The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for mobile hardware, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor with the AMD Radeon 890M integrated GPU produces a specific performance profile. Benchmark data for this pairing shows a system that is firmly positioned for playable frame rates only at lower resolutions and settings, with a clear ceiling imposed by the integrated graphics solution. The measured results across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions reveal a component pairing where the GPU is consistently the primary bottleneck, and the CPU’s capabilities are largely held in reserve.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and the AMD Radeon 890M ranks 2667 out of 2825 tested combos for this specific game. This places the pairing in the bottom percentile of all tested systems, indicating that the integrated GPU is a significant limiting factor for The Technomancer. A rank of 2667 out of 2825 means that roughly 94% of the tested combinations deliver a better experience in this title, leaving this duo in the lower tier of the performance spectrum. The data shows a system that is not designed for high-refresh-rate or high-fidelity gaming in this particular Action RPG, and the ranking reflects that reality.

When interpreting this rank, it is essential to consider that the pool of 2825 combos includes many discrete graphics card configurations. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a mobile processor with a 28-watt TDP, and the AMD Radeon 890M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) sharing system memory. The combo’s position at 2667 is a direct consequence of the GPU’s performance class rather than a reflection of the CPU’s processing power. The AMD Radeon 890M holds a percentile ranking of 45 against all GPUs, which places it almost exactly in the middle of the entire GPU landscape, but when paired with a modern mobile CPU for a specific game, the overall combo ranking suffers due to the sheer number of more powerful discrete solutions in the database. The data suggests that this integrated solution is competitive with older entry-level discrete GPUs, but it is not a match for the demands of The Technomancer at higher settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 7 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a TDP of 28 watts. The processor includes 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory. In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic, and the benchmark data indicates that this processor is more than adequate for the task.

The CPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong. In Cinebench R23, it scores 12804.5 in multi-core and 1647.5 in single-core tests. These scores place the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H in the 79th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating that it outperforms a majority of processors on the market. Its average benchmark score of 27507 places it in close competition with several desktop processors. The nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 with an average score of 27535 and a delta of -0.1%, the Intel Core i5-12600K with a score of 27578 and a delta of -0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X with a score of 27578 and a delta of -0.3%. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G trails slightly with a score of 27382 and a delta of 0.5%. These deltas are minuscule, meaning the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H performs essentially on par with these established desktop processors in general CPU workloads.

In The Technomancer, the CPU’s high single-thread score of 1647.5 in Cinebench R23 is sufficient to handle the game’s logic. The game’s performance, however, is not dictated by the CPU. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings show a pattern that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. For example, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 70 FPS, while at 1080p with Ultra settings, it drops to 36 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would remain relatively constant regardless of the graphics settings, as the CPU workload would stay the same. The significant drop in FPS as settings increase confirms that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The processor’s 14 cores and 18 threads are likely underutilized in this title, as The Technomancer is not a multi-threaded benchmark. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking and its benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom for this game, but the integrated GPU prevents it from being utilized effectively.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M is the integrated graphics processor in this combo, and it is the primary determinant of gaming performance. It is based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture and features 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. The GPU has a base clock of 400 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. It includes 16 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate. The memory configuration is system shared, meaning the GPU uses the same DDR5 memory as the CPU, with bandwidth that is dependent on the rest of the system. The GPU has a TDP of 15 watts, which is part of the overall processor package power.

The Radeon 890M’s performance in synthetic benchmarks places it in the 45th percentile against all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 9210. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Vega 8 with a score of 9221 and a delta of -0.1%, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 with a score of 9273 and a delta of -0.7%, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 with a score of 9294 and a delta of -0.9%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M with a score of 9302 and a delta of -1%. This places the Radeon 890M in the same performance tier as these older discrete GPUs, which is a notable achievement for an integrated solution. However, it also means that the GPU is not powerful enough to handle demanding modern games like The Technomancer at high resolutions and settings.

