Thief

# Thief: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G + Intel Arc B390 — Measured Performance Analysis

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G paired with the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics produces a highly constrained gaming experience in Thief, with the combo ranking 2534th out of 2851 tested combinations. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the overwhelming bottleneck, as evidenced by the CPU's strong synthetic benchmarks contrasting sharply with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The measured frame rates show that this configuration can handle 1080p at low settings with playable results, but struggles severely at higher resolutions and quality presets.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G brings substantial processing capability to this pairing. With 8 cores and 16 threads, this Zen 3 architecture processor (codenamed Cezanne) operates at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts up to 4.60 GHz. The CPU sits on the AM4 socket, uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, and contains 10,700 million transistors across a 180 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a 16 MB L3 cache, which provides ample on-chip storage for game logic and scene management.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates solid performance. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12830.5 points and single-core score of 1494 points indicate a processor capable of handling demanding workloads. Geekbench results show 9950 multicore and 1894 single-core scores, while PassMark multithread reaches 24419 and single-thread 3283. The 3DMark tests show scaling from 899 single-thread to 6629 for 16-thread workloads, confirming proper multi-threading utilization. The CPU's percentile ranking stands at 79, meaning it outperforms the majority of all CPUs in the database.

When compared to its nearest rivals, this processor's average benchmark score of 27051 sits remarkably close to the Intel Core i9-9900K at 27097 (a delta of -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 at 26936 (+0.4%), the Intel Core i5-14400T at 27166 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i7-1370P at 26900 (+0.6%). These tight margins indicate that the 5700G's computational performance rivals several newer and more expensive processors, making it a strong foundation for gaming systems.

However, in Thief specifically, the CPU's capabilities appear underutilized. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (86 FPS) versus 4K Low (35 FPS) shows a dramatic performance drop that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations. The game's 2014 release date means it likely doesn't heavily leverage the CPU's 16 threads, and the benchmark data suggests that even at lower resolutions where CPU load is relatively higher, the processor has ample headroom. The PassMark physics score of 999 and floating point math score of 51296 indicate strong computational throughput that Thief's engine, being a stealth title focused on AI and physics, should theoretically benefit from — yet the frame rates tell a different story about where the bottleneck truly lies.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process under the Panther Lake chip design. This GPU represents a significant departure from discrete graphics cards, featuring system-shared memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all marked as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," meaning performance relies heavily on the host system's DDR4 memory configuration. The 5700G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which becomes the practical ceiling for graphics data throughput.

The GPU's clock speeds show a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz, which is a substantial boost window. With 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units, the B390 has modest specifications for modern gaming. It includes 12 ray tracing cores, supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The pixel rate reaches 60.00 GPixel/s, texture rate hits 120.0 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The GPU consumes 80 W TDP and has no power connectors, fitting as an IGP with display outputs dependent on the portable device.

The GPU's benchmark results are stark in their limitations. The single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, indicating it performs worse than 91% of the graphics processors in the database. Its nearest rivals paint a telling picture: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (1.3% higher), the GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% higher), the GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% higher), and the GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7% higher). These are all legacy entry-level discrete GPUs from years past, yet the modern integrated B390 barely edges them out in synthetic testing.

In Thief, this GPU's limitations become immediately apparent. The highest measured average FPS across all settings and resolutions is 86 at 1080p Low, and performance degrades quickly as quality increases. The GPU's system-shared memory means that Thief's texture streaming and scene data must compete with the CPU for the same DDR4 bandwidth, potentially causing stutters and lower frame rates than a dedicated GPU with its own VRAM could achieve. The 12 ray tracing cores are present but largely irrelevant for a 2014 title that predates widespread RT implementation.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a textbook GPU-bound scenario. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 59 at 1440p and further to 35 at 4K — a 59.3% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline aligns with the pixel count increase (4K has 4 times the pixels of 1080p), though the 59.3% drop is less than the theoretical 75% reduction that pure pixel throughput would predict, suggesting some CPU involvement at lower resolutions or efficiency gains at higher loads.

For Medium settings, the scaling shows 66 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. This represents a 60.6% decrease from 1080p to 4K. The High preset yields 50 FPS at 1080p, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K — a 60% drop. Ultra settings produce 48 FPS at 1080p, 33 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K, a 60.4% decrease. The consistency of these percentage drops across all quality presets (ranging from 59.3% to 60.6%) strongly indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as CPU-bound scenarios would show less dramatic scaling with resolution changes.

