Thief

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a playable, if not spectacular, experience in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. The data shows a system that is consistently capable at 1080p and 1440p, but which struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at 4K Ultra settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and presets, contextualizing the results against the component's benchmark standings and nearest rivals.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, running on the AM4 socket. It operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and can boost up to 4.20 GHz. This configuration, with its 8 MB of shared L3 cache, provides a solid foundation for gaming workloads. In synthetic tests, the CPU scores 13,593 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,919 in single-core, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that while not a top-tier performer, it sits comfortably above the median, which is corroborated by its average benchmark score of 17,507.

Relative to its closest competitors, the Ryzen 5 4600G holds its ground firmly. Its average score is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE and 0.6% higher than the Intel Core 7 150U. Conversely, it trails the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE by 0.6% and the Intel Core i3-14100T by 0.8%. These are marginal deltas, indicating that in terms of raw processing power, the 4600G is effectively in the same performance class as these rivals. The performance differences are negligible in practice.

For a game like Thief, which is not known for being exceptionally CPU-intensive, this processor is more than adequate. The measured frame rates in the game show that at 1080p, the system is capable of delivering 130 FPS on Low settings. This high frame rate at a lower resolution strongly suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration. The processor has enough headroom to feed the GPU with data, allowing it to push high frame rates. The 6-core/12-thread layout ensures that background tasks and the game's engine threads have enough resources to run without causing stutters or hitches, even when the frame rate is high. The data points to a CPU that is well-matched for this title, providing a stable platform without limiting the graphics card's potential.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B570 is the graphics powerhouse in this pairing, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation). It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a consistent base and boost clock of 2500 MHz. This memory configuration is particularly relevant for a game like Thief, which was released in 2014 and may not have been designed with such high-bandwidth modern GPUs in mind, but it ensures that texture loading and memory-intensive scenes are handled with ease.

In the broader context of GPU performance, the Arc B570 scores 14,195 in the Passmark G3D benchmark and 96,844 in Geekbench Vulkan, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 20,556. The nearest rivals show a tight cluster of performance: it is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, but 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750. It also leads the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M by 0.4% and trails the AMD Radeon R9 M390X by 0.5%. This places the B570 in a competitive mid-range tier, capable of handling modern titles at high settings, though it is not a flagship card.

In Thief, the GPU's role becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 130 FPS, but this is likely a scenario where the GPU is still the limiter, albeit a very fast one. The true test comes at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 29. This significant drop indicates that the GPU's raw compute power and memory bandwidth are being heavily taxed at the highest fidelity and resolution. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is likely sufficient for this game, even at 4K, but the shading units and texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s are pushed to their limits. The data shows that the Arc B570 is the component that dictates the playable envelope of this system, particularly at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across the three resolutions reveals a classic scaling pattern that highlights the GPU as the primary bottleneck. The benchmark results show that performance is heavily dependent on resolution, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system.

At Low settings, the average frame rates are 130 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K. This represents a 30% drop in performance from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 41% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 58%. This steep decline demonstrates that even at the lowest graphical fidelity, the GPU is struggling to maintain frame rates as pixel count increases.

At Medium settings, the frame rates are 101 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The scaling here is similar: a 32% drop to 1440p and a 41% drop to 4K, for a total reduction of 59%. The fact that the percentage drops are nearly identical between Low and Medium settings suggests that the GPU is hitting a computational limit that scales linearly with resolution, rather than a bottleneck in a specific effect.

At High settings, the frame rates are 77 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 31 FPS at 4K. The drops are 31% to 1440p and 41% to 4K, totaling 60% from 1080p.

At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 73 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The resolution scaling is remarkably consistent, with a 32% drop to 1440p and a 42% drop to 4K, for a total of 60%.

