The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting scaling test for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The measured data shows a combination that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions but reveals the CPU's limitations at lower settings. This mobile processor, despite its 16 cores and 22 threads, anchors the system's performance in specific scenarios, while the top-tier desktop GPU provides massive headroom for high refresh rates. The following analysis breaks down the measured results to offer practical settings advice and contextualize this combo's standing against the broader benchmark database.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience in The Technomancer. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset yields an average of 120 FPS, which is already excellent for a smooth experience. However, the data shows that dropping to High increases the average to 153 FPS, a 27.5% improvement. Given that the High preset likely offers visually similar quality to Ultra in most scenes, the High setting is the optimal choice for 1080p to maximize frame rate without a significant visual penalty. The Medium preset provides an even higher 180 FPS average, but the jump from High to Medium is less necessary when the High preset already exceeds the refresh rate of most standard monitors.

At 2560x1440, the High preset maintains a strong 100 FPS average. This is a solid target for high-refresh-rate gaming, making High the recommended preset for this resolution. The Ultra preset drops to 78 FPS, which is still playable but sacrifices the headroom needed for a 144Hz or higher display. The Medium preset at 117 FPS is a viable alternative if you prefer more headroom, but the visual step down from High is more noticeable than the performance gain. The sweet spot is High, balancing the measured 100 FPS with the expected visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes drastically. The Ultra preset averages only 43 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience on many displays. The High preset improves this to 55 FPS, which is more playable but still not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset, with an average of 65 FPS and a minimum of 55 FPS, offers the best balance for 4K. It provides a frame rate that is generally fluid, and the minimum FPS indicates that it holds up reasonably well under load. The Low preset reaches 84 FPS, but the visual compromise at this resolution is likely too severe. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended choice to achieve a playable and visually acceptable experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a mobile processor with a hybrid architecture, featuring 16 cores and 22 threads. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, boosting up to 4.80 GHz. The data suggests that The Technomancer is not heavily reliant on multi-threaded performance, as the CPU's passmark multithread score of 24873 is substantial. However, the game's engine, being from 2016, likely favors single-thread performance. The CPU's passmark single-thread score is 3468, which is competent but not exceptional for a top-tier desktop chip.

The CPU's role becomes apparent when examining the FPS scaling across settings. At 1920x1080 Low, the system hits 234 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 120 FPS. This indicates that while the GPU is doing more work at Ultra, the CPU is still able to keep up. The bottleneck appears at 3840x2160, where even the Low preset only yields 84 FPS. This is a clear sign that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, not the CPU. The CPU is powerful enough to push high frame rates at lower resolutions, but the GPU's rendering load at 4K caps the output.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697. This is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707) and 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (32662). It also slightly trails the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H by 0.4% (32812). These deltaPct values are negligible, indicating that the CPU's raw compute performance is on par with those processors. In The Technomancer, this level of CPU performance is sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 at 1080p and 1440p, but the game's engine does not seem to scale with the extra threads. The 22 threads are likely underutilized, and the single-thread performance is what matters most for this title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a flagship desktop GPU with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2235 MHz, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz. This hardware is overkill for a 2016 title, but the measured data shows how its immense power is constrained by the game's engine and the CPU. The GPU's passmark G3D score is 38194, and it holds an 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is to render the scene at the target resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, as evidenced by the 234 FPS average at Low settings. The GPU is capable of far more, but the CPU and game engine limit the output. At 2560x1440, the GPU still has ample headroom, with the High preset delivering 100 FPS. The true test comes at 3840x2160, where the GPU's rendering load increases significantly. The drop from 84 FPS at Low to 43 FPS at Ultra shows the GPU's performance scaling with the increased pixel count and effects.

The RTX 4090's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60140, 0.3% delta). These are workstation cards with similar average scores, but their real-world gaming performance in The Technomancer would likely differ. The RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM is far more than this game needs, ensuring that texture loading and memory bandwidth are not constraints. The GPU's role here is to provide the raw compute power to maintain high frame rates, but the game's age means that even a mid-range card could perform well. The RTX 4090's data shows it is not being fully utilized at lower resolutions, but at 4K, it is the primary driver of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 588th out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the top 21% of all tested systems. The rank is a reflection of the overall system performance, which is heavily weighted by the GPU's capabilities. However, it is not a top-tier ranking, which suggests that the CPU is holding the system back from reaching the absolute highest echelons.

The rank of 588 is somewhat surprising given the RTX 4090's dominance. It indicates that many other combinations, likely with more powerful desktop CPUs, achieve better results in this game. The CPU's mobile nature, with a 28W TDP, means it cannot sustain the same performance levels as a high-end desktop processor. The benchmark results show that the CPU's average score is in the 83rd percentile, but in this specific game, the pairing with the RTX 4090 does not yield a top-100 result. This is a case where the GPU outclasses the CPU, and the system's overall ranking is dragged down by the processor's limitations in a title that may be more sensitive to CPU performance than other modern games.

The combo's rank suggests that for a game like The Technomancer, a more balanced pairing of a high-end desktop CPU with the RTX 4090 would yield a higher ranking. The data supports the notion that the CPU is a bottleneck in certain scenarios, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is not fully taxed. This ranking is a valuable data point for builders, showing that even a top-tier GPU cannot fully compensate for a mid-range mobile CPU in a CPU-sensitive title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Technomancer with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 offers the best balance. The High preset achieves an average of 100 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed. At 1920x1080, you get higher frame rates (153 FPS on High), but the visual upgrade to 1440p is significant. At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop to 55 FPS on High, which is less ideal for a responsive experience.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 78 FPS. This is playable, but the High preset delivers 100 FPS. The performance gain of 22 FPS is substantial, and the visual difference between High and Ultra in a 2016 title is likely minimal. The data suggests that High is the more practical choice for a higher refresh rate experience.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 3840x2160?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K. The Low preset averages 84 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 43 FPS. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, as the CPU's performance is constant across settings. The RTX 4090 is working harder at higher settings, reducing the frame rate.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct rivals in raw performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697. It is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707) and 0.1% faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (32662). It is 0.4% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32812). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: Can this combo achieve 144 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with the High preset, the average FPS is 153, which exceeds 144 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 120 FPS, which is below 144. To hit 144 FPS consistently, the High preset is the recommended setting.

Q: What is the minimum FPS for the Medium preset at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 100, with a maximum of 135. This indicates a stable frame rate with minimal dips.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination. The data is presented as measured, with no extrapolation.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 84 FPS
• Medium: Average 65 FPS, Minimum 55 FPS, Maximum 74 FPS
• High: Average 55 FPS
• Ultra: Average 43 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 153 FPS
• Medium: Average 117 FPS, Minimum 100 FPS, Maximum 135 FPS
• High: Average 100 FPS
• Ultra: Average 78 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 234 FPS
• Medium: Average 180 FPS, Minimum 153 FPS, Maximum 207 FPS
• High: Average 153 FPS
• Ultra: Average 120 FPS

The data shows a predictable pattern: frame rates decrease as resolution and settings increase. The most significant drop occurs when moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160, where the average FPS across all settings roughly halves. This is consistent with the GPU's rendering load scaling with pixel count. The Low preset provides the highest frame rates at every resolution, but the visual compromise is substantial. The Medium preset offers a balanced middle ground, particularly at 4K where it provides a playable 65 FPS average. The High preset is the recommended setting for 1080p and 1440p, delivering over 100 FPS in both cases. The Ultra preset is only viable at 1920x1080, where it still manages a 120 FPS average.