The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile pairing. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is clearly capable of delivering high performance, yet the data also shows distinct bottlenecks that shift depending on the workload. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS to understand where this combo excels and where its limits are exposed.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the changing balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 229 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the dataset, indicating that at this resolution and setting level, the CPU is the primary limiter; the GPU has enough headroom to render frames as fast as the processor can feed it. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 150 FPS, a 34.5% decrease. This significant drop suggests that the GPU is starting to become more of a factor, though the frame rate remains very high.

The trend becomes more pronounced at 4K. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 82. This represents a 45.3% reduction from the 1440p Low result and a 64.2% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This steep decline is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 5080 Mobile is now the limiting factor, as the sheer number of pixels at 4K demands more from the graphics processor than from the CPU.

The data for High settings tells a similar story. From 1080p (150 FPS) to 1440p (98 FPS), there is a 34.7% drop. From 1440p to 4K (54 FPS), the drop is 44.9%. The scaling pattern is consistent: the jump to 4K incurs a larger relative penalty than the jump to 1440p. This reinforces the conclusion that at 4K, the RTX 5080 Mobile's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint, whereas at 1080p, particularly at lower settings, the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H's processing power is what caps the maximum frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in The Technomancer?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 229 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the system more CPU-bound or GPU-bound at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The data shows a CPU-bound scenario. The 229 FPS average at 1080p Low is the highest in the dataset, and the steep drop to 150 FPS at 1440p Low suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at the lower resolution, as the GPU has ample headroom.

Q: What is the performance penalty for playing at 4K compared to 1440p at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 98 FPS at 2560x1440 to 54 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a 44.9% reduction in average FPS.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded, and under what conditions?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 42 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate is likely to be unstable?

A: The data for Medium settings includes minimum and maximum FPS values, unlike most other settings. At 4K Medium, the FPS ranges from 54 to 73. At 1440p Medium, it ranges from 98 to 132, and at 1080p Medium, from 150 to 202. This data indicates the frame rate fluctuates, but the minimums are still playable.

Q: How does the combo's performance rank relative to other tested systems?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and RTX 5080 Mobile combo ranks 992nd out of 3696 tested combos in this game. This places it in the top 26.8% of all tested configurations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28221 and a single-core score of 3984, indicate substantial processing power. In The Technomancer, this power is most evident at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck.

The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 229 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU's ability to handle the game's logic and draw calls quickly. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and support for LPDDR5X memory likely contribute to its strong performance in this scenario. The processor's percentile rank of 87 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40518, places it in a high-performance tier.

However, the CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases. The data shows that the frame rate drops more steeply from 1440p to 4K than from 1080p to 1440p. This indicates that the RTX 5080 Mobile becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU has the power to drive high frame rates, but it is the GPU that is unable to keep pace with the increased pixel count. The processor's performance is also reflected in its nearest rivals. It scores 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H and is 0.1% lower than the Intel Core 7 253PE, showing it is closely matched with other top-tier mobile processors.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile ranks 992nd out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This ranking places the system in the upper quartile of all tested configurations, indicating a high level of overall performance. While it is not a top-tier ranking, it is important to consider the context.

The GPU's individual benchmark results are notable. It has a Passmark G3D score of 27711 and a percentile rank of 81 against all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, has an average score that is 0.6% lower, suggesting that this RTX 5080 Mobile is a very strong performer. The CPU also performs well, with a percentile rank of 87 and an average benchmark score of 40518.

The combo's rank of 992 suggests that while both components are individually powerful, the pairing may not be optimal for this specific title. The 2016 game might not be fully optimized to leverage the latest architectures. The rank could also be influenced by the specific driver versions or thermal constraints of the mobile platform. Nevertheless, a rank in the top 27% of all tested systems means that the vast majority of other configurations will perform worse in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a full picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across the board. With Low settings, the average FPS is 229. At Medium settings, the average is 176 FPS, with a minimum of 150 and a maximum of 202. High settings yield 150 FPS average. At Ultra settings, the average FPS is 117. This shows that even at the highest settings, the system is able to maintain a very smooth experience at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but drops from the 1080p results. Low settings average 150 FPS. Medium settings average 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 and a maximum of 132. High settings produce an average of 98 FPS. Ultra settings average 77 FPS. These numbers show that 1440p is very playable with high refresh rate monitors, especially at Medium and High settings.

At 3840x2160, the load on the GPU becomes apparent. Low settings average 82 FPS. Medium settings average 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 73. High settings average 54 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of 42 FPS. While the system can handle 4K, it is clear that High and Ultra settings will push the GPU to its limits, and players might need to adjust settings to achieve a consistent 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1080p gaming, the system is exceptionally powerful. Ultra settings still deliver an average of 117 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience. Players can comfortably choose Ultra settings for the best visual quality without sacrificing performance. If a very high refresh rate monitor is in use, dropping to High or Medium settings will push the average FPS to 150 or 176, respectively.

For 1440p gaming, the data suggests that High settings offer a great balance. The average of 98 FPS is high enough for most gaming monitors and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings. For those seeking the highest frame rates, Medium settings at 115 FPS average is a strong option. Ultra settings at 77 FPS average are also viable, though some may prefer the higher frame rate from lower settings.

For 4K gaming, the choice is more nuanced. High settings produce an average of 54 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings, with an average of 63 FPS, are the recommended choice for a smoother experience, as they provide a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Low settings at 82 FPS are the best for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, but the visual compromise may be too great for some. Ultra settings should be avoided for a consistent experience, as the 42 FPS average is below the ideal playable threshold.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile is the dominant component in this pairing for this game. With 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. This substantial bandwidth is crucial for feeding the GPU's 7680 shading units and 240 texture mapping units. The GPU's base clock is 975 MHz with a boost clock of 1500 MHz, and it features 60 RT cores.

The GPU's role as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions is clearly demonstrated by the FPS data. The sharp decline in average FPS from 1440p to 4K at all settings points to the GPU reaching its rendering limits. For instance, at High settings, the FPS drops from 98 at 1440p to 54 at 4K. This is a 44.9% decrease, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The GPU is being tasked with rendering more pixels, and its performance scales accordingly.

The GPU's individual benchmark scores support this analysis. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 4952, and its Passmark G3D score is 27711. These scores place it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, has an average benchmark score that is 0.6% lower, indicating that the RTX 5080 Mobile is a top-tier mobile graphics solution. The data shows that while the CPU is capable of supporting high frame rates, it is the RTX 5080 Mobile that ultimately determines the playable experience at 4K.