Thief

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT combination delivers a robust performance profile in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. The data provided shows a system capable of high frame rates at 1080p, strong performance at 1440p, and playable results at 4K when settings are adjusted. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU’s high clock speeds and core count provide ample headroom, allowing the GPU to become the primary limiter as resolution demands increase.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor has a TDP of 120 W and is built on a 4 nm process. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU’s high boost clock and 12 cores are well-suited for modern gaming and general workloads.

In Thief, the game's performance is influenced by both CPU and GPU, but the data suggests that, at lower resolutions, the CPU's ability to feed the GPU becomes important. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 196 FPS. This high frame rate confirms the CPU's single-thread performance. The processor's single-thread benchmark score in Geekbench is 3010. This high single-thread score is directly relevant to a game like Thief, which can be sensitive to per-core performance.

The CPU also has multi-threading capabilities, which may be less critical for this title but still helps with background tasks and any game engine threads that are optimized for more cores. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 32172, indicating a very strong multi-threaded performance. However, in a game like Thief, the single-thread performance is often more critical. The processor's boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures that it can hit high frequencies to keep up with the game's simulation and physics.

When looking at the results, the performance scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K High, the average is 46 FPS, which is lower than the 1080p High average of 113 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as the resolution increases. The CPU's role is to maintain a high enough frame rate to avoid being a bottleneck, which it does with its strong single-thread performance.

The CPU's percentile rank among all CPUs is 92, meaning it outperforms 92% of tested processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015, which has an average score of 57555 and a deltaPct of -0.1, and the Intel Core i9-14900 with a score of 58115 and a deltaPct of -1.1. These are all in the same performance tier, but the 9900X holds its own.

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU's core and thread count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How does the CPU's clock speed affect performance in Thief?

A: The boost clock of 5.60 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X helps achieve high frame rates, especially at 1080p where the CPU is more critical. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system averages 196 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at higher resolutions?

A: No, the data shows the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K High, the average is 46 FPS, which is lower than the 1080p High average of 113 FPS. This indicates the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K.

Q: What is the CPU's overall performance percentile?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X has a percentile rank of 92 versus all other CPUs, indicating it is in the top 8% of processors.

Q: How much does the CPU's multi-threaded performance matter for Thief?

A: The game is likely more dependent on single-thread performance, as evidenced by the high frame rates. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 32172, which is strong, but the single-thread score of 2253 is more relevant for the game's minimal CPU load.

Q: What are the CPU's nearest rivals in performance?

A: The closest competitors include the AMD EPYC 9015 (deltaPct -0.1), the AMD EPYC 7313 (deltaPct 0.2), and the Intel Core i9-14900 (deltaPct -1.1). These all have similar average benchmark scores, with the 9900X being within 1.4% of them.

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

The measured FPS data clearly shows a pattern of decreasing frame rates as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system achieves an average of 196 FPS on Low settings. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 134 FPS, which is a 32% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 79 FPS, which is a further drop of 41% from the 1440p numbers. This consistent drop indicates that the system is constrained by the number of pixels being rendered, which places a higher load on the GPU.

When looking at the High preset, the scaling is similar. At 1080p High, the average is 113 FPS. At 1440p High, it's 78 FPS, a 31% drop. At 4K High, it's 46 FPS, a 41% drop from 1440p. This pattern shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU is powerful enough that its performance is not the limiting factor, as the FPS drops are consistent with GPU-bound workloads.

The Medium setting shows a similar trend. 1080p Medium averages 148 FPS, 1440p Medium averages 102 FPS, and 4K Medium averages 60 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 31%, and from 1440p to 4K is 41%. This consistent scaling suggests that the GPU's fill rate and pixel processing capabilities are the main constraints.

The Ultra preset has the lowest frame rates. At 1080p Ultra, it's 108 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it's 74 FPS, a 31% drop. At 4K Ultra, it's 43 FPS, a 42% drop from 1440p. This shows that even the most demanding settings produce a stable scaling pattern, with the GPU being the primary factor in the frame rate.

The data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution. The high single-thread performance of the Ryzen 9 9900X ensures that the CPU can process the game's logic and draw calls quickly enough to keep up with the GPU's workload. The GPU, on the other hand, is the limiting component, especially at 4K. The RX 6750 XT has a boost clock of 2600 MHz and 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, which is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but starts to struggle at 4K with demanding settings.

