Thief

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It operates on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The CPU features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes. The processor's TDP is 65 W, and it uses the AMD Socket AM5.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 9600X demonstrates strong single-thread performance: it scores 1253 in 3DMark single-thread, 342 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 2183.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 2923 in Geekbench single-core. Multi-threaded results are equally robust: 7590 in 3DMark max threads, 2691 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 17528.5 in Cinebench R23 multicore, and 14438 in Geekbench multicore. The Passmark multithread score is 30027, with a single-thread score of 4570. The CPU's average benchmark score is 29713, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for this processor's standing. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE averages 29656, a delta of 0.2% relative to the 9600X. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H scores 29868, which is 0.5% lower. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT averages 29879, 0.6% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS scores 29955, 0.8% lower. These deltas are minuscule, indicating that the 9600X sits in a tightly packed performance band among these rivals, with no single competitor holding a meaningful edge in aggregate CPU benchmarks.

For a game like Thief, released in 2014, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The 9600X's high single-thread performance—evident in its 1253 3DMark single-thread score and 2183.5 Cinebench R23 single-core score—suggests it can handle the game's older, less parallel-threaded engine without bottlenecking. The 6-core/12-thread configuration, while not as expansive as higher-core-count chips, is more than sufficient for a title from this era, which typically leverages only a few threads. The measured FPS data for this combo shows that at 1080p Low, the average FPS reaches 78, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. This suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions; instead, the GPU's capabilities dictate the frame rates.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 59, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 9600X compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT?

A: The Ryzen 5 9600X has an average benchmark score of 29713, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT averages 29879, which is 0.6% higher. This delta is negligible, meaning the two processors deliver effectively identical aggregate performance.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all tested CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the majority of processors in the database.

Q: What is the combo's rank in this game compared to all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 2634 out of 2851 tested combos in Thief, placing it in the lower portion of the rankings.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p Ultra and 1080p Low?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset yields an average FPS of 43, while the Low preset yields 78. This is a difference of 35 FPS, with Low being 81% faster than Ultra.

Q: Does the Intel Arc B370 have a higher or lower average benchmark score compared to its nearest rival, the ATI Radeon HD 5770?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184, while the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, which is 0.5% higher. The B370 is marginally slower in this synthetic test.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a steep decline as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 78. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 53, a reduction of 25 FPS or roughly 32%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 31, which is a further 22 FPS drop from 1440p, or about 41% lower. This trend intensifies with higher settings.

For the Medium preset, the progression is: 59 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 18 FPS (30% reduction), and from 1440p to 4K is 17 FPS (41% reduction). The High preset shows similar scaling: 45 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, yields 43 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K.

The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across settings. For Low, the 4K average is 31 FPS, which is 40% of the 1080p value. For Medium, the 4K average is 24 FPS, or 41% of 1080p. For High, it's 18 FPS, or 40% of 1080p. For Ultra, it's 17 FPS, or 40% of 1080p. This uniformity indicates that the scaling is resolution-driven rather than settings-driven, which points to the GPU as the primary limiter.

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution with a 25 W TDP, and its performance characteristics align with this interpretation. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, suggesting the GPU is the bottleneck even at 1080p. The CPU, by contrast, is in the 81st percentile, so it has ample headroom. The FPS data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 78 FPS, which is playable, but the GPU's limitations become apparent as resolution increases. At 4K, even Low settings only produce 31 FPS, which is below typical playability thresholds. The data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration, and the CPU's performance is largely irrelevant to the frame rates achieved.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the Low preset at 1080p offers the highest average FPS at 78, which is the only configuration in the dataset that exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 59 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target but slightly below it. The High preset at 1080p drops to 45 FPS, and Ultra falls further to 43 FPS. At higher resolutions, all settings produce sub-60 FPS results, with the best 1440p option being Low at 53 FPS, and the best 4K option being Low at 31 FPS.

For a playable experience, the data suggests that 1080p with Low settings is the only configuration that reliably hits 60 FPS or above. The Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative if visual fidelity is prioritized, as it delivers 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68, indicating relatively stable performance. However, the drop from Low to Medium is 19 FPS, which is significant. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p do not provide a substantial visual improvement over Medium in the context of this GPU's capabilities, and they come with a cost of 14 and 16 FPS respectively, dropping below the 45 FPS mark.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only setting that approaches playability, with 53 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 41 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Higher settings at 1440p fall below 31 FPS, which is generally considered marginal. At 4K, none of the presets achieve acceptable frame rates, with the best being Low at 31 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K produces 17 FPS, which is effectively unplayable.

