The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, shows a clear performance hierarchy with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination. The measured FPS data reveals a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, offering a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring some compromises. This analysis breaks down the measured results, focusing on where the bottleneck lies, how each component contributes, and what settings provide the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and tells a clear story about what limits this system in The Technomancer. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 138 FPS at 1920x1080 to 90 FPS at 2560x1440, a 34.8% reduction, and then to 50 FPS at 3840x2160, a 63.8% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The data shows that the RX 7800 XT is the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases, because the CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution in the same way.

Examining the Low preset reveals the same trend. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 210 FPS, which drops to 137 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 34.8% decrease) and then to 76 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 63.8% decrease from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across presets is notable. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely doing more of the heavy lifting, but the GPU still handles the final rendering. The fact that 4K Low (76 FPS) is significantly lower than 1440p High (90 FPS) suggests that the sheer pixel count at 4K overwhelms the GPU regardless of the visual fidelity settings.

The Medium preset provides the only min and max FPS data points in the measurements, offering insight into frame time consistency. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 162 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS and a maximum of 186 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average drops to 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS. The spread between minimum and maximum FPS widens proportionally with the average drop, indicating that the frame pacing issues become more pronounced at higher resolutions. The 4K Medium minimum of 49 FPS shows that even this preset can dip below the 60 FPS threshold, which is a critical consideration for smooth gameplay.

This scaling behavior is typical of a system where the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the RX 7800 XT’s raw rendering power is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 3840x2160. The benchmark results suggest that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combination, as the High preset at 90 FPS provides a good balance of detail and performance, while 4K requires dropping to Low settings to approach playable frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, AI, and physics calculations, and its performance is reflected in the high frame rates at 1080p. At 1920x1080 Low, the system hits 210 FPS, which strongly suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution and settings combination. The CPU’s multithreaded capabilities, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32924, provide ample processing power for this game’s demands.

The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48995. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (average score 49196, deltaPct -0.4), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (average score 49228, deltaPct -0.5), and the Intel Core i5-14600K (average score 48618, deltaPct 0.8). These deltas are all within 1%, indicating that the Core Ultra 5 245 performs on par with these processors in general benchmarks. In a game like The Technomancer, which is not known for being heavily CPU-bound, this level of performance is more than sufficient.

The single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648. This is important because many game engines, including those from 2016, rely heavily on a few threads for main game logic. The boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensures that these single-threaded tasks are handled quickly. The fact that the 1080p Low preset reaches 210 FPS, while the 1080p Ultra preset drops to 108 FPS, indicates that the GPU becomes the bottleneck as settings increase, even at 1080p. This further confirms that the CPU has enough headroom to avoid holding back the RX 7800 XT in this title.

Data from Passmark also shows strong CPU performance: multithread score of 38706, single-thread score of 4394, and integer math score of 91187. The floating point math score of 120548 and the physics score of 2569 are also solid for gaming workloads. However, the game’s measured FPS data is the definitive proof. At 1080p, the CPU can push well over 200 FPS when the GPU is not stressed, but the actual average at High settings is 138 FPS, which is still a very high frame rate. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s) provide sufficient data throughput for the game’s assets.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2430 MHz, with a game clock of 2124 MHz. The GPU has 3840 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The measured FPS data shows that this GPU is the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is just 39, which is not playable for most users. At 4K High, it improves to 50 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it reaches 58 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS. Only at 4K Low does it cross the 60 FPS threshold, hitting 76 FPS.

The GPU’s raw compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 37.32 TFLOPS. Its Passmark G3D score is 24176, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 4157. However, its percentile vs all GPUs is only 51, and its average benchmark score of 11627 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, which include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (avgScore 11680, deltaPct -0.5) and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (avgScore 11842, deltaPct -1.8). This is a critical observation: the RX 7800 XT’s general benchmark scores are on par with much older and less powerful GPUs, which explains why it struggles at 4K in this title. The deltaPct values are all within 1.8% of these rivals, meaning that in synthetic benchmarks, the RX 7800 XT is not significantly faster than a GTX 1660.

This does not tell the whole story for gaming, but it does indicate that The Technomancer, released in 2016, may not leverage the RX 7800 XT’s modern architecture efficiently. The GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM is ample for this game, even at 4K, so memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s is also more than sufficient. The bottleneck is likely the GPU’s shading and rasterization throughput relative to the game’s engine. The fact that 4K Low (76 FPS) is far below 1080p Ultra (108 FPS) highlights that the GPU’s fill rate and pixel processing are the main constraints.

