The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the AMD Radeon 8050S, based on benchmark data collected across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data indicates a configuration that is capable of smooth 1080p gameplay but is progressively limited at higher resolutions, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. The average frame rate at this resolution ranges from 71 FPS on Ultra settings to 140 FPS on Low settings, ensuring a fluid experience even with the highest visual fidelity.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the configuration achieves an average of 60 FPS. This is a playable result, though it offers less headroom than 1080p and may be susceptible to dips below 60 FPS in more intense scenes.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon 8050S a strong GPU relative to other options?

A: Yes. The benchmark data places the Radeon 8050S in the 89th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 62108, which is roughly 0.3% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M and about 2.5% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56.

Q: What is the CPU's standing compared to similar processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is also a high-performing chip, ranking in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 44466 is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which posts a score of 44573, a difference of only -0.2%.

Q: Does the game run better on Low or Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The data shows a significant difference. At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields an average of 50 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 26 FPS. The High preset sits in between at 33 FPS.

Q: What is the ranking of this specific CPU/GPU combination among all tested combos?

A: This combination ranks 2087 out of 2825 tested combos for The Technomancer. This places it in the lower half of all configurations tested for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and AMD Radeon 8050S handle The Technomancer across different quality presets. The primary goal for a smooth experience is to maintain a frame rate at or above 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, this is achievable across all presets. The High preset returns 92 FPS, while Ultra still offers a very playable 71 FPS. For players who prioritize maximum visual quality, the Ultra preset at 1080p is the best choice, as it stays well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the demands on the GPU increase. The High preset achieves exactly 60 FPS, making it the best option for a fluid experience at this resolution. The Medium preset offers more headroom at 70 FPS, but High provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset, at 47 FPS, falls below the ideal 60 FPS target and is best avoided for competitive or fast-paced play.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. No preset manages to reach 60 FPS. The Low preset, at 50 FPS, is the only option that approaches a playable frame rate. The Medium preset provides 38 FPS, and High drops to 33 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 26 FPS. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only recommended setting, and players should expect a less fluid experience.

For the best overall experience, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended configuration. It offers a high level of visual detail while maintaining a comfortable 92 FPS average, providing a buffer against frame drops in demanding scenes. This combination of resolution and settings delivers the best balance of image quality and performance based on the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and AMD Radeon 8050S in The Technomancer is modest when compared to other tested hardware combinations. The combo is ranked 2087 out of 2825 total combinations, placing it in the lower 26% of all systems benchmarked for this game. This ranking suggests that while the individual components are strong in synthetic benchmarks, their combined performance in this specific title is not top-tier.

This lower ranking is likely due to the Radeon 8050S being an integrated GPU. While it is a powerful iGPU, as indicated by its 89th percentile ranking among all GPUs, it is still limited by being part of the processor package. The data shows that at higher resolutions, the frame rates drop significantly, which is a common characteristic of iGPUs. The CPU, on the other hand, performs admirably, with a benchmark score nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and slightly better than the Intel Core i9-13950HX.

The combo's rank of 2087 indicates that there are many other systems that can run The Technomancer much faster. This is not a configuration for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming in this title. However, the data shows it is entirely capable of delivering a smooth 1080p experience. For users with this hardware, the performance is sufficient for a solid gaming experience at standard resolutions, but it will not compete with systems featuring dedicated high-end graphics cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates offer a detailed look at performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the configuration performs admirably. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 71 FPS. The High preset increases performance to 92 FPS, and the Medium preset yields 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS. The Low preset is the fastest, achieving 140 FPS. This shows a clear and consistent performance progression as settings are lowered.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable. The Ultra preset averages 47 FPS. The High preset hits an average of 60 FPS. The Medium preset provides 70 FPS, with a minimum of 60 FPS and a maximum of 81 FPS. The Low preset again leads with 91 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a significant load increase on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the configuration struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Ultra preset falls to an average of 26 FPS. The High preset averages 33 FPS. The Medium preset, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS, averages 38 FPS. The Low preset is the only playable option, with an average of 50 FPS. The progression from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a steep performance cliff, with the 4K resolution proving to be a major challenge for the AMD Radeon 8050S.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8050S is the clear limiting factor in this configuration. Its performance characteristics, combined with the game's demands, dictate the frame rates observed. The GPU has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2800 MHz, built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture. It features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. Its compute power is rated at 11.47 TFLOPS.

The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory. This is a critical detail, as the bandwidth is "System Dependent." This shared memory architecture can limit performance, especially at higher resolutions where large amounts of data need to be moved quickly. The measured FPS data supports this, as the performance drops are most severe at 4K, a resolution that requires substantial memory bandwidth.

The Radeon 8050S's benchmark scores are respectable, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 65818 and a Vulkan score of 58398. It ranks in the 89th percentile of all GPUs. However, in The Technomancer, the GPU's limitations are exposed. At 1440p, the frame rate drops by roughly 35% compared to 1080p, and at 4K, the average frame rate is less than half of what it is at 1080p. This pattern clearly indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is likely not the cause of such significant frame rate drops.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H provides a strong foundation for this system. It is a 16-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This high boost clock is beneficial for gaming, which often relies on single-thread performance. The processor's cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 18 MB of L3 cache.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU performs very well. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 18911, and its single-core score is 2200.5. It ranks in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 44466 puts it in a dead heat with the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, and it is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i9-13950HX and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be supportive rather than a bottleneck. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is powerful enough to feed the GPU, allowing it to reach 140 FPS on Low settings. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 5.10 GHz boost clock, ensures that game logic and physics are handled without limiting the GPU's output.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is a critical indicator of system balance. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves 92 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 2560x1440 with the same settings, the frame rate drops to 60 FPS. This is a reduction of 32 FPS, or about 35%. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more dramatic. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average frame rate is just 33 FPS. This is a 27 FPS drop from 1440p, representing a 45% decrease.

This pattern of performance degradation is a clear sign that the AMD Radeon 8050S is the limiting component. The number of pixels being rendered increases exponentially with resolution. At 4K, there are over four times as many pixels as at 1080p. This massive increase in workload is directly reflected in the frame rate collapse. The CPU, which is capable of high frame rates at 1080p, is not the constraint here.

The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is more than capable of handling this game, but it is being held back by the GPU. At 1080p, the CPU is able to push the GPU to its limits, resulting in high frame rates. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and its performance degrades, exposing it as the primary bottleneck. For users seeking higher resolutions, the only path to better performance would be to lower graphical settings, as seen with the 50 FPS result at 4K on Low settings. This confirms that the GPU is the determining factor in this configuration's overall gaming performance.