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

At 1920x1080, the system shows its highest frame rates. On Low settings, the average is 196 FPS. This is an excellent performance for a stealth game, ensuring smooth gameplay. On Medium settings, the average is 148 FPS, with a minimum of 126 FPS and a maximum of 171 FPS. This indicates a well-frame-paced experience. High settings produce an average of 113 FPS, which is still very high. Ultra settings yield 108 FPS, showing that even the most demanding preset is playable at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop but remain very strong. Low settings give an average of 134 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 102 FPS, with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS. High settings average 78 FPS. Ultra settings average 74 FPS. All of these are above 60 FPS, which is the key threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings produce an average of 79 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings average 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. High settings average 46 FPS, which is below 60 FPS. Ultra settings average 43 FPS. This indicates that for 4K gaming, the user would need to use Low or Medium settings to maintain a smooth frame rate.

The data shows a clear pattern: 1080p and 1440p are well within the system's capabilities, while 4K requires settings adjustments to achieve acceptable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 1528 out of 3720 tested combos for Thief. This indicates that it falls in the lower half of all tested combinations. The ranking is based on the overall performance of the combo in the game. The GPU's percentile rank is 71, meaning it performs better than 71% of all GPUs. The CPU's percentile is 92, which is higher. This suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The combo's rank of 1528 out of 3720 shows that there are many combos with higher overall performance. This is likely due to the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. The RX 6750 XT is a mid-range GPU, and while it performs well at 1080p and 1440p, it struggles at 4K with high settings. The CPU is a high-end processor, and its performance is not the primary constraint.

The data suggests that for a user looking to play Thief at 1080p or 1440p, this is a solid choice. For 4K, the GPU would need to be upgraded to a more powerful model. The combo's rank reflects that it's a capable pairing for lower resolutions but falls behind systems with more powerful GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience is achieved at 1080p or 1440p. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset averages 108 FPS, which is excellent. At 1440p, Medium settings average 102 FPS, and High settings average 78 FPS. Both are above 60 FPS and should provide a smooth experience.

For 4K gaming, the system struggles with High and Ultra settings, averaging 46 and 43 FPS respectively. To maintain a playable frame rate above 60 FPS, the user should use Low settings, which average 79 FPS. Medium settings average 60 FPS, which is borderline. The minimum FPS for Medium at 4K is 51, which could cause noticeable stutters. Therefore, at 4K, Low settings are the most reliable option for a smooth experience.

The Medium preset at 1440p provides a good balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 102 FPS and a minimum of 87 FPS. This is a solid choice for a high-quality experience. For maximum visual fidelity, Ultra at 1080p is the best option, with an average of 108 FPS.

In summary, the ideal settings depend on the resolution. At 1080p, Ultra is the best. At 1440p, Medium or High are good. At 4K, Low is recommended to maintain a high frame rate.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, with a chip called Navi 22. It has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2150 MHz and a boost clock of 2600 MHz. It has a game clock of 2495 MHz. The GPU also has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6.

The GPU's VRAM is sufficient for Thief, which is a game from 2014 and does not require massive memory capacity at these settings. The 12 GB of VRAM is more than enough for the game at 4K, as the game's textures are not extremely demanding by modern standards.

The GPU's performance is the primary factor in the frame rate at higher resolutions. The boost clock of 2600 MHz helps with the GPU's processing power. The GPU's performance in the passmark G3D score is 20700, indicating a mid-range performance level. Its percentile rank is 71% of all GPUs, meaning it is better than 71% of GPUs.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 M395X with an average score of 25891 and a deltaPct of 0.5, and the AMD FirePro W7100 with a score of 25856 and a deltaPct of 0.6. These are all very close in performance, indicating that the RX 6750 XT is in a competitive range.

In Thief, the GPU's role becomes more important as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU is not the bottleneck, as the CPU can keep up. At 1440p, the GPU starts to be a factor, but the system still manages high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, with frame rates falling below 60 FPS on High and Ultra settings.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s is adequate for the game. The game's engine and assets are not overly demanding, so the GPU can handle the workload. The GPU's clock speeds are also sufficient for the game's needs.

In summary, the RX 6750 XT is a capable GPU for Thief, providing excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, but struggling at 4K with high settings. The CPU's high single-thread performance ensures that it is not a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to be the primary factor in the frame rate at higher resolutions.