The Technomancer

The Technomancer, a 2016 Action RPG, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile. The benchmark data indicates a configuration that is heavily influenced by graphical settings and resolution, with the CPU providing a robust foundation while the GPU dictates the upper limits of performance at higher fidelity levels. The measured results show a clear hierarchy of performance across the tested presets, offering specific insights into where this combo excels and where it becomes constrained.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a pronounced impact from resolution scaling, demonstrating that the RTX 4070 Mobile is the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 111 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on the same preset, the average drops to 72 FPS, a reduction of 39 FPS, or approximately 35%. The most significant scaling penalty occurs when jumping to 3840x2160, where the High preset yields an average of just 40 FPS, a further 44% decrease from the 1440p result. This steep decline from 1440p to 4K highlights the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute limits being saturated.

The pattern holds across other settings, confirming the GPU-bound nature of the scaling. At Low settings, the frame rate goes from 169 FPS at 1080p to 110 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 61 FPS at 4K. While the 1080p to 1440p drop is significant, the 1440p to 4K drop is again the most severe, with the 4K Low result falling below the 1080p Ultra average of 86 FPS. This indicates that even the lowest graphical preset at 4K demands more from the GPU than the highest preset at 1080p, which is a classic sign of a pixel-throughput bottleneck. The data suggests that the CPU has ample headroom, as the scaling is consistent and predictable, with no anomalies suggesting a CPU stall at lower resolutions.

The Medium preset offers the only complete min/max data across all resolutions, providing a clearer picture of frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the average is 130 FPS with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 85 FPS with a min of 72 and a max of 97. At 4K Medium, the average is 47 FPS with a min of 40 and a max of 53. The relative spread between min and max FPS remains similar across resolutions, suggesting that the frame pacing issues, if any, are consistent and not exacerbated by resolution changes. This further supports the idea that the GPU is consistently the bottleneck, as its workload scales linearly with pixel count.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The benchmark results show an average of 72 FPS at 2560x1440 with the High preset. This is a solidly playable frame rate for an Action RPG, indicating the combo handles the game well at this resolution and quality level.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra preset compare to the 1080p Low preset?

A: The 4K Ultra preset achieves an average of 31 FPS, while the 1080p Low preset achieves an average of 169 FPS. This represents a difference of 138 FPS, showing the massive performance cost of pushing both maximum resolution and maximum graphical fidelity. The 4K Ultra result is below the 40 FPS average of the 4K High preset, indicating that the Ultra settings are particularly demanding.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The consistent and significant frame rate drops as resolution increases, from 111 FPS at 1080p High to 40 FPS at 4K High, point to the GPU's rendering limits. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a single-core score of 2200.5, suggest it has sufficient processing power to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates as the pixel workload grows.

Q: What is the best performance target for a smooth experience at 1920x1080?

A: For a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p, the Low preset provides an average of 169 FPS. The High preset, at 111 FPS, is also well above 60 FPS and offers better visual fidelity. The Ultra preset, with an average of 86 FPS, is still very playable and is the most visually demanding option that remains above the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution.

Q: How does the combo's ranking in this game compare to other tested configurations?

A: This specific combo is ranked 1984 out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This places it in the 46th percentile of all tested systems, suggesting that while it performs competently, there are many other configurations that achieve higher frame rates in this specific title.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum frame rates recorded at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the benchmark recorded a minimum FPS of 72 and a maximum FPS of 97, with an average of 85 FPS. This data point is the only one at that resolution with a full min/max range, providing a useful reference for frame time stability.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile combination holds the 1984th position out of 3696 tested combos in The Technomancer. This ranking places the system in the middle of the pack, indicating that its performance is typical for a modern mobile setup. While not a top-tier performer in this specific game, it is by no means a weak configuration. The rank suggests that many other CPU-GPU pairings, likely including those with higher-end desktop components or more powerful mobile GPUs, achieve higher average frame rates.

This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the GPU's overall performance profile. The RTX 4070 Mobile has a percentile rank of 73 against all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 27435 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, which has a deltaPct of 0. It also trades blows with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, which has a deltaPct of -0.5. This indicates the mobile 4070 is a capable part, but it is not at the absolute top of the performance hierarchy. In a game like The Technomancer, which appears to be highly demanding on the GPU at higher settings, this places the combo in a competitive but not dominant position. The CPU's performance, with a percentile rank of 88 against all CPUs, is comparatively stronger, but the overall system ranking is dragged down by the GPU's limitations in this title.