The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 support are modern, but The Technomancer is an older title that may not utilize these APIs effectively. The measured data shows a clear pattern: the GPU can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease, but 4K demands a significant reduction in settings. The 2560x1440 High preset at 90 FPS is the highest resolution and quality combination that maintains a smooth experience, suggesting that the GPU’s sweet spot is 1440p. The 50 FPS at 4K High is borderline, and the 39 FPS at 4K Ultra is unplayable, indicating that for 4K gaming, users would need to rely on upscaling technologies or lower settings, but those are not reflected in this data.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 2560x1440 provides the best balance. At High settings, the average FPS is 90, which is smooth. At 1920x1080, the average is 138 FPS, but the visual fidelity is lower. At 3840x2160, the average at High settings drops to 50 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Low settings, the average FPS is 76, which is playable. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS. At 4K High, the average is 50 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 39 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, 4K Low is the only viable preset.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 compare to its nearest rivals in general CPU benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, scores 49196, a deltaPct of -0.4. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228 (deltaPct -0.5), while the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618 (deltaPct 0.8). All rivals are within 1% of each other, indicating near-identical general performance.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT a strong performer in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 11627, which puts it in the 51st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, scores 11680 (deltaPct -0.5). The AMD Radeon Pro 5500M scores 11528 (deltaPct 0.9), and the NVIDIA Tesla K20c scores 11479 (deltaPct 1.3). This shows that in synthetic tests, the RX 7800 XT is not significantly ahead of much older hardware.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 High, the average FPS is 138. At 2560x1440 High, the average is 90 FPS. This is a 34.8% reduction in performance, which is directly attributable to the increased pixel count that the GPU must render.

Q: Does the 16 GB VRAM of the RX 7800 XT help at 4K?

A: The data suggests that VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor, as the game runs at 4K with 16 GB of memory. The average FPS at 4K High is 50, and at 4K Ultra it is 39. The performance drop is due to the GPU’s rendering throughput, not memory capacity, since the game’s memory requirements are well within 16 GB.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For a 60 FPS target at 4K, the Low preset is the only choice, achieving an average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K averages 58 FPS, which is close but has a minimum of 49 FPS, meaning there will be noticeable dips below 60 FPS. High and Ultra at 4K are not recommended for smooth gameplay, with averages of 50 FPS and 39 FPS respectively.

For 1440p, the High preset offers the best experience, with an average of 90 FPS. This provides a significant visual improvement over Low (137 FPS) and Medium (106 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 70 FPS, which is still playable, but the jump from High to Ultra may not be worth the 22% performance hit (90 FPS to 70 FPS). The Medium preset’s minimum of 90 FPS and maximum of 121 FPS show good consistency, but High offers more detail for a modest FPS cost.

At 1080p, the High preset is the recommended starting point, with an average of 138 FPS. This is well above 60 FPS and provides good visual quality. The Medium preset averages 162 FPS, which is better for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often noticeable. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 108 FPS, which is still smooth, but the performance cost from High (138 FPS) to Ultra (108 FPS) is a 21.7% reduction. For most users, the High preset at 1080p offers the best balance, as the jump to Ultra provides diminishing returns in visual fidelity for a significant FPS drop.

The data shows that the Medium preset provides the most consistent frame times, as it is the only one with min and max FPS measurements. At 1080p Medium, the min is 137 FPS and max is 186 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the min is 90 FPS and max is 121 FPS. At 4K Medium, the min is 49 FPS and max is 67 FPS. This consistency suggests that Medium is a stable choice, but the higher presets are still playable at lower resolutions. The core recommendation is to target 1440p High for the best overall experience, as it balances visual detail with a frame rate that is significantly above the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS of 210. This is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset, indicating that the CPU and GPU are both operating with significant headroom. This preset is ideal for competitive play or very high refresh rate displays.
• Medium: Average FPS of 162, with a minimum of 137 and a maximum of 186. This shows a very playable frame rate with a spread of 49 FPS between min and max, indicating good frame pacing.
• High: Average FPS of 138. This is a strong result for a high-detail preset, offering a smooth experience on standard 60 Hz or 144 Hz monitors.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 108. This is still a very playable frame rate, but it represents a 21.7% drop from High settings, showing that the Ultra preset is demanding.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS of 137. This is identical to the 1080p High preset, showing that the GPU is still capable of high frame rates when settings are lowered.
• Medium: Average FPS of 106, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 121. The minimum of 90 FPS is excellent, ensuring that frame rates never dip below the 60 FPS threshold.
• High: Average FPS of 90. This is the recommended preset for 1440p, offering a great balance of visual quality and performance. The 90 FPS average is smooth and responsive.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 70. This is a playable frame rate, but the drop from High (90 FPS) to Ultra (70 FPS) is a 22.2% reduction, which may be noticeable in fast-paced action.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS of 76. This is the only 4K preset that averages above 60 FPS, making it the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience at this resolution.
• Medium: Average FPS of 58, with a minimum of 49 and a maximum of 67. This is borderline playable, but the minimum of 49 FPS means there will be noticeable stutters and dips below 60 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 50. This is below the 60 FPS target and will feel less smooth, especially in combat or scenes with many effects.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 39. This is not recommended for gameplay, as the frame rate is too low for a responsive experience. The data clearly shows that 4K Ultra is too demanding for the RX 7800 XT in this title.

The data across all resolutions confirms a consistent pattern: the RX 7800 XT is the bottleneck at 4K, while the Core Ultra 5 245 provides sufficient CPU performance at all tested settings. The 1080p and 1440p results show that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming, with the 1440p High preset being the standout configuration for visual quality and frame rate. The 4K results are a reminder that this GPU, despite its 16 GB of VRAM, is not a 4K powerhouse for this particular game.