The Technomancer

The Technomancer, an Action RPG from 2016, presents a specific set of demands on modern hardware. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 produces a dataset of measured frame rates that reveal clear performance boundaries and scaling characteristics. The data shows a system that is consistently capable of high frame rates, with the limiting factor shifting from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at higher ones. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, component specifications, and relative performance to provide a methodical breakdown of what this pairing delivers in this specific title.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor features a substantial cache hierarchy with 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration results in a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35850 and a single-core score of 2020, placing the chip in the 94th percentile of all CPUs tested.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is most clearly visible at the 1080p resolution, where the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 223 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to saturate even the RTX 3080's capabilities at this lower resolution. The single-threaded performance, evidenced by the Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2953, is likely the primary driver in this game, as many titles from this era rely heavily on one or two threads for main game logic.

Comparing the 265K to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the data shows a tightly packed group. The processor sits within a 1.3% performance delta of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which has an average score of 69996. It is also 1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF, which scores 70163. This indicates that the 265K is a top-tier performer for gaming workloads, and its 20 cores ensure that any background tasks or lightly threaded game engines will not cause frame rate dips. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz is crucial for the 223 FPS result at 1080p Low, showcasing the CPU's ability to handle the game's instruction loop efficiently.

The 265K's memory support includes DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, offering a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. While the fact pack does not specify a direct correlation between memory bandwidth and game FPS, the architecture's design for high throughput supports the notion that the CPU is not a limiting factor in any of the measured scenarios. The benchmark results show that the CPU's performance is consistent across synthetic tests, with a PassMark multithread score of 58594 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4928. These scores, combined with the 94th percentile ranking, strongly suggest that the CPU is delivering maximum possible performance in this game, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of FPS at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at 1440p or 4K. At 2560x1440 Low, the average FPS drops to 146, and at 3840x2160 Low, it drops further to 80. This pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering load increases with resolution. The CPU, with its robust multi-core and single-core scores, is likely providing more than enough processing power to keep up with the GPU's frame generation. The fact that the 265K is 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon 6511P, which scores 71051, and 0.7% behind the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270, which scores 71370, reinforces that it is a high-end part that won't hold back a modern GPU like the RTX 3080 in this title.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is based on the Ampere architecture, using the GA102 chip manufactured by Samsung on an 8 nm process. It comes with 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1440 MHz, with a boost clock of 1710 MHz. Its memory runs at an effective speed of 19 Gbps. The card features 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores, with a pixel rate of 164.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 465.1 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 29.77 TFLOPS.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is clearly defined by the measured FPS at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the system averages 41 FPS, which is a demanding scenario that stresses the GPU's compute and memory subsystems. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor here, as The Technomancer, despite being a 2016 title, can still push memory usage. The GPU's 68th percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23172, indicates it is a solid performer, but the data shows it is the limiting factor at 4K.

The RTX 3080's performance is contextualized by its nearest rivals. It is 0.3% behind the NVIDIA P106-100, which has an average score of 23249, and 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which scores 23273. These deltas are negligible, suggesting that the RTX 3080's raw compute power is consistent with other cards in its performance tier. However, the game's results show that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at resolutions above 1080p. For instance, at 2560x1440 Ultra, the average FPS is 75, while at 1920x1080 Ultra, it is 114. This 39 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p highlights the GPU's struggle to manage the increased pixel count.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s is likely a key contributor to its performance at 1440p and 4K. The game's textures and geometry data must be fed to the shading units quickly, and the high bandwidth helps maintain the average FPS of 52 at 4K High. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: at 1080p, the GPU has headroom, but at 4K, it is working near its limits. The boost clock of 1710 MHz is the maximum speed the GPU can achieve, and under load, it is likely sustaining high frequencies to deliver the 61 FPS average at 4K Medium. The GPU's performance in this game is not exceptional relative to its rivals, but it is sufficient for a playable experience at most settings, with the exception of 4K Ultra, which dips below 45 FPS.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the game performs across different settings and resolutions. The goal is to find the preset that offers a smooth experience without sacrificing visual quality unnecessarily. The data shows that the "Ultra" preset is the most demanding, and its viability depends heavily on resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice. The average FPS is 114, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This high frame rate ensures that the visual fidelity of the Ultra preset is fully realized without any performance compromise. The High preset at 1080p achieves 146 FPS, which offers a higher refresh rate but with reduced visual effects. Given that the game runs at 114 FPS on Ultra, there is no reason to lower the settings for a better experience.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended choice. The data shows an average of 96 FPS, which is excellent for a 1440p experience. The Ultra preset drops to 75 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for those seeking a stable 60+ FPS experience with headroom for frame time spikes. The Medium preset at 1440p achieves 112 FPS, but the visual quality reduction from High is likely not worth the 16 FPS gain. High at 1440p provides a balanced combination of visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. The data shows an average of 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 4K averages 52 FPS, which is playable but may suffer from occasional dips, especially in busy scenes. The Low preset at 4K achieves 80 FPS, but the visual downgrade is significant. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 41 FPS, which is too low for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 4K provides the best balance, offering a playable frame rate while maintaining a reasonable level of visual detail.

