The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting stress test for modern mobile hardware. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and the AMD Radeon 880M integrated graphics in this benchmark run produces a specific performance profile that is heavily skewed by the GPU. The data reveals a system where the CPU has ample headroom, but the integrated graphics solution becomes the primary bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and graphical presets. This analysis will break down the measured FPS results, explore the role each component plays, and contextualize the combo's standing against other tested hardware configurations.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and can boost up to 5.10 GHz. This high core count and thread count, combined with a 24 MB shared L3 cache, positions it as a high-end mobile CPU. Its benchmark scores reflect this, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17984.5 and a single-core score of 1810.5. The Geekbench scores of 11657 (multi-core) and 1794 (single-core) further solidify its strong compute capabilities. In synthetic tests, it holds an 85th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35670.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is likely less demanding than in modern, heavily threaded titles. The game's release year suggests it was designed for systems with far fewer cores. Therefore, the Core Ultra 9 185H is unlikely to be a limiting factor. The data supports this, as the FPS drops are consistent and directly correlate with changes in resolution and graphical settings, which are typically GPU-bound variables. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 1810.5 Cinebench R23 score, ensures that even the game's main simulation thread can be processed without creating a bottleneck. The processor is effectively operating in a state of significant underutilization, waiting for the GPU to render each frame. This is a common scenario when pairing a high-end CPU with an integrated GPU, and the benchmark results—showing a clear GPU-bound pattern—confirm this dynamic. The CPU provides a stable platform, but its performance headroom is not the determining factor for the frame rates observed.

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

The AMD Radeon 880M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It features a boost clock of 2900 MHz and contains 768 shading units. Critically, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and instead uses a portion of the system's main memory. This is a fundamental limitation for a game like The Technomancer, which was released in an era when dedicated GPUs with their own VRAM pools were the standard for gaming.

The GPU's performance is modest, as indicated by its 43rd percentile ranking against all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 8436. Its Passmark G3D score is 7615, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 535. These numbers place it in the lower echelon of graphics solutions, competing with older discrete mobile GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX, which it trails by a mere 0.1% in average score. The Radeon 880M's role in this benchmark is the central bottleneck. The measured FPS at all resolutions and settings is low, directly reflecting the IGP's limited fillrate and compute throughput. The lack of dedicated VRAM means that texture bandwidth is shared with the CPU, further reducing performance in a title that likely requires substantial memory traffic. The GPU's 16 ROPs and 48 TMUs are simply not sufficient to handle the demands of the game at playable frame rates. The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU is the component that dictates the final performance, and its capabilities are the ceiling for this combo.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's scaling behavior and confirms the GPU-bound nature of this configuration. The most telling comparison is the "Low" preset, which reduces GPU load more than CPU load. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 66 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average drops to 43 FPS, a decrease of 23 FPS (approximately 35%). At 3840x2160 (4K), the average plummets to 24 FPS, which is a further drop of 19 FPS from 1440p (approximately 44%) and 42 FPS from 1080p (approximately 64%).

This scaling pattern is a textbook example of a GPU-limited scenario. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render grows exponentially. The CPU's workload does not scale in the same way, as it is still processing the same game logic and draw calls. The severe FPS drop at 4K, where the average on "Low" is just 24 FPS, shows the Radeon 880M is overwhelmed by the pixel fillrate demands. A CPU-bound system would show much smaller FPS differences between resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain nearly constant. Here, the performance degrades sharply with each resolution increase, leaving no doubt that the AMD Radeon 880M is the limiting component. The data implies that even at the lowest settings, this combo cannot deliver a smooth experience at 1440p or 4K, as the GPU simply lacks the necessary processing power.

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

A detailed look at the measured FPS data reveals a consistent hierarchy of performance across all settings and resolutions. The results are presented as average FPS, with some entries also including minimum and maximum FPS for the "Medium" preset.

