Thief

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 occupies a mid-pack position in the database's rankings for Thief. With a combo rank of 1921 out of 3720 tested configurations, this pairing sits just past the median of all recorded systems. That placement reflects a notable asymmetry: the GPU is an exceptionally strong component, while the CPU is a more modest performer. The RTX 4080 ranks in the 86th percentile among all GPUs in the database, whereas the i5-9400 lands in the 47th percentile for CPUs. This blend of a top-tier graphics card with a mid-range processor from an older generation results in a system that is capable but not elite in the context of all tested hardware.

The recorded benchmark data indicates that this combo consistently delivers frame rates well above the playable threshold of 60 FPS across every resolution and preset tested. In fact, the lowest average frame rate recorded is 71 FPS at 4K Ultra settings, which still clears the 60 FPS bar by a comfortable margin. The rank of 1921 out of 3720 reflects that while many systems outperform this pairing, the actual gameplay experience remains smooth across the board. The database shows that the RTX 4080 is the dominant contributor to this performance, given that the CPU's average benchmark score of 2254 places it among processors that are typically paired with much weaker graphics cards.

When comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals in the database, the i5-9400's performance is tightly clustered. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, a negligible 0.2% difference, while the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 and Intel Core i3-10305 are also within a fraction of a percent. This indicates that the processor's performance is squarely in the range of these comparable chips, with none of them offering a meaningful advantage in general compute workloads. For the GPU side, the RTX 4080's nearest rivals show a similarly tight grouping. The RTX 4080 SUPER is essentially identical at 0.1% difference, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X sits 1.1% higher and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB sits 2.6% higher. This suggests that swapping in any of these GPUs would yield nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Thief.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the database records the highest possible preset, Ultra, running at an average of 96 FPS. This is the most demanding setting available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold with substantial headroom. The Medium preset delivers 107 FPS, High delivers 97 FPS, and Low reaches 119 FPS, but since Ultra at 96 FPS is already well above the playable bar, it is the recommended choice for full visual fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again remains the best option, averaging 84 FPS. This is a drop of 12 FPS compared to the same preset at 1080p, but it still provides a smooth experience. High settings at this resolution produce 86 FPS, Medium produces 95 FPS, and Low produces 105 FPS. All presets are comfortably playable, but Ultra offers the highest quality without sacrificing the 60 FPS requirement.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 71 FPS, which is the lowest recorded average across all tested configurations but still above the 60 FPS playability threshold. High settings yield 72 FPS, Medium yields 79 FPS, and Low yields 88 FPS. The difference between Ultra and High at 4K is just 1 FPS, making either a viable choice. However, the data shows that Ultra at 71 FPS is the most demanding preset that maintains the 60 FPS floor, so it is the recommended setting for 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear pattern: the GPU is doing the heavy lifting across all resolutions, while the CPU's influence on frame rates is secondary. This is evident from the scaling between resolutions and presets. At 1080p Ultra, the system averages 96 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, that drops to 84 FPS, a 12.5% reduction. At 4K Ultra, it falls to 71 FPS, another 15.5% reduction from 1440p. These drops are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where increasing pixel count directly impacts rendering load.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the preset scaling at a fixed resolution. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra results in a 23 FPS drop (from 119 to 96 FPS). At 1440p, the same preset change produces a 21 FPS drop (105 to 84 FPS). At 4K, the drop from Low to Ultra is 17 FPS (88 to 71 FPS). The narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more dominant as resolution increases, while the CPU's performance ceiling matters more at lower resolutions where frame rates are higher.

The i5-9400's six cores and six threads, with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, provide enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 4080 in this title. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 suggest it can feed the GPU adequately in a game like Thief, which is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards. The data indicates that at 4K, the system is almost entirely GPU-limited, as evidenced by the relatively small frame rate differences between presets. At 1080p, the CPU's influence is slightly more noticeable, but the RTX 4080 still maintains high frame rates across all settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in the database are all within a fraction of a percent of the i5-9400's average benchmark score of 2254. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7, with an average score of 2259, is effectively identical, differing by only 0.2%. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a 0.3% difference, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, just 0.4% higher. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver indistinguishable performance in Thief when paired with the RTX 4080. The i7-1068NG7 and i7-10710U are mobile-class chips, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 and i3-10305 are desktop parts, but their compute scores place them in the same performance tier.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080's nearest rivals are similarly close. The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average score of 54209, just 0.1% below the RTX 4080's 54247. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, which is 1.1% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, 2.6% higher. The AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757, 2.7% higher. These deltas are small enough that swapping to any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Thief. The RTX 4080 SUPER is the most obvious alternative since it is essentially the same chip with a marginal clock difference. The AMD options would also perform similarly, though their driver and feature-set differences are not reflected in the raw benchmark scores.

For a user considering this specific combo, the data suggests that the CPU could be swapped among its nearest rivals without any noticeable change in Thief's performance. Similarly, the GPU could be replaced with any of its nearest rivals and the frame rates would remain within a few percentage points. The bottleneck in this system is clearly the CPU at lower resolutions, but since all tested presets clear 60 FPS, this is not a practical concern.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The database records an average of 71 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 deliver an average of 84 FPS, making it the highest quality preset that maintains playable frame rates.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average is 96 FPS. At 3840x2160 Ultra, it drops to 71 FPS, a reduction of 25 FPS or roughly 26%.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the dominant factor, especially at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with a GPU-bound workload, while the CPU's influence is minimal across all tested settings.

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

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209, a difference of only 0.1%. In Thief, they would perform essentially identically.

Q: Are all presets at 1080p above 60 FPS?

A: Yes. The lowest average at 1080p is 96 FPS on Ultra, while Low averages 119 FPS, Medium averages 107 FPS, and High averages 97 FPS.

The Verdict

The data unambiguously shows that this PC can run Thief with excellent performance. At every resolution tested, the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold on the most demanding preset available. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings run at an average of 96 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 84 FPS, still well above the threshold. Even at 3840x2160, the most demanding configuration, Ultra settings maintain an average of 71 FPS.

The verdict by resolution confirms that all three resolutions are fully playable at their best settings. The 1080p and 1440p results offer particularly strong headroom, with frame rates that exceed 60 FPS by 36 and 24 FPS respectively. The 4K result is more modest but still delivers a comfortable margin above the playability bar. The system's combination of a mid-range CPU and a high-end GPU proves sufficient for this 2014 stealth title, which is not particularly demanding by modern standards. The RTX 4080's raw processing power, evidenced by its 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs, ensures that the game runs smoothly regardless of resolution or preset. The i5-9400, while ranked in the 47th percentile for CPUs, does not become a limiting factor in this scenario. Overall, the database indicates that this combo delivers a flawless experience in Thief, with no compromises needed at any resolution.