The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 action RPG, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with both resolution and graphics settings. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, using the measured FPS data provided. The data shows a configuration that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but begins to strain at higher resolutions, revealing a clear bottleneck shift from the CPU to the GPU.

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. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This CPU is positioned in the 85th percentile of all CPUs based on its average benchmark score of 36938. In synthetic tests, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655, indicating strong multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities.

For a game like The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. The benchmark results suggest that this processor is more than adequate for the task at 1080p and 1440p. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 191 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that points to the CPU being able to feed the GPU efficiently. The single-core performance, as indicated by the Cinebench R23 score of 3655, is particularly relevant for games that rely heavily on a few threads. The 10-core configuration ensures that background tasks and multi-threaded game engines workloads are handled without becoming a limiting factor.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is essentially a dead heat. Its average benchmark score of 36938 is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093), and Intel Core i9-12900T (37112). This indicates that in a CPU-bound scenario, the Core Ultra 5 225 will deliver performance nearly identical to these alternatives. The data implies that the Core Ultra 5 225 provides a solid foundation for this game, ensuring that the GPU is the primary variable in performance scaling across different settings. The processor's 20 MB of shared L3 cache is also a relevant factor, as it can help reduce memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for The Technomancer, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds a rank of 1179 out of 2825 tested combos. This places it in the upper-middle portion of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms more than half of all tested pairings. This rank is a holistic measure of the combo's overall capability in this game, taking into account all tested resolutions and settings.

The ranking is a direct result of the individual components' strengths. The GPU, the RTX 3070, sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, which is a solid mid-to-high tier position. Its average benchmark score of 17208 is also very close to its closest rivals, showing a near-tie with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083, +0.7% for the 3070) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037, +1.0% for the 3070). This suggests that the combo's rank is largely driven by the GPU's performance level, which is competitive but not top-tier.

The rank of 1179 indicates that while this setup is competent and will provide a good experience, there are 1178 other combinations of CPUs and GPUs that deliver higher average frame rates in this title. This is not a criticism of the hardware, but rather a reflection of the wide spectrum of available components. For a user with this combo, the data suggests they can expect a performance level that is comfortably above the median for all tested systems. The performance is consistent with what one might expect from a balanced mid-range pairing, where the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates in this specific game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance scaling across resolutions. As the resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates drop significantly, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary performance limiter at higher pixel counts.

At High settings, the average FPS drops from 125 at 1080p to 82 at 1440p, a decrease of 43 FPS. Moving to 4K, the average FPS falls further to 45, a substantial 80 FPS drop from the 1080p result. This scaling behavior is classic for a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth are being taxed more heavily as the number of pixels increases. The 4K High result of 45 FPS is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, highlighting that this resolution is demanding for this GPU.

The scaling pattern at Low settings is even more pronounced. The average FPS drops from 191 at 1080p to 125 at 1440p, and then to 69 at 4K. While the 4K Low average of 69 FPS is playable, the massive 122 FPS difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low underscores the enormous workload increase at 4K. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is doing more work to keep the GPU fed, while at 4K, the GPU's rendering capabilities are the definitive limiting factor. The frame rate drops are not linear, but rather exponential, which is typical for resolution scaling. This analysis confirms that for this combo, 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots for high refresh rate gaming, while 4K is only viable for less demanding settings or titles where 45-69 FPS is acceptable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080

• Low: 191 FPS average.
• Medium: 147 FPS average (min 125, max 169).
• High: 125 FPS average.
• Ultra: 98 FPS average.

At 1080p, the Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 3070 combo delivers excellent performance. Even at Ultra settings, the average FPS of 98 is well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. The Low setting result of 191 FPS indicates the setup is capable of driving very high refresh rate monitors (e.g., 144Hz or 165Hz) in less demanding scenes. The step from Low to Medium results in a 44 FPS drop, while the step from Medium to High is a 22 FPS drop, and from High to Ultra is a 27 FPS drop. This shows that each higher preset has a tangible impact on frame rate.

2560x1440

• Low: 125 FPS average.
• Medium: 96 FPS average (min 82, max 110).
• High: 82 FPS average.
• Ultra: 64 FPS average.

