Thief

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a particularly lopsided configuration for Thief, where a top-tier desktop processor is coupled with an integrated graphics solution. The benchmark data shows that this combination is heavily constrained by the GPU, with playable performance only achievable at 1080p and lower graphical presets. The recorded measurements provide a clear picture of the system's capabilities across the tested resolutions and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the data indicates this combo cannot deliver a smooth experience under any settings. The High preset averages 20 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 19 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS. Lowering to the Low preset improves the average to 35 FPS, but this still falls far short of the 60 FPS playable threshold.

The 2560x1440 results show meaningful gains, though the system remains below the playable threshold. The High preset reaches an average of 34 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 33 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The Low preset is the strongest at this resolution, averaging 59 FPS, which is just one frame shy of the target.

Performance at 1920x1080 is where the combination finally becomes viable. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS, which still clears the target on average. The High preset averages 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 48 FPS, both falling below the playable threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU component of this combo is exceptionally strong, with a benchmark average score of 69355, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 9115, which scores 69288 and is 0.1% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515 and is 0.2% faster. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, making it 0.7% faster, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, making it 0.9% faster. These differences are minimal, indicating that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would produce nearly identical frame rates in Thief.

The GPU, the Intel Arc B390, is an integrated part with a benchmark average score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals show how limited its performance envelope is. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463, which is 1.3% slower, while the NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, which is 1.5% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, making it 2.5% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, making it 2.7% slower. These deltas are all under 3%, meaning that any of these GPUs would deliver essentially the same user experience in this game, constrained to the same low-resolution, low-settings territory.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets clearly demonstrates that the GPU is the limiting factor in this configuration. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads boosting up to 5.60 GHz, is far more powerful than what Thief requires. The data shows that the frame rate drops sharply as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at the Medium preset reduces the average from 66 FPS to 45 FPS, a drop of 21 FPS. Moving further to 3840x2160 at Medium reduces the average to 26 FPS, another 19 FPS decline. This consistent degradation with resolution indicates that the integrated GPU is saturated, while the CPU has ample headroom.

Preset scaling tells a similar story. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra is 38 FPS, from 86 FPS down to 48 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same preset range spans 26 FPS, from 59 FPS down to 33 FPS. At 3840x2160, the range narrows to 16 FPS, from 35 FPS down to 19 FPS. The shrinking delta at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is so heavily loaded that even the least demanding preset cannot produce playable numbers. The CPU's role is therefore minimal in determining the playable outcome; it is the Arc B390 that dictates whether this system can run the game at all.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested combinations for Thief, this pairing ranks 3307 out of 3720 combos. This places it in the lower portion of the rankings, which aligns with the measured frame rates. The integrated GPU's low percentile standing is the primary reason for this rank. A system with a stronger discrete GPU, even one paired with a much weaker CPU, would likely outperform this combination in Thief because the game's engine places a heavier burden on the graphics hardware. The rank reflects the reality that the CPU's top-tier performance cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this title.

The Verdict

This PC can run Thief, but only under specific conditions. The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the playable threshold of 60 FPS is met. At this resolution, the Low and Medium presets both clear the threshold. The Medium preset is the best playable option, averaging 66 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 50 FPS and 48 FPS respectively. At both 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, no settings achieve an average of 60 FPS. The closest result at 1440p is the Low preset at 59 FPS, which is just under the target. Therefore, the system is playable only at 1080p, and users should avoid higher resolutions if they require a 60 FPS experience.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset is playable, so there is no best setting recommendation. The highest average recorded at this resolution is 35 FPS on Low, which remains far from the target.

At 2560x1440, no preset is playable either. The Low preset comes closest with an average of 59 FPS, but it still misses the 60 FPS threshold, so no settings can be recommended for a stable experience.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 66 FPS. The Low preset also clears the threshold with an average of 86 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still maintaining playable performance. The High and Ultra presets should be avoided at this resolution, as their averages of 50 FPS and 48 FPS respectively do not meet the requirement.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 35 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets at this resolution average between 19 and 26 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1920x1080?

A: The Medium preset is the best playable option, with an average of 66 FPS. It is the most demanding preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset also works, averaging 86 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other systems tested for Thief?

A: The combination ranks 3307 out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database rankings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main performance bottleneck in this setup?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 scores in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel Core i7-14700K scores in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, indicating GPU saturation.

Q: Can the system reach 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: No. The closest result at 2560x1440 is the Low preset, which averages 59 FPS, just below the threshold. Medium averages 45 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS.

Q: What GPUs perform similarly to the Intel Arc B390 in the database?

A: The closest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M, which is 1.5% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% slower.