The data indicates that the Medium preset at 1080p provides the best balance between visual quality and performance, as it maintains an average FPS of 59 with a minimum of 50, ensuring that frame times stay within a reasonable range. The Low preset at 1080p is the only option that guarantees 60+ FPS, but it sacrifices visual fidelity. For users who prioritize smoothness, 1080p Low is the clear choice. For those who want a middle ground, 1080p Medium is the recommended preset, as it offers a 31% FPS improvement over High while staying within 1 FPS of the 60 FPS target.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2634 out of 2851 tested combos in Thief. This places the combo in the bottom 7.6% of all tested configurations, indicating that it performs poorly relative to the majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in this game. The rank is a composite measure that reflects the overall FPS across all resolutions and settings, and the low ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's weak performance.

The Intel Arc B370's percentile ranking among all GPUs is 5, which is exceptionally low. This means the GPU outperforms only 5% of all GPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals—the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (delta of -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (delta of -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (delta of -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (delta of 1.4%)—are all older or lower-tier parts. The B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is barely above the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570's 1186, which is a legacy mobile part from an earlier era.

In contrast, the CPU's 81st percentile ranking indicates that the Ryzen 5 9600X is a strong processor, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The combo's rank of 2634 out of 2851 is a direct consequence of the GPU bottleneck. When compared to other combos that pair a high-end CPU with a low-end GPU, this result is expected. The data suggests that the combo is not suitable for Thief at higher resolutions or settings, and even at 1080p Low, the 78 FPS result is the only playable configuration. The combo's rank reflects the GPU's inability to handle the game's graphical demands, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 78 FPS, which is the highest in the dataset. The Medium preset yields 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. The High preset averages 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 43 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 35 FPS, with Low being 81% faster than Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 53 FPS. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47. The High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent: Low drops from 78 to 53 (a 32% reduction), Medium drops from 59 to 41 (a 31% reduction), High drops from 45 to 31 (a 31% reduction), and Ultra drops from 43 to 29 (a 33% reduction).

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 31 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. The High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is also consistent: Low drops from 53 to 31 (a 42% reduction), Medium drops from 41 to 24 (a 41% reduction), High drops from 31 to 18 (a 42% reduction), and Ultra drops from 29 to 17 (a 41% reduction).

The only configuration with a reported minimum and maximum is the Medium preset, which shows a range of 20-27 FPS at 4K, 35-47 FPS at 1440p, and 50-68 FPS at 1080p. This indicates that the Medium preset has the most stable frame times, with a variance of 7 FPS at 4K, 12 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 1080p. The other presets do not have min/max data, so their frame time consistency cannot be assessed. Overall, the data shows a clear linear relationship between resolution and FPS, with each step up in resolution reducing the average FPS by roughly 30-40%.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process from Intel. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, 20 raster output units, and 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is system-shared, meaning it uses the host system's RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," which means they vary based on the system configuration. The GPU's TDP is 25 W, and it has no power connectors or dedicated slot width, as it is an IGP.

The GPU's pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. It delivers 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (at a 2:1 ratio). It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the B370 scores 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all older or lower-tier parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%).

The GPU's 5th percentile ranking and its proximity to legacy parts from the early 2010s highlight its limited gaming performance. In Thief, this translates to the FPS numbers seen in the measured data. The GPU is the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the steep FPS drops with increasing resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the GPU manages 78 FPS, but this is the only setting where it approaches playability. At higher resolutions and settings, the GPU's limited compute and memory bandwidth (being system-shared) become apparent, with 4K Ultra yielding only 17 FPS.

The B370's lack of dedicated VRAM means it competes with the CPU for system memory bandwidth, which can further hinder performance in memory-intensive scenarios. However, for a game like Thief from 2014, the GPU's raw compute power is the main limiting factor. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is modest by modern standards, and the 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs are low, which explains the poor fill-rate-dependent performance at high resolutions. The data indicates that the GPU is only suitable for 1080p gaming at low-to-medium settings, and even then, it struggles to maintain 60 FPS consistently.