The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a unique challenge for modern hardware: it is heavily CPU-bound, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 produces results that are distinctly shaped by this dynamic. The data shows a system that is exceptionally capable at high refresh rates on standard resolutions, but which hits a performance ceiling that is defined more by the processor's single-thread performance than the GPU's raw power. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to show exactly where this combo excels and where it peters out.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of all tested combinations for The Technomancer, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 lands at rank 1535 out of 2825 tested combos. This places it in the 54th percentile of all systems, which is a surprisingly middling result for such high-end components. The ranking indicates that while the hardware is undeniably powerful, the game's engine and the specific bottlenecks it creates prevent this combo from reaching the top tier of performance. The data suggests that many other combinations, likely with different CPU-GPU balances, achieve higher average framerates in this specific title.

The relatively low rank is not a sign of weak components, but rather proof of how poorly The Technomancer scales with modern multi-core processors. The Core Ultra 9 275HX, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, is a monster in threaded workloads, but this game likely cannot utilize that parallelism. Instead, performance is gated by the speed of a few cores. The RTX 5070 is also a formidable GPU, but at lower resolutions, its immense power is left underutilized as it waits for the CPU to feed it data. The 54th percentile rank reflects this imbalance: the system is not slow, but it is not performing at the level its individual components suggest it should in this specific legacy title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 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. Its core clocks are set at a base of 2325 MHz and a boost of 2512 MHz. In The Technomancer, the GPU's role becomes more significant as resolution increases. The measured data shows a clear trend: the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, but its role diminishes at 1440p and especially 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload is substantial. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is stark, with average FPS dropping from 60 to 31. This shows that at 4K, the GPU's shading units, TMUs, and ROPs are being pushed to their limits, and the 12 GB VRAM buffer is likely being used heavily. The RTX 5070's performance here is adequate for playable framerates on Medium (46 FPS) but falls short of a smooth 60 FPS on High (39 FPS). The card's 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is being fully taxed at this resolution with higher settings. The GPU's role is clearly the limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed it.

However, as the resolution drops, the GPU's burden lightens. At 2560x1440, the RTX 5070 is still a major contributor, but the CPU begins to catch up. The gap between Low (109 FPS) and Ultra (56 FPS) is still large, showing that graphical settings have a significant impact. It is only at 1920x1080 where the GPU's power becomes almost secondary. The jump from 1440p High (71 FPS) to 1080p High (109 FPS) is a massive 53.5% increase, which is far more than the pixel count difference would suggest. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is starting to become the primary limiter, preventing the GPU from achieving even higher framerates.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX a bottleneck for the RTX 5070 in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, the benchmark results strongly suggest this is the case, particularly at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average FPS on Low settings is 166, but the scaling from 1440p Low (109 FPS) to 1080p Low is only 52%, which is less than the 77% increase in pixel count. This indicates the CPU's single-thread performance is hitting a ceiling that prevents the GPU from running even faster.

Q: Should I play The Technomancer at 4K with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 4K is a challenge. On High settings, the average FPS is 39, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. You would need to lower settings to Medium (46 FPS) or Low (60 FPS) to get a more playable experience. The GPU is the main bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve high refresh rates?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo is very capable. High settings yield 71 FPS, and Low settings reach 109 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 1920x1080, the CPU becomes the limiting factor, but the framerates are still exceptionally high, ranging from 85 FPS on Ultra to 166 FPS on Low.

Q: How does the RTX 5070's VRAM factor into performance?

A: The 12 GB of GDDR7 memory is a key specification. In The Technomancer, it is sufficient for all tested settings at all resolutions. However, at 3840x2160 on Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 31, suggesting that the combination of high resolution and detailed textures is putting a heavy load on the memory subsystem, even if it is not being fully exhausted.

Q: How does this combo compare to its closest rivals in terms of GPU benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 40377, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318) and 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063). It is 1.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40870). These are very small differences, indicating the GPU's raw compute power is on par with these competitors.

Q: Is the CPU's performance in this combo considered high-end?

A: Yes, absolutely. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has an average benchmark score of 67469, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. It is a top-tier processor, but its strong multi-core performance is not the key to success in The Technomancer, which appears to favor single-core speed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in The Technomancer shows a clear performance hierarchy across the three resolutions and four settings levels.

At 3840x2160, the game is demanding. The highest playable average FPS is achieved on Low settings at 60 FPS. Medium settings drop the average to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High settings further reduce the average to 39 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, resulting in an average of just 31 FPS. The data shows a linear decline in performance as settings increase, with a 48% drop from Low to Ultra.

At 2560x1440, performance is much stronger. Low settings produce an average of 109 FPS. Medium settings average 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 and a maximum of 96. High settings average 71 FPS, while Ultra settings average 56 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is still substantial (48% drop), showing that the GPU is still a major factor at this resolution, but the overall framerates are smooth and highly playable.

At 1920x1080, the framerates are excellent. Low settings reach an average of 166 FPS. Medium settings average 128 FPS, with a minimum of 108 and a maximum of 147. High settings average 109 FPS. Ultra settings still manage a solid 85 FPS. The scaling here is interesting: the gap between Low and Ultra is 48.8%, but the absolute numbers are so high that even Ultra is a great experience. The data suggests that the CPU is limiting the maximum FPS, preventing Low settings from going even higher.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend heavily on your display's resolution and refresh rate. The data provides clear guidance for each.

For 4K (3840x2160), the recommendation is to use Low settings for a consistent 60 FPS experience. If you can tolerate slightly lower framerates, Medium settings offer a better visual experience at 46 FPS, which is still playable for a slower-paced Action RPG. High and Ultra settings are not recommended, as their average FPS of 39 and 31 falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

For 1440p (2560x1440), the best experience is found on High settings, which delivers a solid 71 FPS. This provides a great balance of visual quality and performance. If you have a 144Hz monitor, dropping to Low settings will get you closer to that target at 109 FPS, but you sacrifice visual fidelity. Ultra settings at 56 FPS are also viable, but High is the sweet spot.

For 1080p (1920x1080), the recommendation is Ultra settings. At 85 FPS, it provides a fully smooth and visually rich experience. The CPU's bottleneck is evident here, as even the High setting's 109 FPS is not a huge jump from Ultra, and Low's 166 FPS shows the game is not fully utilizing the GPU's power. The data indicates that the visual upgrade to Ultra is "free" in a sense, as you are not losing a proportionate amount of performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. With a 36 MB shared L3 cache, it is a powerhouse for multi-threaded applications, achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35589 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20795. Its single-core performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2204 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2458.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is paradoxical. Its massive multi-core capabilities are largely irrelevant, as the game's engine, released in 2016, cannot leverage 24 cores. The data shows this clearly: the performance scaling from 1440p to 1080p is not as large as expected, indicating a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions. For example, the average FPS on High settings only increases from 71 at 1440p to 109 at 1080p, a 53.5% increase despite a 77% increase in pixel count. This is a classic sign of a CPU limitation.

The processor's single-core performance is what matters most here. The 5.40 GHz boost clock is crucial for this game. The benchmark results suggest that even with this high clock speed, the CPU is still the limiting factor at 1080p, preventing the RTX 5070 from reaching its full potential. The data shows the CPU is a strong performer, but this game simply does not require the immense processing power it offers. It is a case of having a top-tier tool for a job that only needs a basic one. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking confirms its general superiority, but its specific performance in this title is capped by the game's engine limitations.