Thief

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti delivers a robust performance profile in Thief, showcasing a clear balance between CPU and GPU capabilities across various settings and resolutions. The data indicates that the combination is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors, while also offering a playable experience at demanding 4K Ultra settings. Benchmark results show the system consistently delivers high frame rates, with the most significant performance gains observed when lowering graphical presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Ultra preset is generally the optimal choice for this combination, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while maintaining a fully playable frame rate across all tested resolutions. At 1080p, Ultra averages 137 FPS, which is suitable for smooth gameplay. The data shows that Ultra at 1440p achieves an average of 116.9 FPS, still comfortably above the threshold for a fluid experience. Even at 4K, the Ultra preset produces an average of 68 FPS, which is a solidly playable frame rate for a game of Thief's genre.

However, users with a 4K display and a preference for high refresh rates may consider the High preset. At 4K High, the average FPS increases to 71.2, a modest gain over Ultra, while at 1440p it jumps to 121.6 FPS. The Medium preset offers a substantial improvement in performance, especially at 4K, where it delivers 94.2 FPS, but the visual fidelity is lower. The data indicates that the difference in FPS between Ultra and High is relatively small, making the High preset a good alternative for those who want a small performance boost without a major visual compromise.

The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, reaching 170.6 FPS at 1080p and 150.4 FPS at 1440p, but the visual quality reduction is typically too significant for a game like Thief, which relies heavily on atmosphere. The measured data shows that the most balanced experience is achieved with the Ultra preset, as it provides a high level of visual quality while staying well above 60 FPS at all tested resolutions. For users with 1440p monitors, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, offering a great balance of fidelity and performance. At 4K, the Ultra preset is still viable for a smooth single-player experience, but the data indicates that the High preset is a more sensible choice for those who want a higher frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The data shows that at 1080p, the Low preset produces an average of 170.6 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 137.6 FPS. This represents a difference of about 33 FPS, or roughly 24% lower performance at Ultra compared to Low.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in the game?

A: Yes, the system is capable of 4K gaming. The measured data shows that at 4K, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 68.2 FPS, while the High preset reaches 71.2 FPS. The Medium preset offers a more comfortable 94.2 FPS, and the Lowest preset reaches 124.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: For a 144Hz monitor, the 1080p resolution is the best choice. The data shows that at 1080p, the Ultra preset achieves 137.6 FPS, the High preset 139.3 FPS, the Medium preset 154.4 FPS, and the Low preset 170.6 FPS. At 1440p, the High preset achieves 121.6 FPS, which is also good for a 120Hz monitor.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there when going from 1440p to 4K?

A: The performance drop is significant. For example, at the High preset, the average FPS drops from 121.6 at 1440p to 71.2 at 4K, which is a reduction of about 41%. At the Medium preset, the drop is from 136.6 FPS to 94.4 FPS, a reduction of about 31%.

Q: Which setting is recommended for a 60 FPS experience?

A: The Ultra preset at 4K is the best choice for a 60 FPS experience, as it achieves an average of 68.2 FPS. The High preset at 4K also provides a good experience with 71.2 FPS. All other presets and resolutions provide much higher frame rates.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at any resolution?

A: The data suggests that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at 1080p, as the frame rates are high. However, the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a significant drop, indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's role is more apparent at lower resolutions where it is less likely to be the limiting component.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The benchmark data for this CPU shows a multi-threaded score of 15,989 in Cinebench R23 and a single-thread score of 2,257, indicating a strong performance for a mainstream desktop processor. In the game Thief, the CPU's role is to maintain a high frame rate, and the data shows that at 1080p, the FPS is higher, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to achieve these frame rates.

The benchmark results indicate that the CPU has a high multi-threaded performance, which is beneficial for the game's engine. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for this game, as the FPS at 1080p Low is 170.6, which is a very high frame rate. The CPU's performance is also evident in its 3DMark scores, where it scores 5,873 in the 16-thread test and 910 in the single-thread test. The CPU's percentile ranking of 72 indicates that it performs better than 72% of all CPUs, making it a strong mid-range choice. The CPU's performance is not a limiting factor in this game, as the frame rates are primarily determined by the GPU, especially at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks in the 623rd position out of 3,720 tested combinations in this game. This places it in the top 16.7% of all tested combinations, which is a strong result. The ranking indicates that this combination is expected to perform well in Thief when compared to other combinations in the database. The GPU, RTX 5070 Ti, is a high-end component that provides the majority of the performance in this combo. The CPU, while not the most powerful, is more than sufficient to avoid being a bottleneck in this game. The ranking suggests that this combination is well-balanced and provides a good gaming experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend of decreasing performance as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At the Ultra preset, the average FPS drops from 137.6 at 1080p to 116.9 at 1440p, and then to 68.2 at 4K. This represents a 15.0% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 50.4% drop from 1440p to 4K. This pattern is consistent across all presets, with the Low preset showing a similar trend: 170.6 FPS at 1080p, 150.4 FPS at 1440p, and 124.7 FPS at 4K. This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU's performance remains constant, but the GPU's workload increases significantly.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck when the resolution is increased. This is particularly evident at 4K, where the FPS drops significantly compared to the 1440p. The GPU's performance, as measured by the Passmark G3D score of 32,974, is high, but the demanding 4K resolution pushes it to its limits. The CPU's performance, on the other hand, is not a limiting factor at any resolution, as evidenced by the relatively high FPS at 1080p. This indicates that the system is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K resolution is where the GPU becomes the primary constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the performance of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination in Thief across various settings and resolutions. The data is measured and includes average FPS, with some entries including minimum and maximum values.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average FPS is 170.6. This is the highest performance of any setting at this resolution, delivering a very high frame rate.
• Medium: The average FPS is 154.4, with a minimum of 131 and a maximum of 177. This setting offers a good balance between performance and visual quality.
• High: The average FPS is 139.6, providing a solid performance for high-refresh-rate gaming.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 137.6. This setting provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a high frame rate.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average FPS is 150.4, which is a very high frame rate for 1440p.
• Medium: The average FPS is 136.6, with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 156. This setting offers a smooth experience.
• High: The average FPS is 121.6, which is a good performance for 1440p.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 116.9. This setting offers the best visual quality at 1440p while still providing a playable frame rate.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average FPS is 124.7.
• Medium: The average FPS is 94.4, with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 108. This setting provides a good balance for 4K gaming.
• High: The average FPS is 71.2.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 68.2. This setting offers the highest visual quality but at a lower frame rate.

The data shows that the system is capable of delivering a high frame rate at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K results are lower but still playable. The Medium preset appears to be a sweet spot for 4K, providing a good balance of performance and visual quality. The Ultra preset is viable for 4K, but the lower frame rate might be a concern for some users.