Thief

The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination delivers a clear performance profile in Thief, with the data showing a strong 1080p experience, a fully playable 1440p experience, and a 4K experience that is only viable at the lowest preset. The CPU, a 20-core Raptor Lake part with a 5.40 GHz boost clock, sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU, a Blackwell 2.0 part with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. The measured frame rates across resolutions and presets provide a complete picture of what this system can deliver, and the analysis below interprets those results in the context of the hardware’s nearest rivals and its overall ranking among tested combinations.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 53620 places it in a tight cluster of comparable processors. The closest rival is the Intel Xeon 6505P, which scores 53701, a negligible 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is also effectively equivalent, with a score of 53288, trailing the i7-14700F by just 0.6%. The AMD EPYC 7313P and Intel Xeon Phi 7290 round out this group, with the EPYC scoring 53206 (0.8% behind) and the Xeon Phi scoring 53469 (0.3% ahead). For gaming purposes, any of these CPUs would deliver essentially identical performance in Thief, which is not a title known for being exceptionally CPU-intensive at high resolutions; the bottleneck will almost always be the GPU.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5050’s average score of 21035 places it among a more varied set of rivals. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is the closest, with a score of 21153, just 0.6% ahead. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% ahead at 21237, while the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% ahead at 21379. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is the only rival that scores lower, at 20713, which is 1.6% behind the RTX 5050. This grouping is notable because it spans very different generations and market segments, from integrated laptop-class parts to older desktop cards. The practical implication is that the RTX 5050’s performance level in Thief will be comparable to these GPUs, meaning users with any of these alternatives should expect similar frame rates at the same settings and resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data shows a clear pattern where the GPU is the dominant factor in determining frame rates, with the CPU’s influence being relatively minor across the tested configurations. This is most evident when examining the scaling between resolutions at the same settings. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 95 FPS at 1920x1080 to 65 FPS at 2560x1440, a 31.6% reduction, and then to 38 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 41.5% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU, with its high single-thread score of 4958 in Cinebench R23, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at all resolutions; the data shows no scenario where the frame rate is capped at a level that would suggest a CPU limitation.

The role of the CPU becomes slightly more visible at lower resolutions and higher presets. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 164 FPS versus 90 FPS, a 45% drop, which is still a GPU-driven scaling. However, the fact that the system can reach 164 FPS at Low settings indicates that the CPU is not holding the system back even at high frame rates. At 3840x2160, the situation is entirely GPU-bound, as the GPU’s raw throughput is stretched to its limits, and the CPU’s performance headroom is irrelevant. The data does not provide separate CPU-only benchmarks for this game, but the resolution-based scaling strongly implies that for this specific combination, the RTX 5050 is the performance limiter in all scenarios, with the i7-14700F providing ample headroom.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 66 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. At Medium settings, the average drops to 50 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 38 FPS and 36 FPS respectively, all of which are below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable, as each maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers 62 FPS on average, making it the best visual option that still meets the performance target.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, which is 1.6% higher than the RX 5600 XT’s score of 20713. This data suggests the RTX 5050 holds a slight performance edge over that rival in general compute workloads.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F a high-end CPU?

A: Based on the percentile data, the i7-14700F ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is well above the median. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, scores 0.6% lower, confirming its position in the upper tier of desktop processors.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with High settings is 95 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold and indicates a smooth experience, though it is worth remembering the Ultra preset drops to 90 FPS.

Q: Does the data include minimum frame rate information for all settings?

A: No. The measurement set includes minimum and maximum frame rates only for the Medium preset at each resolution. For example, at 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 106 FPS and the maximum is 143 FPS, while at 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 43 FPS and the maximum is 58 FPS. Other presets only have average frame rates recorded.

The Verdict

This computer system is fully capable of running Thief, with the verdict depending on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is a standout performer, clearing the 60 FPS threshold at every preset. The data shows that the Ultra preset, the most demanding option, still achieves an average of 90 FPS, which is 50% above the playable threshold. This makes 1080p a resolution where the user can enable maximum settings without concern. At 2560x1440, the system remains fully playable across all presets, with the Ultra preset averaging 62 FPS, just barely above the 60 FPS requirement. This is the highest resolution at which the user can enjoy the game with all visual features enabled. At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically; only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 66 FPS. Higher presets at this resolution fall below the threshold, with Medium at 50 FPS, High at 38 FPS, and Ultra at 36 FPS. The verdict is clear: 4K gaming is possible but requires significant visual compromises, while 1440p and 1080p offer the full range of settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Thief, this specific pairing of an Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 sits at rank 2258 out of 3720 total combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, which is a reasonable expectation given the GPU’s 66th percentile ranking. The rank is a function of the GPU’s performance, as the CPU’s high percentile is not the limiting factor in this game. The combination’s position indicates that while it is not a top-tier performer for this title, it is far from the bottom of the list. For context, the rank of 2258 means that roughly 60.7% of all tested combos performed better, while 39.3% performed worse. This is consistent with the RTX 5050 being an entry-level to mid-range GPU in the benchmark database, and the data confirms that for Thief, the GPU dictates the overall ranking.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that still maintains an average frame rate at or above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data yields the following optimal configurations:

• 1920x1080: The Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 90 FPS. This is the highest visual quality available, and it provides a 30 FPS headroom above the playable threshold.
• 2560x1440: The Ultra preset remains the best option, with an average of 62 FPS. This is a slim margin over the 60 FPS threshold, but it is sufficient for a playable experience at maximum quality.
• 3840x2160: The Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 66 FPS. The Medium preset is not viable, as its 50 FPS average falls short of the threshold, so the user must accept Low settings to achieve smooth performance at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates for this combination is as follows, organized by resolution and settings:

1920x1080

• Low: average 164 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Medium: average 124 FPS, minimum 106 FPS, maximum 143 FPS.
• High: average 95 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra: average 90 FPS, no min/max recorded.

2560x1440

• Low: average 112 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Medium: average 85 FPS, minimum 72 FPS, maximum 98 FPS.
• High: average 65 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra: average 62 FPS, no min/max recorded.

3840x2160

• Low: average 66 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Medium: average 50 FPS, minimum 43 FPS, maximum 58 FPS.
• High: average 38 FPS, no min/max recorded.
• Ultra: average 36 FPS, no min/max recorded.

The data reveals a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 74 FPS, while at 1440p it is 50 FPS, and at 4K it narrows to 30 FPS. This diminishing gap indicates that as the resolution increases, the GPU becomes increasingly saturated, and the relative impact of preset changes lessens. The Medium preset’s min/max data provides insight into frame time consistency; for instance, at 1440p Medium, the 72 FPS minimum is still above the playable threshold, while at 4K Medium, the 43 FPS minimum confirms that even the average of 50 FPS is not reliably playable. Overall, the frame rate data supports the verdict that this system excels at 1080p, is solidly playable at 1440p, and is only marginally playable at 4K with reduced settings.