The Technomancer

# The Technomancer with Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT

The Technomancer, an Action RPG released in 2016, presents an interesting test bed for this modern high-end pairing. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, is a desktop processor from the Arrow Lake Refresh generation, while the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is an RDNA 2.0 graphics card that launched in late 2020. The measured FPS data across resolutions and settings reveals a system that is clearly capable but also shows distinct scaling patterns that hint at where the performance ceiling lies for this particular game.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and progressive, which is typical for a graphically demanding title. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 216 FPS at 1080p to 141 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 35%, and then further down to 78 FPS at 4K, which is a 64% drop from the 1080p figure. This large decline when moving to higher resolutions strongly suggests that the rendering workload is scaling with pixel count and that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as resolution increases.

At High settings, the pattern continues but with a different starting point. The average FPS at 1080p is 142, dropping to 93 FPS at 1440p (a 35% decrease) and then to 51 FPS at 4K (a 64% decrease from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across Low and High settings indicates that the game's rendering pipeline is scaling predictably with resolution, and the GPU is handling the increased pixel throughput in a linear fashion.

The Ultra preset tells a similar story, with 111 FPS at 1080p, 72 FPS at 1440p, and 40 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 44%, which is slightly less severe than the 45% drop seen at Low settings between those same resolutions. This suggests that at Ultra settings, other factors such as shading complexity and draw calls are also contributing to the performance load, not just raw pixel count. The data implies that while the RX 6800 XT is a strong performer, it is clearly the component that determines the frame rate ceiling as resolution climbs, with the CPU's role becoming less prominent at 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1825 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz, with a game clock of 2015 MHz that is more representative of real-world sustained performance. These specifications are substantial for a card of this class, and the benchmark results reflect a GPU that sits in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, indicating strong overall capability.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's role is most evident when examining the FPS differences between settings at a fixed resolution. At 4K, moving from Low to Medium increases the average FPS from 78 to 60, a 23% improvement, while High drops it to 51 FPS and Ultra to 40 FPS. This shows that the GPU is handling the increased graphical fidelity, and the memory bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s is sufficient to feed the rendering pipeline at these high resolutions without becoming a bottleneck, as the frame rates are still respectable even at 4K Ultra.

The RX 6800 XT's 72 ray tracing cores and 4608 shading units are notable, but The Technomancer, being a 2016 title, likely does not utilize these modern features extensively. The card's performance here is more reliant on its raw compute power, which is rated at 20.74 TFLOPS for FP32. The measured FPS data suggests that the GPU is performing consistently across the board, and its 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs is reflected in the playable frame rates at 1440p and 4K. The card's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile with a 1.5% higher score and the Intel Arc A550M at 2.5% lower, are all in a similar performance band, reinforcing that this GPU is a solid mid-to-high-end choice for this game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. It has a substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

In The Technomancer, the CPU's role is likely more pronounced at lower resolutions where the GPU is not as stressed. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 216 is very high, and the fact that it does not go even higher suggests that the CPU is providing a solid foundation for the game's logic and physics. The processor's high single-thread performance, as indicated by the PassMark single-thread score of 4823, is beneficial for a game that may not fully utilize all 24 cores. The Technomancer, being an older title, is unlikely to be heavily multithreaded, so the CPU's strength in single-core tasks is what allows it to keep up with the GPU at 1080p.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which has an average benchmark score of 83807, just 0.2% lower, and the AMD EPYC 4584PX at 83090, which is 1.1% lower. The 290K Plus's average benchmark score of 84003 is slightly above these, but the differences are minimal, indicating that for this game, the CPU is more than capable and is not the limiting factor at any resolution. The data shows that even at 1080p Ultra, where the FPS drops to 111, the CPU is still able to feed the GPU adequately, and the bottleneck is clearly on the graphics side as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks 845th out of 2825 tested combinations in The Technomancer. This places it in the top 30% of all combos, which is a strong showing for a pairing that includes a high-end CPU from the latest generation and a GPU that is now end-of-life. The rank reflects the overall performance across all resolutions and settings, and the fact that it is not higher is likely due to the GPU's age relative to newer graphics cards.

The combo's rank of 845 out of 2825 means that there are many other combinations that achieve higher frame rates in this game, but those likely include more recent GPUs with higher raw performance. The RX 6800 XT, while still capable, is in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti, which has a 3% higher average benchmark score. This indicates that the GPU is not at the very top of the performance heap, and newer cards can push The Technomancer to higher frame rates, especially at 4K.

However, the CPU's contribution to this rank should not be underestimated. The 290K Plus is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, and its high clock speeds and core count ensure that it does not hold back the GPU in any scenario. The data suggests that if the GPU were upgraded to a more powerful model, this combo's rank would improve significantly, as the CPU has ample headroom to support a faster graphics card. The rank of 845 confirms the balance of this pairing, but it also highlights that the GPU is the weaker link in this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings, with some frames having min and max values recorded.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average FPS of 216, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. The Medium preset averages 166 FPS, with a minimum of 141 and a maximum of 191, showing a stable frame rate range. High settings average 142 FPS, and Ultra averages 111 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and even Ultra settings provide a comfortable margin for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 141 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p but still very playable. Medium averages 109 FPS, with a min of 92 and a max of 125, indicating some variability but generally smooth performance. High settings average 93 FPS, and Ultra averages 72 FPS. At 1440p, the system remains capable of high refresh rates at lower settings, and even Ultra stays above 60 FPS, making this resolution a sweet spot for this combo.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 78 FPS, which is still playable. Medium averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 and a maximum of 69, showing that frame rates can dip below 60 in demanding scenes. High settings average 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 40 FPS. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS at Medium and above, and the Ultra preset is not ideal for competitive play but may be acceptable for slower-paced gameplay. The min FPS of 51 at 4K Medium suggests that there are moments of noticeable stutter, but the overall experience is still viable for most players.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data points to a clear recommendation for each resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average FPS of 111, which is well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. There is no need to compromise on visual quality at this resolution, as the system has plenty of headroom.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended starting point, with an average FPS of 93. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, and the frame rate is high enough for most gamers. For those who prioritize higher refresh rates, the Medium preset at 109 FPS is also a strong option, but the visual difference between Medium and High may not justify the performance gap for all users. Ultra at 72 FPS is also viable, but it may be too demanding for those who prefer a locked 60 FPS experience.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the best choice for maintaining a playable experience, with an average FPS of 60 and a minimum of 51. This suggests that the game will occasionally dip below 60 FPS, but the overall experience is acceptable. The Low preset at 78 FPS is an alternative for those who prioritize frame rate over visuals, but it may look noticeably worse. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the average FPS of 51 and 40, respectively, fall below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the min FPS data is not available for these presets, but the averages suggest a less than ideal experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Technomancer?

A: The data shows that 1440p is the sweet spot, as it provides high frame rates across all settings. At 1440p High, the average FPS is 93, and even Ultra stays above 60 FPS at 72, making it the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: Can this system run The Technomancer at 4K with high settings?

A: At 4K High, the average FPS is 51, which is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 4K averages 60 FPS, so it is recommended to use Medium settings for a playable 4K experience.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX. It is also 1.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 7F72, which has a score of 85072.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has an average benchmark score of 48477, which is 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile and 2.5% higher than the Intel Arc A550M. It is 3% lower than both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the pixel count. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, has ample headroom to support a more powerful GPU.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 216, which is achieved at 1080p with Low settings. This is the only setting that exceeds 200 FPS, and it indicates that the system is capable of very high frame rates at lower resolutions and settings.