The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with the AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics produces a dataset that clearly defines its performance boundaries. The measured frames per second across resolutions and settings reveal a component combination that is firmly entry-level for this title, where playability is contingent on making the right compromises. The data indicates that this is a system for 1080p gaming, with the integrated GPU acting as the primary constraint, while the capable 16-core processor ensures the system never becomes CPU-bound in a way that would further degrade the experience.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data for this combination in The Technomancer points to a clear hierarchy of playability, with the Low preset at 1920x1080 being the only configuration that yields a consistently smooth experience. The average frame rate of 70 FPS at this setting is the highest recorded for the entire combo, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered the baseline for fluid gameplay. This is the only settings/resolution combination that achieves this level of performance, making it the definitive recommendation for a responsive experience.

If you wish to increase visual fidelity, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is a viable alternative, delivering an average of 54 FPS. This is a significant drop from the Low preset, but it remains within a playable range for a slower-paced action RPG. The minimum FPS of 46 recorded at this setting suggests that while there will be occasional dips, they should not be severely disruptive. This preset offers a reasonable balance between visual quality and performance, but it is the edge of what this iGPU can manage at a playable level.

The High preset at 1920x1080, with an average of 46 FPS, is more demanding and begins to show the strain on the system. While playable, the lower average and the absence of a recorded minimum FPS suggest potential for noticeable frame pacing issues. The Ultra preset at this resolution, averaging only 36 FPS, crosses into territory that is generally considered too choppy for a satisfying experience. Therefore, the data supports a two-tier recommendation: use Low for the most reliable performance, or Medium if you are willing to accept lower frame rates for enhanced visuals. Anything above this is not recommended based on the measured results.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its substantial multi-threaded capabilities are evident in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 36811. This processing power is crucial for handling game logic, AI, and physics calculations that are typical of an Action RPG. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this game, as even at lower resolutions where the GPU workload is less demanding, performance is still capped by the graphics solution.

The processor's high single-core performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2200.5 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4280, is also important for gaming. Many game engines rely heavily on a single primary thread for tasks like frame rendering and input processing. A strong single-core score ensures that the CPU can feed the GPU with instructions quickly enough, preventing a CPU-side bottleneck. In this combination, the CPU appears to be more than capable of keeping up with the Radeon 890M, as the frame rates are consistently low across all settings, indicating the GPU is the one struggling to keep up.

This performance profile places the Core Ultra X9 388H in a strong position compared to its rivals. It sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, Intel Core i9-13950HX, AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, and Intel Core i5-13600 in average benchmark score. This near-parity in synthetic tests suggests that in a CPU-bound scenario, this processor would perform on par with those options. However, in The Technomancer, its role is to provide a stable foundation, and it does so admirably, ensuring the performance ceiling is set by the integrated GPU rather than a lack of processing power.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, featuring 1024 shading units and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. It is a part of the Strix Point generation and offers a peak FP32 throughput of 5.939 TFLOPS. While these specifications are respectable for an iGPU, its performance in The Technomancer is clearly limited, as it falls into the 45th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score. This places it as an entry-level graphics solution, a fact that is starkly reflected in the measured FPS data.

The GPU's role as the primary performance bottleneck in this game is unmistakable. When comparing the average FPS at 1920x1080, we see a clear scaling with settings: 70 FPS on Low, 54 FPS on Medium, 46 FPS on High, and 36 FPS on Ultra. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario where the graphics processor is working at its maximum capacity, and increasing the visual load directly impacts the frame rate. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," which means it relies on the system's main memory, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This reliance on shared memory can be a performance hindrance in memory-intensive scenes, further limiting the iGPU's potential.

