The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case for modern hardware analysis. The data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination shows a system capable of very high frame rates, but the scaling across resolutions and settings reveals a clear performance hierarchy. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to understand the roles of the CPU and GPU, how they interact with the game's engine, and what the resulting experience means for players.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, backed by a substantial cache configuration that includes a 36 MB shared L3 cache. Its benchmark scores are strong, 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. This data suggests the processor has massive headroom for multi-threaded workloads and excellent single-thread performance, which is often more critical for gaming.

In the context of The Technomancer, a game released in 2016, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions, but it becomes a necessary foundation at lower settings. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 280 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to avoid becoming the primary bottleneck. The processor's high single-core score of 736 in Cinebench R15 and 4823 in Passmark's single-thread test likely contributes to this ability to handle the game's engine logic and physics at very high frame rates.

The comparison with its nearest rivals shows the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is closely matched with other top-tier processors. Its average benchmark score is 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's score of 83807. It also leads the AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135 by 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively. The data indicates that while the processor is extremely capable, its performance edge over the immediate competition is marginal in synthetic tests. For a game like The Technomancer, the practical difference from these rivals would likely be negligible, as the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in most scenarios.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. It has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2452 MHz, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). Its compute capabilities are substantial, with 8960 shading units and a FP32 throughput of 43.94 TFLOPS. Its benchmark results include a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6604 and a Passmark G3D score of 32974, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's role in The Technomancer is clearly the dominant factor in determining frame rates, particularly as resolution and settings increase. The measured data shows a clear dependency on the GPU's workload. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 52, while at 4K Low, it rises to 101. This scaling is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering resolution and pixel complexity directly impact performance. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for the textures and assets of a 2016 game, even at 4K Ultra settings, so memory capacity is not a limiting factor in these results.

Comparing the RTX 5070 Ti to its nearest rivals shows a mixed picture. Its average benchmark score is 49957, which is 3.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT's score of 48477. However, it is 2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, which has an average score of 50951. The data shows that the GPU is competitive with the previous generation of high-end cards, but its performance in this specific game will be defined by the engine's optimization for its architecture. The high boost clock and fast memory ensure that it can push high frame rates, but the game's engine may not fully leverage the newer features, making raw rasterization power the key metric.

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 where the bottleneck lies. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 184 FPS at 1080p to 120 FPS at 1440p, and then to 66 FPS at 4K. This represents a 35% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 45% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, where the rendering cost increases with the number of pixels.

At Medium settings, the trend is similar. The average FPS is 215 at 1080p, 141 at 1440p, and 77 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 34%, and from 1440p to 4K is 45%. This consistent pattern across different settings strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all tested resolutions. The CPU, with its high core count and clock speeds, is able to maintain frame delivery without becoming a constraint, even when the GPU is producing over 200 FPS at 1080p.

The Low settings data further supports this conclusion. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 280 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests that even with a reduced GPU load, the CPU can keep up. However, the drop to 183 FPS at 1440p Low and 101 FPS at 4K Low shows that the GPU is still the primary factor limiting performance. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is a 35% decrease, and from 1440p to 4K is a 45% decrease, which is almost identical to the High and Medium settings. This consistency proves that the frame rate is directly tied to the GPU's rendering workload.

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

The full set of measured data provides a detailed look at performance across all combinations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings. The average FPS is 280 at Low, 215 at Medium, 184 at High, and 144 at Ultra. The Medium setting also has recorded min and max FPS of 183 and 248, respectively, showing a stable frame delivery. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 49% reduction in average FPS, which is a significant impact from the increased graphics workload.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS decreases but remains highly playable. The average is 183 at Low, 141 at Medium, 120 at High, and 94 at Ultra. The Medium setting records a min FPS of 120 and a max of 162. This resolution demonstrates a good balance for high refresh rate monitors, as even the Ultra setting maintains an average above 90 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with the Ultra setting seeing a 35% reduction in average FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. The average FPS is 101 at Low, 77 at Medium, 66 at High, and 52 at Ultra. The Medium setting has a min FPS of 66 and a max of 89. While the Low and Medium settings are playable, the High and Ultra settings dip into territory that may not be ideal for all players. The data shows that 4K Ultra is the most demanding configuration, with an average of 52 FPS, which is 19% lower than the 4K High setting's 66 FPS. This breakdown shows that the game scales predictably with settings, and the GPU is the clear deciding factor.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination ranks 354 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the top 9.6% of all tested systems, which is a strong result. The high ranking indicates that this hardware combination is well-suited for the game, providing a performance level that is significantly above the majority of tested configurations.

This rank of 354 out of 3696 suggests that while the system is powerful, there are still 353 other combinations that perform better. These could include higher-end GPUs or configurations that are more optimized for the game's specific engine. The data does not specify which combos rank higher, but it is clear that the RTX 5070 Ti, while being a new-generation card, does not top the charts in this older title. The rank reflects a balance of CPU and GPU performance, and in this case, the GPU's performance ceiling is what defines the overall ranking.

The fact that the system ranks in the top percentile confirms the capabilities of both components. The CPU's robust multi-threading and high single-core speed combined with the GPU's substantial rasterization power create a system that excels in this game. The measured FPS data supports this ranking, as the system achieves over 60 FPS at 4K High settings and over 144 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which are excellent results for a game from 2016.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 120 at 2560x1440 with High settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 52.

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

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting component. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, which is typical of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's high performance allows it to keep up even at 280 FPS at 1080p Low.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 183 and the maximum is 248.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested configurations?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 354 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p High is 184, while at 4K High it is 66. This represents a 64% decrease in average FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset provides an average of 144 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. This setting offers the best visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds 144 Hz, ensuring a smooth experience. The High preset at 1080p is also excellent, with an average of 184 FPS, providing a buffer for more demanding scenes.

For 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 120 FPS. This achieves a great balance between visual fidelity and performance, making it suitable for 120Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 1440p also remains viable with an average of 94 FPS, but the High setting provides a more consistent frame rate. The Low and Medium presets at this resolution offer higher frame rates, but the visual compromise may not be worthwhile for most users.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the most balanced option, with an average of 77 FPS. This provides a playable experience while maintaining a reasonable level of visual quality. The High preset at 4K averages 66 FPS, which is still playable but may have more noticeable frame drops in intense scenes. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 52 FPS, is best reserved for players who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate stability and have a G-Sync or FreeSync display to mitigate the lower frame rate. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 4K offers the best overall experience, as it stays comfortably above 60 FPS while providing a significant visual upgrade over Low.