The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that clearly favors the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti paired with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. The benchmark data shows this combination delivers a highly playable experience across most settings, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The core takeaway is that this combo excels at 1440p High, but struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at 4K Ultra, revealing a clear hierarchy where graphical settings matter more than CPU headroom.

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, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support provide a robust foundation for gaming. In the context of The Technomancer, the data suggests that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves an average of 196 FPS, which is a figure that far exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors and indicates the processor is feeding the GPU more than enough data.

The CPU's benchmark scores further contextualize its role. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 and single-core score of 1810.5 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, according to the data. This high percentile means it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general compute tasks, which is beneficial for the non-gaming overhead of an Action RPG, such as AI pathfinding and game logic. However, the performance scaling in this game tells a different story. When moving from 1080p Low (196 FPS) to 1080p Ultra (100 FPS), the frame rate drops by roughly half. This significant drop is attributable to the increased graphical load on the GPU, not a CPU limitation. The processor’s performance is consistent; it is the GPU that is working harder.

Comparing it to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 9 185H's average benchmark score of 35670 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, which scores 35719 (a delta of -0.1%). It also performs on par with the Intel Core 7 250H and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, with deltas of -0.2% and -0.4% respectively. Even the desktop-class AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, with an average score of 35909, is only 0.7% ahead. This indicates that for a game like The Technomancer, which relies heavily on GPU performance, the choice between these top-tier processors would yield negligible differences in frame rates. The CPU provides ample single-thread performance for game logic and ample multi-thread performance for background tasks, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of the final frame rate in most scenarios.

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

The measured frame rates provide a clear hierarchy for optimal settings. At 1080p, the Low preset yields an average of 196 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Medium preset at 150 FPS offers a substantial improvement in visual fidelity while still maintaining a very high frame rate, and it has a measured minimum of 128 FPS. The High preset drops to 128 FPS, which is still excellent for fast-paced action. However, the Ultra preset at 100 FPS, while smooth, represents a significant 28 FPS drop from High, suggesting diminishing returns in visual quality for the performance cost.

For 1440p, the data shows that the High preset is the sweet spot. It produces an average of 84 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 98 FPS is also viable, but the High preset's visual upgrade is worth the 14 FPS sacrifice. The Ultra preset at 66 FPS is playable but begins to show strain, and the Low preset at 128 FPS is not recommended as it would unnecessarily compromise visual quality for performance that the hardware can already achieve at higher settings.

At 4K (3840x2160), the situation changes drastically. The High preset manages an average of 46 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that may feature combat requiring precise timing. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, indicating some frame pacing inconsistencies. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 36 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 70 FPS is the only 4K option that provides a truly fluid frame rate, but it does so at a significant cost to visual detail.

The recommendation based on the data is to prioritize the High preset for the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1080p, High provides 128 FPS, which is more than sufficient. At 1440p, High delivers 84 FPS, which is the ideal target for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 4K, the High preset's 46 FPS is a compromise, but the Medium preset at 54 FPS offers a slightly better frame rate if needed. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions if frame rate consistency is a priority, as it carries a steep performance penalty.

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

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 128 at 1080p to 84 at 1440p, a reduction of 34%. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the average FPS drops further to 46, a reduction of 45%. This pattern of diminishing returns with increasing pixel count is the hallmark of a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck. The CPU's work does not change significantly with resolution; it is the GPU that must render more pixels, and its performance scales accordingly.

This is further confirmed by the Low preset data. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 196 FPS. At 1440p Low, it achieves 128 FPS (a 35% drop), and at 4K Low, it achieves 70 FPS (a 45% drop from 1440p). The relative performance drops are very similar to those seen at High settings. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a more pronounced drop in frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do, but the frame rate would plateau at higher resolutions. Instead, the frame rate continues to fall as resolution increases, confirming that the RTX 5070 Ti's rendering capabilities are the constraining factor.