The consistency of these percentage drops across all four presets is the key finding. Since the frame rate reduction from 1080p to 4K is consistently around 58-60% regardless of the settings level, it confirms that the limiting factor is the GPU's ability to fill pixels. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller percentage drops at higher resolutions, as the CPU would be the limiting factor even at 1080p. Instead, the data indicates that the Ryzen 5 4600G has ample headroom, and the Intel Arc B570 is the component that dictates the performance ceiling at each resolution.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this system depend entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate. The data shows a clear trade-off between visual fidelity and performance.

For 1080p gaming, the Medium preset offers the best balance. It delivers an average of 101 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it maintains a solid minimum of 86 FPS. While the Low preset achieves 130 FPS, the jump to Medium provides a significant visual improvement for a relatively modest 29 FPS cost. The High preset at 77 FPS is also playable, but the Medium settings provide a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS, ensuring fewer dips. Ultra at 73 FPS is tempting, but the data shows it is only 4 FPS slower than High, making High the better choice if you want max fidelity without the performance hit of Ultra.

For 1440p gaming, the Low preset is the only one that consistently provides a high-refresh-rate experience, with an average of 91 FPS. The Medium preset at 69 FPS is still playable and is arguably the sweet spot for a balance of quality and speed, as it stays above the 60 FPS mark. The High preset at 53 FPS and Ultra at 50 FPS dip below 60 FPS, which may be noticeable in a stealth game where smooth camera movement is important. For a more immersive visual experience, Medium is recommended, but for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, Low is the safer choice.

For 4K gaming, the data is less forgiving. The Low preset, with an average of 54 FPS, is the only setting that achieves a playable frame rate near the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 41 FPS is borderline playable but may feel sluggish in action sequences. The High and Ultra presets, at 31 and 29 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a smooth experience, as they fall below the 30 FPS minimum threshold for playability in many cases. If 4K is the target, sticking to Low settings is the only way to get a reasonably fluid experience.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that only the Low preset at 4K achieves a playable average of 54 FPS. Medium drops to 41 FPS, while High and Ultra fall to 31 and 29 FPS respectively, which are not smooth experiences.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiter. The consistent 58-60% frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, meaning the Intel Arc B570 is maxed out.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: The Medium preset offers the best experience, delivering an average of 101 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS. This provides a high frame rate with a significant visual upgrade over Low settings.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B570's average benchmark score of 20,556 puts it in a tight cluster with its rivals. It is 0.1% faster than the RTX 3070 Mobile, but 0.1% slower than the Arc A750.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 4600G hold the system back in this game?

A: No, the data suggests it does not. The high frame rates at 1080p (130 FPS on Low) indicate the CPU has sufficient headroom, and the scaling pattern points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

Q: What is the system's overall ranking among tested combinations?

A: This specific combo ranks 2347th out of 2851 tested combinations in Thief, placing it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following data represents the measured average frame rates (FPS) for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B570 combination in Thief. Minimum and maximum frame rates are only available for the Medium settings.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 130 FPS average
• Medium: 101 FPS average, 86 FPS minimum, 116 FPS maximum
• High: 77 FPS average
• Ultra: 73 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 91 FPS average
• Medium: 69 FPS average, 59 FPS minimum, 79 FPS maximum
• High: 53 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 54 FPS average
• Medium: 41 FPS average, 35 FPS minimum, 47 FPS maximum
• High: 31 FPS average
• Ultra: 29 FPS average

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for Thief, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B570 is positioned at rank 2347 out of a total of 2851 combinations. This places it in the 18th percentile of all tested systems, meaning that roughly 82% of the other tested combinations deliver higher average frame rates in this game.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the performance data analyzed above. While the system is fully capable of running the game at high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, its performance at 4K is relatively weak. Many other combinations in the database presumably handle 4K resolution more effectively, pushing this combo down the rankings. The rank is a holistic measure, and it shows that while this specific CPU and GPU pairing is competent for mainstream 1080p and 1440p gaming, it is not a top-tier contender when stacked against the full range of tested hardware. The data indicates that the system is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it delivers a solid experience, but it should not be expected to compete with higher-end configurations in more demanding scenarios like 4K Ultra.