Thief

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It belongs to the Zen 4 (Phoenix) architecture family and features 16 MB of shared L3 cache, alongside 1 MB of L2 cache per core. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip’s multi-threaded performance is highlighted by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20,851 and a 3DMark max-threads score of 6,165, while its single-core capability is represented by a 3DMark single-thread score of 951 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,943. The processor sits in the 82nd percentile among all CPUs and holds an average benchmark score of 25,064. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X scores 25,057 (a 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 scores 25,099 (-0.1%), the AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25,103 (-0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scores 24,993 (+0.3%). For a game like Thief, which was released in 2014, the 8400F’s strong single-thread performance is critical, as older titles often rely heavily on fewer cores. The data shows the processor’s high boost clock and efficient Zen 4 architecture ensure it is not a bottleneck in this title, even at high frame rates.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 8400F’s specification sheet points to a CPU that is more than capable of feeding a modern GPU in an older game like Thief. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it provides sufficient parallelism for the game’s engine, which was designed for a generation of hardware with far fewer threads. The 4.70 GHz boost clock is the key metric here; Thief’s gameplay logic and draw-call submission are largely single-threaded tasks. The processor’s 3DMark 2-thread score of 1,874 and single-thread score of 951 suggest that its per-core strength is substantial, which directly translates to higher minimum frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. The data confirms this: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 181.7 FPS, a figure that is unlikely to be limited by the CPU. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS of 141.3 is high, indicating that the CPU can maintain a solid frame delivery without stuttering. The processor’s position relative to its rivals is interesting; while the Ryzen 7 2700X has more cores, the 8400F matches its average score, showing that the newer architecture and higher clocks compensate for the core count difference. In Thief, this means the 8400F does not hold back the RTX 4070, allowing the GPU to become the primary performance determinant as resolution and settings increase.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2475 MHz, and it houses 5,888 shading units. The GPU’s raw compute capability is shown by its FP32 throughput of 29.15 TFLOPS and texture rate of 455.4 GTexel/s. In Thief, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as the resolution and quality settings are raised. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 58, which is a clear sign that the GPU is being pushed to its limits. The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is ample for a 2014 title, even at 4K, so the limiting factor is the shader and ROP throughput. The RTX 4070’s PassMark G3D score of 26,927 places it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37,283. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (score 37,507, delta -0.6%), the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A (score 38,008, delta -1.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (score 38,135, delta -2.2%). The data implies that the RTX 4070 is a high-end part that is well-suited for 1440p gaming, and its performance in Thief at 1440p High (101.7 FPS) confirms this. The GPU’s memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) ensures that data transfer is not a bottleneck, allowing the core to work efficiently.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend: performance scales inversely with resolution, and the rate of decline indicates a transition from a CPU-bound scenario at 1080p to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 144.3 FPS, while at 1440p High, it drops to 101.7 FPS, a 29.5% reduction. Moving to 4K High, the average FPS falls to 62.6, which is a 56.6% reduction from the 1080p figure. This steep drop-off suggests that the RTX 4070 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this: at 1080p, the gap between Low (181.7 FPS) and Ultra (141.3 FPS) is 40.4 FPS, showing that the CPU can still push high frame rates even with increased graphical load. However, at 4K, the gap narrows to 43.2 FPS (101.2 FPS at Low vs 58 FPS at Ultra), but the absolute values are much lower. This indicates that the GPU’s fill rate and pixel processing are the primary constraints at 4K. The data shows that at 1440p, the combo strikes a balance, with Ultra settings yielding 96.5 FPS, which is still highly playable. The scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K is not linear, which is typical for a GPU-bound workload; the RTX 4070’s 64 ROPs and 158.4 GPixel/s pixel rate are the hard limits at 4K, not the CPU’s clocks or cache.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 8400F compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F’s average benchmark score is 25,064. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, scores 25,057, resulting in a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scores 24,993, which is a 0.3% difference, indicating the 8400F is essentially on par with these parts.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4070 and its closest GPU rival?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37,283. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37,507, which is a -0.6% delta (meaning the RTX 4070 is slightly slower), while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38,135, a -2.2% delta.

Q: At what resolution and settings does this combo achieve the highest average FPS?

A: The highest average FPS is achieved at 1080p with Low settings, where the combo hits 181.7 FPS. This is significantly higher than the 4K Low result of 101.2 FPS, demonstrating the impact of resolution on performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 58. Given that the CPU can deliver 141.3 FPS at 1080p Ultra, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck at 4K, as the resolution increase places a much heavier load on the RTX 4070’s rendering pipeline.

Q: How does the combo’s performance at 1440p High compare to 1080p High?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 144.3, while at 1440p High, it drops to 101.7. This represents a 42.6 FPS decrease, showing that the GPU is still capable of high frame rates at 1440p, but the additional pixel load is noticeable.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations in Thief?

A: The combo ranks 355th out of 1,642 tested combinations in Thief. This places it in the top 21.6% of all tested systems, indicating it is a high-performing configuration for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Thief, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds a rank of 355 out of 1,642 total combos. This position places it comfortably in the upper quartile of all tested systems, suggesting that it delivers a strong experience in this title. The rank is a composite measure that considers the performance of both the CPU and GPU in the context of the game’s workload. The RTX 4070’s high percentile ranking (81st) and the CPU’s solid 82nd percentile ranking contribute to this overall position. The data implies that while there are many more powerful configurations (e.g., those with higher-end GPUs or CPUs), this combo is far from the bottom of the pack. The 4K Ultra result of 58 FPS, while not a high refresh rate, is playable, and the 1440p High result of 101.7 FPS is excellent for a smooth experience. The ranking suggests that the combo is well-balanced for Thief, with neither component dragging the other down significantly. The performance at 1080p, with a maximum of 181.7 FPS, shows that the combo can easily handle high-refresh-rate monitors at that resolution, making it a versatile option for a game that is nearly a decade old.