The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, is not a new title, but it still provides a useful stress test for modern hardware. The data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti combination shows a pairing that is heavily reliant on the GPU to carry the workload at higher resolutions, while the CPU reveals its capabilities only when the graphical load is lightened. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to show exactly where the bottlenecks lie and what you can expect from this specific setup.

Resolution Scaling

The performance curve from 1080p to 4K is a textbook example of GPU-bound scaling, with the frame rate dropping dramatically as the pixel count increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 179 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that average falls to 117 FPS, a reduction of 62 FPS (or about 35%). The jump to 4K is even more punishing, with the average down to 64 FPS, which is a 53 FPS drop from 1440p and a 115 FPS drop from 1080p. This steep decline indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is being pushed to its absolute limits as the resolution increases.

The scaling pattern across the settings presets confirms this GPU-centric behavior. At Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 140 FPS at 1080p to 91 FPS at 1440p, and then to 50 FPS at 4K. The performance loss from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is a massive 90 FPS. This shows that even a high-end card like the RTX 4070 Ti cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum visual fidelity in this title. The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this game and GPU, where you can still achieve well over 100 FPS on High settings, while 4K is only practical if you are willing to compromise on visual quality.

The gap between resolutions shrinks as you lower the settings, but the trend remains consistent. For instance, on Low settings, the game runs at 273 FPS at 1080p, 178 FPS at 1440p, and 98 FPS at 4K. The 4K figure is still substantial, but it is the first point where the frame rate dips below the 100 FPS threshold. The data suggests that the limiting component at 4K is almost entirely the GPU. At 1080p, the high frame rates (140-273 FPS) suggest that the CPU is starting to become more relevant, but the RTX 4070 Ti is still the primary driver of the final performance number.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The card has a base clock of 2310 MHz and a boost clock of 2610 MHz. In a game like The Technomancer, this memory configuration and bandwidth are critical for handling high-resolution textures and geometry. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at 4K, where the average FPS on Ultra settings is just 50. This is the lowest score in the entire dataset and indicates the card is saturated with work.

The GPU's role is less about raw clock speed and more about its ability to maintain throughput. The data shows a clear progression of performance tied to the settings preset. At 4K, the average FPS goes from 50 at Ultra to 64 at High, then to 75 at Medium, and finally to 98 at Low. This represents a nearly 2x performance increase when dropping from Ultra to Low, which is a direct result of the reduced load on the GPU's shading units and texture mapping units (240 TMUs and 80 ROPs). The RTX 4070 Ti's 7680 shading units are capable of producing high frame rates, but only when the resolution and settings are not overwhelming them.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 44795, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, has a score of 45152, which is just 0.8% higher. This suggests that the RTX 4070 Ti is positioned in the upper echelon of graphics cards, but the data from The Technomancer shows that it is still not a 4K Ultra card for this specific title. The card's 12 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for this game, but the computational demands of the 4K resolution are what limit its performance. The measured FPS data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor from the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. It has a 20 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory. In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU's, but it is still a critical component for achieving the highest frame rates. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach 273 FPS on Low settings, which is an exceptionally high frame rate.

This high performance at 1080p indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. However, the difference in FPS between 1080p and 1440p on Low settings is 95 FPS (273 vs 178), which shows that the GPU is still the primary constraint even at this lower resolution. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655. Its average benchmark score is 36938, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, just behind the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945 with a 0% delta.

The CPU's performance in this game is best illustrated by the 1080p results. On High settings, the game runs at 179 FPS, and on Ultra, it runs at 140 FPS. These are high numbers that suggest the processor is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor until you try to push frame rates beyond 200 FPS. The Core Ultra 5 225's 10 cores and 10 threads are sufficient for The Technomancer, and the high boost clock of 4.90 GHz helps ensure strong single-threaded performance that is often vital for older game engines. The processor's role is to provide a stable platform, which it does, allowing the RTX 4070 Ti to stretch its legs.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti pairing ranks 307th out of 2825 combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 11% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing. This percentile ranking is a reflection of the high-end nature of both components. The GPU's 84th percentile and the CPU's 85th percentile relative to their individual categories are consistent with the combo's overall ranking, indicating that neither component is dragging the other down significantly.

