Thief

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. Benchmark data shows this combination is not merely playable but overwhelmingly capable, with every tested preset at every resolution exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold by a significant margin. The data indicates a system that provides a smooth experience even under the most demanding settings, though the performance scaling across resolutions reveals a clear bottleneck dynamic between the two components.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Thief at 4K resolution with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average frame rate of 70.4 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 119.4 FPS, which is the highest frame rate among all tested presets at that resolution and remains well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the performance at 1920x1080 compare to 3840x2160?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate across all settings ranges from 134.6 FPS (Ultra) to 167.7 FPS (Low). At 3840x2160, the range drops to 70.4 FPS (Ultra) to 124.7 FPS (Low), showing a substantial performance cost for the higher resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU more likely to limit performance in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions, as frame rates drop significantly from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. However, at 1920x1080, the difference between the Low and Ultra presets is smaller, indicating the CPU may become more relevant at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the average FPS for the Medium preset at 3840x2160?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 produces an average frame rate of 98.6 FPS.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in the tested configurations?

A: No. The lowest average frame rate recorded across all resolution and preset combinations is 70.4 FPS (4K Ultra), which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a rank of 569 out of 3720 tested combos for Thief. This places the system in the top 15.3% of all tested configurations, a strong showing for a pairing that features a budget-oriented CPU with a high-end GPU. The ranking indicates that while the CPU is not a top-tier performer, the overall system is more than sufficient for this game, and the GPU's immense power compensates for the processor's more modest capabilities.

The percentile data for the individual components reinforces this picture. The CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 86th percentile among all GPUs. This discrepancy suggests a potential bottleneck, but the game's age and relatively low CPU demands allow the system to perform far better than the CPU's percentile might imply. The combo rank of 569, while not near the top, confirms the fact that a strong GPU can carry a system in a title like Thief, ensuring a high level of performance despite the CPU's lower standing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear shift in the balance of power between the CPU and GPU as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the frame rate difference between the Low and Ultra presets is 33.1 FPS (167.7 vs 134.6). This relatively small gap suggests that at this resolution, the CPU is able to keep up with the GPU's output, and the GPU is not fully saturated, allowing the CPU's single-threaded performance to play a more noticeable role in determining the final frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 29.5 FPS (148.9 vs 119.4), indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor, but the CPU is still contributing to the performance ceiling. However, at 3840x2160, the difference between the Low and Ultra presets expands to 54.3 FPS (124.7 vs 70.4). This larger delta clearly demonstrates that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at 4K, as the increased pixel count places a much heavier load on the graphics card, making its performance the primary determinant of frame rates.

The scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 at the Ultra preset shows a 47.8% drop in performance (from 134.6 to 70.4 FPS). This is a significant decline, but the absolute numbers remain high, confirming that while the GPU is heavily taxed at 4K, it is still powerful enough to deliver a playable experience. The data suggests that for this game, the GPU is the more important component at all resolutions, with its importance growing as resolution increases.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores are the Intel Core 3 N355, Intel Core i5-9500, Intel Core 5 120UL, and Intel Core i7-1250U. The Core i3-12100F's average score of 13494 is nearly identical to the Core 3 N355's 13492, with a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 is also very close, scoring 13452, just 0.3% lower. Users with any of these processors would likely experience very similar CPU-bound behavior in Thief, as the performance differences are within a single percentage point.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and AMD Radeon 8060S. The RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209 on average, while the RTX 4080 scores 54247, a delta of -0.1%, meaning they are effectively equivalent in performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is slightly higher at 54828, a 1.1% difference, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.7% higher. For gaming purposes, any of these GPUs would produce nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Thief, making them valid alternatives for users seeking similar performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 70.4 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and it still clears the playable threshold with a comfortable margin. The High preset also performs well at 78.3 FPS, but Ultra offers the best visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best choice, delivering an average of 119.4 FPS. This is a substantial improvement over the 4K result and provides a very smooth experience. The High preset at 124.7 FPS is also viable, but Ultra is recommended as it offers the best visuals while still maintaining a high frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear winner, with an average of 134.6 FPS. All presets at this resolution far exceed the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding settings providing a high level of performance. The system is capable of running the game at its highest quality with no concerns about frame rate.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that this PC can run Thief with excellent performance. According to the verdict by resolution, all three tested resolutions (3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080) have every settings preset listed as playable. The best settings for each resolution are Ultra, with average frame rates of 70.4 FPS at 4K, 119.4 FPS at 1440p, and 134.6 FPS at 1080p. The system comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold at all times, making it a robust choice for this game.

The only potential concern is the 4K Ultra result, which dips to 70.4 FPS. While this is still above the 60 FPS threshold, it is closer to the boundary than the results at lower resolutions. However, the margin is still healthy, and the game will run smoothly. The system is fully capable of running Thief at maximum settings on any resolution tested, with no need to compromise on visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 resolution, the Low preset yields an average of 124.7 FPS, while Medium produces 98.6 FPS. The High preset averages 78.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 70.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 43.5% decrease in performance, showing how much the higher quality settings impact the GPU at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 148.9 FPS, and the Medium preset reaches 135.4 FPS. The High preset delivers 124.7 FPS, while the Ultra preset is still strong at 119.4 FPS. The performance drop from Low to Ultra is 19.8%, which is less severe than at 4K, indicating that the GPU has more headroom at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces 167.7 FPS, and the Medium preset is close behind at 154.1 FPS. The High preset results in 140.4 FPS, and the Ultra preset still maintains a high 134.6 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 16.5%, the smallest relative drop across all resolutions, further confirming that the CPU is beginning to limit performance at lower resolutions, preventing the GPU from showing its full potential.