The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination. The benchmark data indicates that this pairing is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom at 1080p. The measured frame rates show a clear progression of performance degradation as resolution scales, with the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and RDNA 1.0 architecture acting as the primary constraints. This combo ranks in the 2100th position out of 2825 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database, a conclusion strongly supported by the significant performance drop at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 139 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 91 FPS, a 34.5% reduction. Scaling further to 3840x2160, the average falls to 50 FPS, representing a 45.1% drop from 1440p and a 64.0% drop from 1080p. This pattern strongly suggests that the Radeon RX 5700 XT is the limiting component; the performance loss is far more severe than what would be expected if the CPU were the bottleneck.

The High settings preset tells a similar story. At 1080p, the combo manages 91 FPS, which is still very playable. At 1440p, this falls to 60 FPS, exactly the threshold for smooth gameplay on a standard 60 Hz monitor. However, at 4K, the average plummets to 33 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The Ultra preset is even more punishing. The frame rate drops from 71 FPS at 1080p to 47 FPS at 1440p, and finally to a sluggish 26 FPS at 4K. This data indicates that the GPU's compute capabilities and memory bandwidth are insufficient to handle the increased pixel count at higher resolutions, particularly with more demanding settings.

The scaling behavior between 1440p and 4K is particularly telling. For Medium settings, the drop is from 70 FPS to 38 FPS, a 45.7% decline. This is a larger percentage drop than the 30.8% decline seen when moving from 1080p to 1440p (107 FPS to 70 FPS). This non-linear scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of memory bandwidth or fill rate. The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is not a limiting factor in this game; its 14 cores and 24 MB of shared L3 cache are more than sufficient to feed the GPU, even at lower resolutions where frame rates are higher.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, is the central figure in this performance analysis. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a likely culprit for the performance collapse at 4K. The Technomancer, with its detailed environments, can exceed 8 GB of VRAM usage at high resolutions and settings, forcing the GPU to rely on slower system memory, which causes stuttering and frame rate drops. The average FPS at 4K High (33 FPS) and 4K Ultra (26 FPS) suggests this is occurring.

The GPU's clock speeds are another key factor. With a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz, the RX 5700 XT is operating at high frequencies. However, the RDNA 1.0 architecture lacks the newer features and efficiency of later generations. The 9.754 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is a theoretical measure, but the real-world results show that it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The GPU's percentile ranking of 59th among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16361, places it in the mid-range. This is reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (0.1% faster) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (-0.3% slower), showing it sits in a crowded performance tier.

The GPU's DirectX 12 support (12_1) is relevant, but the game's 2016 release date means it may not be fully optimized for this API. The benchmark results show a PassMark DirectX 12 score of 64, compared to 116 for DirectX 11, which could indicate that the game is more efficient on the older API. This is a notable point, as the GPU's performance in this title may be hindered by its driver-level implementation of newer APIs. The 8 GB VRAM is a hard limit, and the data clearly shows that this is a primary bottleneck at 4K, where the frame rates drop below 40 FPS regardless of the settings preset used.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT holds the 2100th rank out of 2825 total combos. This places it in the 25th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly a quarter of all tested systems. This is a low ranking, which aligns with the measured frame rates. The combo is not a top performer, but it is also not the absolute worst. The ranking is likely dragged down by the GPU's performance at 4K, where its 8 GB VRAM is a significant disadvantage.

The CPU's own benchmarks suggest it is not the source of this low ranking. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a percentile ranking of 89th among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% faster), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (-0.1% slower), and the AMD EPYC 4364P (0.2% faster). This indicates that the CPU is a high-performing part, capable of keeping up with much more powerful GPUs. The bottleneck in this combo is clearly the GPU, as the CPU's performance headroom is not being fully utilized, especially at 1080p where frame rates are high.

The combo's rank of 2100 is a direct consequence of the performance ceiling imposed by the RX 5700 XT. While the CPU is in the top 11% of all processors, the GPU is in the 59th percentile. When paired together, the system's overall capability is limited by the weaker component. This is a classic example of a CPU-GPU imbalance, where the processor is far more capable than the graphics card, resulting in a system that is not optimized for high-resolution gaming. The data suggests that to improve the rank, a GPU with more VRAM and higher compute performance would be necessary.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of the combo's performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of delivering high frame rates. The Low preset averages 139 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS, indicating consistent performance. The High preset averages 91 FPS, while the Ultra preset brings the average down to 71 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the combo can handle all settings presets with playable performance, though the Ultra preset is close to the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are more pronounced. The Low preset still manages a solid 91 FPS, but the Medium preset falls to 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. The High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is the minimum for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is less comfortable, averaging 47 FPS. This shows that 1440p is the practical limit for high refresh rate gaming, and even then, only on lower settings. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, users would need to stick with Low or Medium settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is severely challenged. The Low preset is the only one that remains playable, with an average of 50 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 38 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS, showing a stable but low frame rate. The High preset averages 33 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 26 FPS. These results are below the threshold for a smooth experience, indicating that 4K gaming is not viable with this combo for The Technomancer. The data shows a clear and consistent decline in performance as resolution increases, with the most significant drops occurring at 4K.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, all settings presets achieve an average of at least 71 FPS, with the Low preset reaching 139 FPS. At 1440p, the High preset drops to exactly 60 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where the combo can consistently exceed 60 FPS on higher settings.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: No, the benchmark results show that 4K is not a viable option. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 50 on the Low preset, which drops to 33 FPS on High and 26 FPS on Ultra. These frame rates are below the standard 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M with a score of 16351 (0.1% faster) and the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 with a score of 16415 (-0.3% slower). This places the GPU in a very tight performance cluster.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 a bottleneck for the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

A: No, the CPU's benchmark scores are significantly higher than the GPU's. The CPU has a percentile rank of 89th among all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 59th percentile. This suggests the CPU has ample headroom, and the GPU is the primary limiting factor in this game.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 139 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 71 FPS. This is a difference of 68 FPS, or about a 49% reduction in performance when switching from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in the database for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2100th out of 2825 tested combinations. This places it in the lower 25th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and frame rate. For users prioritizing a high refresh rate experience at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the clear choice, delivering an average of 139 FPS. However, the Medium preset offers a better balance, with an average of 107 FPS and a minimum of 91 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a significant visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 1080p is also a strong option, averaging 91 FPS, but the Ultra preset should be avoided if a frame rate above 71 FPS is desired.

At 2560x1440, the options are more limited. The Low preset is the only one that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, with an average of 91 FPS. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS, but its minimum of 59 FPS means it can occasionally dip below the 60 FPS mark. The High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, at 47 FPS, is not recommended for a smooth experience. For 1440p gaming, the data suggests using the Low or Medium preset to maintain a consistent frame rate.

For 3840x2160, the recommendation is to avoid this resolution entirely. Even the Low preset, which is the best performer at 50 FPS, is below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset offers 38 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 33 and 26 FPS, respectively. The performance at 4K is too low to provide an enjoyable experience. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to play at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which provides a high average frame rate of 107 FPS and a minimum of 91 FPS, ensuring smooth performance without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. This combination of resolution and settings provides the best balance of performance and quality according to the data.