The Technomancer

The Technomancer pairs the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, a combination that yields surprisingly high frame rates in this 2016 Action RPG. The data shows a system capable of delivering well over 100 FPS at 1440p High settings, but the performance scaling across resolutions reveals where the bottleneck shifts between the CPU and GPU.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake-S architecture on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU’s cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB of L3 cache. This is a modern desktop part that sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs according to benchmark data, with an average benchmark score of 36,938.

In synthetic tests, the Core Ultra 5 225 shows strong multi-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,891 and single-core score of 3,655 indicate a well-balanced processor for gaming workloads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30,459 and single-thread score of 4,412 reinforce this picture. The CPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (average score 36,945, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (average score 37,018, delta -0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (average score 37,093, delta -0.4%). These delta percentages are negligible, meaning the Core Ultra 5 225 performs essentially on par with those processors in aggregate benchmarks.

For The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is most evident at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom. At 1080p, the combination reaches 317 FPS on Low settings, which is a massive number that suggests the CPU can feed the RTX 4090 without becoming a limiting factor. The 10 cores and 10 threads might seem modest for modern standards, but this game from 2016 does not require massive thread counts. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 225’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655, is sufficient to keep frame rates high even when the GPU is not stressed. The lack of hyper-threading (10 threads for 10 cores) does not appear to hurt performance in this title based on the measured FPS.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a flagship GPU from the GeForce 40-series, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 1.01 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with memory running at 21 Gbps effective. The RTX 4090 includes 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 raster operation pipelines, along with 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores. Its raw compute power is rated at 82.58 TFLOPS for FP32, and it holds a 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347.

In the benchmark database, the RTX 4090’s nearest rivals include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (average score 60,326, delta 0%), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (average score 60,140, delta 0.3%), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (average score 61,896, delta -2.5%). These deltas are small, but the RTX 4090’s gaming performance is clearly well above these workstation-oriented cards in real-world scenarios as shown by the measured FPS in The Technomancer.

The GPU’s massive 24 GB VRAM is far more than this game needs, but the memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s helps maintain high frame rates at 4K. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 61, which is exactly at the threshold for smooth gameplay on a 60 Hz display. The RTX 4090’s boost clock of 2520 MHz ensures that it can push pixels quickly, but the data shows that it is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 38,194 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223 indicate strong performance, but The Technomancer’s engine appears to be more dependent on raw fill rate and bandwidth than on ray tracing or tensor core features, which the RTX 4090 has in abundance but this game does not utilize.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance at higher settings and resolution. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 317, which is extraordinarily high and suggests that the CPU is doing most of the work to generate frames. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 215 FPS, a 32% decrease from 1080p. At 4K Low, the average is 118 FPS, a further 45% decrease from 1440p. This scaling shows that even at Low settings, the GPU becomes more stressed as resolution increases, but the RTX 4090 has enough headroom to keep frame rates playable.

At High settings, the progression is 216 FPS at 1080p, 141 FPS at 1440p (a 35% drop), and 77 FPS at 4K (a 45% drop from 1440p). The pattern is consistent: each resolution step costs roughly 35-45% of the frame rate, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. At Medium settings, the numbers are 253 FPS at 1080p, 165 FPS at 1440p (a 35% drop), and 91 FPS at 4K (a 45% drop). The min FPS values at Medium settings also scale similarly: 215 at 1080p, 140 at 1440p, and 77 at 4K.

The Ultra settings show the steepest curve: 169 FPS at 1080p, 110 FPS at 1440p (a 35% drop), and 61 FPS at 4K (a 45% drop). The fact that the percentage drops are nearly identical across all settings presets indicates that the limiting component is the GPU at all resolutions. The CPU is capable of delivering over 300 FPS at 1080p Low, which proves it is not a bottleneck even at the highest possible frame rates. The RTX 4090’s performance scales predictably with resolution, and the 4K Ultra result of 61 FPS shows that the GPU is fully utilized at that point. The data does not show any signs of CPU limitation, as the frame rates do not plateau or exhibit inconsistent scaling.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, all settings presets deliver frame rates well above 144 Hz. The Low preset hits 317 FPS, Medium reaches 253 FPS, High achieves 216 FPS, and Ultra still manages 169 FPS. For a 144 Hz monitor, Ultra is the clear choice at 1080p, as it provides the best visual quality while maintaining 169 FPS. Even a 240 Hz display can be satisfied with High settings at 216 FPS, but Ultra is recommended for the visual fidelity boost.

