The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with resolution and quality settings. This analysis pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with the AMD Radeon RX 9060, using measured data to assess the combo's performance characteristics, component roles, and optimal configuration. The data reveals a system that is well-balanced at 1440p but becomes GPU-limited at 4K, with the CPU providing a solid foundation for high refresh rate gaming at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data demonstrates a clear and predictable performance curve as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo delivers high frame rates across all settings, with the Low preset reaching an average of 157 FPS. This drops to 103 FPS at High and 80 FPS at Ultra, indicating that even at 1080p, the GPU is the primary scaling factor when moving between quality presets. The transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a substantial performance hit across the board: High settings drop from 103 FPS to 67 FPS, a 35% reduction, while Low settings fall from 157 FPS to 102 FPS, a 35% reduction as well. This consistent proportional drop suggests that resolution scaling is largely uniform, pointing to the GPU's fill-rate and memory bandwidth as the limiting components.

Moving from 1440p to 4K (3840x2160) reveals even more dramatic scaling. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 67 to 37, a 45% reduction. The Low preset at 4K averages 56 FPS, which is a 45% drop from the 102 FPS seen at 1440p. This steeper decline at 4K compared to the 1080p-to-1440p transition indicates that the GPU is hitting a more severe bottleneck at the highest resolution. The 4K Medium preset shows an average of 43 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS, while the Ultra preset at 4K averages just 29 FPS. The data strongly suggests that at 4K, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the definitive limiting factor, as even the Low preset cannot maintain a locked 60 FPS experience.

The scaling pattern also offers insight into the CPU's role. At 1080p Low, with 157 FPS average, the Core Ultra 5 225 is still able to feed the GPU sufficiently, as the frame rate is very high. However, the fact that 1080p Ultra (80 FPS) is significantly lower than 1080p Low (157 FPS) shows that the GPU's workload increases substantially with settings, even at the lowest resolution. This indicates that the system is not CPU-bound at 1080p, as the GPU still has headroom to scale down its load. The limiting component shifts decisively to the GPU as resolution climbs, with the CPU's influence diminishing further at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 2,825 tested combos for The Technomancer, this pairing of Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 achieves a rank of 1632. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance distribution, indicating that while it is not a top-tier configuration, it is also far from the bottom. The rank suggests that many other CPU-GPU combinations deliver higher frame rates, but this specific pairing is competitive within its class.

The combo's ranking is likely influenced by the GPU's overall standing. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has a percentile rank of 59 among all GPUs, meaning it performs better than 59% of the database's graphics cards. Its average benchmark score is 16014, which is close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which scores 16129 and has a deltaPct of -0.7. This puts the RX 9060 in a performance tier that is competitive with the RTX 3060 Ti. The CPU, Intel Core Ultra 5 225, has a percentile rank of 85 among all CPUs, showing it is a strong performer. Its average benchmark score is 36938, nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (-0.2% delta).

The combination of a high-percentile CPU with a mid-range GPU explains the 1632 rank. The CPU is not the bottleneck in most scenarios, but the GPU's performance ceiling prevents the combo from reaching higher ranks. The data shows that the combo rank is more heavily weighted by GPU performance, as the GPU is the component that struggles at higher resolutions and settings. The rank of 1632 out of 2825 suggests that for a game like The Technomancer, which can be demanding, this combo is a reasonable mid-range option, but users seeking higher frame rates at 4K would need to consider a more powerful GPU.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the decisive component in this combo for determining in-game performance, especially at higher resolutions. Its specifications reveal a card designed for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the 8 GB capacity and 128-bit bus can become a limiting factor, as the game may need to swap textures or reduce quality to fit within the VRAM.

The GPU's clock speeds are notable, with a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. The game clock is listed at 2400 MHz, which is the typical sustained clock under load. These high clocks contribute to the card's strong 1080p performance, as seen in the 157 FPS average at Low settings. The shading units (1792), texture mapping units (112), and render output units (64) are the core processing elements that handle the rendering workload. The pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits that the card can achieve, and the measured FPS data shows that these limits are reached at lower resolutions but not at 4K.

