The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 processor paired with the Intel Arc B370 integrated graphics. The data reveals a configuration that is strictly limited by its graphics solution, making it a viable option only for specific, low-demand scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a stark and predictable decline as resolution increases, clearly identifying the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops performance to 47 FPS, a 33.8% reduction. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields only 26 FPS, which is a 63.4% drop from the 1080p baseline. This severe scaling pattern is characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is saturated, leaving the CPU with significant headroom.

The trend continues across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 47 at 1080p, to 31 at 1440p, and finally to 17 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows an even more dramatic fall, from 37 FPS at 1080p to 24 FPS at 1440p and a nearly unplayable 13 FPS at 4K. The data indicates that the Intel Arc B370's performance ceiling is breached early; even at 1080p, the frame rates suggest the GPU is working near its limit for this title. The 4K results are uniformly below playable thresholds, confirming that this resolution is not a realistic option for this hardware combination, regardless of the graphical settings chosen.

The relationship between settings and resolution is crucial. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra presets is 34 FPS (71 vs 37). At 4K, that same gap narrows to only 13 FPS (26 vs 13). This compression of performance at higher resolutions is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. When the GPU is overwhelmed by pixel count, the relative cost of different graphical features becomes less impactful on the final frame rate. The limiting factor is the raw fill rate and shading power of the Arc B370, not the specific settings applied.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this configuration are heavily dependent on the target resolution. For a playable experience, 1080p is the only sensible choice. The Low preset provides the best measured average of 71 FPS, which is the only configuration to exceed the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset offers a respectable 55 FPS average, with a minimum of 47 FPS, making it a viable alternative for users who prioritize visual fidelity over a smooth frame rate.

The High preset at 1080p yields a 47 FPS average, which is a substantial drop from Medium. The Ultra preset should be avoided, as its 37 FPS average will likely feel sluggish in an action-oriented game like The Technomancer. For users with a 1440p monitor, the data suggests that only the Low preset (47 FPS) is close to acceptable, and even then, it may be inconsistent. Medium at 1440p falls to 36 FPS, and High and Ultra are too slow for comfortable play.

At 4K, there are no viable settings. Even the Low preset's 26 FPS average is below the threshold for a smooth experience, and the Ultra preset's 13 FPS is a slideshow. The recommendation is clear: for this game with this hardware, users should stick to 1080p. Between the Low and Medium presets, the choice depends on tolerance for visual artifacts versus frame rate. The 16 FPS difference between them is significant. The Medium preset, with a 47 FPS minimum, represents the best balance for most users seeking a playable and visually improved experience. The data does not support using any preset at 1440p or 4K.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured data shows that even at the lowest settings, the average frame rate at 3840x2160 is only 26 FPS. At Ultra settings, it drops to 13 FPS. These results are far below the threshold for a playable experience, indicating that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware combination in this game.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gameplay?

A: The Low preset provides the highest measured average frame rate at 71 FPS. However, the Medium preset offers a 55 FPS average with a minimum of 47 FPS, which is a better balance of visual quality and smooth performance for most players. The Ultra preset is not recommended due to its 37 FPS average.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of overall benchmark score?

A: The Arc B370's average benchmark score is 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, has an average score of 1186, which is a 0.2% difference. This places it in the very bottom percentile (5th) of all GPUs, indicating a very low level of graphics performance.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 the bottleneck in this configuration for The Technomancer?

A: No. The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has a high percentile rank (85th) among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it near the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F. The sharp FPS drops at higher resolutions are a clear sign of a graphics-bound workload.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 47 FPS. The Ultra preset achieves an average of 24 FPS. This represents a 23 FPS difference, or roughly a 49% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: What is the performance rank of this CPU+GPU combination for this specific game?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2603 out of 2825 total combinations tested for The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, underscoring its limited capability for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B370 configuration in The Technomancer.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 71 FPS average.
• Medium: 55 FPS average, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS.
• High: 47 FPS average.
• Ultra: 37 FPS average.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 47 FPS average.
• Medium: 36 FPS average, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS.
• High: 31 FPS average.
• Ultra: 24 FPS average.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 26 FPS average.
• Medium: 20 FPS average, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 23 FPS.
• High: 17 FPS average.
• Ultra: 13 FPS average.

These numbers tell a consistent story. The configuration is capable of a smooth experience only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. Every other combination of resolution and settings results in frame rates that are either marginal or unplayable. The measured data confirms that the Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this system's performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its benchmark performance is exceptionally low, sitting in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, which is statistically tied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190). This places the Arc B370 in a performance class with graphics hardware from over a decade ago.

The GPU's specifications reflect its limited role. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the main system RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a fundamental limitation for gaming, as the graphics processor must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. Its theoretical pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS.

These figures explain the measured FPS results. The low fill rate and reliance on shared system memory cripple performance at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU's performance ceiling is reached at 1080p. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 47.9% drop in FPS (from 71 to 37), which is a direct consequence of the limited shading and texture processing power. The Arc B370 is a basic graphics solution for everyday tasks, not for gaming. In The Technomancer, its role is to be the limiting factor, preventing the capable CPU from ever being fully utilized.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It is a capable CPU, ranking in the 85th percentile of all processors. Its average benchmark score of 36938 places it in direct competition with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (score 36945), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (score 37018), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (score 37093), with negligible percentage differences. This indicates a solid mid-range CPU that can handle demanding workloads.

The CPU features a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. It has a 20 MB shared L3 cache and a 65W TDP. Its memory support is DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 25891 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3655 in single-core. Its Passmark multithread score is 30459, and its single-thread score is 4412.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to be a non-factor. The measured frame rates are so low, particularly at 1440p and 4K, that the CPU is never the bottleneck. The GPU is unable to feed frames to the display fast enough to stress the processor. The performance difference between 1080p Low (71 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (37 FPS) reflects this; the CPU could likely deliver far more frames if the graphics solution were faster. The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 225 has ample headroom, and its performance is effectively wasted in this configuration. The system's overall rank of 2603 out of 2825 for this game is a direct result of the GPU's limitations, not the CPU's capabilities.