In comparison to its closest rivals, the Radeon 890M is essentially in a dead heat. Its average benchmark score is within 1% of the AMD Radeon Vega 8, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M. This benchmark parity suggests that in The Technomancer, its in-game performance should be broadly similar to those older dedicated graphics cards and other integrated solutions. The data confirms that while it is a competent modern iGPU, it does not have the raw power to deliver high frame rates at high settings in this demanding title, reinforcing its role as a solution for low-to-medium settings at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and AMD Radeon 890M ranks at 2667 out of 2825 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the bottom 6% of all tested system configurations, a ranking that clearly indicates this is not a high-performance gaming setup. This low ranking is almost entirely attributable to the integrated GPU's performance, as the CPU is a high-end mobile part that would rank much higher on its own. The data shows a significant mismatch between the processor's capability and the graphics solution's output.

This ranking implies that for the vast majority of the 2825 tested combinations, a better gaming experience is achieved. The combo's position near the bottom of the list suggests that most other systems, even those with mid-range dedicated graphics cards, will easily outperform it. It is important to contextualize this ranking: it does not mean the system is non-functional, but rather that its performance ceiling is very low for this specific game. The data shows that it can play the game, but only at the most modest settings and resolution.

The high percentile ranking of the CPU (88th percentile) juxtaposed with the low ranking of the GPU (45th percentile) and the even lower combo ranking highlights the severe bottleneck. The system's overall performance is dragged down by the 890M's inability to translate the CPU's processing power into high frame rates. This is a common issue with systems relying on integrated graphics, and the data here provides a clear example of that dynamic. For anyone building or purchasing a system with this combo, the expectation must be set for entry-level 1080p gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a playable experience with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured data, the only combination that achieves an average frame rate above 60 FPS is the 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, which produces an average of 70 FPS. The 1920x1080 Medium preset, at 54 FPS, is also playable for a game of this pace.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, Intel Core i9-13950HX, AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, and Intel Core i5-13600, indicating near-identical synthetic performance. It has a 0.4% higher score than the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and is 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-13600.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in The Technomancer?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rates scale significantly with graphics settings at the same resolution (e.g., 70 FPS at Low vs 36 FPS at Ultra at 1080p), which is a classic sign of a GPU limitation, while the CPU's strong benchmark scores suggest it is not struggling.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon 890M's performance rank against other GPUs?

A: It sits in the 45th percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score. Its performance is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon Vega 8, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M, with a performance delta of only -0.1% to -1.0%.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1920x1080?

A: The average frame rate drops from 70 FPS on the Low preset to 36 FPS on the Ultra preset at 1920x1080. This represents a substantial performance cost for the increased visual fidelity, with the Ultra preset nearly halving the frame rate.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only two settings that recorded a minimum FPS were the Medium presets. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum was 46 FPS, and at 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum was 30 FPS. No minimum FPS data was recorded for the Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and AMD Radeon 890M combination in The Technomancer.

At 1920x1080, the performance is at its peak for this system. The Low preset leads with an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset follows with an average of 54 FPS and a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 46 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset yields an average of 36 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases significantly across the board. The Low preset is the only one that remains reasonably playable, with an average of 46 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. The High preset averages 30 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 23 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset produces an average of 25 FPS. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 22 FPS. The High preset averages 17 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of just 13 FPS. None of these 4K results are playable.

Resolution Scaling

The impact of resolution on performance is dramatic for this combo. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the Low preset results in an average FPS drop from 70 to 46, a reduction of roughly 34%. At the High preset, the average FPS falls from 46 to 30, a similar percentage decrease. This scaling indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the increase in pixel count, and its performance degrades almost linearly with the added workload.

The jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing. At the Low preset, the average FPS falls from 46 at 1440p to 25 at 4K, a further reduction of about 46%. At the High preset, it drops from 30 FPS to 17 FPS. This severe degradation at 4K confirms that the AMD Radeon 890M simply does not have the raw pixel throughput or memory bandwidth to handle such high resolutions, regardless of the graphical settings. The system is firmly in 1080p territory.

This scaling pattern provides a clear picture of the system's limiting component. The FPS drop is consistent and severe with each resolution increase, which is the definitive signature of a GPU-bound system. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see less of a difference between resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not scale as dramatically with pixel count. The data shows that the CPU is not the constraint; the Radeon 890M's performance ceiling is what dictates the playable settings, and that ceiling is at 1080p with lower presets.