The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a unique challenge for modern hardware. The benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 shows a configuration that delivers a highly playable experience across most resolutions, with performance scaling predictably as settings and pixel counts rise. The combination of a 14-core Arrow Lake processor and a Blackwell-architecture GPU provides a balanced foundation, though the data reveals where each component takes the lead depending on the workload.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in The Technomancer?

A: This specific combo ranks at 1226 out of 2825 tested combinations, placing it in the 56th percentile of all systems tested for this game.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. It performs within a 0.2% margin of the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303, and is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% faster) and Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% slower).

Q: What is the GPU's standing relative to other graphics cards based on its average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060's average benchmark score is 26331. It sits within a 1.2% performance delta of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT and is slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which are 0.3% slower.

Q: What is the best performance you can achieve at 1080p with this hardware?

A: At 1920x1080 resolution, the highest average frame rate recorded is 180 FPS with Low settings. The Ultra preset still delivers a very smooth 92 FPS average.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the High preset yields an average of 42 FPS. To achieve a smoother experience above 60 FPS at 4K, the data shows you would need to drop to Low settings, which averages 65 FPS.

Q: What are the key specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235?

A: This processor features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It has 24 MB of shared L3 cache and a TDP of 65 W.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places the Core Ultra 5 235 and RTX 5060 combination at rank 1226 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places the configuration in the upper-middle tier of all systems evaluated, suggesting it is more capable than the average setup but not at the absolute top end. The percentile placement, at roughly the 56th mark, indicates that a significant number of other combinations, likely with higher-tier GPUs or CPUs, are capable of producing higher frame rates.

This ranking is a function of both components. The CPU's general performance percentile is high, sitting at the 89th percentile when compared to all other CPUs. However, the GPU's percentile is lower, at the 72nd percentile among all GPUs. This discrepancy suggests that in many gaming scenarios, the RTX 5060 is more likely to be the limiting factor than the processor, which is a common dynamic in modern gaming systems. The combo's rank reflects the balance of these two components; the strong CPU helps boost the overall score, but the GPU's position in the market prevents the combo from breaking into the top tier of performers. There is no data to suggest that this pairing creates any significant bottleneck, but the difference in their relative performance percentiles does point to the GPU as the primary driver of frame rate in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on the Arrow Lake-S architecture using a 3 nm process. It has 14 cores and 14 threads, a configuration that relies on a high boost clock of 5.00 GHz to drive single-threaded performance, while its 14 physical cores handle multi-threaded workloads. The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable resource for gaming, as it helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores. The data shows a strong synthetic benchmark profile, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to maintain a stable frame delivery and ensure the game's logic and physics are processed without becoming a bottleneck. The measured FPS data suggests this is not an issue. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 180 FPS, a number that is more likely limited by the GPU's raw output than the CPU's processing power. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz is instrumental in achieving these high frame rates, as it ensures the game's main thread has access to strong single-core performance. The CPU's general performance is nearly identical to that of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, Intel Core i9-13900HX, and two EPYC server chips, all within a 0.2% margin. This indicates that the Ultra 5 235 is a highly competitive processor for gaming, providing a level of performance that is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 5060 in this title. The processor's 65 W TDP also suggests it can sustain these boost clocks without excessive thermal throttling, which is beneficial for consistent long-session performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combo show a clear and consistent scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the data shows a range of 180 FPS on Low to 92 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 138 FPS and High at 118 FPS round out the options. The 1440p results show a similar trend, with Low at 118 FPS, High at 77 FPS, Medium at 90 FPS, and Ultra at 60 FPS. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, with Low averaging 65 FPS, Medium at 50 FPS, High at 42 FPS, and Ultra at 33 FPS.

The data available for the Medium preset at each resolution includes minimum FPS values. At 1080p, the min FPS is 117, which is very close to the 138 average, indicating a stable experience. At 1440p, the min FPS is 77, which is also a solid minimum. At 4K, the min FPS is 42, which is lower than the 50 average but still within a playable range for a title like this. These minimums provide insight into frame pacing; the 4K result shows a larger gap between average and minimum FPS, suggesting a more variable experience at higher resolutions. The data clearly shows that the most fluid and responsive experience is found at 1080p, where even the Ultra preset maintains an average well above 60 FPS. For users prioritizing a high refresh rate experience, the 1080p Low setting at 180 FPS would be the primary target, though the High and Medium presets also offer very high frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the primary driver of visual performance in this configuration. It is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. Its 3840 shading units are responsible for the bulk of the rendering work, and its 48 ROPs handle the final pixel output. The GPU's performance percentile of 72 places it in the upper tier of all graphics cards, but its average benchmark score of 26331 shows that it is closely matched with the previous generation's Radeon RX 6750 XT and the lower-end MX550 in synthetic tests.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role becomes more significant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU is powerful enough to drive high frame rates, and the GPU is able to keep up, producing 180 FPS on Low and 92 FPS on Ultra. This indicates a well-balanced pairing at this resolution. However, as the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the rendering load on the GPU increases exponentially. The frame rate drops from 118 FPS at 1080p High to 77 FPS at 1440p High, and further to 42 FPS at 4K High. This scaling shows that the GPU is the limiting factor in these scenarios; its 8 GB of VRAM and raw compute power are what determine the final frame rate. The 4K Ultra preset's 33 FPS average is a clear indication that this resolution and setting combination is too demanding for the RTX 5060. The GPU's performance is the deciding factor for the overall experience at higher resolutions, making it the component to watch when adjusting settings for a smoother frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate priority. For a 1080p display, the High preset at 118 FPS offers an excellent balance between visual fidelity and performance, providing a smooth and detailed experience. Users with high refresh rate monitors could consider the Low preset to reach 180 FPS, but the jump to Medium at 138 FPS is a more balanced choice that still offers a significant frame rate advantage over High. The Ultra preset at 92 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize maximum visual quality, as it remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1440p, the High preset at 77 FPS is the recommended choice for a smooth, high-quality experience. The Medium preset at 90 FPS is a strong alternative for users who prefer a higher frame rate, while the Ultra preset at 60 FPS is the minimum recommended for a playable experience, providing a consistent 60 FPS average. The Low preset at 118 FPS is available for competitive or high-refresh-rate play but compromises visual detail. For 4K, the data suggests that the High preset is not ideal, as its 42 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 50 FPS is more playable but still not optimal. To achieve a consistent 60 FPS or higher at this resolution, the user must select the Low preset, which averages 65 FPS. The Ultra preset at 33 FPS is not recommended for standard play.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions is a clear indicator of where the bottleneck lies in this system. When moving from 1080p to 1440p on the High preset, the average FPS drops from 118 to 77, a 34.7% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K on the same preset results in a further drop from 77 to 42 FPS, a 45.5% decrease. This pattern of increasingly large percentage drops as resolution increases is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain similar regardless of resolution, as the processing load on the CPU would be the same. Instead, we see a significant and consistent drop in performance with each resolution increase. This indicates that the RTX 5060 is being pushed to its limits, and its rendering throughput is the primary constraint on performance. The 4K results, in particular, show this limitation clearly. The drop from 50 FPS on Medium to 42 FPS on High and 33 FPS on Ultra shows how sensitive the GPU is to the increased shading and texture load. The scaling behavior confirms that for users wanting to play at 4K, lowering settings is the only way to achieve a playable frame rate, as the GPU cannot handle the higher resolution at higher detail levels. The system is well-balanced at 1080p, but becomes increasingly GPU-limited as the pixel count grows.