The data also shows that the performance gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (196 FPS) and Ultra (100 FPS) is 96 FPS. At 4K, the difference between Low (70 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) is 34 FPS. This compression of the frame rate range at higher resolutions is typical of a GPU bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom, allowing the GPU to run at its full potential and showcase the difference between settings. At 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that even lowering settings from Ultra to Low cannot fully compensate for the raw pixel count, resulting in a smaller absolute difference in frame rates. This clearly indicates that for The Technomancer, the RTX 5070 Ti is the component that dictates the playable resolution and settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combo ranks 1038 out of 2825. This places it in the top 37% of all tested configurations for this specific game. While this is a respectable position, it is not at the very top of the leaderboard, which suggests that the game is particularly demanding and that there are many other combinations that yield higher absolute frame rates, likely featuring more powerful desktop-class components.

The ranking is a direct result of the measured FPS at the various settings and resolutions. The combo's strong performance at 1080p and 1440p is weighed against its more modest results at 4K. The rank of 1038 indicates that the 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS and the 4K High result of 46 FPS are below what many other high-end combinations can achieve. The GPU's 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs and the CPU's 85th percentile ranking are strong individual showings, but the combination of two mobile-class parts, while powerful, still falls short of the absolute peak performance achieved by more expensive desktop setups.

This ranking is not a measure of failure but rather a reflection of the hardware's class. The combo is clearly a high-performance mobile solution, as indicated by its 1440p High result of 84 FPS. The rank of 1038 out of 2825 means that the majority of the 2825 combinations that outperform it are likely using more powerful desktop CPUs and GPUs. For a mobile platform, the data shows this combo is a strong contender, but it cannot compete with the very best desktop hardware in a game that is as visually intensive as The Technomancer. The ranking serves as a useful guide, showing that while this combo is capable, users seeking the absolute highest frame rates at 4K would need to look at more powerful desktop configurations.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the dominant component in this pairing, and the benchmark data confirms its central role. With 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, it has a memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for feeding the GPU's 8960 shading units at high resolutions. The GPU's boost clock of 2452 MHz and its 43.94 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power are the raw resources that determine the frame rates seen in the measured data.

The GPU's performance in The Technomancer is the direct cause of the scaling observed. At 1080p Low, the GPU is not fully stressed, allowing it to hit 196 FPS. As the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with the average FPS dropping to 70 at Low settings and 36 at Ultra settings. This is a clear indication that the game is heavily reliant on the GPU's fill rate and pixel processing capabilities. The 16 GB VRAM is also a key asset, ensuring that the game's textures and assets can be stored locally at 4K without causing memory swapping, which would lead to stutters and frame drops.

Comparing its average benchmark score of 49957, the RTX 5070 Ti is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals show a tight grouping in synthetic benchmarks, with the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 scoring 50001 (a delta of -0.1%) and the Intel Arc A550M scoring 49737 (a delta of 0.4%). The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is 2% faster, and the RX 6800 XT is 3.1% slower. Despite these close synthetic scores, the RTX 5070 Ti's performance in The Technomancer is what matters. The data shows that its strong compute and memory capabilities are well-suited for the game's demands, allowing it to maintain playable frame rates at 1440p High and Medium settings. The GPU's raw power is the single most important factor in this combo's overall performance, as it is the component that determines the playability at higher resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware in The Technomancer?

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 with High settings provides the best balanced experience, yielding an average of 84 FPS. This offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium (98 FPS) with only a 14 FPS cost, and it is much smoother than the 4K High result of 46 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. Evidence for this is the frame rate scaling: at High settings, the average FPS drops from 128 at 1080p to 84 at 1440p and then to 46 at 4K. This consistent drop with increasing pixel count is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H's average benchmark score of 35670 is nearly identical to its closest rivals. It is only 0.1% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, 0.2% slower than the Intel Core 7 250H, and 0.7% slower than the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X. This suggests performance in this game would be very similar across these CPUs.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this combo?

A: 4K gaming is viable but requires compromises. The Low preset achieves 70 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves 54 FPS. However, the High preset drops to 46 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages only 36 FPS, which is not a smooth experience.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Ti's performance compare to other GPUs in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 49957 puts it in the 86th percentile. Its score is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (0.1% slower) and the Intel Arc A550M (0.4% faster). It is 2% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 3.1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT.

Q: What is the overall ranking of this specific combo for this game?

A: The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks 1038 out of 2825 tested combinations in The Technomancer. This places it in the top 37% of all tested systems, reflecting its strong but not top-tier performance.