In The Technomancer, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s environments, characters, and effects. The low frame rates at 4K resolution demonstrate the GPU’s limitations. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 17, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 13. These figures are unplayable for any action-oriented game. The GPU’s 32 ROPs and system-shared memory bandwidth are the key constraints. The boost clock of 2900 MHz helps in lighter scenes, but the sheer pixel count at 4K overwhelms the GPU. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the limiting factor in every scenario, as the frame rates scale directly with the resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 5.939 TFLOPS is decent for an integrated part, but it is insufficient for the demands of a game like The Technomancer at higher quality presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system’s capabilities across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the performance ranges from a playable 70 FPS on Low settings to a less comfortable 36 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 54 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 46 and 62 FPS, respectively. The High preset at 1080p produces an average of 46 FPS. This shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the system can achieve consistently playable frame rates, and even then, only at lower settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset at 1440p averages 46 FPS, which is the same as the High preset at 1080p. The High preset at 1440p averages 30 FPS, the Medium preset averages 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 23 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is borderline for a smooth experience. The drop from 70 FPS at 1080p Low to 46 FPS at 1440p Low shows a 34% reduction in performance when the pixel count increases by 78%, which highlights the GPU’s memory bandwidth limitations.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain any semblance of playability. The Low preset at 4K averages 25 FPS, the Medium preset averages 19 FPS with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 22 FPS, the High preset averages 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 13 FPS. These figures are all well below the 30 FPS threshold that is generally considered the minimum for a playable experience. The 4K results are essentially a slideshow, and they confirm that this combo is not intended for 4K gaming. The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the frame rates halve as the resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which is a direct result of the GPU’s limited pixel throughput and reliance on system memory.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior of this combo is a textbook example of a GPU-bound system. The frame rates drop dramatically as the resolution increases, which indicates that the AMD Radeon 890M is the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 70 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 46 FPS, a 34% decrease. When the resolution is further increased to 4K Low, the frame rate drops to 25 FPS, a 64% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is not linear with the pixel count, which suggests that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the system achieves 36 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 23 FPS, a 36% decrease. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 13 FPS, a 64% decrease from the 1080p Ultra baseline. The fact that the percentage drop is similar across different settings indicates that the GPU is consistently the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would not scale as dramatically with resolution, because the CPU workload remains the same regardless of the pixel count. The data shows that the AMD Radeon 890M’s 32 ROPs and system-shared memory are insufficient to feed the frame buffer at higher resolutions.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H has a 79th percentile CPU ranking and an average benchmark score of 27507, which is on par with desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Intel Core i5-12600K. The CPU’s performance is not the issue. The GPU’s 45th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 9210, which is competitive with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, show that it is a mid-range integrated solution. The resolution scaling data confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rates drop proportionally with the pixel count. This is a classic sign of a system where the graphics processor is overwhelmed by the rendering demands of the game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo are at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which yields an average of 70 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a frame rate that is smooth enough for a responsive gaming experience in an Action RPG. The Low preset at 1080p offers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and it is the recommended starting point for any player using this hardware. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 54 FPS, which is still playable but may experience occasional dips to 46 FPS, which could be noticeable in fast-paced combat. For players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p is a viable option, as it provides a more detailed image while staying above the 30 FPS minimum.

At 2560x1440, the only acceptable setting is Low, which averages 46 FPS. This is playable but not ideal, as the frame rate is below the 60 FPS target and may feel less responsive. The High and Medium presets at 1440p, with averages of 30 and 35 FPS respectively, are borderline and may result in stuttering during intense scenes. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 23 FPS, is not recommended for any serious gameplay. At 3840x2160, all settings produce average frame rates below 30 FPS, and the system is not capable of delivering a playable experience at this resolution. The data shows that the best experience per the measured rows is achieved at 1080p with the Low preset, which provides the highest average FPS and the most consistent performance. For players who want a balance between visuals and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the second-best option, offering a 54 FPS average with a minimum of 46 FPS. The High preset at 1080p, at 46 FPS, is also acceptable, but it does not offer a significant visual improvement over Medium to justify the 8 FPS drop. The Ultra preset at 1080p, at 36 FPS, is only suitable for players who are willing to sacrifice smoothness for the highest visual quality, but it is not recommended for an Action RPG where timing is critical. The benchmark data clearly indicates that the AMD Radeon 890M is the limiting factor, and players should adjust their expectations accordingly, targeting 1080p with lower settings to achieve a playable experience in The Technomancer.