The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for modern flagship hardware. The benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combo shows a wide performance envelope that shifts dramatically based on resolution and settings. The figures reveal a system capable of high refresh-rate dominance at 1080p, which gradually yields to a more balanced, GPU-centric load as pixel count increases. Analysis of the measured frames indicates that this pairing offers a versatile experience, though its strengths are clearly weighted towards lower resolutions where the CPU’s headroom is most apparent.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a pronounced and expected drop in average frame rate as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the change is telling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves a remarkable 251 FPS average. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average falls to 164 FPS, a decrease of 87 FPS. The jump to 4K at Low settings further reduces performance to 90 FPS, which is a 74 FPS drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern, where the largest absolute loss occurs between 1080p and 1440p, suggests that while the CPU is potent, the GPU’s workload is becoming more significant at higher pixel counts.

For High settings, the trend is consistent but with lower absolute values. The system delivers 164 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 108 FPS at 1440p and then to 59 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is 56 FPS, while the difference between 1440p and 4K is 49 FPS. This relatively consistent slope indicates a steady increase in GPU load, with the frame rate being halved from 1080p to 4K (164 to 59 FPS). This is a classic sign that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as resolution scales, even with a high-end card like the RX 7900 XT.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K on Ultra settings shows a 38 FPS drop (84 to 46 FPS), which is a 45% reduction. This significant loss highlights the immense pixel throughput required at 4K Ultra. The data implies that at 4K, the combination is firmly GPU-bound; the CPU’s high core count and clock speeds are no longer the primary constraint. The frame rate differences between settings at 4K are also compressed compared to 1080p, reinforcing that the GPU is working at its limit. For instance, the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 44 FPS, whereas at 1080p, that same gap expands to 123 FPS, showing the CPU’s ability to drive framerates higher when the GPU has less work to do.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is clearly the pivotal component for higher-resolution performance in The Technomancer. With 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, it has ample bandwidth and capacity for this title’s textures. The memory clock is listed as 2500 MHz, with an effective data rate of 20 Gbps, contributing to an 800.0 GB/s bandwidth. These specifications suggest that memory bandwidth is unlikely to be a bottleneck, even at 4K Ultra where the GPU is most stressed.

The GPU’s clock behavior is also relevant. It has a base clock of 1387 MHz, a game clock of 2025 MHz, and a boost clock of 2394 MHz. The large gap between the base and boost clocks indicates the card’s ability to dynamically scale its frequency under load. In this game, the benchmark results show that the card can sustain high performance, but the 46 FPS average at 4K Ultra suggests it is hitting a compute limit rather than a memory one. The 84 Ray Accelerators on the RDNA 3.0 architecture are present, but The Technomancer’s rendering pipeline, which predates widespread ray tracing, likely relies more on raw shader throughput.

The GPU’s performance percentile is notable. It sits at the 55th percentile when compared to all GPUs in the database, which indicates that while it is a powerful card, there are many other configurations that score higher in synthetic benchmarks. Its average benchmark score is 13745, with a Passmark G3D score of 29009. Interestingly, its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon 660M and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, which are not desktop gaming cards. This suggests that the average benchmark score is heavily influenced by workloads other than pure gaming, or that the database’s comparison pool is skewed. The deltaPct to these rivals is minimal (-0.5%), showing that in aggregate synthetic tests, the 7900 XT is comparable to those mobile parts, but the in-game FPS data tells a far different story for this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 251 at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates the CPU and GPU can push frame rates well beyond standard high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Technomancer?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 69, and at High, it is 59. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, Medium settings are the highest viable option, as Ultra drops to an average of 46 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 164 on Low to 84 on Ultra. This is a 80 FPS difference, representing a 49% reduction in performance when maxing out the settings.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor even at 1080p, as frame rates scale down consistently with increased settings. However, the high absolute numbers (251 FPS at Low) show the CPU is providing enough data to keep the GPU well-fed.

Q: Is there a significant difference in minimum FPS between Medium settings at different resolutions?

A: Yes. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 164, which matches the average FPS of 1440p High. At 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS drops to 107, and at 4K Medium, it falls to 59. This shows that frame pacing becomes less consistent as resolution increases.

