The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting test for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, using the benchmark data provided. The data shows a combination that is capable of delivering high frame rates, but its performance profile varies significantly across resolutions and settings, revealing the distinct roles of the CPU and GPU in this specific title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is ranked 532nd out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the system in the top 20% of all tested configurations, indicating a strong overall performance level for this game. The rank reflects the synergy between the high-end CPU and GPU, but the specific game’s engine and age mean that the ranking is not as high as the hardware's raw benchmark scores might suggest.

The CPU’s high average benchmark score of 93785 places it in the 96th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU’s average score of 40377 puts it in the 82nd percentile against all GPUs. This suggests a slight imbalance, with the CPU having a higher relative standing than the GPU. In the context of The Technomancer, this often means the GPU becomes the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The combo’s rank is a holistic measure, and the data shows that while the system is capable, it is not at the very top of the list, with 2293 other combinations performing better in this specific game.

The nearest rivals for the CPU, based on average benchmark score, include the Intel Xeon 6520P, which has a nearly identical score of 93786 (a 0% delta). The AMD EPYC 4564P is 1.5% ahead, and the AMD EPYC 9175F is 1.9% ahead. These are all server-class processors, highlighting that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a high level of multi-threaded performance that rivals even enterprise parts. For the GPU, the nearest rivals are professional workstation cards like the AMD Radeon Pro 580, which is 0.1% ahead, and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, which is 0.8% ahead. This indicates that the RTX 5070's raw compute performance is comparable to these pro-grade cards, though its gaming-specific features may differ.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 plays a critical role in determining the frame rates in The Technomancer, particularly as resolution and graphical settings increase. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's textures and assets at the tested resolutions, including 4K.

The GPU's core clocks are set with a base of 2325 MHz and a boost of 2512 MHz. The data shows that at 1080p, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as frame rates are very high across all settings. For instance, with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 249. However, as the resolution increases to 1440p and then 2160p (4K), the demands on the GPU increase, and its performance becomes more critical. The shift from 163 FPS at 1080p High to 107 FPS at 1440p High and then 59 FPS at 4K High shows a clear performance drop that is directly attributable to the GPU's rendering load.

The GPU's raw compute power, measured at 30.87 TFLOPS for FP32, is ample for this game. However, the data suggests that the game's engine may not be fully optimized for the latest GPU architectures, as the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear. The drop from High to Ultra at 4K is particularly steep, from 59 FPS to 46 FPS, a 22% reduction, which is more than the typical cost of that setting increase at lower resolutions. This indicates that the Ultra preset at 4K pushes the GPU to its limits in this title. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking and its benchmark scores, such as 29137 in Passmark G3D, confirm it is a capable part, but The Technomancer's specific rendering demands can be taxing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance scaling across the three tested resolutions: 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. At 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound or limited by game engine overhead, as even the most demanding Ultra preset yields an average of 127 FPS. The Low preset at this resolution produces 249 FPS, which is an exceptionally high frame rate, indicating that the CPU and GPU combination has significant headroom. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 122 FPS, a substantial gap that shows the GPU's workload is still relevant, but the system is never struggling to maintain high performance.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates drop, but remain very playable. The High preset averages 107 FPS, while Low averages 162 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a reduction of about 34% for High settings (from 163 to 107 FPS). This is a significant drop, indicating that the GPU is beginning to become a more prominent limiting factor. The Medium preset at 1440p shows an average of 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS, suggesting that this is a stable point for gameplay.

At 4K (2160p), the GPU's role becomes dominant. The High preset drops to an average of 59 FPS, which is just at the edge of smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 4K averages 89 FPS, showing that even with reduced settings, the resolution demands are high. The most demanding Ultra preset at 4K yields an average of 46 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for a smooth experience. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep; for High settings, the drop is 45% (from 107 to 59 FPS). This data clearly indicates that the RTX 5070 is the limiting component at 4K, and users must adjust settings to maintain high frame rates. The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings (191 to 125 to 69 FPS) shows a consistent, predictable decline, reinforcing that the GPU workload is scaling directly with pixel count.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth and visually rich experience at 4K, the High preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 59 FPS, which is very close to the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 4K offers a lower average of 69 FPS, but with a minimum of 58 FPS, which could lead to occasional stutters. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 46 FPS average is below the smoothness threshold. The Low preset at 4K provides a high average of 89 FPS, but sacrifices visual quality.

