settings at the same resolution. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 125H has sufficient headroom to feed the integrated GPU in most scenarios, as the performance scaling is tied directly to the graphical load.

The processor's single-thread performance, as indicated by its Passmark single-thread score of 3399 and Cinebench R15 single-core score of 241, is adequate for the game's logic and physics. When compared to its nearest rivals, the CPU's average benchmark score of 27507 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (27535, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-12600K (27578, -0.3% delta). This suggests that the CPU is a capable partner, and the frame rate limits observed in this game are not due to a lack of processing power. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking further confirms that it is a robust component that is unlikely to be the limiting factor in this specific title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 880M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It features 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2900 MHz. Its performance profile is modest, placing it in the 43rd percentile among all GPUs. The GPU's memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth and size are dependent on the system's RAM. This is a critical factor for a game like The Technomancer, which can be memory-intensive.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 7615 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 40006, show it is comparable to older discrete mobile GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX (avg score 8427, 0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (avg score 8458, -0.3% delta). This positioning explains its struggle with high graphical loads. In The Technomancer, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows a clear ceiling: at 1080p Ultra, the average is just 34 FPS, while at 1440p Ultra, it falls to 22 FPS.

The 880M's 16 ROPs are likely a limiting factor for fill-rate dependent scenes, and the system-shared memory architecture can cause performance dips when the game requires more bandwidth than the system can provide. The data suggests that the GPU is operating at its maximum capacity in this title, and any increase in graphical fidelity or resolution results in a direct and significant frame rate penalty. The performance is not just low; it is also inconsistent, as seen in the 1080p Medium settings where the average is 51 FPS but the minimum is 43 FPS, indicating potential stutters during intense moments.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling across resolutions clearly illustrates the GPU-bound nature of this configuration. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, and then to 4K, results in substantial FPS drops across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 44 FPS at 1080p to 28 FPS at 1440p, a 36% reduction. Further scaling to 4K at High settings yields only 16 FPS, a 64% reduction from the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is a textbook example of a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. The data shows the opposite: the frame rate plummets as resolution increases, indicating that the Radeon 880M's pixel throughput is the primary constraint. The GPU simply cannot maintain the same level of performance when the number of pixels it must render quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The drop from Low to Ultra settings at any given resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the difference between Low (66 FPS) and Ultra (34 FPS) is 32 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is only 12 FPS (24 FPS vs 12 FPS). This compression of the frame rate range at higher resolutions shows that the GPU is already saturated and cannot compensate for increased graphical fidelity. The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU has ample performance to spare, evidenced by its high percentile ranking and strong Cinebench scores.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and AMD Radeon 880M is ranked 2761 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 2.3% of all configurations, indicating that it is one of the least capable setups for this particular game. This low rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance, which is in the 43rd percentile overall.

While the CPU is a high-performing component, ranking in the 79th percentile, it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The combo rank reflects the system's overall gaming performance, which is dragged down by the integrated graphics. This pairing is not well-suited for The Technomancer, as the GPU's modest capabilities are insufficient to provide a smooth experience at higher settings or resolutions. The data suggests that this combo is only viable for low-resolution, low-detail gaming.

The disparity between the CPU's high percentile and the combo's low rank highlights a significant imbalance. The system is effectively "GPU-limited" to an extreme degree. For users with this hardware, the only path to acceptable performance is to drastically reduce graphical demands. The rank indicates that the vast majority of other tested combinations, likely including many with older or less powerful CPUs but discrete GPUs, would outperform this setup in this specific title.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average FPS exceeds 30 on most settings. At 2560x1440, the highest average FPS is 43 on Low settings, and at 3840x2160, all settings fail to reach 30 FPS.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the average FPS is 66. At Medium settings, the average drops to 51 FPS, indicating that 60 FPS is only attainable on the lowest preset.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon 880M compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 8436. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX, has an average score of 8427, a delta of 0.1%. This indicates the 880M performs nearly identically to these older mobile GPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H a bottleneck for the Radeon 880M in this game?

A: No. The CPU is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the combo ranks in the bottom 2.3% of tested combos. The frame rate scaling with resolution indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, not the CPU.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates for the Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 43. At 2560x1440 Medium, it is 28 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum FPS is 16.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS on Low is 66, while on Ultra, it is 34. This represents a 32 FPS drop, or a 48% reduction in performance, for the highest graphical fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

Given the GPU-bound nature of this configuration, the settings recommendations are straightforward. The primary goal is to achieve a playable frame rate, which the data shows is only possible at the lowest resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only option that offers a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, with an average of 66 FPS. This should provide a smooth and responsive experience.

The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 51 FPS, is a viable alternative for users who want a visual upgrade, but they must be prepared for frame rates that dip into the 40s. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p are not recommended, as their average frame rates of 44 and 34 FPS, respectively, are too low for a consistent experience in an action RPG. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (43 FPS) approaches playability, but it comes with a significant visual compromise. All 4K presets are unplayable, with average frame rates ranging from 12 to 24 FPS.

The data indicates that the "best experience" is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. Users should select 1920x1080 resolution. The Low preset is the safest choice for maintaining a high frame rate. However, for those who find Low too visually sparse, the Medium preset is the highest setting that can be reasonably used, sacrificing some smoothness for improved detail. The High and Ultra presets should be avoided entirely, as they do not provide an adequate gameplay experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates, with minimum and maximum values where available, for each resolution and settings preset.

3840x2160 (4K)

• High: Average FPS is 16.
• Low: Average FPS is 24.
• Medium: Average FPS is 18, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 21.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 12.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• High: Average FPS is 28.
• Low: Average FPS is 43.
• Medium: Average FPS is 33, with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 38.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 22.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• High: Average FPS is 44.
• Low: Average FPS is 66.
• Medium: Average FPS is 51, with a minimum of 43 and a maximum of 59.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 34.

These numbers show a clear and consistent trend. The performance ceiling for this combo in The Technomancer is at 1080p Low. Any attempt to increase resolution or graphical settings results in a substantial drop in frame rate. The data is a clear indicator that this hardware is not designed for high-fidelity gaming in this title, and users will need to make significant compromises to achieve a stable frame rate. The lack of minimum FPS data for most presets further suggests performance can be variable, making the lower settings even more critical for a stable experience.