At 1440p, performance remains strong. The High preset delivers an 82 FPS average, which is still excellent for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset dips to 64 FPS, which is still playable and close to the 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 125 FPS is a great result for competitive or high-refresh-rate play. The data indicates that 1440p is a very viable resolution for this combo, with all presets providing playable frame rates.

3840x2160

• Low: 69 FPS average.
• Medium: 53 FPS average (min 45, max 61).
• High: 45 FPS average.
• Ultra: 35 FPS average.

At 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Only the Low preset achieves an average FPS above 60, at 69 FPS. Medium drops to 53 FPS, High to 45 FPS, and Ultra to a less desirable 35 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 45 also indicates potential for noticeable stuttering. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this GPU requires significant compromises in settings to maintain a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in The Technomancer?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At High settings, it achieves an average of 82 FPS, which is smooth, and even Ultra settings maintain a playable 64 FPS average.

Q: Can this setup handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves an average FPS above 60 (69 FPS). Higher presets like High (45 FPS) and Ultra (35 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold for ideal smoothness.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225's average benchmark score of 36938 is essentially tied with its nearest rivals. It is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093), and Intel Core i9-12900T (37112).

Q: Is the performance of the RTX 3070 in this game more similar to the RX 7600 XT or the GTX 690?

A: The RTX 3070's average benchmark score of 17208 is very close to both. It is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083) and 1.0% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17037), making the performance nearly identical across all three.

Q: What is the impact of lowering settings from Ultra to Low at 1080p?

A: The impact is significant. Lowering from Ultra to Low at 1920x1080 increases the average FPS from 98 to 191, an improvement of 93 FPS. This shows that settings have a major influence on performance, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is less of a bottleneck.

Q: What does the combo rank of 1179 out of 2825 tell us?

A: This rank indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 3070 combination performs better than a majority of all other tested combos in this database for The Technomancer. It is a solid, above-median performing configuration.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear path for optimizing the experience in The Technomancer. The best setting depends almost entirely on the target resolution.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is an excellent choice. It delivers an average of 125 FPS, which is a fantastic experience on a standard 60Hz monitor and also great for 120Hz or 144Hz panels. The Ultra preset, at 98 FPS average, is also a strong option for users who prioritize maximum visual quality and have a high refresh rate monitor. The Low preset (191 FPS) is only necessary for competitive play on extremely high refresh rate displays (e.g., 240Hz).

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended target. It provides a smooth 82 FPS average, which is ideal for a 144Hz monitor. The Medium preset (96 FPS) is an even more performance-oriented option that still looks good. The Ultra preset, at 64 FPS, is a viable choice for users who want maximum detail and can tolerate a frame rate that is just above the 60 FPS baseline.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience, with a 69 FPS average. The Medium preset (53 FPS) is a compromise for those who want better visuals, but its minimum FPS of 45 means there will be noticeable dips. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended for a fluid experience, as their average frame rates fall well below 60 FPS. Therefore, for the best overall experience, a 1440p High or Medium setting is the sweet spot for this combo, balancing visual quality with high, consistent frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the primary driver of frame rates in The Technomancer, especially at higher resolutions. This GPU, based on the Ampere architecture, has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1725 MHz. With 5888 shading units, the GPU is a capable performer, but the data shows that its 8 GB memory buffer and processing power become a limiting factor as resolution and settings increase.

The GPU's performance is well-documented by its benchmark scores. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 22214 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 112821, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. In the context of this game, the GPU's role is to render the complex scenes at the target resolution and quality. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is able to keep up with the CPU's output, resulting in high frame rates. However, at 4K, the sheer number of pixels being rendered overwhelms the GPU's capabilities.

The measured FPS data shows the GPU's influence clearly. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 34 FPS (69 vs 35), which is a huge performance gap. This indicates that the GPU is highly sensitive to the increased shading and texture detail required by higher presets at this resolution. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is also a potential concern at 4K Ultra, as the memory demand can exceed what is available, potentially leading to texture pop-in or stuttering. The RTX 3070's performance is very close to its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (+0.7% for the 3070) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (+1.0% for the 3070), confirming that it delivers a consistent, expected level of performance for its class. In summary, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at 4K, while at 1080p and 1440p, it provides ample power for a great gaming experience.