The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 CPU with the Intel Arc B370 integrated GPU yields specific, quantifiable results. The data indicates that this pairing is positioned at the lower end of the performance spectrum for this title, making it a subject of interest for understanding baseline playability and hardware scaling. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a clear picture of what users can expect from this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 2,825 tested combinations for The Technomancer, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and Intel Arc B370 ranks at 2,603. This places it in the 92nd percentile from the bottom, signifying that it outperforms only a small fraction of the other tested systems. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance class. The Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score of 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a fundamental limitation for a graphically intensive game like The Technomancer. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which reinforces its position as a low-power, entry-level graphics solution.

In contrast, the CPU is a much stronger component. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46,062. Its performance is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, trailing by just 0.1%, and it is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900HX. The data suggests that the processor is not the primary constraint in this pairing. The measured in-game FPS, which maxes out at 71 frames per second at 1080p Low settings, is a far cry from what the CPU alone could theoretically support, pointing to the integrated GPU as the definitive bottleneck. The combo's rank is therefore a reflection of the GPU's limitations within the context of this game, not the overall capability of the system's processor.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured performance data, achieving a smooth and consistent experience in The Technomancer with this hardware requires careful attention to settings. The primary goal is to find a configuration that balances visual quality with a playable frame rate. The data provides clear guidance on which presets are viable at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only setting that yields a consistently playable frame rate, with an average of 71 FPS. While the Medium preset achieves an average of 55 FPS, its minimum recorded frame rate of 47 FPS suggests potential for noticeable stuttering in demanding scenes. For a more stable experience, the Low preset is the recommended choice. The High preset at 47 FPS average may be acceptable for some, but the significant drop from Low suggests a steep performance cost for the visual improvements.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the performance envelope tightens considerably. The Low preset, with an average of 47 FPS, becomes the only practical option for a reasonably fluid experience. The Medium preset's average of 36 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS, is borderline and likely to feel choppy. At 3840x2160, none of the presets provide a playable frame rate. The Low preset's average of 26 FPS is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where this configuration can approach a high-refresh-rate experience, and only on the lowest settings. For users prioritizing frame rate, the 1080p Low preset is the clear choice, while those who value visual fidelity over performance might explore the 1080p Medium preset, accepting its variable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this system can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 71 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is effectively tied with its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and 0.1% slower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX, based on average benchmark scores.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 capable of running the game at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate achieved is 26 FPS on the Low preset. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 13 FPS, indicating the GPU is not powerful enough for a playable 4K experience.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck in this system for The Technomancer?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B370 sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 89th percentile. The low FPS at higher resolutions and settings points directly to the integrated graphics solution being the constraint.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 71 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 37 FPS. This represents a significant performance drop of 34 FPS for the higher visual quality settings.

Q: Does the system provide a consistent frame rate on the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: No. At 2560x1440 on the Medium preset, the average frame rate is 36 FPS, with a minimum recorded frame rate of 30 FPS. This indicates that frame times can be inconsistent, leading to potential stuttering.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data paints a detailed picture of the system's performance scaling. We begin with the 1920x1080 resolution, where the configuration is most capable. On the Low preset, the system achieves an average of 71 FPS. Stepping up to Medium reduces the average to 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 63 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 47 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 37 FPS. The progression shows a clear and substantial cost for each increase in graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are more pronounced. The Low preset averages 47 FPS, which is a 24 FPS decrease from the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset averages 36 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 41 FPS. The High preset falls to an average of 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset manages only 24 FPS. The data shows that 1440p is a significant challenge for this hardware, and even the lowest settings struggle to maintain a high frame rate.

The 3840x2160 resolution results confirm that this is not a viable gaming environment for this combo. The Low preset averages just 26 FPS. The Medium preset averages 20 FPS, with a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 23 FPS. The High preset drops to 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset bottoms out at 13 FPS. The measured data shows a consistent pattern: the integrated GPU does not have the raw throughput to handle the pixel count of 4K in this title.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. Its performance profile is the defining factor for this system's results in The Technomancer. The GPU's benchmark scores are notably low, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, are over a decade old, which contextualizes its performance tier.

The GPU's memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory (DDR5) rather than dedicated VRAM. Its memory bandwidth is therefore "System Dependent," which can be a limiting factor in a game that requires rapid texture streaming. The core clock speeds are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz, but the actual performance is constrained by the low number of execution units. With 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 render output units (ROPs), the Arc B370's raw processing power is insufficient for demanding scenes. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are theoretical maximums that are not fully realized in practice, as evidenced by the FPS drops at higher resolutions and settings. The 3DMark result and the in-game FPS data both point to a GPU that is best suited for low-resolution, low-detail gaming.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 presents a stark contrast to the GPU. This is a 14-core, 14-thread desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its substantial computing resources are reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14,769 and a single-core score of 2,085. The processor's 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs shows that it is a high-performing part, with its average benchmark score of 46,062 placing it in the same league as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. The measured FPS shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. For instance, the drop from 71 FPS at 1080p Low to 47 FPS at 1440p Low is a clear sign of GPU limitation. If the CPU were the constraint, the frame rate would be more consistent across resolutions. The processor's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 875, should be more than sufficient for a game from 2016. The data suggests that the system's overall performance is almost entirely dictated by the Arc B370's capabilities, leaving the Ultra 5's potential largely untapped in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across the three resolutions reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more severe. For example, on the Low preset, the average frame rate falls from 71 FPS at 1080p to 47 FPS at 1440p, a 34% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K on the same preset, the average falls to 26 FPS, a further 45% reduction. This non-linear scaling is typical of a component that is overwhelmed by the increasing number of pixels it must render.

This pattern strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. The frame rate drops are not proportional to the increase in pixel count, which would be expected if the CPU were the primary bottleneck. A CPU-bound scenario would show similar frame rates at all resolutions, as the processor's workload would be the same. Instead, the data shows frame rates that plummet as resolution increases, which is the definitive signature of a GPU that is running out of pixel processing power and memory bandwidth. The system's inability to maintain playable frame rates at 1440p and 4K, even on the lowest settings, confirms that the integrated GPU is the decisive factor in the overall experience.