The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that scales dramatically with both resolution and graphics presets. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, using measured data to determine how each component contributes to the final frame rates and what settings provide the optimal experience.

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 from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. This high core count and substantial boost capability position it as a top-tier desktop part, with a percentile ranking of 96 versus all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 84003 places it nearly neck-and-neck with its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83807, a mere 0.2% difference. The data shows the 290K Plus also edges out the AMD EPYC 4584PX by 1.1% and the AMD EPYC 9135 by 1.2%, though it sits 1.3% behind the AMD EPYC 7F72.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The measured FPS data reveals that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 309 FPS. This exceptionally high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of immense throughput, as the GPU is not yet the primary bottleneck at this low resolution and minimal graphical load. The 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with the 36 MB of shared L3 cache, provide the necessary headroom for the game's engine to operate without stalling. The processor's single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303, is critical for this game, as many game engines rely heavily on a few primary threads for physics and game state updates.

The shift in bottleneck becomes apparent when observing the scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K. At 1080p Low, the system is pushing past 300 FPS, a clear sign that the CPU is working near its limit to generate that many frames. However, as resolution increases, the GPU takes on more work, and the frame rate drops, indicating that the CPU is no longer the limiting factor. The processor's performance in multi-threaded tests, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731, shows it is more than capable of handling the game's background tasks and any additional system load, ensuring that frame pacing remains stable. The data suggests that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a powerful partner that will not hold back the RTX 5080, even at high frame rates, ensuring that the GPU is the primary driver of performance in most scenarios.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the visual powerhouse in this pairing. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is substantial, ensuring that high-resolution textures and complex scenes can be stored and accessed quickly without causing stutters or pop-in. The GPU is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and has a boost clock of 2617 MHz. It also offers a significant number of shading units (10752) and ray tracing cores (84), contributing to its raw computational power. The RTX 5080's average benchmark score is 56083, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon 8060S, scores 55757, a 0.6% difference, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 0.7% behind. The RTX 5080 also leads the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 2.3% but trails the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE by 2.2%.

In The Technomancer, the GPU's performance dictates the frame rate at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo delivers an average of 57 FPS. This is a demanding setting, and the data shows that the GPU is heavily loaded. The 16 GB of VRAM is likely a key factor here, as Ultra settings at 4K can consume a large amount of memory. The GPU's compute capabilities, reflected in a Passmark G3D score of 36565, are essential for rendering the game's environments and effects. When the settings are lowered to 4K Medium, the average FPS jumps to 85, demonstrating that the GPU's workload is being reduced, allowing it to produce frames faster. The relationship between GPU clock speed and performance is evident when comparing the High and Ultra presets at 1440p; the frame rate drops from 132 FPS to 103 FPS as the GPU works harder to render more detailed effects.

The RTX 5080's performance at 1080p is also telling. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 309 FPS, a scenario where the GPU is often idle waiting for the CPU. This indicates that even a top-tier GPU like the RTX 5080 can be underutilized if the CPU cannot generate frames quickly enough. However, at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate settles at 158 FPS, showing that the GPU is still the dominant force when graphical complexity is high. The GPU's 960.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth is a critical specification for this game, as it allows the rendering engine to quickly access texture data, which is vital for maintaining consistent frame rates in action-heavy sequences.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 achieves a rank of 166 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places the system in the top 4.5% of all configurations tested, indicating a very high level of performance. This rank reflects the synergy between the two components, where the CPU's strength prevents it from bottlenecking the GPU's output. The rank is a holistic score that considers all measured resolutions and settings, and the data shows that this combo is exceptionally well-suited for this title.

When breaking down the rank, it is important to consider that the system's performance is not uniform across all settings. At 1080p Low, the system's 309 FPS is a massive number that likely contributes significantly to its high ranking. However, at 4K Ultra, the 57 FPS is more modest, though still playable. The combination of a top-tier CPU and GPU ensures that the system is never severely limited by either component, allowing it to maintain competitive frame rates across the board. The rank of 166 suggests that while there are 165 other configurations that perform better, they likely consist of even more extreme hardware or combinations that are better optimized for this specific game engine.