Q: How does this combo’s performance rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo is ranked 485th out of 2825 total tested combinations for this game. This places it in the top 17% of all systems tested, indicating strong overall performance despite not being at the absolute pinnacle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full set of measurements provides a clear matrix of performance. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. Low settings produce an average of 251 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 193 FPS, with a minimum of 164 and a maximum of 222. High settings average 164 FPS, and Ultra settings still manage a very high 128 FPS average. This demonstrates that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to run the game at maximum settings with frame rates well above 120 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive. Low settings average 164 FPS. Medium settings drop to an average of 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 and a maximum of 145. High settings produce an average of 108 FPS, which is sufficient for a 100Hz+ monitor. Ultra settings average 84 FPS, offering a high-fidelity experience that remains very smooth. The scaling here is linear, with a roughly 20 FPS drop for each tier of settings increase.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings average 90 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings average 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80, putting it right at the edge of a 60 FPS V-sync target. High settings average 59 FPS, providing a cinematic 60 FPS experience. Ultra settings, however, drop to an average of 46 FPS, which may result in noticeable stutter on a 60Hz display. The data shows a clear hierarchy where 4K gaming is best suited to Medium settings for a consistent frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

According to the database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT holds a rank of 485 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This ranking places it in the upper echelon of tested systems, specifically in the 83rd percentile. While it is not the top-performing configuration, it is ahead of a significant majority of alternatives. The rank suggests that this pairing is well-balanced, avoiding severe bottlenecks that would push it lower in the list.

The ranking is a holistic metric that considers all tested resolutions and settings. The system’s ability to deliver 100+ FPS at 1440p and 60+ FPS at 4K on High settings likely contributes heavily to this strong position. It outperforms many combos that might have a more powerful GPU but a weaker CPU, or vice versa. The 485th rank indicates that while there are 484 faster combos, this system is more than capable for this title, delivering a premium experience across the board. The data implies that for a 2016 game, this modern hardware is overkill, but it still ranks among the top 20% of all systems tested for this specific title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It features a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. This high boost clock is crucial for gaming, as it allows for rapid single-threaded execution. The CPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. These numbers reinforce its capability to handle both multi-threaded workloads and the less parallelizable tasks inherent in game logic.

The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes a large 36 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores. In a game like The Technomancer, which may not be perfectly optimized for 24 cores, the high boost clock and large cache are more likely to impact performance than the raw core count. The benchmark data supports this, as the frame rates at 1080p are exceptionally high, suggesting the CPU is not a limiting factor. Its percentile vs all CPUs is 96, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, has a deltaPct of only 0.2%, showing they are nearly identical in performance.

However, the CPU’s role diminishes as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rate is dictated by the GPU’s rendering speed. The CPU’s job is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game state data, and the 5.80 GHz boost clock ensures it can do so without creating a bottleneck. The Passmark multithread score of 60860 and the single-thread score of 4823 illustrate the platform’s strength. The data indicates that the CPU provides a massive amount of headroom, ensuring that even at the highest settings, the GPU is the sole determinant of frame rate, not the processor.

Settings Recommendations

For players prioritizing the highest possible frame rates at 1080p, the Low preset’s 251 FPS average is the top choice, but the Ultra preset’s 128 FPS average is still exceptionally smooth and offers a much better visual experience. Given the diminishing returns in FPS versus visual quality, the High setting at 1080p, with its 164 FPS average, provides an excellent balance of speed and fidelity, ensuring the game remains responsive on any high-refresh-rate display.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset’s 84 FPS average is the best choice for visual fidelity while maintaining a frame rate above 60 FPS. For those with a 144Hz monitor, the High preset at 108 FPS is the better option, as it clears the 100 FPS threshold and still looks great. The Medium preset at 126 FPS is a strong middle ground for competitive play, but the difference in visual quality between Medium and High is often worth the 18 FPS cost.

For 4K gaming, the recommendation is clear. The High preset’s 59 FPS average is ideal for a 60Hz display, providing a locked-feeling experience. The Medium preset’s 69 FPS average offers a slight buffer, ensuring fewer dips below 60 FPS. The Ultra preset’s 46 FPS average is too low for a consistent experience and should be avoided unless the user prioritizes screenshots over gameplay smoothness. The data suggests that Medium is the most stable 4K option, as its minimum FPS is 59, which aligns perfectly with standard 60Hz monitor refresh rates, offering the best combination of performance and enhanced visuals over Low.