The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. This analysis examines the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H paired with the AMD Radeon 8060S, based on measured FPS data. The combination ranks 1632nd out of 2825 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier for this title. The data shows a system capable of playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but it struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K with higher settings. The following sections break down the CPU and GPU roles, provide a detailed FPS breakdown, and offer settings recommendations based strictly on the measured results.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows the most consistent performance at 1920x1080, where average FPS ranges from 80 at Ultra to 157 at Low. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to a range of 52 to 102, while at 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to between 29 and 56, making 1080p the most reliable choice for playable frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The game benefits from this multi-core capacity, as indicated by the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28221, but the FPS data suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU workload becomes the limiting factor more than the CPU.

Q: How does the GPU's VRAM situation impact the gaming experience?

A: The AMD Radeon 8060S uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it draws from the system's LPDDR5X RAM. The GPU's memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which implies that performance at higher resolutions and settings could be influenced by system memory speed and allocation, a factor that likely contributes to the significant FPS drops at 4K.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon 8060S comparable to a dedicated desktop GPU?

A: According to the benchmark data, the GPU's average score of 55757 places it near the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a deltaPct of 0.1%. This suggests its performance is in a similar tier to that desktop graphics card, though it is an integrated processor (IGP) with a 55 W TDP.

Q: What is the CPU's standing compared to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 40518. Its closest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, has an average score of 40557, putting our CPU at a -0.1% deltaPct. It is also within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, showing it is statistically on par with these processors in general benchmarks.

Q: Can this system achieve a stable 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Low settings, the average FPS is 102, which is well above 60. At Medium settings, the average is 79 FPS, and at High settings, the average is 67 FPS. The data shows that a 60 FPS average is achievable at High settings, though the minimum FPS was not recorded for that setting.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor based on the Panther Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded capability, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28221 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 32956. The processor sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and AI. The game, being from 2016, may not be heavily optimized for the high core counts of modern processors, but the strong single-thread performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3984, ensures that the game's main thread is well-served. The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions, where the GPU can produce high frame rates. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 157 FPS, which indicates the CPU can feed the GPU effectively.

However, the CPU's impact becomes less apparent as resolution increases. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 drops significantly across all settings, with the average at High being 37 FPS and at Low being 56 FPS. This pattern suggests that the GPU's rendering workload is the primary constraint at 4K. The CPU's cache layout includes an 18 MB shared L3 cache and 2.5 MB per core L2 cache, which helps in keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores. While the CPU has a TDP of 25 W, which is low, its ability to boost to 5.00 GHz helps maintain responsive performance in gaming scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and AMD Radeon 8060S configuration is ranked 1632nd out of 2825 tested combinations in The Technomancer. This places the system in the lower half of the test pool, specifically around the 58th percentile of all tested combos. This rank reflects a mid-to-low tier standing for this game, indicating that while the system can run the game, many other combinations deliver better performance.

The individual components have strong benchmark scores relative to the broader market, but their combined performance in this specific title is less impressive. The CPU's average benchmark score of 40518 puts it near the top 13% of all CPUs, and the GPU's average score of 55757 also places it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. Despite this, the combo's rank in The Technomancer suggests that the game's specific engine and rendering requirements do not fully leverage the strengths of this hardware pairing. The data shows a clear performance ceiling, particularly at higher resolutions, which drags the overall rank down.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. With Low settings, the average FPS is 157, which is exceptionally smooth. At Medium, the average is 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 and a maximum of 138. High settings yield an average of 103 FPS, and even at Ultra, the system maintains an average of 80 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for a high-refresh-rate experience, even on the highest quality presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but shows a noticeable drop. At Low settings, the average FPS is 102, which is still very good. Medium settings produce an average of 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 90. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 52 FPS, which may be less desirable for fast-paced action. The data indicates that 1440p is viable for high-refresh-rate gaming on Low, and for standard 60 FPS gaming on Medium and High.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. Low settings yield an average of 56 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings average 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50. High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 29 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming is not a practical option for this combo unless the user is willing to accept significant compromises in visual quality and frame rate. The step-down in performance from 1440p to 4K is substantial, highlighting the GPU's memory bandwidth limitations at high resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is an integrated GPU based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. The GPU features 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is rated at 14.85 TFLOPS. The GPU's benchmark scores are strong for an integrated solution, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 84626 and a Vulkan score of 80483.

The most critical aspect of this GPU is its memory configuration. It uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and instead relies on the system's LPDDR5X memory. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which is a key factor in its performance. The data shows that at 1080p, the GPU can deliver high frame rates, but as resolution increases, the shared memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck. The drop from 157 FPS at 1080p Low to 56 FPS at 4K Low illustrates this constraint. The GPU is also compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a deltaPct of 0.1%, suggesting similar overall performance, but the RX 6750 GRE has dedicated VRAM, which may give it an edge in texture-heavy scenarios.

The GPU's 87th percentile ranking against all GPUs is impressive for an IGP. Its performance in The Technomancer is decent at lower resolutions, but the high-resolution data indicates that the shared memory architecture is a limiting factor. The GPU's TDP is 55 W, and it interfaces via PCIe 5.0 x16. For a game like The Technomancer, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate at resolutions above 1080p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience at 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it still averages 80 FPS. This provides the best visual fidelity while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS standard. If the user prioritizes maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 157 FPS is an option, but the visual quality trade-off is significant.

At 2560x1440, the best balance of visual quality and performance is the High preset, which averages 67 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS target and offers a much better visual experience than Medium or Low. For users who require a more stable frame rate, the Medium preset averages 79 FPS, which is a safer choice. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS may be acceptable for slower-paced exploration, but the lower average frame rate could be a disadvantage in combat scenarios.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the system is not well-suited for high-quality gaming. The Low preset is the only one that averages above 50 FPS, at 56 FPS. This is playable, but it requires a significant reduction in visual effects and texture quality. The Medium preset at 43 FPS may be tolerable for a cinematic experience, but the High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they fall below 40 FPS, which can feel stuttery in an action RPG. Given the performance data, the best experience with this combo is achieved at 1080p with Ultra settings or at 1440p with High settings.