The combo's rank is a holistic measure, and the data shows that the system's strengths do not fully compensate for the GPU's workload in this game. The result is a configuration that will provide a good experience at 1080p and 1440p, but will struggle to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings. This is a typical outcome for a mobile platform where the GPU is often the limiting factor for gaming performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates its highest performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 169 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149 FPS. The High preset averages 111 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 86 FPS. All 1080p presets deliver an average above 60 FPS, making this resolution the most versatile for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, performance scales down predictably. The Low preset averages 110 FPS, which is still a very good result for 1440p. The Medium preset averages 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 97 FPS. The High preset averages 72 FPS, which is right at the threshold for a smooth 60+ FPS experience. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 56 FPS, which is the first preset to fall below the 60 FPS mark. This suggests that for a consistently smooth 1440p experience, users should stick to High settings or lower.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes heavily strained. The Low preset averages 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53 FPS. The Ultra preset averages a playable but not ideal 31 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings for a 60 FPS target, while other settings will require a compromise on frame rate. The 4K Medium result, with its min/max range, indicates that frame rates can dip to 40 FPS, which may be noticeable in fast-paced action.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor based on the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its benchmark scores are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a single-core score of 2200.5. The processor's boost clock of 5.10 GHz is a key factor in its strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and physics. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4280 further confirms its capability in tasks that rely on single-core speed.

In the context of The Technomancer, the CPU's role appears to be that of a capable and consistent foundation. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K shows a uniform drop that is entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. If the CPU were a bottleneck, one would expect to see a plateau or a smaller performance gap between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU would struggle to feed the GPU with enough frames. Instead, the data shows a linear decline with resolution, indicating the CPU has ample headroom.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is very tight. Its average benchmark score of 44466 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (deltaPct -0.2) and the Intel Core i9-13950HX (deltaPct 0.3). This places it in a highly competitive tier, and for this game, it is unlikely to be the source of any performance disparity between these systems. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache and high boost clock likely contribute to its strong gaming performance, ensuring that the GPU is consistently fed with data, even in complex scenes with many entities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For a 1080p display, the Ultra preset, with an average of 86 FPS, offers the best visual experience while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the High preset at 111 FPS or the Medium preset at 130 FPS are excellent choices, providing a smoother experience at the cost of some visual fidelity. The Low preset at 169 FPS is only necessary for competitive play or if the user prioritizes maximum frame rate above all else.

For 1440p, the High preset, with an average of 72 FPS, is the recommended choice for a balanced experience. It provides a good level of visual detail while staying comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 85 FPS is a better option for those who prefer a higher frame rate buffer, as it offers a more significant performance cushion. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is playable but may exhibit occasional dips below 60 FPS, making it less ideal for a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset at 110 FPS is overkill for most users but is there for those who need maximum performance.

At 4K, the options are more constrained. The Low preset, with an average of 61 FPS, is the only setting that achieves a 60 FPS average. This should be the default choice for 4K gaming. The Medium preset at 47 FPS and the High preset at 40 FPS are playable but will require the user to accept a lower frame rate. The Ultra preset at 31 FPS is not recommended for a playable experience, as it will likely feel sluggish. The data clearly shows that for a 4K experience, users should prioritize the Low preset or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for better results.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is the definitive performance limiter in this configuration for The Technomancer. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is 1695 MHz, and it features 4608 shading units. Its PassMark G3D score of 19587 and a percentile rank of 73 against all GPUs show it is a strong mid-to-high-end mobile part, but its performance is directly tied to the resolution and settings being used.

The GPU's role is clearly demonstrated by the FPS scaling. The RTX 4070 Mobile's compute capabilities, rated at 15.62 TFLOPS, are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings, but they are overwhelmed at 4K. The 4K results, which range from 31 FPS on Ultra to 61 FPS on Low, show that the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at that resolution. The GPU's performance is also reflected in its nearest rivals, with its average benchmark score being essentially tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (deltaPct 0) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (deltaPct -0.5).

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor. While it is not explicitly tested here, the data suggests that at 4K Ultra, the game's texture and geometry demands may be pushing against the VRAM limit, contributing to the low 31 FPS average. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is also a likely bottleneck at 4K, as the sheer volume of pixel data required to fill a 3840x2160 frame exceeds what this bus can efficiently deliver. In summary, the RTX 4070 Mobile is a capable GPU for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but its limitations are clearly exposed at 4K, making it the primary component to consider when adjusting settings for this game.