Thief

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. Benchmark results show this pairing is far beyond the demands of the game at all tested resolutions, with average FPS figures that are consistently multiple times higher than the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data indicates a system with massive overhead, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate displays and future-proofing, though the CPU is a modest performer relative to the GPU's immense power.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination in Thief is uniformly excellent across all settings and resolutions, with no dropped-frame concerns indicated. The lowest average recorded is 84.5 FPS at 4K Ultra, which still comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest average is 171.7 FPS at 1080p Low, showing the ceiling of this pairing's raw performance.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the scaling between presets is clear. The Low preset yields an average of 125.6 FPS. Moving to Medium reduces the average to 112.7 FPS. The High preset delivers 88.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, produces an average of 84.5 FPS. This represents a drop of roughly 33% from Low to Ultra, but even the most demanding setting maintains a very high frame rate.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance is even higher. The Low preset averages 151.2 FPS. Medium settings produce 138.6 FPS. Interestingly, the High and Ultra presets are nearly identical in performance, with averages of 123 FPS and 123.1 FPS, respectively. This suggests that at this resolution, the GPU is so powerful that the difference between these two presets is negligible for this older title.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system's performance is at its peak. The Low preset averages 171.7 FPS. The Medium preset averages 155.3 FPS. High settings yield 139.9 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces an average of 138.6 FPS. The frame rates are exceptionally high across the board, with even the Ultra preset staying above 130 FPS, ensuring a very smooth experience on any high-refresh-rate monitor.

While the data does not include specific minimum or maximum FPS values, the average frame rates are so high that stuttering or noticeable dips would be highly unlikely. The consistency between High and Ultra at 1440p and 1080p further suggests that the GPU is not a bottleneck at these resolutions, and the CPU is sufficient to feed it, though the overall headroom is substantial.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested combinations for Thief, this specific configuration of Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 holds a rank of 432 out of 3720 tested combos. This places it in the top 11.6% of all systems tested, indicating that it is a very high-performance pairing for this game. The ranking reflects the sheer power of the RTX 5090, which is a dominant factor in the game's performance.

However, the CPU's relative weakness is a notable factor in the overall ranking. The Intel Core i5-12400F sits at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with an average score of 19047 (a 0% difference), the Intel Core 3 201E with an average score of 19056 (-0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-1335U with an average score of 18982 (0.3% difference), and the AMD EPYC 7773X with an average score of 18979 (0.3% difference). This shows the i5-12400F is a mid-range performer, and it is not the limiting factor in this game, but it does prevent the system from ranking even higher.

The GPU, by contrast, is a top-tier component. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is at the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842. Its nearest rivals, while not direct gaming competitors, include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB with a score of 79605 (0.3% difference), the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB with a score of 79396 (0.6% difference), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT with a score of 78940 (1.1% difference), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X with a score of 80959 (-1.4% difference). The GPU's performance is so overwhelming for this game that the system's rank is determined more by the GPU than the CPU.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, it can. The benchmark data shows playable settings at 3840x2160 include High, Low, Medium, and Ultra. The Ultra preset, the most demanding, still maintains an average of 84.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting to use at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice at 2560x1440. It delivers an average of 123.1 FPS, which is the highest average among all settings at that resolution. You can use the most demanding preset without any performance concerns.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 171.7 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 138.6 FPS. This means the Low preset is approximately 24% faster than the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F a high-performing CPU compared to others?

A: The CPU is a solid mid-range performer. It ranks in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs and has an average benchmark score of 19039. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047, showing they are essentially equivalent in performance.

Q: Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 a high-performing GPU compared to others?

A: Yes, the GPU is a top-tier component. It ranks in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs and has an average benchmark score of 79842. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X, scores 80959, which is actually 1.4% higher, but the RTX 5090 still sits among the best-performing GPUs.

Q: Does the game run above 60 FPS on all settings at 4K?

A: Yes. The data confirms that all four presets at 3840x2160—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are considered playable, meaning they all stay at or above the 60 FPS threshold. The lowest average is 84.5 FPS on Ultra.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearestRivals data for the CPU and GPU, other hardware combinations would yield very similar performance in this game. For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS has a nearly identical average benchmark score (19047 vs 19039) with a 0% difference, meaning it would behave almost exactly the same as the Intel Core i5-12400F in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core 3 201E, with a score of 19056 and a -0.1% difference, is also a direct equivalent. The Intel Core i5-1335U (score 18982, 0.3% difference) and the AMD EPYC 7773X (score 18979, 0.3% difference) are also very close in synthetic performance.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB has a score of 79605, which is 0.3% higher than the RTX 5090's 79842, making it a direct performance peer. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (score 79396, 0.6% difference) and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (score 78940, 1.1% difference) are slightly lower but still in the same performance class. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is the only rival that scores higher, at 80959 with a -1.4% difference.

Since Thief is a game that is heavily dependent on the GPU, a system pairing any of these similar GPUs with the Intel Core i5-12400F would produce frame rates that are very close to what is measured here. The differences in synthetic scores are small, and in a game this old and easily run, the practical impact on average FPS would be minimal. A system with an RTX 5090 and a CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS would be effectively indistinguishable in performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the aim is to find the most demanding preset that still achieves an average of at least 60 FPS. The data shows that this system is so powerful that the most demanding preset is always the best option.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 84.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. This ensures the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best option. It produces an average of 123.1 FPS, providing a very high level of performance with the maximum visual fidelity.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the recommended setting. It maintains an average of 138.6 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold and ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

In all cases, the system's performance is so far beyond the requirements of Thief that there is no reason to lower the settings. The Ultra preset is always the optimal choice for the best visual experience.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that this PC can run Thief with exceptional performance. The verdict by resolution confirms that all tested settings are playable at every resolution.

At 3840x2160, all four settings (High, Low, Medium, and Ultra) are playable. The best average FPS at this resolution is 84.5 on the Ultra preset, which clears the 60 FPS threshold with a significant margin. This means you can play at 4K with maximum settings and still have a very smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the same is true. All settings are playable, and the Ultra preset achieves an average of 123.1 FPS. This is an excellent result for a high-resolution display.

At 1920x1080, the performance is at its peak. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 138.6 FPS. This is far above the 60 FPS playable threshold and is suitable for even the fastest 1080p gaming monitors.

This system is not just capable of running Thief; it dominates it. The combination of the RTX 5090's immense power and the game's age means that the playable threshold is cleared by a wide margin in every scenario. The primary limitation is not the hardware but the game's own engine, which cannot be pushed harder by the available settings. This is a definitive "yes" for playing Thief at maximum settings on any resolution.