Thief

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is a formidable combination for running Thief, a 2014 stealth title. The data shows that this setup delivers high frame rates across all tested resolutions, with the RTX 4070 providing the bulk of the rendering power. The CPU, while not the primary bottleneck in this GPU-heavy scenario, holds up well in synthetic benchmarks, placing in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, compares it to similar hardware, and identifies the optimal settings for a smooth experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The measured performance of this specific CPU and GPU combination can be contextualized by examining their nearest rivals in the benchmark database. For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which scores nearly identically at 19047, a delta of 0%. This means in CPU-bound scenarios, users could expect near-identical performance from these two processors. Other close matches include the Intel Core 3 201E, which is actually 0.1% faster, and the Intel Core i5-1335U, which is 0.3% slower. Interestingly, the AMD EPYC 7773X also falls within this tight performance band, just 0.3% behind the i5-12400F. These rivals indicate that the i5-12400F sits at a performance level that is shared by a range of other modern processors, making it a solid, but not exceptional, choice for gaming.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is significantly more powerful relative to its peers. Its average benchmark score is 37648, placing it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are a mixed bag. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 is a professional-grade card with a score of 37628, just 0.1% behind. More relevant for gaming comparisons are the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which is 0.4% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, which is 1.3% faster. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is also close, sitting 1.3% behind the RTX 4070. This data shows that while the RTX 4070 is a strong performer, several other cards, particularly the RTX 4080 Mobile, can offer a marginal performance uplift in raw compute tasks. For Thief, the performance difference between the RTX 4070 and its rivals is likely to be minor, as the game is not overly demanding by modern standards.

FAQ

Q: What is the best graphics preset for 4K gaming in Thief with this hardware?

A: The data indicates that the "High" preset is the best option for 3840x2160, as it is the most demanding setting that maintains an average frame rate above the 60 FPS playable threshold. At this preset, the system achieves an average of 62.8 FPS.

Q: Can this PC handle Thief at 1440p with all settings maxed out?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440 resolution, the "Ultra" preset is playable, with an average frame rate of 95.7 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating a very smooth experience even at the highest visual quality.

Q: Will the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The benchmark results suggest that the combination is well-balanced. The CPU's performance is in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 81st percentile among all GPUs. Since the frame rates scale significantly with resolution and settings, the RTX 4070 is clearly the dominant factor in determining performance in Thief.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 Mobile?

A: According to the data, the RTX 4080 Mobile has an average benchmark score that is 1.3% higher than the RTX 4070. This indicates that in most scenarios, the RTX 4080 Mobile would be slightly faster, but the difference is small and unlikely to be noticeable in a game like Thief.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this system in Thief?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 173.1 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" graphics preset.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra preset playable with this setup?

A: No, the "Ultra" preset at 3840x2160 is not playable, as it produces an average frame rate of 58.3 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data from the measured FPS reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Thief. At 1080p, the system is extremely powerful, with frame rates ranging from a low of 138.7 FPS on "High" to a high of 173.1 FPS on "Low". The differences between presets are present, but all are far above the playable threshold, suggesting that the system is not being heavily taxed. As the resolution increases to 1440p, a noticeable drop in performance occurs across all presets, indicating that the GPU is starting to take on a more significant workload. For instance, the "Ultra" preset drops from 141 FPS at 1080p to 95.7 FPS at 1440p, a substantial reduction.

The most telling evidence of the GPU's dominance comes at 4K resolution. The performance drop from 1440p to 2160p is steep. The "High" preset falls from 98.9 FPS to 62.8 FPS, and the "Ultra" preset drops from 95.7 FPS to 58.3 FPS. This significant scaling with resolution is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its strong single-threaded performance, is able to feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions, but the sheer pixel count at 4K places the entire burden on the RTX 4070. The fact that the "Low" preset at 4K (103.2 FPS) is faster than the "Ultra" preset at 1440p (95.7 FPS) further confirms that the GPU's rendering load, not CPU processing, is the primary limiting factor in this game.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this PC configuration is more than capable of running Thief. At 1920x1080, every single preset, from "Low" to "Ultra", delivers an average frame rate well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The "Ultra" preset is fully playable at an average of 141 FPS, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual fidelity at this resolution. Moving up to 2560x1440, the system continues to excel. All four presets, including "Ultra", remain playable. The best settings at this resolution are "Ultra", which achieves an impressive average of 95.7 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits, but it still provides a solid experience. The "High" preset is the most demanding setting that can sustain a playable frame rate, hitting an average of 62.8 FPS. The "Low" and "Medium" presets are also playable, with averages of 103.2 FPS and 76.9 FPS, respectively. However, the "Ultra" preset at 4K is not playable, as its average of 58.3 FPS falls just short of the 60 FPS target. In summary, the system is fully capable of running Thief at maximum settings for 1080p and 1440p, and at high settings for 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data was recorded for the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination in Thief.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance across all presets.

• Low: Average 173.1 FPS.
• Medium: Average 153.6 FPS.
• High: Average 138.7 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 141 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains very high, with a slight decrease compared to 1080p.

• Low: Average 152.4 FPS.
• Medium: Average 134.2 FPS.
• High: Average 98.9 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 95.7 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU workload increases significantly, but the system still performs admirably.

• Low: Average 103.2 FPS.
• Medium: Average 76.9 FPS.
• High: Average 62.8 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 58.3 FPS.

No minimum or maximum frame rate data was provided in the measurement set.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Thief, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks at position 890 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the top 24% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performing configuration. While it does not reach the absolute top tier, its ranking is strong and reflects its ability to handle the game at high settings and resolutions. The high percentile rankings of the individual components (73rd for the CPU and 81st for the GPU) corroborate this overall strong performance. A rank of 890 means that there are 889 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring more powerful CPUs or GPUs, but this setup is certainly in the upper echelon of gaming systems.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured frame rates and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the best settings for each resolution are as follows:

1920x1080: The "Ultra" preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 141 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate that is more than double the playable threshold.

2560x1440: The "Ultra" preset is again the best option, achieving an average of 95.7 FPS. This allows for a fully maxed-out visual experience at 1440p with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

3840x2160: The "High" preset is the most demanding option that remains playable, with an average of 62.8 FPS. This is the optimal balance of visual fidelity and performance for 4K gaming. While the "Ultra" preset is not playable, the "High" preset offers a high level of quality and is the recommended setting for this resolution.