The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling due to its age and engine characteristics. The measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination shows a clear narrative: this system is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but capable of delivering very high frame rates at 1080p. The benchmark results indicate a pairing that offers a wide performance envelope, from a smooth 4K experience on lower settings to a blistering 196 FPS average at 1080p Low.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data reveals a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, pointing directly to the GPU as the primary limiting factor. At 1080p High, the system achieves an average of 128 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High, the average drops to 84 FPS, a reduction of approximately 34%. Scaling up to 3840x2160 High yields just 46 FPS on average, which is another 45% drop from the 1440p figure. This dramatic scaling curve is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario; the CPU, in this case, has ample headroom to feed the graphics card at lower resolutions, but the Radeon RX 7700 XT's rendering workload becomes the bottleneck as pixel count increases.

The trend holds across all settings presets. For instance, the Medium preset sees averages of 150 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K. Even the Low preset, which minimizes GPU load, shows a significant drop from 196 FPS at 1080p to 128 FPS at 1440p and finally to 70 FPS at 4K. The fact that the Low preset still sees a 45% performance hit when moving from 1440p to 4K confirms that the RX 7700 XT is the limiting component. The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, with its 10 cores and 10 threads, is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU's output at lower resolutions, but its influence on the final frame rate diminishes rapidly as the resolution increases.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this hardware combination?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 196, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer smoothly at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields an average of 36 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. However, the Medium preset provides a playable average of 54 FPS, and the Low preset achieves a more comfortable 70 FPS average.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p compare to 1080p on the High preset?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average FPS is 84, while at 1920x1080 High, it is 128. This represents a performance increase of roughly 52% when moving from 1440p to 1080p.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 36 FPS, which occurs at the highest resolution and settings combination tested: 3840x2160 on the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p more significant at higher or lower settings?

A: The difference is more pronounced at lower settings. On the Low preset, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 68 FPS (from 196 to 128). On the Ultra preset, the drop is 34 FPS (from 100 to 66).

Q: What is the performance delta between the Low and Ultra presets at 2560x1440?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset averages 128 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 66 FPS. This means the Low preset is roughly 94% faster than the Ultra preset at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC. It features a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In the context of The Technomancer, a game from 2016, this processor's capabilities are substantial. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this pairing, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p. At 128 FPS on High settings and 196 FPS on Low settings, the processor is clearly able to handle the game's game logic and draw calls without limiting the GPU.

The CPU's performance profile, as measured by synthetic benchmarks, places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its avgBenchmarkScore of 36938 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which has an avgScore of 36945 and a deltaPct of 0. This suggests that while the Core Ultra 5 225 is a strong performer, it is firmly in the mid-to-high range of desktop processors. For a game like The Technomancer, which is not known for being heavily CPU-dependent, the 10 cores and high boost clock provide more than enough processing power to maintain high frame rates, especially when the resolution is low enough to let the GPU stretch its legs. The data shows that the CPU's role is to provide a stable, high-frequency platform that allows the Radeon RX 7700 XT to perform to its full potential.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks at 1038 out of 2825 total combinations. This places it in the 63rd percentile of all tested systems, indicating a solidly above-average performance tier. The comboRankInGame field shows a rank of 1038, which means there are 1037 other CPU-GPU pairings that deliver higher frame rates in this specific title. This ranking is a holistic view, considering performance across all tested resolutions and settings.

The ranking is particularly interesting given the GPU's own standing. The Radeon RX 7700 XT sits in the 67th percentile of all GPUs, which is slightly higher than the combo's overall rank. This minor discrepancy could be attributed to the CPU's performance in certain low-resolution, high-FPS scenarios, where even a strong processor like the Core Ultra 5 225 might not extract every last frame from the GPU. However, the overall picture is one of a well-matched pair. The combo rank of 1038 out of 2825 suggests that while this system is not at the absolute high-end for this game, it is significantly more capable than the majority of systems, delivering a high-quality gaming experience across the board.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the clear driver of performance in this pairing. Based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and the Navi 32 chip, it features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is rated at 2544 MHz. These specifications translate into a GPU that is positioned in the 67th percentile of all tested graphics cards, with an avgBenchmarkScore of 22549. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, has a very similar avgScore of 22435, showing a deltaPct of 0.5.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is dominant. The frame rate scaling with resolution is steep, as detailed earlier, which is the definitive sign of a GPU-bound workload. The 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this 2016 title, even at 4K resolution, meaning memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The GPU's raw compute power, as measured by its 35.17 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, is what determines the frame rate at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the GPU is pushed to its limits, delivering only 36 FPS on average. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the GPU has plenty of headroom, resulting in a very high 196 FPS average. The RX 7700 XT is a capable card, but The Technomancer at maximum settings and 4K resolution is a demanding task that pushes it to its limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this system's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system excels. The Low preset delivers an average of 196 FPS. The High preset follows with 128 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 150 FPS, with a minimum of 128 FPS and a maximum of 173 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 1080p, still manages a very respectable 100 FPS average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset yields an average of 128 FPS. The High preset averages 84 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 98 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 1440p, produces an average of 66 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with the higher settings. The Low preset averages 70 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 46 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding a low average of just 36 FPS. The data clearly shows a system that is capable of high refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but requires settings adjustments to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the data suggests that the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers an excellent balance. It provides an average of 98 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the minimum of 84 FPS indicates that frame pacing remains consistent. This configuration delivers high visual fidelity with a significant performance margin.

For users with a 1080p display, the High preset is the clear recommendation. It achieves an average of 128 FPS and likely looks fantastic. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable, with a 100 FPS average, but the visual difference between High and Ultra may not justify the 22% performance cost. For 1440p users who prioritize visual quality above all else, the Ultra preset, with its 66 FPS average, is acceptable, but the High preset's 84 FPS average offers a smoother experience with only a slight reduction in graphical detail.

At 4K, the recommendations are more constrained. The Low preset, with a 70 FPS average, is the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset, averaging 54 FPS, is playable but may suffer from occasional dips. The High and Ultra presets, at 46 FPS and 36 FPS respectively, are best avoided for action-heavy gameplay. The data indicates that the system's optimal zone is 1080p and 1440p, where it can leverage its high CPU and GPU performance to deliver high frame rates.