The data from the nearestRivals for the individual components helps contextualize this rank. Since the CPU is 0.2% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, and the GPU is 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon 8060S, this combo is likely near the top of what is possible with mainstream desktop hardware. The rank of 166 out of 3696 indicates that this system delivers exceptional performance, suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors at lower resolutions and smooth 4K gameplay at high settings. It reflects the balance of the components, where neither part is a weak link in the chain, allowing the system to punch above its weight in this particular game.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak capability. With Low settings, it averages 309 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 237 FPS, with a minimum of 201 and a maximum of 273. High settings yield an average of 202 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 158 FPS. This shows a clear scaling curve where the GPU's workload increases with each preset, reducing the frame output.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong but shows the expected decline from 1080p. Low settings deliver an average of 202 FPS. Medium settings average 155 FPS, with a range of 132 to 178 FPS. High settings produce 132 FPS, and Ultra settings average 103 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at this resolution is 99 FPS, a significant reduction that highlights the increased graphical demands of higher presets. The system remains highly playable at all settings at 1440p, with even Ultra settings staying comfortably above 100 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system faces its toughest challenge. Low settings average 111 FPS, a playable number. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98 FPS, indicating some frame time variance but still a smooth experience. High settings drop the average to 73 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, bringing the average down to 57 FPS. This final setting is the only one where the system dips below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that users seeking a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K may need to adjust settings or rely on other technologies not measured here.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals the classic signs of a GPU-bound scenario. When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the frame rate drops by about 35% for most settings. For example, on High settings, the frame rate goes from 202 FPS at 1080p to 132 FPS at 1440p. This drop is consistent with the increase in pixel count, which directly increases the GPU's rendering load. The CPU's role is static; it is not affected by resolution changes. Therefore, the consistent frame rate drops indicate that the GPU is the limiting component in these scenarios.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more dramatic. On High settings, the frame rate drops from 132 FPS to 73 FPS, a 45% reduction. This is a larger percentage drop than from 1080p to 1440p, which is expected because the pixel count increase from 1440p to 4K is proportionally greater. This steeper decline further confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data shows that the CPU has sufficient headroom to handle the game's logic at any resolution, but the GPU's fill rate and shading power are what determine the final frame output.

This analysis is supported by the 1080p Low results. The 309 FPS figure is likely near the CPU's maximum frame generation limit. If the CPU were the limiting factor at higher resolutions, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates, but the data shows a continuous decline as resolution increases. This pattern confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not a bottleneck, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the component that dictates performance scaling across resolutions. Users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors will find the system's performance to be exceptional, while those with 4K displays will be able to enjoy high settings with frame rates in the 70s.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1080p display, all settings provide a playable experience. The Ultra preset, at 158 FPS, offers the best visual fidelity while still delivering a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most standard monitors. For competitive play, the Low or Medium presets would push the frame rate into the 200s and 300s, offering a potential competitive advantage, though the visual quality is significantly reduced. The data shows no reason to avoid Ultra at 1080p for a balanced experience.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 103 FPS, which is excellent for most users and will look spectacular on high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset, at 132 FPS, is a strong alternative for those who prefer even smoother motion, sacrificing some visual detail for a 29 FPS increase. The Low and Medium presets also provide high frame rates, but the visual compromise is likely not worth it when the system can handle higher settings. Therefore, the data suggests that High or Ultra are the best choices for 1440p, depending on whether the user prioritizes visual quality or frame rate smoothness.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The Ultra preset averages 57 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target many users consider the baseline for a smooth experience. The High preset, at 73 FPS, is the sweet spot for 4K. It provides a clear improvement over Ultra in terms of frame rate while maintaining a high level of visual detail. The Medium preset, at 85 FPS, is another viable option that offers even more headroom, but the visual downgrade from High is noticeable. Based on the measured rows, the High preset at 4K provides the best combination of high visual quality and smooth, playable frame rates, making it the recommended setting for this resolution.