The 1440p to 4K transition shows particularly harsh drops. At Medium settings, going from 1440p (45 FPS) to 4K (26 FPS) represents a 42.2% reduction, while the 1080p to 1440p drop is 31.8%. This pattern suggests that at 4K, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth constraints become severe, pushing frame rates below playable thresholds. The 4K Medium result of 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 FPS and maximum of 30 FPS shows the system struggling to maintain consistent output, likely due to the system-shared memory being overwhelmed by the high-resolution frame buffer demands.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G + Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2534th out of 2851 tested combos in Thief, placing it in the bottom 11.1% of all configurations tested. This low ranking is unsurprising given the GPU's 9th percentile standing, but it's notable that the CPU's 79th percentile performance doesn't boost the combo's position. This disconnect between CPU capability and overall gaming performance underscores how critically the GPU bottleneck limits the entire system.

The ranking suggests that this combo performs worse than the vast majority of systems tested, including many with older or weaker CPUs paired with modest discrete GPUs. The delta between CPU and GPU percentiles (79th vs 9th) creates a massively imbalanced system where the processor sits idle waiting for the graphics solution to catch up. In Thief, a game that can be CPU-sensitive in complex scenes with many AI characters, this imbalance means the CPU's advantages are largely wasted.

Comparatively, the nearest CPU rivals (Intel Core i9-9900K, AMD Ryzen AI 7 445, Intel Core i5-14400T, Intel Core i7-1370P) all have similar processor performance but would likely achieve much better gaming results when paired with appropriate GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals (GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, GT 710) represent the absolute bottom tier of graphics hardware, and even they are only 1.3% to 2.7% behind the B390 in synthetic scores. This positions the combo firmly in entry-level territory, suitable only for light gaming at low resolutions and settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and acceptable frame rates. At 1080p, Low settings deliver 86 FPS average, which provides smooth gameplay for most players. Medium settings at 1080p yield 66 FPS with a minimum of 56 FPS and maximum of 75 FPS, offering a reasonable balance between visual quality and performance. High settings drop to 50 FPS, while Ultra falls to 48 FPS — both approaching the edge of playability but with reduced visual fidelity compared to Medium's better framerate.

For 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. Low settings produce 59 FPS, which is playable but requires sacrificing visual quality. Medium settings at 1440p achieve 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, which may be acceptable for less demanding players but risks noticeable stuttering in action sequences. High and Ultra settings at 1440p (34 FPS and 33 FPS respectively) fall below the generally accepted 60 FPS threshold and approach the 30 FPS minimum for playability.

At 4K, no settings preset achieves playable performance. Low settings at 35 FPS are the best option, but Medium (26 FPS), High (20 FPS), and Ultra (19 FPS) all fall below acceptable thresholds. The 4K Medium minimum of 22 FPS and maximum of 30 FPS shows the system barely maintaining 30 FPS at best, making 4K gaming impractical with this combo. The data indicates that 1080p Medium provides the best overall experience, balancing the 66 FPS average with improved visual quality over Low, while keeping minimums above 55 FPS for consistent gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Thief at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with Low settings, where the measured average FPS is 86. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 66 FPS, which still exceeds 60 FPS, but High (50 FPS) and Ultra (48 FPS) do not reach 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo achieves playable frame rates across multiple settings presets. At 1440p, only Low (59 FPS) and Medium (45 FPS) are marginally playable, while 4K results in 35 FPS or lower across all settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GT 710 (1443). It ranks at the 9th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in Thief?

A: The GPU is overwhelmingly the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 79th percentile with strong synthetic scores (12830.5 Cinebench R23 multicore), while the GPU sits in the 9th percentile. Resolution scaling shows consistent FPS drops across all settings, confirming GPU limitation.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 45, with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS. This provides playable but not smooth performance, with potential dips noticeable in demanding scenes.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this configuration?

A: Technically yes, but not practically. The best 4K result is 35 FPS at Low settings, while Medium (26 FPS), High (20 FPS), and Ultra (19 FPS) all fall below playable thresholds. The 4K Medium minimum of 22 FPS indicates significant frame drops.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. Low settings achieve 86 FPS average, providing smooth gameplay well above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings produce 66 FPS average with a minimum of 56 FPS and maximum of 75 FPS, offering a solid balance of visual quality and performance. High settings drop to 50 FPS average, while Ultra settings reach 48 FPS average. None of the 1080p presets fall below 48 FPS, making this the only resolution where all settings presets are at least marginally playable.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 59 FPS, which is playable but requires minimal visual quality. Medium settings average 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, creating noticeable dips during intense gameplay. High settings average 34 FPS, and Ultra settings average 33 FPS. The 1440p results show that only Low and Medium presets approach playable frame rates, while High and Ultra fall below the 35 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for acceptable gaming.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes largely unplayable. Low settings average 35 FPS, which is the only 4K preset exceeding 30 FPS. Medium settings average 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 FPS and maximum of 30 FPS, showing the system struggling to maintain consistent output. High settings average 20 FPS, while Ultra settings average 19 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that this resolution is beyond the capabilities of the Intel Arc B390, with even the lowest quality preset failing to deliver smooth frame rates. The data across all resolutions and settings confirms that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with Medium settings providing the optimal balance of visual fidelity and performance at 66 FPS average.