Thief

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. For a game like Thief, released in 2014, this represents a substantial amount of computational headroom. The processor’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3dmark_single_thread score of 959 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3359, is particularly relevant for a title of that era, which typically relies on fewer, more heavily utilized threads. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache also helps ensure that the game’s assets and instructions are quickly accessible, reducing potential bottlenecks from memory latency.

While the CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are impressive, as shown by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23794, the data for Thief suggests that the game does not necessarily scale with the full 16-thread capacity. The benchmark results indicate a strong performance in the 3dmark_8_threads test, scoring 6141, which is close to the max_threads score of 7680. This implies that the game effectively utilizes up to 8 cores, but the additional threads beyond that offer diminishing returns. In practical terms, the Ryzen 7 5800XT places in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29879, placing it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H, which has a deltaPct of 0. This positioning confirms that the CPU is a high-performing part, but its influence on Thief's frame rates will be largely determined by whether the GPU can keep up with the processor’s output.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 5800XT's multi-threaded performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800XT has an average benchmark score of 29879. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H, has an average score of 29868, resulting in a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are effectively tied. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is slightly behind with a score of 29713, showing a deltaPct of 0.6, indicating the 5800XT is marginally faster.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor for Thief at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average FPS of 86. This relatively high frame rate, combined with the fact that the Intel Arc B390 GPU has a low percentile rank of 9, suggests the CPU is doing its job and the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU has enough headroom to push more frames if the GPU could render them.

Q: What is the expected frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K on High settings?

A: The data shows a significant drop in performance. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 50. When moving to 3840x2160 at the same settings, the average FPS falls to 20. This represents a 60% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the heavy load placed on the GPU at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390's 3DMark score relate to its performance in Thief?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 1482. This score puts it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which has a score of 1463 (a deltaPct of 1.3). This low score is consistent with the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates in Thief at higher resolutions, as seen in the measured FPS data.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 5800XT have enough processing power for Thief's maximum settings?

A: Yes, the CPU appears more than capable. The bottleneck at Ultra settings is the GPU. For example, at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 33. The CPU's strong single and multi-thread scores suggest it is not the cause of this performance floor; the GPU's low rendering throughput is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo achieves an average of 59 FPS on Low settings. On Ultra settings, the average drops to 33 FPS. This is a substantial 26 FPS difference, or roughly a 44% performance penalty for enabling the highest visual quality presets, indicating the GPU is heavily taxed by the increased graphical load.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Thief reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. At the lowest tested resolution, 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 86 FPS on Low settings. This is the highest frame rate recorded across all configurations. Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low settings drops to 59, a decrease of 27 FPS or approximately 31%. The trend continues at 3840x2160, where the same Low settings only yield an average of 35 FPS.

This scaling behavior provides insight into the system's limiting component. The CPU, with its high performance metrics, is likely capable of delivering more frames, but the Intel Arc B390 GPU is unable to keep pace as the pixel count increases. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear but becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions, indicating that the GPU is working progressively harder. For instance, on High settings, the average FPS goes from 50 at 1080p to 34 at 1440p and finally to 20 at 4K. The dramatic fall at 4K, where the frame rate is only 40% of the 1080p value, strongly suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks, not the CPU’s processing power.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2534 out of 2851 tested combos for Thief. This places the pairing in the lower echelons of performance, specifically in the 11th percentile. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU, which is a weak performer in its own right. The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482. This is a very low score, closely matching the performance of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which has a score of 1463 and a deltaPct of 1.3.

The CPU, in contrast, is a high-performing part. Its position in the 81st percentile of all CPUs means it is significantly more capable than the GPU. The data suggests that this combo's ranking is almost entirely dragged down by the graphics card. If the same CPU were paired with a more powerful GPU, the combo’s rank in this game would be expected to be considerably higher. The current rank of 2534 reflects the fact that the GPU is the weak link in this pairing, unable to translate the CPU’s considerable processing power into playable frame rates in Thief.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the system performs across various resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 86 FPS, Medium settings produce 66 FPS (with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 75), High settings produce 50 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 48 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 38 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops across the board. Low settings yield an average of 59 FPS. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a range of 38 to 52 FPS. High settings average 34 FPS, and Ultra settings average 33 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra here is 26 FPS, indicating that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become quite low. Low settings average 35 FPS. Medium settings average 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30. High settings average 20 FPS, and Ultra settings average 19 FPS. The margin between Low and Ultra is now only 16 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is saturated and the settings have a reduced relative impact on performance. All data points are measured, confirming the accuracy of this performance profile.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo in Thief depends heavily on the target resolution. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data shows that only the 1920x1080 Low preset achieves this, with an average of 86 FPS. This is the only configuration that provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The 1080p Medium preset, averaging 66 FPS, also falls above 60 FPS and is a viable option for those seeking better visual fidelity without sacrificing too much smoothness.

At 2560x1440, achieving 60 FPS is not possible with the tested settings. The highest average FPS is 59 on Low settings, which is borderline. For a more visually rich experience at this resolution, the Medium preset, with an average of 45 FPS, offers a compromise, though it may not be ideal for fast-paced action. At 3840x2160, no preset provides a playable frame rate for a smooth experience. The highest average is 35 FPS on Low settings, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. Therefore, the data suggests that users should target 1080p to get the best balance of performance and visual quality, with the Medium preset providing a solid middle ground at 66 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 48 FPS, may be acceptable for slower, more atmospheric segments of the game, but it will likely feel stuttery in more demanding scenes.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance bottleneck in this system for Thief. Its specifications reveal a low-power integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a TDP of 80 W. It is based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. It also features 12 ray tracing cores. Its theoretical performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations and 15.36 TFLOPS for FP16 operations.

Crucially, the GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's main RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a significant disadvantage for gaming, as memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and is not optimized for the high-throughput demands of a game like Thief. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile, a very low position. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 with a score of 1443, are entry-level parts from many years ago. The data confirms that this GPU is not designed for demanding gaming workloads. In Thief, its limitations are exposed at every resolution above 1080p, where the frame rates drop to unplayable levels. The GPU’s performance is the primary reason the combo ranks so low in the database, as it fails to utilize the full potential of the Ryzen 7 5800XT.