Thief

Can Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 run Thief? The benchmark data indicates yes, with strong performance across most resolution and settings combinations. This pairing delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p even on the most demanding preset, while 4K requires dropping to Low settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The measured results show a clear pattern of performance scaling that makes this combo a reliable choice for the 2014 stealth title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination covers three resolutions and four quality presets. All figures represent average FPS, with no minimum or maximum values recorded in the dataset.

At 3840x2160, the performance envelope starts with Low settings delivering 78.2 FPS average. Medium settings drop to 57.8 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High settings yield 40.6 FPS, while Ultra produces 41.6 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is substantial at 17.2 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra is marginal at just 1.0 FPS. This suggests the Ultra preset adds minimal visual fidelity relative to High at this resolution, given the performance cost.

Moving to 2560x1440, the picture improves considerably. Low settings produce 127.9 FPS average, a 63.7% increase over the 4K Low result. Medium settings hit 99.2 FPS, comfortably above the playable threshold. High settings reach 75.6 FPS, and Ultra maintains 71.7 FPS. The scaling from High to Ultra here is 3.9 FPS, which is more pronounced than at 4K but still modest. The resolution drop from 4K to 1440p yields substantial gains across all presets, with the smallest improvement seen at Ultra (30.1 FPS) and the largest at Low (49.7 FPS).

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest performance. Low settings average 168.4 FPS, Medium reaches 137.4 FPS, High hits 108.6 FPS, and Ultra still manages 101.4 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is 7.2 FPS, indicating that Ultra remains viable for players seeking maximum quality. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is consistent, with gains ranging from 29.7 FPS at Ultra to 40.5 FPS at Low.

Across all resolutions, Low settings provide the highest frame rates, while Ultra offers the most demanding workload. The data shows no min or max FPS figures, so the analysis relies solely on average performance. This means stutter or frame time consistency cannot be assessed from the provided information.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold for this analysis is 60 FPS average. Based on the measured data, each resolution has a clear best settings recommendation.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve playable performance with 78.2 FPS average. Medium settings at 57.8 FPS fall short of the 60 FPS threshold by 2.2 FPS. While this gap is small, the available data does not support Medium as a playable option. The best settings for 4K are therefore Low, which delivers 78.2 FPS and leaves headroom above the minimum requirement.

At 2560x1440, all four presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold. Low produces 127.9 FPS, Medium 99.2 FPS, High 75.6 FPS, and Ultra 71.7 FPS. The best settings at this resolution are Ultra, since it maintains 71.7 FPS while providing the highest visual quality. The margin above the threshold is 11.7 FPS, which offers a reasonable buffer for demanding scenes.

At 1920x1080, every preset clears the 60 FPS mark with significant headroom. Low reaches 168.4 FPS, Medium 137.4 FPS, High 108.6 FPS, and Ultra 101.4 FPS. Ultra is the best choice here, delivering 101.4 FPS — 41.4 FPS above the playable threshold. This makes 1080p Ultra the most demanding configuration that remains comfortably playable.

The data indicates that this combo can handle Ultra settings at both 1080p and 1440p, but only Low at 4K. Players targeting 4K will need to accept reduced visual fidelity, while those at lower resolutions can maximize quality without sacrificing smooth gameplay.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 shifts across resolutions and presets. The measured FPS scaling reveals which component becomes the limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint. The RTX 4060, with its 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth, struggles to maintain high frame rates on demanding presets. The drop from Low (78.2 FPS) to Medium (57.8 FPS) represents a 26.1% performance loss, and High (40.6 FPS) nearly halves the Low result. This pattern indicates that pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are the bottlenecks, not CPU processing power. The i5-12400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly. The RTX 4060 still carries most of the load, but the CPU begins to matter more. The scaling from Low (127.9 FPS) to Ultra (71.7 FPS) shows a 43.9% reduction, which is less severe than at 4K. The smaller pixel count reduces GPU pressure, allowing the i5-12400F's single-thread performance to become more relevant. The 12400F's boost clock of 4.40 GHz and single-thread benchmark scores support its ability to keep up with the GPU at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the CPU gains greater influence. Low settings reach 168.4 FPS, a figure that approaches the practical limits of many game engines. The gap between High (108.6 FPS) and Ultra (101.4 FPS) is only 7.2 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is no longer the sole limiting factor. At lower resolutions, the i5-12400F's 12 threads and 18 MB of shared L3 cache help maintain high frame rates, but the CPU may start to cap performance at the highest FPS values.