The data shows that the Low preset at all resolutions offers the highest frame rates, but it is not recommended unless the user is chasing extremely high refresh rates at 1080p (223 FPS) or needs to guarantee a minimal frame rate at 4K (80 FPS). For most users, the High preset at 1080p and 1440p, and the Medium preset at 4K, represent the optimal points in the performance/quality curve.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a rank of 1040 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer specifically. This places the pairing in the top 28% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result. The rank of 1040 indicates that while this is not a top-tier setup for this specific game, it is significantly better than the majority of systems that have been benchmarked.

This rank is influenced by the game's performance characteristics. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, which means that the combo's rank is more dependent on the RTX 3080's performance than on the CPU's capabilities. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests that it is not holding back the system. However, the GPU's 68th percentile ranking is a more accurate indicator of the system's overall potential in a GPU-bound scenario like 4K gaming.

The combo's rank of 1040 suggests that there are 1039 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring more powerful GPUs such as the RTX 3090 or RTX 3080 Ti, or perhaps newer cards. However, the fact that this combo ranks in the top 28% shows that it is a capable pairing. The data shows that for a game like The Technomancer, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, this combo provides a high level of performance, especially at 1080p and 1440p.

To contextualize the rank, consider that the CPU's nearest rivals have average scores within 1.3% of the 265K. This means that any performance difference in the game is almost entirely attributable to the GPU. The RTX 3080's nearest rivals have average scores within 0.4% of each other, which indicates that the GPU is performing as expected for its class. The combo's rank of 1040 is a reflection of the RTX 3080's position in the GPU hierarchy, not a sign of any bottleneck or inefficiency in the pairing.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average frame rate for this combo at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate is 146 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 223 FPS at 1080p Low to 80 FPS at 4K Low, showing a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS experience at 4K?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 61 FPS, which is the closest to the 60 FPS target. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combos in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1040 out of 3696 total tested combos.

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate is 96 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings.

Q: What is the single-core benchmark score of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2020, and the PassMark single-thread score is 4928.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in The Technomancer.

1920x1080:

• Low: 223 FPS
• Medium: 171 FPS (min 146, max 197)
• High: 146 FPS
• Ultra: 114 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 146 FPS
• Medium: 112 FPS (min 95, max 129)
• High: 96 FPS
• Ultra: 75 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 80 FPS
• Medium: 61 FPS (min 52, max 71)
• High: 52 FPS
• Ultra: 41 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern across all settings where the average FPS scales inversely with both resolution and graphical fidelity. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 109 FPS, which is a substantial gap. This gap narrows to 71 FPS at 1440p and further to 39 FPS at 4K. This narrowing indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU's rendering capability becomes the dominant constraint, reducing the relative impact of the settings preset on the final frame rate.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is a clear indicator of where the bottleneck lies in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 223, which drops to 146 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 80 FPS at 4K. This represents a 64% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. This significant drop is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, as the CPU is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates, but the GPU's workload increases quadratically with resolution.

At High settings, the FPS drops from 146 at 1080p to 96 at 1440p and then to 52 at 4K. This is a 64% drop from 1080p to 4K as well, which mirrors the Low settings pattern. The consistency of this percentage drop across different settings presets is notable. It suggests that the scaling is primarily driven by the pixel count, not by the complexity of the shaders or effects. The GPU is the limiting component in all cases.

The data shows that the CPU's performance is not a factor in these drops. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 223 FPS, which is likely near the game's engine limit. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS at 1080p would be lower, and we would see a smaller drop when moving to 4K, as the CPU's workload would remain constant. Instead, the FPS drops proportionally to the increase in pixel count, which is the expected behavior for a GPU-bound system.

The RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are crucial for 4K performance. The 52 FPS at 4K High shows that the GPU is managing the memory demands, but the 41 FPS at 4K Ultra indicates that the VRAM capacity or bandwidth is insufficient to maintain a high frame rate with maximum settings. The scaling data clearly shows that the RTX 3080 is the primary limiting factor in this game, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is providing ample headroom for the GPU to perform to its potential.