The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, is not a new title, but its performance with the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination provides a detailed look at how modern high-end hardware handles an older game engine. The data measured for this combo shows a system that is overwhelmingly powerful for this title, with performance scaling that reveals the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions while the CPU demonstrates immense headroom even at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, examines the role of each component, and answers common questions based strictly on the benchmark data.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 achieves a rank of 130 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places the pairing in the top 4.6% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing, but it is notable that it does not rank higher given the caliber of the individual components. The data indicates that the game’s engine, likely due to its age from 2016, does not fully utilize the potential of this hardware, preventing the combo from reaching the very top of the charts. The rank of 130 suggests that while this is a very fast setup, there are other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title, likely due to differences in how the game handles various architectures.

Looking at the individual components' standings, the CPU sits in the 96th percentile when compared to all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 87th percentile against all GPUs. These are both high marks, but the combo’s overall rank of 130 out of 2825 indicates that the pairing’s performance is not simply the sum of its parts. The high rank reflects the raw power of both components, but the fact it is not higher points to a potential bottleneck or a software limitation. The benchmark results show that the game is not able to scale perfectly with the hardware, which is a common theme for older titles running on new architectures. The combo’s performance is strong, but the data suggests that other combinations have been tested that produce higher average FPS, pushing this particular pairing down the list.

The deltaPct values for the CPU’s nearest rivals are all within a narrow band. The Intel Xeon 6520P has an average score that is 0% different, while the AMD EPYC 4564P is -1.5% lower, the AMD EPYC 9175F is -1.9% lower, and the AMD EPYC 4565P is -2.1% lower. This indicates that in general CPU benchmark tasks, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is virtually tied with these server-class processors, with the differences being minimal and within a small margin of error. These are not gaming-specific scores, but they do show the CPU’s overall processing capability relative to its immediate competitors. The GPU’s nearest rivals show a slightly different picture, with the AMD Radeon 8060S scoring 0.6% higher, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scoring 0.7% higher, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scoring 2.3% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is -2.2% lower. This suggests that the RTX 5080 is in a tight performance cluster with these other cards, which is an interesting result given the generational differences between them.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which provides substantial single-thread performance that is crucial for older games that often rely on a few fast cores. The CPU’s cache configuration includes a 192 KB L1 cache per core, a 3 MB L2 cache per core, and a 36 MB shared L3 cache. This large cache hierarchy helps to keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency and improving performance in games that are sensitive to memory access times. The processor supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for feeding the cores in this game.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI, but the benchmark data shows that it is not the bottleneck at any tested resolution. The fact that the average FPS increases significantly from 4K to 1080p, from 73 FPS to 202 FPS at High settings, indicates that the CPU is capable of delivering much higher frame rates than the GPU can produce at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 309 FPS, a number that is likely near the upper limit of what the game engine can produce. The CPU’s high single-thread score of 5068 in Passmark and 2439 in Cinebench R23 single-core demonstrates that it has the raw speed to handle the main game thread, which is often a limiting factor in older titles. The multi-threaded performance is also exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253, but this is less relevant for a game from 2016 that likely does not scale well across 24 threads.

The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs supports the idea that it is a top-tier processor. Its nearest rivals in general CPU benchmarks are server-class chips like the Intel Xeon 6520P and AMD EPYC series, which have much higher core counts and are designed for different workloads. The fact that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus trades blows with these chips in average benchmark score, with a deltaPct of 0% to -2.1%, shows that its architecture is highly efficient for its core count. For The Technomancer, this means the CPU has a massive amount of headroom. The data shows that even at the lowest resolution of 1080p, the CPU is not being maxed out, as the frame rate is still limited by the GPU’s rendering capabilities. The launch MSRP of the CPU is $299, which is a single piece of information that should be considered as a reference point for its market positioning, not as a statement on value.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the primary driver of performance in The Technomancer, and its specifications are central to understanding the measured FPS. The GPU is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process by TSMC, and features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is ample for the game, which is from 2016 and would not require such high bandwidth, but it ensures that there are no memory-related bottlenecks. The GPU has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, with 10752 shading units, 336 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. These core specifications provide a massive amount of raw computational power, with an FP32 performance of 56.28 TFLOPS.

The RTX 5080’s role in this game is to render frames, and the data shows that it is the limiting component at all resolutions and settings. The evidence for this is the clear scaling of FPS with resolution: at 1080p, the GPU can produce 202 FPS at High settings, but at 4K, the same settings yield only 73 FPS. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load increases with resolution and the GPU becomes the constraint. The GPU’s 87th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 56083, places it in a competitive position, but its nearest rivals in general benchmarks are interesting. The AMD Radeon 8060S scores 0.6% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 0.7% higher, which are surprisingly close for such different cards. This suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5080 is not as dominant as one might expect, but in actual gaming tests like The Technomancer, its performance is still very high.

