The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting study in hardware scaling when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. The benchmark data for this combination reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s capabilities become more apparent only at the most demanding settings. The measured results indicate a configuration capable of delivering high frame rates across the board, but the performance curves highlight distinct bottlenecks that shift depending on the resolution and preset chosen.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression across resolutions is the most telling metric for this pairing. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 298 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 195 FPS, and at 4K it falls further to 107 FPS. This scaling demonstrates that the RTX 4080 is the primary limiting factor, as the performance penalty from increasing pixel count is substantial. The data shows a clear pattern: for every resolution step up, the average frame rate drops significantly, indicating that the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU's instruction processing, is the constraint.

At the High preset, the scaling is slightly different. The gap between 1080p (195 FPS) and 1440p (128 FPS) is a 67 FPS reduction, while the drop from 1440p to 4K (70 FPS) is 58 FPS. This suggests that even at High settings, the workload remains heavily skewed toward the GPU. The frame rate at 4K High is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, showing that the RTX 4080 has substantial headroom in this title, but the scaling curve indicates that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting.

The Ultra preset reveals the most severe performance scaling. At 1080p, the average is 152 FPS, which drops to 100 FPS at 1440p and then to 55 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured point below 60 FPS, showing that this combination struggles to maintain a smooth experience at the absolute maximum settings. This steep decline from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings suggests that the game's most demanding effects, likely including heavy post-processing and shadow quality, place an enormous load on the GPU, and the RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are fully taxed.

The data indicates that the limiting component at all resolutions and settings is the GPU. The CPU's influence is minimal, as evidenced by the fact that even at 1080p Low, where CPU overhead is typically more significant, the frame rate scales predictably with resolution. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, does not appear to be a bottleneck in this title; rather, the RTX 4080's raw pixel-pushing power dictates the performance envelope.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is built on the Arrow Lake architecture and features 14 cores with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, as the game is clearly GPU-bound. The processor’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085, place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong performance. However, these capabilities are not fully utilized in this specific game.

The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU should theoretically have the most influence, the frame rate is 298 FPS. This is a high number, but it does not suggest that the CPU is a limiting factor; rather, it suggests that the GPU is still capable of producing more frames. The fact that the frame rate drops to 195 FPS at 1440p and 107 FPS at 4K at the same settings confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU is consistently able to feed the GPU with data, as evidenced by the lack of any anomalous frame rate drops or stutters in the measured data.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030) and 0.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 4364P (45970). It is 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098). These deltas are negligible, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios, this processor would perform nearly identically to its closest competitors. However, since The Technomancer is not CPU-bound, these differences would not manifest in the game's frame rates.

The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and DDR5 memory support with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s are sufficient for the game's data requirements. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz on a single core is likely what helps maintain high minimum frame rates in more complex scenes, but the data does not show any specific CPU-related bottlenecks. The processor's performance in Passmark's physics test (2570) and integer math test (87948) suggests robust computational abilities, yet the game's engine does not appear to stress these components heavily. The conclusion is that the Core Ultra 5 235 provides a stable platform, but the RTX 4080 is the component that determines the final frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 229 FPS, with a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 263 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 55 FPS. This is the lowest measured average across all tested configurations, indicating that the GPU is fully saturated.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution, indicating the GPU is the limiting component. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, placing it in the 89th percentile, but this performance is not fully utilized.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1440p and 4K at High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average frame rate is 128 FPS. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average drops to 70 FPS. This represents a 58 FPS reduction when moving from 1440p to 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247. This is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (54209) and 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828).

Q: Does the 1080p Low setting provide a playable experience?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 298 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and even the minimum frame rate is not listed as a concern.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 213 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the top 5.8% of all configurations tested, indicating that it is a high-performing setup for this title. The rank suggests that while there are many combinations that deliver higher frame rates, this specific pairing is well above the median performance level.

The rank is a composite measure that considers the overall performance across all tested resolutions and settings. Given that the combo achieves 298 FPS at 1080p Low and 70 FPS at 4K High, it is clear that the system is capable of handling the game with ease at most settings. The only configuration that falls below 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which is an extreme scenario that would challenge even the most powerful GPUs.

The GPU's percentile of 86 and the CPU's percentile of 89 both contribute to this strong ranking. The RTX 4080's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6567 and Passmark G3D score of 34457 are indicative of its high-end status. The CPU's multi-threaded performance, as seen in the Passmark multi-thread score of 37816, also supports the overall ranking. The combo's position at 213 out of 3696 confirms the balanced nature of the two components, where neither is significantly holding the other back in this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 298 FPS. This is the highest measured average in the entire dataset, indicating that the GPU is not being pushed hard and the CPU is providing ample support.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 229 FPS, with a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 263 FPS. The minimum frame rate is still exceptionally high, ensuring a smooth experience.
• High: The average frame rate is 195 FPS. This represents a significant drop from Medium, but it is still well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 152 FPS. The Ultra preset introduces more demanding effects, but the system still delivers a very playable frame rate.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 195 FPS. This is identical to the 1080p High result, showing that the GPU is still the primary constraint.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 149 FPS, with a minimum of 127 FPS and a maximum of 172 FPS. The minimum frame rate is still above 60 FPS, providing a consistent experience.
• High: The average frame rate is 128 FPS. This is a solid result for 1440p gaming, ensuring high refresh rate play.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 100 FPS. This is a strong result, showing that the RTX 4080 can handle 1440p Ultra with ease.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average frame rate is 107 FPS. This is above 60 FPS, making it a viable option for 4K gaming with lower visual fidelity.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. The minimum frame rate is still above 60 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay.
• High: The average frame rate is 70 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for 4K, though it is closer to the 60 FPS threshold.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 55 FPS. This is the only measured configuration that falls below 60 FPS, indicating that the GPU is fully saturated with the highest settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 4K gaming, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 70 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, staying above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 4K offers a higher average of 82 FPS, which is beneficial for those seeking a more comfortable margin, but the visual fidelity is reduced. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 55 FPS average falls below the standard for smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, achieving an average of 100 FPS. This allows for maximum visual quality while still maintaining a high frame rate. The High preset at 1440p, with an average of 128 FPS, is also a strong option for those with high refresh rate monitors, but Ultra provides a more immersive experience without a significant performance penalty.

For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is also the recommended choice, with an average of 152 FPS. This is well above the refresh rate of most standard monitors and provides the best visual experience. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 195 FPS, is better suited for competitive play where frame rate is paramount, but the visual difference between High and Ultra is often subtle.

In summary, the data indicates that the Ultra preset is the best experience for 1080p and 1440p, while High is the optimal choice for 4K. The Low and Medium presets are only recommended for users who prioritize extremely high frame rates over visual quality, but the measured averages show that the system is capable of handling higher settings without issue. The RTX 4080's 16 GB of memory and the CPU's strong performance support these recommendations, ensuring that the game runs smoothly at the suggested settings.