At 1440p, the situation is similar but slightly more constrained. Low runs at 215 FPS, Medium at 165 FPS, High at 141 FPS, and Ultra at 110 FPS. For a 144 Hz monitor, High settings at 141 FPS is the optimal choice, as it gets close to the refresh rate cap without sacrificing much visual quality. Ultra at 110 FPS is still smooth for most players, but the jump from High to Ultra is not worth the 31 FPS loss if you have a high refresh rate display. Medium at 165 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize frame rate over visuals, but High offers a better balance.

At 4K, the recommendations change significantly. Low runs at 118 FPS, Medium at 91 FPS, High at 77 FPS, and Ultra at 61 FPS. For a 60 Hz display, Ultra is the best choice, as it delivers exactly 61 FPS and provides the highest visual quality. For a 120 Hz or 144 Hz display, Medium at 91 FPS is the practical choice, as it offers a good balance between frame rate and visual fidelity. High at 77 FPS is also acceptable, but the drop from Medium to High is only 14 FPS, so High might be preferred if you want better visuals. Low at 118 FPS is the only preset that can take advantage of a 120 Hz display, but the visual compromise is severe. Overall, the measured data suggests that 1440p High is the sweet spot for this combination, delivering 141 FPS with strong visual quality, while 4K Ultra is the choice for those who prioritize image quality over raw frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 71st out of 2,825 tested combos in The Technomancer, placing it in the top 2.5% of all configurations. This is an excellent ranking, but it is notably the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of this high position, as the CPU is not the strongest part in the benchmark database. The GPU’s 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs contributes more to the combo’s performance than the CPU’s 85th percentile ranking.

The rank of 71 out of 2,825 means there are 70 other combinations that perform better in this specific game. Given that the RTX 4090 is one of the most powerful GPUs available, the combos ranked above it likely pair the RTX 4090 with higher-performing CPUs, such as those with more cores or higher boost clocks. The Core Ultra 5 225’s nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks are all within 0.5% of its average score, which suggests that swapping to a similar-tier CPU would not change the ranking significantly. However, the data shows that this combo is already near the top of the performance curve, and the measured FPS at 1080p Low (317 FPS) is so high that any CPU upgrade would yield diminishing returns.

The ranking also reflects the game’s age and optimization. The Technomancer from 2016 does not utilize modern CPU features like multi-threading or ray tracing, so the RTX 4090’s brute force is the main factor. The combo’s position at 71st place out of 2,825 is a strong result, and the measured data confirms that this system can handle the game at maximum settings with playable frame rates, even at 4K. For most users, this ranking indicates a top-tier experience, and the only way to improve upon it would be to pair the RTX 4090 with a higher-end CPU, but the gains would be minimal given the current frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra settings with this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 169 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors and provides a very smooth experience.

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

A: Yes, the data shows that at 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 77, and at Ultra settings, it drops to 61 FPS. This means 4K is playable, but you may need to lower settings to High for a more comfortable frame rate margin.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average FPS is 141. At 3840x2160 High, the average FPS is 77, which represents a 45% decrease. This drop is consistent with the GPU becoming the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the min FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured min FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 140 FPS, while the average is 165 FPS and the max is 190 FPS. This indicates stable frame delivery with no major dips.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36,938. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36,945, delta 0%), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37,018, delta -0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37,093, delta -0.4%). The differences are negligible, meaning performance is nearly identical.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144 Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: The data shows that High settings at 2560x1440 deliver 141 FPS, which is just below the 144 Hz cap. This is the optimal choice, as Medium at 165 FPS does not offer a significant advantage, and Ultra at 110 FPS is below the refresh rate.