At 1920x1080, the system's performance is best, but still limited. The "Low" preset yields an average of 66 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. The "Medium" preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS. "High" settings bring the average down to 44 FPS. The "Ultra" preset, which is the most demanding, results in an average of 34 FPS. This shows a clear 32 FPS spread between the lowest and highest quality presets at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed even at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops across the board. The "Low" preset averages 43 FPS, a significant reduction from the 66 FPS seen at 1080p. "Medium" averages 33 FPS, with a minimum of 28 FPS and a maximum of 38 FPS. "High" settings average 28 FPS, and "Ultra" drops to an average of 22 FPS. At this resolution, even the "Low" preset cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS, and the "Ultra" preset approaches unplayable territory.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations are fully exposed. The "Low" preset averages just 24 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 18 FPS, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. "High" settings fall to 16 FPS, and "Ultra" is the worst performer, with an average of only 12 FPS. These numbers are all well below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the "Ultra" preset at 4K is essentially a slideshow. The data shows a linear and predictable degradation of performance as both resolution and settings increase, reinforcing the conclusion that the integrated GPU is the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The benchmark database places this specific combination of an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and AMD Radeon 880M at a rank of 2761 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This is a very low ranking, placing the combo in the bottom 2% of all tested hardware configurations. This rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance, as the CPU is quite capable. The data suggests that while the processor is a top-tier mobile part (85th percentile), the integrated graphics solution is a major drawback for this specific game.

The low rank of 2761 out of 2825 indicates that nearly every other combination of CPU and GPU tested for this game outperforms this one. This is expected, as most systems used for gaming benchmarks will include a dedicated graphics card. The Radeon 880M's nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark database are older discrete parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330, with delta percentages of 0.1% and -0.3% respectively. This shows that its performance is comparable to entry-level discrete GPUs from years ago, which are not suited for demanding gaming at high resolutions. The combo's ranking is a clear statement that this hardware pairing is not designed for the gaming load presented by The Technomancer at the tested settings, and its performance is hampered by the weakest link in the chain—the AMD Radeon 880M.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 66, which occurs at the 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data indicates the AMD Radeon 880M GPU is the primary bottleneck. This is evident from the significant FPS drops when resolution increases, which is a characteristic of GPU-limited performance. The CPU, with its high core count and clocks, has ample headroom.

Q: Can this combo run The Technomancer smoothly at 2560x1440?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the best average FPS is 43 on the "Low" preset. The "Medium" preset drops to 33 FPS, and "Ultra" falls to 22 FPS. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS threshold typically considered smooth.

Q: How does this combo's performance compare to other tested systems for this game?

A: It ranks 2761 out of 2825 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 2% of all configurations. This indicates that the vast majority of other tested CPU and GPU pairings deliver better performance in The Technomancer.

Q: What is the performance difference between the "Low" and "Ultra" presets at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the "Low" preset yields an average of 66 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset yields an average of 34 FPS. This is a difference of 32 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the higher visual quality settings.

Q: What is the average FPS on "Medium" settings at 3840x2160?

A: The average FPS on "Medium" settings at 3840x2160 is 18, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. This is far below playable levels.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that provides a consistently playable experience is at the 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" preset, which achieves an average of 66 FPS. This is the sole preset and resolution combination that yields an average frame rate near or above the 60 FPS target. While it may not offer the highest visual fidelity, it is the only way to get a smooth and responsive experience with this hardware.

For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, the "Medium" preset at 1920x1080 is a viable alternative, offering an average of 51 FPS. The minimum FPS of 43 suggests there may be occasional dips, but it could be acceptable for a game of this type. The "High" preset at 1080p, with an average of 44 FPS, and "Ultra" at 34 FPS, are not recommended for a fluid experience, as they fall below the 60 FPS standard and may feel sluggish.

All presets at 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 resolutions deliver average FPS well below 45, making them unsuitable for comfortable gameplay. The performance cost of higher resolutions is simply too great for the AMD Radeon 880M to handle. Therefore, the recommendation is to stick to 1080p and use the "Low" preset for the best balance of performance and playability. If a higher visual quality is desired, the "Medium" preset at 1080p might suffice, but users should be prepared for a less consistent frame rate. The data is clear: this combo is only capable of delivering a smooth experience at the lowest possible graphical settings and resolution.