The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study in hardware scaling due to its age and engine characteristics. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER across a range of resolutions and settings. The data, derived from measured benchmarks, provides a clear picture of where the bottlenecks lie and how this configuration handles the game's demands.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a significant performance drop as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound title. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 259 FPS. This figure drops to 169 FPS at 1440p and further to 93 FPS at 4K. This scaling indicates that at lower resolutions, the graphics card has ample headroom, and the performance is likely limited by the CPU's ability to feed the frame queue.

The transition from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings results in a 90 FPS reduction, while the move from 1440p to 4K at Low settings sees a 76 FPS drop. This pattern of diminishing returns as pixel count increases is a classic sign of a GPU that becomes progressively more saturated. The RTX 4070 SUPER, with its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth, is well-equipped for these higher resolutions, but the data shows that even it cannot maintain the triple-digit frame rates at 4K that it does at 1440p.

Looking at the High preset, the scaling is similar but more pronounced in percentage terms. The average FPS at 1080p is 170, which falls to 111 at 1440p and 61 at 4K. The 4K result is notably close to the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that this is the point where the GPU's rendering load becomes the primary constraint. The data indicates that for players targeting high refresh rates, 1080p or 1440p are the viable resolutions, while 4K is best reserved for a 60Hz experience with High settings.

The Ultra settings further exacerbate this trend. At 1080p, the average FPS is 133, dropping to 87 at 1440p and 48 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest in the entire dataset and shows a clear 85 FPS difference from the 1080p Ultra result. This suggests that the game’s Ultra preset includes effects that are particularly demanding on the GPU's compute and memory subsystems, making 4K Ultra a challenging target for this hardware combination.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this system for this game. Its specifications, including a boost clock of 2475 MHz and 7168 shading units, provide a substantial amount of raw compute power. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for the texture and geometry data at all tested resolutions, as evidenced by the playable frame rates even at 4K.

The GPU's performance percentile of 83 indicates it ranks in the top 17% of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 43223 places it in close competition with rivals like the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and the GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile, with negligible deltaPct values. In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is clearly central. The frame rate differences between Low and Ultra settings at every resolution are substantial, showing that the graphics card is the primary driver of performance scaling with visual fidelity.

For instance, at 1440p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average FPS from 169 to 87. This 82 FPS difference is almost entirely attributable to the increased GPU workload from higher-quality shadows, textures, and post-processing effects. The RTX 4070 SUPER handles these tasks effectively, but the data shows it is not so powerful that it becomes irrelevant; it is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings, which is expected for a mainstream-to-high-end card.

The GPU’s memory configuration also plays a role. With 12 GB of VRAM, there is no indication from the data that the game is running out of memory, as the 4K High result of 61 FPS is still playable. The bus width of 192-bit, while narrower than some higher-tier cards, is paired with fast GDDR6X to achieve a high bandwidth figure, ensuring that data transfer is not a bottleneck in this scenario.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, provides a solid foundation for gaming. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensure strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and draw calls. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as 2085 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 14769 in multi-core, are respectable, and its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing processor.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but it is not negligible. The evidence for this is in the frame rate scaling at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 259 FPS, which is a very high number that suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU up to that point. However, the fact that the 1080p Low result is not significantly higher than the 1440p Low result (259 vs 169) in a linear fashion suggests that the CPU is beginning to hit its limits at such extreme frame rates.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltaPct values of 0.1% and -0.1% respectively. This indicates that the Ultra 5 235 is in a performance class with these other high-end processors. In this game, the CPU is likely not the primary bottleneck at 4K, where the GPU is clearly saturated, but it enables the high frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p.

The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus help maintain a fluid data flow to the GPU. The benchmark results show that the CPU has enough headroom to avoid limiting the GPU in most scenarios, except perhaps at the very highest frame rates where the per-frame CPU overhead becomes more significant. Overall, the CPU is a capable partner that does not hold back the RTX 4070 SUPER in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds the 414th rank out of 2825 tested combos in this game. This places it in the top 15% of all configurations, which is a strong showing. The rank reflects the balance between the two components and their ability to deliver high frame rates in The Technomancer.

Being in the 414th position out of 2825 means there are many combinations that perform better, likely featuring higher-end GPUs like the RTX 4090 series or more powerful CPUs. However, the rank also indicates that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, making it a high-tier setup for this specific game. The data suggests that the system is well-matched, with neither component being a severe weak link that would drag the overall performance down.

The rank of 414 is a single data point, but it synthesizes the performance across all tested settings and resolutions. It shows that this system is not just capable of running the game, but it is positioned to provide a high-quality experience. The fact that it achieves an average of 61 FPS at 4K High settings confirms its overall capability, and this is reflected in its favorable ranking relative to other combos.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across the board. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. With Low settings, it averages 259 FPS, which drops to 199 FPS at Medium, 170 FPS at High, and 133 FPS at Ultra. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 169 FPS and a maximum of 229 FPS, indicating consistent performance. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the system can easily drive high-refresh-rate monitors even with maxed-out settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Low preset yields an average of 169 FPS, Medium 130 FPS, High 111 FPS, and Ultra 87 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution has a min of 111 FPS and a max of 150 FPS, showing that even the minimum frame rate is above the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution is the sweet spot for this hardware, offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while still maintaining high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU become apparent. The Low preset averages 93 FPS, which is still quite playable. Medium drops to 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS, which is right at the edge of smoothness for some players. High averages 61 FPS, providing a stable 60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset, however, averages 48 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and indicates that this setting is too demanding for a consistent high-refresh experience at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as the average of 133 FPS is high enough to take advantage of such displays. The High preset at 170 FPS is also excellent, but Ultra provides the best visual quality without sacrificing too much performance.

For 1440p, the High preset is recommended for a balance of visual fidelity and performance, offering an average of 111 FPS. This is ideal for a 144Hz monitor. Players who prioritize frame rate above all else can use the Medium preset, which averages 130 FPS. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is also viable for a 60Hz or 75Hz monitor, providing the best image quality.

At 4K, the High preset is the most sensible recommendation, as it delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is perfectly smooth for a 60Hz display. The Medium preset offers a higher average of 71 FPS, which provides more headroom, but the visual fidelity is lower. The Ultra preset, with its 48 FPS average, is not recommended for a standard 60Hz panel, as the frame pacing will be less consistent. The data clearly suggests that High is the ceiling for a good experience at 4K with this hardware.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings is 111 FPS.

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

A: Yes, it can. At 3840x2160 with High settings, it achieves an average of 61 FPS, which is suitable for a 60Hz monitor. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 48 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43223. It is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and 1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile.

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

A: The High preset is the best choice, providing an average of 111 FPS, which is close to the 144Hz refresh rate. The Medium preset offers a higher 130 FPS average if higher frame rates are preferred.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 2085 in the Cinebench R23 single-core test.

Q: Is the system's performance bottlenecked by the CPU or GPU at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The frame rates drop significantly with increased settings, and the CPU has enough power to feed the GPU, as shown by the high performance at lower resolutions.