Thief

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor from the 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 32 MB shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. It also features PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only) and includes integrated Radeon Graphics. The CPU was released on 2023-01-13 with a launch MSRP of $229, and it is an unlocked multiplier part on the AMD Socket AM5 platform.

The CPU’s benchmark data shows strong single-threaded performance, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 999 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1852. Multi-threaded results are robust as well: Cinebench R23 multicore scores 12735, Geekbench multicore reaches 13413, and Passmark multithread hits 27058. Its average benchmark score is 26324, placing it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs tested. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 7600 is nearly identical in average score: it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (score 26274), 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900KF (score 26212), and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U (score 26187). Conversely, it trails the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS by 0.3% (score 26402). This indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this pairing; its performance class is well above what a game like Thief demands, given that the game’s frame rates are primarily limited by the GPU.

For a 2014 stealth title like Thief, the Ryzen 5 7600’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient. The game’s engine does not heavily utilize multi-threading, but the processor’s high single-thread score (999 in 3dmark_single_thread) ensures that even older, less optimized game logic will run smoothly. The 32 MB L3 cache helps with data locality, and the DDR5 memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s provides ample headroom for any asset streaming. In this configuration, the CPU is effectively idle waiting on the GPU, which is the limiting component. The benchmark data confirms this, as the frame rates scale almost entirely with resolution and settings changes, with no sign of CPU-induced stutter or frame pacing issues.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU clocks are set at a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses system RAM rather than dedicated VRAM, with a bus width and bandwidth that are "System Dependent." This is a crucial limitation for gaming, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance at 7.680 TFLOPS. The TDP is 80 W, and it has no power connectors, as it is an IGP with a slot width of "IGP." The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. It was released on 2026-01-26 and is currently Active in production.

The Arc B390’s benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a low-performance part relative to the broader market. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA entry-level or integrated parts: it is 1.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463), 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M (score 1460), 2.5% ahead of the GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446), and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710 (score 1443). This puts the Arc B390 in a performance class that is barely above the most basic 3D accelerators from a decade ago, which is a significant handicap for running a game like Thief at modern resolutions.

In Thief, the GPU’s role is the primary bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 86 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 19 FPS. This steep decline is directly attributable to the Arc B390’s limited compute resources and its reliance on shared system memory. The lack of dedicated VRAM means that at higher resolutions, the GPU must access memory through the system bus, which increases latency and reduces effective bandwidth. The 24 ROPs are also a limiting factor for pixel fill rate at 4K, which explains why the High and Ultra settings at 3840x2160 yield only 20 and 19 FPS, respectively. The GPU is clearly the limiting component in this pairing, as the CPU has ample headroom.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 66, with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 75.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 compare to the Intel Core i9-11900KF in average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 5 7600 has an average benchmark score of 26324, which is 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i9-11900KF’s score of 26212.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710?

A: Yes, the Arc B390’s average benchmark score of 1482 is 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710’s score of 1443.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo in Thief?

A: The lowest average FPS is 19, measured at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU have an integrated GPU?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 includes integrated Radeon Graphics, though the system relies on the Intel Arc B390 for the game’s rendering.

Q: What is the boost clock of the Intel Arc B390?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a base clock of 300 MHz.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Thief covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). At 1080p, the combo starts at 86 FPS on Low, which is the highest average FPS recorded across all configurations. Dropping to Medium yields 66 FPS (min 56, max 75), High yields 50 FPS, and Ultra yields 48 FPS. This shows a 44% reduction in FPS from Low to Ultra at 1080p, which is substantial but leaves the game playable at all settings at this resolution.

Moving to 1440p, the performance degrades further. Low settings deliver 59 FPS, Medium delivers 45 FPS (min 38, max 52), High delivers 34 FPS, and Ultra delivers 33 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is now 44%, similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board. At 1440p, only Low settings maintain a frame rate above 60 FPS, and Ultra dips to 33 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay.

At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings produce 35 FPS, Medium produces 26 FPS (min 22, max 30), High produces 20 FPS, and Ultra produces 19 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is again 45%, but the absolute values are all below the 60 FPS threshold. Even at Low settings, the 35 FPS average is not ideal for a stealth game where precise movement matters. The data shows a clear pattern: increasing either resolution or settings has a nearly linear negative impact on performance, with the GPU being the sole limiting factor.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU’s limitations. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 59 at 1440p (a 31% reduction) and then to 35 at 4K (a 59% reduction from 1440p). This indicates that the Arc B390 is heavily pixel-bound, as the number of pixels quadruples from 1080p to 4K, but the FPS only drops by roughly 59% at Low settings, suggesting some headroom in other pipeline stages. However, at Ultra settings, the drop is steeper: from 48 FPS at 1080p to 33 FPS at 1440p (31% reduction) and then to 19 FPS at 4K (42% reduction from 1440p). The absolute numbers at 4K are so low that the game becomes nearly unplayable.

This scaling behavior points to the GPU as the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the FPS drops by more than half from 1080p to 4K at every setting level, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The Ryzen 5 7600’s high single-thread and multi-thread scores (999 and 6503 in 3dmark tests, respectively) are more than enough to feed the GPU at any resolution, so the frame rate is entirely dependent on the Arc B390’s ability to render pixels. The shared memory architecture also exacerbates this, as the GPU’s bandwidth is "System Dependent," meaning it has to contend with the CPU for memory access at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience for this combo in Thief is at 1080p with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 66 FPS with a minimum of 56. This provides a smooth frame rate that is above the 60 FPS threshold for most of the time, with only occasional dips. The High preset at 1080p drops to 50 FPS, which is playable but less consistent, while Ultra at 48 FPS is similar but with no additional benefit in this benchmark. Low settings at 1080p offer the highest frame rate (86 FPS), but this preset likely sacrifices visual quality that a stealth game like Thief relies on for atmosphere and visibility.

At 1440p, the only setting that approaches playability is Low, with an average of 59 FPS. Medium at 1440p drops to 45 FPS (min 38), which may be acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay, but the frame dips below 40 could cause judder. High and Ultra at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall to 34 and 33 FPS, respectively, which is too low for consistent movement. At 4K, no settings are recommended for a good experience, as even Low struggles at 35 FPS, and Ultra is at 19 FPS. The data suggests that the user should stick to 1080p Medium for the best balance of visual quality and performance, or 1080p High if they prefer higher fidelity and can tolerate 50 FPS average.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Thief, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2534 out of 2851 combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations, which is consistent with the GPU’s low percentile ranking (9th percentile of all GPUs) versus the CPU’s much higher ranking (78th percentile of all CPUs). The combo’s rank is heavily dragged down by the GPU, as the CPU is capable of far better performance, as evidenced by its benchmark scores being within 0.5% of much newer laptop processors like the Ryzen 9 6900HX and Ryzen 7 7435HS.

The rank of 2534 out of 2851 means that 317 combos perform worse, but 2533 perform better. This is a poor result for a modern system, but it is a direct consequence of pairing a high-end desktop CPU with a low-end integrated GPU. The data shows that the combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming at medium settings, and even then, it barely maintains 60 FPS. For a game like Thief, which has modest requirements, this rank reflects that the GPU is the primary constraint. If the CPU were paired with a discrete GPU, the rank would likely be much higher, but as measured, the combo sits in the lower quartile of all tested systems.