At 1440p, the system has enough headroom to use higher settings. The High preset delivers a comfortable 107 FPS average, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset is also a strong option, with an average of 125 FPS and a minimum of 106 FPS, ensuring a stable experience. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 83 FPS, which is still very playable and offers the best visual fidelity. For most users, the High preset at 1440p strikes the best balance between performance and image quality, but Ultra is viable for those prioritizing visuals.

At 1080p, the system is so powerful that even the Ultra preset achieves an average of 127 FPS, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual quality. The High preset at 163 FPS and Medium at 191 FPS are also excellent, but there is little reason to lower settings from Ultra at this resolution, as the performance is already high. The Low preset's 249 FPS is useful for competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate (240Hz+) monitors, but for standard use, Ultra is the best experience. In summary, the data suggests using High settings for 4K, High or Ultra for 1440p, and Ultra for 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section provides a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for every tested configuration.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: The average FPS is 249.
• Medium: The average FPS is 191, with a minimum of 162 and a maximum of 220.
• High: The average FPS is 163.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 127.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: The average FPS is 162.
• Medium: The average FPS is 125, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 143.
• High: The average FPS is 107.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 83.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: The average FPS is 89.
• Medium: The average FPS is 69, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 79.
• High: The average FPS is 59.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 46.

The data shows that the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold is the 4K Ultra preset, which averages 46 FPS. All other settings and resolutions maintain an average of at least 59 FPS. The Medium presets at 1440p and 4K provide the only minimum FPS data points, with values of 106 and 58 respectively, suggesting that the game's frame pacing is generally stable but can have occasional dips under load. The scaling from Low to Ultra is consistent across resolutions, with the cost of Ultra being roughly a 50% reduction in FPS compared to Low at each resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: The data shows that at both 1080p and 1440p, all settings presets, including Ultra, average above 83 FPS. At 4K, the High preset averages 59 FPS, and the Low preset averages 89 FPS, but the Ultra preset drops to 46 FPS. To guarantee a 60+ FPS average, 1440p with any preset or 4K with the Low or Medium presets are the recommended options.

Q: How does the Ultra preset impact performance compared to High at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 59 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 46 FPS. This represents a 22% reduction in average frame rate when moving from High to Ultra, making Ultra a significant performance hit at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates are very high, with the Low preset reaching 249 FPS and the High preset at 163 FPS. This suggests the system is not heavily GPU-bound, and the CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by a 5068 Passmark single-thread score, is sufficient to drive these high frame rates.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p High is 163, while at 4K High it is 59. This is a 64% decrease in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the substantial increase in GPU workload at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the combo rank highly among all tested systems for this game?

A: The combo is ranked 532nd out of 2825 tested combos, placing it in the top 19% of all systems tested for The Technomancer. This indicates a strong performance level, though not the absolute best.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 106, with an average of 125 and a maximum of 143. This shows that the Medium preset provides a stable experience at this resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus plays a crucial role in ensuring the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions and in preventing the system from becoming bottlenecked. The CPU features 24 cores and 24 threads, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This high boost clock is particularly important for gaming, as it provides strong single-thread performance, which is often the primary driver of FPS in titles like The Technomancer that may not fully utilize many cores.

The CPU's benchmark results confirm its strength. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 44253, and its single-core score is 2439. The Passmark single-thread score is 5068, which is a strong indicator of gaming performance. At 1080p, the data shows that the CPU is capable of driving frame rates up to 249 FPS on Low settings, meaning it is not a limiting factor at this resolution. Even at the more demanding Ultra preset, the CPU manages to feed the GPU enough data to achieve 127 FPS. The high core count is also beneficial, as it allows for smooth multitasking and can handle any background tasks without impacting game performance.

However, as the resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes relative to the GPU. At 4K, the frame rates are primarily determined by the GPU's rendering capabilities. The CPU's high multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 24461, ensures that it will not cause frame drops or stutters even when the GPU is under maximum load. The CPU's 125W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s further contribute to a responsive system. Its 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates that it is a top-tier processor, and its performance in this game is consistent with that standing, providing a solid foundation for the RTX 5070 to operate at its full potential.