Thief

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3307 out of 3720 tested combinations for Thief, placing it in the bottom 11% of the database. This is a low position, and the measured frame rates confirm why. The combination sits well below the playable threshold at higher resolutions, and only manages to clear 60 FPS at 1080p with reduced settings.

The GPU is the dominant constraint here. The Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals, the GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GeForce GT 625 OEM, and GeForce GT 710, all sit within 2.7% of its score. These are legacy or entry-level parts, and the B390's performance class is clearly at the bottom of the stack.

The CPU, by contrast, is a much stronger component. The Ryzen 7 5700 ranks in the 78th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25517. Its nearest rivals include the Xeon D-2752TER, Ryzen 5 7640U, Ryzen 5 6600H, and Ryzen 7 5825U, all within 0.3% of its average score. In synthetic tests like Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 20655, and in Passmark multithread it scores 24303. This is a capable 8-core, 16-thread Zen 3 part, but it is being held back by the integrated-class GPU.

The data indicates a severe imbalance. The CPU is capable of far more than the GPU can deliver in this title. The combo rank reflects the weakest link, and in this case, the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution and preset tested. The measured FPS values show that even at 1080p Low, the system reaches 86 FPS, but this is the ceiling. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 19 FPS. The gap between the CPU's potential and the GPU's delivery is the defining characteristic of this pairing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor across all tested configurations. The Ryzen 7 5700's synthetic scores, such as 20655 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2916 in single-core, suggest it has ample headroom for a 2014 stealth title like Thief. The GPU, however, produces frame rates that scale directly with resolution and settings, indicating that rendering load is the primary constraint.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 35 at Low to 19 at Ultra. This is a 16 FPS swing, or roughly 46%, between the lowest and highest presets. At 2560x1440, the same swing goes from 59 FPS at Low to 33 FPS at Ultra, a 26 FPS difference. At 1920x1080, the swing is from 86 FPS at Low to 48 FPS at Ultra, a 38 FPS difference. The pattern is consistent: each increase in settings or resolution reduces the average FPS by a significant margin, and the GPU is the component responsible for these changes.

The CPU's role is secondary. The Ryzen 7 5700 has 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its Passmark physics score of 984 and 3DMark 16-thread score of 6628 indicate it can handle the game's logic and physics without becoming the bottleneck. The fact that FPS scales so predictably with resolution and settings confirms that the GPU is saturated first. At no point in the measured data does the CPU appear to limit performance; the frame rates are entirely consistent with a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 66 at 1080p to 45 at 1440p, then to 26 at 4K. This is a 40 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, which is a typical GPU-bound pattern. If the CPU were the constraint, the drop would be far less pronounced. The evidence points to the Arc B390 as the sole determinant of playability in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly below playable levels. Low settings produce an average of 35 FPS with no min or max recorded. Medium settings average 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30. High settings average 20 FPS, and Ultra drops to 19 FPS. None of these configurations reach the 60 FPS threshold, and even the best case, Low at 35 FPS, is well short.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves slightly but remains below the threshold. Low settings average 59 FPS, just one frame short of 60. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. High settings average 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS. The verdict data confirms that no settings at this resolution are considered playable, despite the Low preset coming close.

At 1920x1080, the system finally crosses the threshold. Low settings average 86 FPS, the highest recorded value in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 75. High settings average 50 FPS, and Ultra drops to 48 FPS. The playable settings at this resolution are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best playable option at 66 FPS average.

The min and max values are only available for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range is 56 to 75 FPS, showing a 19 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the range is 38 to 52 FPS, a 14 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 22 to 30 FPS, an 8 FPS spread. The tighter range at higher resolutions suggests the GPU is more consistently saturated, while at 1080p there is more variability, likely due to scenes with lighter rendering loads.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and Intel Arc B390 can run Thief, but only under specific conditions. The verdict data lists no playable settings at 3840x2160 or 2560x1440. At 4K, even Low settings only reach 35 FPS, which is far below the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, Low settings reach 59 FPS, one frame short of playable, and every other preset is lower.

At 1920x1080, the system clears the threshold with Low and Medium settings. Low averages 86 FPS, and Medium averages 66 FPS. Medium is the best playable setting, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS. This means the game is smooth at 1080p Medium, and the frame rate stays above 60 FPS on average, though it can dip to 56 FPS in heavy scenes.

For players targeting 4K or 1440p, this combination is not suitable. The GPU simply does not have enough rendering power for those resolutions in Thief. The 9th percentile GPU ranking and the measured FPS data make this clear. For 1080p gaming, the system is viable, but only if the user is willing to stay at Medium settings or lower. High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS, averaging 50 and 48 FPS respectively.

The CPU is not the issue. The Ryzen 7 5700 is a strong processor, and the data shows it is not holding the system back. The verdict is entirely determined by the GPU. If the goal is 1080p Medium at 66 FPS, this combination works. For anything more demanding, it does not.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Arc B390 are all NVIDIA parts with very similar average scores. The GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, which is 1.3% lower than the B390's 1482. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, 1.5% lower. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5% lower. The GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7% lower. In practical terms, any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Thief, meaning they would all be limited to 1080p Low or Medium as well.

The CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.3% of the Ryzen 7 5700's average score of 25517. The Xeon D-2752TER scores 25530, 0.1% higher. The Ryzen 5 7640U scores 25485, 0.1% lower. The Ryzen 5 6600H scores 25550, 0.1% higher. The Ryzen 7 5825U scores 25446, 0.3% lower. Swapping in any of these CPUs would not change the gaming outcome, since the GPU is the bottleneck. They would all feed the Arc B390 identically in this title.

The data suggests that the performance ceiling for this class of GPU is roughly 86 FPS at 1080p Low and 66 FPS at 1080p Medium. Any GPU in the B390's rival group would deliver similar results. The CPU choice matters little for Thief, as even the weakest rival CPU would likely keep up with the GPU's output. The bottleneck is firmly on the graphics side.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Thief at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best result is 35 FPS on Low settings, and Ultra drops to 19 FPS. All 4K presets are below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting for this combination?

A: At 1920x1080, Medium settings are the best playable option, with an average of 66 FPS, a minimum of 56 FPS, and a maximum of 75 FPS. Low also clears 60 FPS at 86 FPS average.

Q: Is 1440p playable with this hardware?

A: No. The verdict data lists no playable settings at 2560x1440. Low settings average 59 FPS, one frame below the 60 FPS threshold, and all other presets are lower.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% slower, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% slower, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% slower, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% slower.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5700 strong enough for this game?

A: Yes. The CPU ranks in the 78th percentile and scores 20655 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The measured FPS scaling shows the GPU is the limiting factor, not the CPU.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p Ultra?

A: At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average is 48 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 50 FPS. Only Low and Medium are considered playable at 1080p.