The RX 9060's benchmark scores further contextualize its role. Its PassMark G3D score is 17631, which is higher than its average benchmark score of 16014, indicating strong D3D performance. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 88183 shows good compute capability. However, the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 is relatively modest, suggesting that the card may not excel in heavily tessellated or compute-heavy DX12 workloads. The nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, has an average score of 16129 with a deltaPct of -0.7, meaning the RX 9060 is essentially on par with the RTX 3060 Ti in average performance. This explains why the card achieves a 59th percentile ranking; it is a solid mid-range GPU that can handle most games at 1080p and 1440p but will struggle at 4K in demanding titles like The Technomancer.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a consistent 60+ FPS?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440, the High preset averages 67 FPS, and the Low preset averages 102 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS. This indicates that 1440p is the ideal resolution for maintaining a playable frame rate, while 4K falls short, with the High preset averaging only 37 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (score 36945, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (score 37018, -0.2% delta), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (score 37093, -0.4% delta). The data shows the Intel CPU is essentially neck-and-neck with these AMD processors, with negligible performance differences.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 more powerful than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The benchmark data indicates they are very close. The RX 9060 has an average score of 16014, while the RTX 3060 Ti has an average score of 16129, resulting in a deltaPct of -0.7%. This means the RTX 3060 Ti is slightly ahead, but the difference is less than 1%, making them effectively equivalent in overall performance.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: The measured data shows that at 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset, the combo achieves an average FPS of 80. This is a playable frame rate for most users, though it is significantly lower than the 120 FPS average seen at Medium settings.

Q: Does the combo perform better at 4K with Low or Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 56 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 43 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS. The Low preset offers a more fluid experience, but it is still below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 4K averages only 29 FPS, making it the least viable option.

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

A: The combo is ranked 1632 out of 2825 total combinations tested for The Technomancer. This places it in the 58th percentile, indicating it performs better than just over half of all tested configurations but falls short of the top tier.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 serves as the system's foundation, providing the processing power to feed the GPU. With 10 cores and 10 threads, it is a modern processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture using a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, which can boost up to 4.90 GHz for single-threaded workloads. The CPU has a substantial 20 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps with game data access. Its performance is strong, as evidenced by its 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, which are typically single-threaded or lightly threaded. The Core Ultra 5 225's single-core performance is excellent, as shown by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655. This high single-thread performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates, especially at 1080p where the GPU can produce many frames per second. The multi-core score of 25891 in Cinebench R23 indicates that it can also handle multi-threaded tasks, but the game's engine likely does not fully utilize all 10 threads.

The CPU's benchmark scores relative to its rivals show that it is a top-tier performer. Its average benchmark score of 36938 puts it in the same league as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with deltas of 0% and -0.2% respectively. This means that the CPU is not a weak link in the combo. However, the measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at resolutions above 1080p. At 1080p Low, the CPU is able to push the GPU to 157 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 80 FPS, indicating that the GPU is now the bottleneck. The CPU's high single-thread score ensures that it does not bottleneck the GPU at 1080p, but its performance headroom is less relevant at 4K where the GPU's workload is significantly higher.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance target. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the 2560x1440 resolution with the High preset is the best choice, as it averages 67 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 1440p also offers a solid experience, averaging 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. For users with a 1080p monitor, the Medium preset is recommended, as it averages 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, providing a very fluid experience. The High preset at 1080p is also viable, averaging 103 FPS.

At 4K, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only option that provides a semi-playable experience, averaging 56 FPS. However, this is below the 60 FPS target, so users may experience occasional stutters. The Medium preset at 4K averages 43 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided, as the 29 FPS average will result in a sluggish and unresponsive experience. The High preset at 4K (37 FPS) is also not recommended for a smooth experience.

In summary, the best experience is achieved at 1440p with High or Medium settings, where the combo can maintain frame rates above 60 FPS. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers the best balance of high frame rates and visual fidelity. At 4K, users must compromise significantly on settings, and the Low preset is the only one that approaches a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured FPS data for this combo in The Technomancer:

1920x1080:

• Low: 157 FPS average
• Medium: 120 FPS average, 102 FPS minimum, 138 FPS maximum
• High: 103 FPS average
• Ultra: 80 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 102 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average, 67 FPS minimum, 90 FPS maximum
• High: 67 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 56 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average, 37 FPS minimum, 50 FPS maximum
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 29 FPS average

The data reveals a clear pattern. At 1080p, the combo is capable of very high frame rates, with the Low preset breaking the 150 FPS barrier. The transition to 1440p results in a roughly 35% reduction in FPS for the same settings, while the transition to 4K results in another 45% reduction. The Medium presets at each resolution show a consistent minimum FPS that is about 85% of the average, indicating some frame time variance. The Ultra preset at 4K, with a 29 FPS average, is the lowest measured performance, showing that the GPU is overwhelmed at this resolution. The data confirms that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the primary performance bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 provides sufficient headroom to avoid CPU-limiting at lower resolutions.