The GPU’s memory of 16 GB is more than enough for this game, even at 4K Ultra settings, and its bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s ensures that textures and frame buffers are accessed quickly. The high texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s are also key factors in its ability to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The data shows that the RTX 5080 is capable of delivering 57 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is playable, but the jump to 73 FPS at High settings shows that the game’s Ultra settings impose a significant performance penalty. The launch MSRP of the GPU is 999 USD, which can be stated as a point of reference for the hardware’s tier, but no further pricing discussion is included here. The GPU’s performance is the single most important factor in determining the final frame rate in this title, and the data clearly shows its influence.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a complete picture of its performance across different settings and resolutions. Starting at 1080p, the lowest resolution tested, the combo achieves its highest frame rates. At Low settings, the average FPS is 309, which is an exceptionally high number and indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach near the engine’s limits. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS is 237, with a minimum of 201 and a maximum of 273. At High settings, the average FPS drops to 202, and at Ultra settings, it falls to 158. This scaling shows that even at 1080p, the GPU is still the main constraint, as the frame rate drops by nearly half from Low to Ultra, a drop of 151 FPS, which is a direct result of increased rendering load on the GPU.

At 1440p, the frame rates are lower but still very high. The Low settings produce an average of 202 FPS, which is exactly the same as the 1080p High result, showing that the GPU is still able to keep up easily. Medium settings yield an average of 155 FPS, with a minimum of 132 and a maximum of 178. High settings produce 132 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 103 FPS. The difference between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings is significant, for example, from 202 FPS to 132 FPS at High, which is a 70 FPS reduction. This indicates that the GPU’s rendering load is increasing substantially with resolution, and it is becoming the clear bottleneck.

At 4K, the highest resolution tested, the performance is still playable but the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings produce an average of 111 FPS, which is a solid result for 4K. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98. High settings average 73 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 57 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 54 FPS drop, from 111 to 57, which highlights the impact of the higher quality settings on the GPU. The Medium setting data, with a min of 72 and max of 98, shows that there is some frame time variance, but the average is still smooth. The data across all resolutions and settings shows a consistent pattern: the combo is extremely powerful, capable of pushing high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and still maintaining respectable performance at 4K, with the GPU being the limiting factor throughout.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling of FPS from 1080p to 4K reveals important information about the limiting component in this system. At High settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 202, at 1440p it is 132, and at 4K it is 73. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p (202 to 132 FPS) and a 64% drop from 1080p to 4K (202 to 73 FPS). These are large reductions in frame rate that are directly proportional to the increase in pixel count. The number of pixels at 4K is roughly four times that of 1080p, and while the frame rate does not drop by a factor of four, the significant reduction from 202 to 73 FPS is a clear indicator that the GPU is struggling to render the additional pixels. This behavior is textbook GPU-bound scaling: as resolution increases, the GPU’s workload increases, and the frame rate drops accordingly.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the frame rate remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload does not change with resolution. However, the data shows a steep decline, which confirms that the CPU has more than enough headroom and that the RTX 5080 is the component that determines the final frame rate. For instance, at Low settings, the FPS drops from 309 at 1080p to 202 at 1440p and then to 111 at 4K. The drop from 309 to 111 is a 64% reduction, which is very close to the 64% reduction seen at High settings. This consistency across settings further reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the system. The CPU’s role is to prepare frames for the GPU, and it is clearly doing so without any issues, as the frame rates are only limited by the GPU’s rendering speed.

The resolution scaling data also suggests that for a game like The Technomancer, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards, this combo is overkill at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p, the frame rates are so high that they are likely beyond what most monitors can display, making the extra performance irrelevant. At 1440p, the frame rates are still very high, with 132 FPS at High and 103 FPS at Ultra, which provides a smooth experience on high refresh rate monitors. At 4K, the system provides a playable experience, but the 73 FPS at High and 57 FPS at Ultra show that the GPU is working hard. The scaling pattern is a clear indication that for this title, the GPU is the limiting component, and the CPU is not a factor in the final performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in The Technomancer?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 309, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the peak performance point for this combination in the tested scenarios.

Q: Is this combo more likely to be limited by the CPU or the GPU in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The evidence is the significant FPS drop as resolution increases, from 202 FPS at 1080p High to 73 FPS at 4K High, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU has enough headroom, as it can push 309 FPS at 1080p Low, which is far higher than the GPU can render.

Q: How does the combo's performance at 4K Ultra compare to 1080p Low?

A: The average FPS at 4K Ultra is 57, while at 1080p Low it is 309. This represents a difference of 252 FPS, with the 4K Ultra setting being far more demanding on the GPU, resulting in a much lower frame rate. The 4K Ultra setting drops the frame rate to just 18.4% of the 1080p Low result.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values recorded for the Medium settings at different resolutions?

A: For Medium settings, the minimum FPS values are 201 at 1920x1080, 132 at 2560x1440, and 72 at 3840x2160. These minimums show that even under load, the frame rate does not drop to unplayable levels at any tested resolution, though the 4K minimum of 72 is the lowest.

Q: How does the CPU's general benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score is 93785. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6520P, scores 93786, which is a 0% difference. The AMD EPYC 4564P scores -1.5% lower, the AMD EPYC 9175F scores -1.9% lower, and the AMD EPYC 4565P scores -2.1% lower. This shows that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is essentially tied with these server processors in general benchmarks.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking in the benchmark database for this game?

A: The combo is ranked 130 out of 2825 tested combinations for The Technomancer. This places it in the top 4.6% of all tested combos, indicating a very high level of performance, though not the absolute highest.