Thief

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a starkly asymmetric performance profile in Thief. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution that ranks near the bottom of the database. The recorded frame rates show that this combination can run the game at 1080p with specific settings, but it falls short of a smooth experience at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured average frame rates for four quality presets across three resolutions. Minimum and maximum figures are only recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are uniformly low. The Low preset delivers an average of 35 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 20 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 19 FPS. No resolution at 4K approaches the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the results improve but remain below the playable threshold for all presets. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, just one frame short of 60. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 33 FPS. The data indicates that even the lowest settings at 1440p cannot guarantee a steady 60 FPS experience.

At 1920x1080, the combination finally reaches playable territory. The Low preset averages 86 FPS. The Medium preset averages 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS. The High preset averages 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 48 FPS. The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a clear bottleneck. The Ryzen 7 9700F is a powerful processor, scoring in the 94th percentile among all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which is 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i7-14700KF, which is 0.2% slower. This CPU is not the limiting factor in Thief.

The Intel Arc B390, however, is an integrated graphics processor. Its benchmark score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are low-end discrete parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which is 2.7% faster. The GPU's performance is severely constrained.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 with the Low preset reduces the average frame rate from 86 FPS to 59 FPS, a drop of 27 FPS. Moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 with the Low preset reduces the average from 59 FPS to 35 FPS, a drop of 24 FPS. This steep decline with increasing pixel count is characteristic of a GPU-limited system. The CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU cannot push enough frames to utilize it.

The preset scaling at a fixed resolution also points to GPU dominance. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 86 FPS on Low to 50 FPS on High, a 36 FPS swing. At 2560x1440, the same preset change drops the average from 59 FPS to 34 FPS. The GPU is responsible for rendering these graphical details, and its limited throughput is the primary constraint on performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database defines playable as an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves this target. The highest average recorded is 35 FPS on the Low preset, which is far below the threshold. There is no playable setting at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, no preset achieves the 60 FPS target either. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, which is the closest result but still misses the mark. The data shows no playable setting at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, two presets are playable. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 66 FPS. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 66 FPS. The recorded minimum for Medium is 56 FPS, which dips below the threshold, but the average remains playable.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's ranking for Thief, this specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 3307 out of 3720 tested combos. This places it in the lower 11% of all configurations.

The ranking reflects the GPU's weak standing. The CPU is a top-tier part, but the GPU's performance is comparable to entry-level mobile graphics from over a decade ago. The combination's rank is dragged down almost entirely by the integrated graphics solution. The data indicates that this pairing is not competitive for gaming at higher resolutions or with demanding settings, even in a title from 2014.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Thief at 4K resolution?*

A: No. The measured average frame rates at 3840x2160 range from 19 FPS on Ultra to 35 FPS on Low. None of these results reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that maintains a playable average frame rate. It averages 66 FPS at 1920x1080. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that stays at or above 60 FPS on average.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Ryzen 7 9700F scores in the 94th percentile among CPUs, while the Intel Arc B390 scores in the 9th percentile among GPUs. The frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, which indicates the integrated GPU cannot keep up with the CPU's potential.

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

A: The Arc B390's benchmark score is 1482. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% faster, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% faster. It is one of the slowest GPUs in the database.

Q: What is the best frame rate recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 86 FPS, achieved with the Low preset at 1920x1080. The highest minimum frame rate recorded is 56 FPS, which occurs with the Medium preset at 1920x1080.

Q: Is this combination better than a PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX?

A: The CPU comparison is close. The Ryzen 7 9700F is 0.2% slower than the Ryzen 9 7940HX in average benchmark score. However, the overall system performance in Thief depends on the GPU, and the Arc B390 is not a high-performance part.

The Verdict

This PC can run Thief, but only under specific conditions. The verdict by resolution is clear. At 3840x2160, no settings are playable; the best average is 35 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, no settings are playable either; the best average is 59 FPS on Low, which falls just short of the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS bar with two presets. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 66 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p average 50 FPS and 48 FPS respectively, which are not playable.

The data suggests that this is a 1080p gaming system for Thief with a hard ceiling at Medium settings. The powerful Ryzen 7 9700F is effectively wasted in this configuration for this game, as the Intel Arc B390 cannot translate that CPU's capability into high frame rates. For a smooth experience, users should stick to 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. Higher resolutions or more demanding settings will result in sub-60 FPS performance.