Thief

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT delivers a broad performance envelope in Thief, with results that shift decisively depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but capable of very high frame rates when the load is reduced, making it a versatile option for different display targets.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates where the bottleneck lies within this system. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 190 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings drops this to 132.1 FPS, a reduction of roughly 30%. Pushing further to 3840x2160 at Low yields 79.6 FPS, which is another significant step down. This pattern indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU can feed frames quickly, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count rises.

The scaling behavior changes when quality settings are increased. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 107 FPS at 1080p, 72 FPS at 1440p, and 43.4 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is approximately 33%, and from 1440p to 4K it is around 40%. This steeper decline at higher settings suggests that the Radeon RX 6750 XT is being saturated by the combination of high resolution and demanding visual effects. The data indicates a system where the GPU’s rendering workload is the primary constraint, particularly at 4K Ultra where the average FPS falls below 45.

Interestingly, the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (190 FPS) and Ultra (107 FPS) is 83 FPS. At 4K, that difference shrinks to 36.2 FPS (79.6 vs 43.4). This convergence reinforces the interpretation that pixel throughput dominates the GPU’s time at 4K, leaving less headroom for the additional cost of higher quality presets.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Thief, this specific configuration ranks 717 out of 1642 combos. This places it in the upper-middle portion of the field, meaning it outperforms a majority of tested systems but is not near the top tier. The percentile data for the individual components helps contextualize this rank. The Intel Core i5-12600KF sits at the 84th percentile against all CPUs, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is at the 79th percentile against all GPUs.

The combo’s overall rank is likely pulled down by the GPU’s relative standing compared to the CPU. The processor is a strong performer, but the graphics card, while capable, does not match the CPU’s percentile placement. In practical terms for Thief, this means the system can deliver high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but it will not compete with top-end configurations that feature higher-tier GPUs. The rank of 717 out of 1642 suggests a balanced mid-to-high range system that handles the game well at mainstream resolutions but will require settings adjustments for 4K play.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for this combo at 1920x1080 with High settings is 114.1 FPS.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra performance compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 43.4, which is a substantial drop from the 107 FPS observed at 1080p Ultra. This represents a roughly 59% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Is this CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 Medium, the average FPS is 102.7. Given the GPU’s 79th percentile ranking versus the CPU’s 84th percentile, and the significant frame rate drops seen when increasing resolution, the GPU is the primary limiting factor at this setting.

Q: What is the best preset for a 60 FPS target at 1440p?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440, the Medium preset achieves 102.7 FPS and High achieves 78.5 FPS. Even Ultra at 72 FPS exceeds the 60 FPS target, so any of these settings would be viable.

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i5-12600KF have?

A: This processor has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory configuration?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting a smooth experience at 1920x1080, the data shows that all presets are playable. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 107 FPS, which is well above standard 60 Hz refresh rates. The Low preset’s 190 FPS is excessive for most displays, so users with high-refresh monitors can comfortably use Medium (148.7 FPS) or High (114.1 FPS) for a better visual experience without sacrificing fluidity.

At 2560x1440, the choice depends on the desired frame rate target. If the goal is to sustain 100+ FPS, the Medium preset at 102.7 FPS is the only option that achieves this. High at 78.5 FPS and Ultra at 72 FPS both provide a solid experience for 60 Hz displays, but they do not offer the headroom needed for 144 Hz panels. The Low preset at 132.1 FPS is available for competitive play, though it sacrifices significant visual quality.

For 3840x2160, the situation becomes more constrained. The Ultra preset drops to 43.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel less smooth. The High preset at 46.8 FPS is only marginally better. To achieve a playable frame rate at 4K, users must drop to Medium (60.5 FPS) or Low (79.6 FPS). The Medium preset offers the best balance, barely crossing the 60 FPS line while retaining a moderate level of visual fidelity. Based on the measured data, the recommended settings are High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p for high refresh, and Medium at 4K for a stable 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average frame rates for this configuration is as follows. At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers 79.6 FPS, Medium delivers 60.5 FPS, High delivers 46.8 FPS, and Ultra delivers 43.4 FPS. These numbers show a clear progression where quality increases come at a steep cost at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the results are more comfortable. The Low preset achieves 132.1 FPS, Medium achieves 102.7 FPS, High achieves 78.5 FPS, and Ultra achieves 72 FPS. This resolution provides a strong balance between visual quality and performance, with all presets clearing 70 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system is at its strongest. The Low preset reaches 190 FPS, Medium reaches 148.7 FPS, High reaches 114.1 FPS, and Ultra reaches 107 FPS. Even the most demanding preset maintains a triple-digit frame rate, confirming that 1080p is the sweet spot for this hardware combination in Thief.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz can boost up to 4.90 GHz, which provides strong single-threaded performance. This is evident in its benchmark scores, such as 3309 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1016 in 3DMark single-thread. The CPU’s 84th percentile ranking against all processors indicates it is a high-end part.

In the context of Thief, the CPU’s role appears secondary to the GPU. The frame rate scaling with resolution is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, meaning the processor is likely not the limiting factor in most situations. However, the strong single-thread performance is still relevant, as it ensures the game’s main thread logic can be processed quickly. The multi-threaded capabilities, demonstrated by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23444, provide ample headroom for any background tasks or future titles that utilize more cores.

The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory also contribute to its overall capability. While the game’s performance is primarily dictated by the GPU, the i5-12600KF ensures that there is no CPU-induced bottleneck, particularly at lower resolutions where frame rates are highest. The measured data for Thief shows that this processor is more than sufficient to keep up with the Radeon RX 6750 XT, allowing the graphics card to operate at its full potential.