The fact that the combo ranks 307th out of 2825 suggests that there are many other pairings that can outperform it, likely with more powerful CPUs or GPUs. However, it also means that this specific setup is significantly faster than the vast majority of systems in the database. The ranking is a useful metric for comparison, but the measured FPS data provides a more practical understanding of the performance. The high rank reflects the raw power of this pairing, but as the resolution scaling analysis shows, its real-world performance is heavily dependent on the game's settings and the target resolution.

The ranking also highlights the balance of the system. A lower-ranked combo might pair a top-tier GPU with a weak CPU, leading to a bottleneck at lower resolutions. In this case, the Core Ultra 5 225 provides enough performance to support the RTX 4070 Ti, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p. The data suggests that this combo is well-matched, with the CPU being a capable partner to the GPU, allowing the system to achieve a high overall rank without any single component being a glaring weak point. The 307th rank out of 2825 combos is a solid indicator of its overall capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system delivers excellent performance across the board. On Low settings, it averages 273 FPS, which is an incredibly high number. Medium settings yield an average of 210 FPS, with a minimum of 178 FPS and a maximum of 241 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 179 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 140 FPS. These numbers show that the system can easily handle high refresh rate monitors at 1080p, even on the most demanding settings.

Moving to 1440p, performance remains very strong. Low settings average 178 FPS, making it a great choice for competitive play. Medium settings average 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. High settings average 117 FPS, which is still smooth for most players. Ultra settings are the most demanding, bringing the average down to 91 FPS. This is still a very playable frame rate, but it shows that the GPU is starting to work harder. The 1440p results are the most balanced, offering a good mix of visual quality and performance.

At 4K, the system's limits become apparent. Low settings average 98 FPS, which is playable but not as high as the lower resolutions. Medium settings average 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. High settings average 64 FPS, which is on the edge of what many consider smooth. Ultra settings are the most taxing, resulting in an average of just 50 FPS. The 4K data clearly shows that the RTX 4070 Ti is the limiting factor, and to get a consistently smooth experience at this resolution, you would need to lower the settings to Medium or Low. The minimum FPS of 64 at 4K Medium suggests that there can be noticeable frame drops in intense scenes.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1440p offers the best balance of performance and visual quality. The system achieves 117 FPS on High settings and 91 FPS on Ultra, providing a smooth experience without requiring significant compromises on visual fidelity. At 1080p, the frame rates are extremely high but the resolution is lower, while at 4K, the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS on higher settings.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K with Low settings, the system averages 98 FPS. On Medium settings, it averages 75 FPS, and on High settings, it drops to 64 FPS. On Ultra settings, the average falls to 50 FPS. To maintain a playable frame rate at 4K, you would need to use Medium or Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The GPU is the main bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. This is evident from the steep drop in frame rates from 1080p to 4K. The CPU's performance is sufficient to support high frame rates, as seen at 1080p Low, where the system reaches 273 FPS, but the GPU's capabilities limit the overall performance as resolution and settings increase.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems in this game?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks 307th out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 11% of all systems in the database, indicating it is a high-performing pairing.

Q: What are the average frame rates on High settings at different resolutions?

A: On High settings, the system averages 179 FPS at 1920x1080, 117 FPS at 2560x1440, and 64 FPS at 3840x2160. This shows a clear progression of performance loss as the resolution increases, highlighting the GPU's workload.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, the system averages 98 FPS on Low settings and 50 FPS on Ultra settings. This is a 48 FPS difference, which represents a near 2x performance increase when lowering the settings. This large gap emphasizes the significant impact of graphical settings on the GPU load.