The data shows that at 4K, the RTX 4060 determines playability. At 1440p, both components contribute, with the GPU still leading. At 1080p, the CPU becomes more significant, especially at lower presets where frame rates approach 170 FPS. Players seeking to maximize FPS at 1080p should consider whether their monitor refresh rate exceeds what the CPU can deliver.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rival data for the Intel Core i5-12400F identifies several CPUs with comparable average benchmark scores. These alternatives would likely produce similar gameplay performance in Thief, assuming the GPU remains constant.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS has an average score of 19047, which is 0% different from the i5-12400F's 19039 average. This mobile-focused chip would behave nearly identically in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, a -0.1% delta, making it statistically equivalent. The Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18982, 0.3% higher, which is within noise. The AMD EPYC 7773X also scores 18979, 0.3% higher.

These rivals span different market segments — from mobile processors to server chips — but their benchmark parity suggests they would all deliver similar frame rates in Thief when paired with the RTX 4060. The practical takeaway is that CPU performance is not a differentiator for this game at these settings; any of these alternatives would produce nearly identical results.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the nearest rivals show a similar pattern. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, which is -0.2% relative to the RTX 4060's 17639. This is a remarkably close match, though the HD 7790 is an older architecture. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, 0.3% lower, indicating integrated graphics performance near the RTX 4060's level. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551, 0.5% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 17509, 0.7% lower.

These GPU alternatives would deliver similar FPS in Thief, though their feature sets and driver support may differ. The Radeon 780M's proximity to the RTX 4060 is notable, as it suggests that modern integrated graphics can approach discrete GPU performance in this older title.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1892 out of 3720 tested combos in Thief. This places it in the 49th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning roughly half of the tested combos perform better and half perform worse.

This mid-pack ranking reflects the balance of the hardware. The RTX 4060 sits at the 61st percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-12400F ranks at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs. The combo's overall position is dragged down by the GPU, which is less exceptional than the CPU. In Thief, a game that responds well to GPU power, the RTX 4060's mid-range standing becomes the limiting factor.

The ranking suggests that this combo is a solid mainstream option rather than a high-end performer. It outperforms many older or lower-tier combinations but falls short of systems with higher-tier GPUs. For a game from 2014, this rank indicates that the combo is more than adequate for smooth gameplay at most settings, even if it does not top the charts.

Players with this combo should expect performance that is competitive with a wide range of systems, but not class-leading. The 1892 rank out of 3720 combos means there is substantial headroom above and below this configuration in the tested pool.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Thief at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 41.6, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Only Low settings at 4K achieve playable performance with 78.2 FPS average.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p for this hardware?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 deliver 71.7 FPS average, which is the highest quality preset that remains above the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets at this resolution are playable.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest GPU rival in Thief?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, while the AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, a -0.2% difference. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, 0.3% lower. These GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Thief.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU becomes more significant. Low settings reach 168.4 FPS average, which approaches CPU limitations. The RTX 4060 still matters, but the i5-12400F's single-thread performance and 12 threads help maintain high frame rates at lower presets.

Q: What is the playable threshold for this game, and how does the combo fare?

A: The playable threshold is 60 FPS average. At 1080p and 1440p, all presets exceed this threshold. At 4K, only Low settings (78.2 FPS) clear the threshold, while Medium (57.8 FPS) falls short.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems in Thief?

A: This combo ranks 1892 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it near the middle of the tested pool. The RTX 4060's 61st percentile GPU ranking and the i5-12400F's 73rd percentile CPU ranking combine to produce this mid-pack position.