The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly capable at standard resolutions, but begins to show strain at the highest fidelity settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, interpreting what the frame rates indicate about the balance between the CPU and GPU in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data across the three tested resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. At 1080p, the system is exceptionally fast, with the average frame rate at Low settings reaching 214 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that Low setting average drops to 140 FPS, a reduction of 74 FPS. At 4K, the Low setting average falls further to 77 FPS. This steep decline as resolution increases points directly to the GPU as the primary limiting factor. The workload is becoming more demanding on the renderer, and the RTX 4080 is the component that must work harder to produce each frame.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 92 at 1440p to 50 at 4K, a reduction of 42 FPS. This is a significant hit, and it demonstrates that 4K resolution requires a substantial amount of processing power. The pattern holds for all quality presets, reinforcing that the game's demands scale aggressively with pixel count. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, users will need to make compromises in the quality settings, as the system cannot maintain high frame rates at the highest visual fidelity.

The difference between 1080p and 1440p is less severe but still notable. At Ultra settings, the system achieves 109 FPS at 1080p but only 72 FPS at 1440p. This 37 FPS drop indicates that even at 1440p, the GPU is being pushed considerably harder. The CPU has an easier time at lower resolutions, as the data shows it is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach very high frame rates. However, the scaling curve suggests that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rate drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant force in this configuration. Its specifications are substantial, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The GPU also operates with a boost clock of 2505 MHz. These specifications are directly reflected in the measured frame rates. The GPU's ability to handle the 4K resolution is evident, but the performance ceiling is clear when looking at the Ultra preset, where the average FPS drops to 39.

The VRAM capacity is a key asset for this game at high resolutions. With 16 GB of video memory, the RTX 4080 is unlikely to be constrained by texture memory limits, even at 4K with Ultra settings. This allows the GPU to focus on raw compute rather than memory swapping. The data shows that the drop in FPS from Medium to Ultra at 4K is from 59 to 39, a 20 FPS difference. This is a substantial performance cost for the highest quality preset, indicating that the Ultra settings likely introduce effects that heavily tax the GPU's compute and memory subsystems.

The GPU's standing in the broader benchmark landscape is strong. It holds an 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 54,247, placing it in close competition with the RTX 4080 SUPER, which has a score of 54,209 and a deltaPct of 0.1. This indicates that the non-SUPER variant is performing at a level nearly identical to its successor, showing that this GPU is a very capable piece of hardware. The data from The Technomancer aligns with this, as the GPU is able to push high frame rates at 1080p and solid performance at 1440p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, while a powerful mobile processor, plays a secondary role in this game's performance. With 16 cores and 22 threads, and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, it is more than capable of handling the game's logic. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15,028, show it is a highly competent processor. However, in The Technomancer, the data suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the frame rates are very high.

The CPU's performance is best seen in the 1080p results. At Low settings, the system hits 214 FPS, which indicates the CPU can process the game's simulation and draw calls quickly enough to not hold back the GPU. The gap between 1080p and 1440p performance is where the CPU's influence wanes. As the resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's utilization likely decreases. The CPU's 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,697, places it in a competitive position.

The CPU's position relative to its rivals reinforces its capability. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has an average score of 32,707, a deltaPct of 0, making them effectively equal in performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 is also a close competitor, with a score of 32,662 and a deltaPct of 0.1. These results, while from general benchmarks, indicate that the Ultra 7 155H is a robust processor that should not create a significant bottleneck in most gaming scenarios. In this game, the data supports the conclusion that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the specific database for The Technomancer, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a rank of 883 out of 2,825 tested combos. This places the system in the top 31% of all configurations tested. This is a solid ranking, but it is not a top-tier placement, which is interesting given the high-end nature of the GPU. The ranking suggests that while the GPU is very fast, other combinations with different CPUs may be able to extract slightly more performance, or the game is particularly sensitive to other hardware attributes.

The fact that the combo is not ranked higher reflects the game's age and optimization. A 2016 title may not scale perfectly with the latest hardware architectures. The CPU, despite being a new Meteor Lake part, may not be providing the optimal conditions for the RTX 4080 in this specific title. The ranking indicates that the system is performing well, but there is a significant portion of other tested combinations that achieve higher average frame rates. The data implies that for this game, a different CPU pairing might yield better results.

This ranking is contextual. It doesn't mean the system is slow, but rather that it is outperformed by 883 other combinations. The system is clearly capable of playing the game at high frame rates, but it is not the absolute best configuration for this title. The ranking underscores the idea that game performance is a complex interplay between components, and a top-tier GPU does not automatically guarantee a top-tier system ranking in every game. The data suggests that the RTX 4080 is being utilized, but perhaps not to its full potential in this older title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system excels. The Low preset yields an average of 214 FPS. The High preset averages 140 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 164 FPS with a minimum of 139 and a maximum of 189. The Ultra preset, the most demanding, still achieves a very playable average of 109 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system can easily handle any settings for a high-refresh-rate monitor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 140 FPS, and the High preset averages 92 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 107 FPS, with a range of 91 to 123 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 72 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is a sweet spot for this system, offering a good balance between visual quality and frame rate. Even at Ultra, the system maintains a frame rate that is generally considered smooth for most players.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limits become apparent. The Low preset averages 77 FPS, which is still a solid result for 4K. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. The High preset averages 50 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, bringing the average down to 39 FPS. This data clearly shows that for a 4K gaming experience, users will need to select the Low or Medium presets to achieve consistently smooth frame rates, as the High and Ultra presets will likely result in a less responsive experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as the average of 109 FPS is more than sufficient for a smooth experience. Even the most demanding setting does not compromise playability at this resolution. For users with a 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitor, the Medium preset, with an average of 164 FPS, would be a better option to push the frame rate higher, though the High preset at 140 FPS is also a strong contender.

At 2560x1440, the High preset offers an excellent balance, providing a high-quality image at an average of 92 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 72 FPS, is also a viable option for players who prioritize visual quality over a higher frame rate. The Medium preset, with an average of 107 FPS, is suitable for those seeking a performance advantage. The data suggests that the High preset is the recommended sweet spot for most users at this resolution, as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium with a manageable performance cost.

For 3840x2160, the recommendations are more restrictive. The Low preset, with an average of 77 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset, at 59 FPS, is playable but may exhibit occasional dips. The High and Ultra presets, at 50 and 39 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the data strongly suggests using the Low preset to maintain a high frame rate, or the Medium preset if a 60 FPS target is the absolute goal and minor drops are acceptable.

FAQ

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

A: At 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset, the system achieves an average frame rate of 109 FPS.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution?

A: The performance at 3840x2160 varies by setting. The Low preset averages 77 FPS, Medium averages 59 FPS, High averages 50 FPS, and Ultra averages 39 FPS.

Q: Which resolution and settings provide the best balance of quality and performance?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset, with an average of 92 FPS, provides an excellent balance between visual quality and smooth gameplay. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is also a strong choice with 109 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the system's ranking compared to other tested combinations?

A: This combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 883rd out of 2,825 tested combos for The Technomancer.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this system?

A: The lowest average frame rate recorded is 39 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.