Thief

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER combination delivers a playable, if not exhilarating, experience in Thief, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions and settings. The data shows a system that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the 10-core processor provides ample headroom at 1080p. This pairing lands in the 85th percentile of all tested combinations, indicating it outperforms a significant majority of systems while remaining firmly in the mid-range tier.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 4.70 GHz. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded capability, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055. For a game like Thief, which was released in 2014 and is primarily single-thread dependent, the processor's strong single-core performance is crucial for maintaining high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck.

In the context of this specific game, the CPU's role is less about raw multi-core throughput and more about delivering consistent per-frame logic. The PassMark single-thread score of 3701 is particularly relevant here, as it demonstrates the processor's ability to handle the game's simulation and AI tasks efficiently. The 14400F's performance places it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with its average benchmark score of 32279 putting it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and the Intel Core i9-11900, which are only 0.1% and 0.2% faster, respectively. This indicates that the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GTX 1660 SUPER in Thief, even at higher frame rates.

The 20 MB of shared L3 cache and the 1.25 MB L2 cache per core further aid in reducing latency, which is beneficial for a stealth game that requires quick reaction times. The processor's 65 W TDP suggests it runs efficiently, and its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory offers flexibility, though the measured FPS data does not differentiate between memory types. At 1080p, where the CPU's influence is most pronounced, the system achieves a low of 120 FPS, indicating that the processor is not a limiting factor. The data suggests that the 14400F's high boost clock and efficient architecture provide a solid foundation, ensuring that frame times remain stable even in complex scenes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the primary driver of visual output in this configuration. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz, with memory running at an effective 14 Gbps. Its Turing architecture, while lacking dedicated ray tracing cores, provides solid rasterization performance, as indicated by its PassMark G3D score of 12699 and its 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs.

In Thief, the GPU's performance is the determining factor for frame rates at higher resolutions. The GPU's closest rivals, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and the AMD Radeon RX 580, are within 0.4% of its average benchmark score, showing that it sits at a competitive performance tier for its age. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game's textures, but the data reveals how the GPU struggles at 4K, particularly at higher settings. The shift from Low to Medium settings at 4K results in a drop from 48 FPS to 37 FPS, highlighting the GPU's sensitivity to increased graphical load.

The GTX 1660 SUPER's FP32 performance of 5.027 TFLOPS and its 1408 shading units are adequate for a game from 2014, but the measured results show that it reaches its limits when pushing 3840x2160. The GPU's performance is the clear bottleneck in this system, as evidenced by the significant frame rate drops when increasing resolution. While the card is capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p, its 6 GB frame buffer and compute power are not sufficient for a smooth 4K experience, with the Ultra preset dipping to an average of 27 FPS.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal balance between visual quality and performance for this combo is the Medium preset at 2560x1440. This setting yields an average of 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. This provides a smooth and playable experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Medium preset is also excellent, producing an average of 91 FPS and a minimum of 77 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset is the clear choice. At 1920x1080, it achieves an average of 120 FPS, ensuring maximum fluidity. At 1440p, the Low preset still holds up well with an average of 82 FPS. However, the visual downgrade may be noticeable in Thief's dark, atmospheric environments. The High preset is a viable middle ground, offering an average of 69 FPS at 1080p and 47 FPS at 1440p, but it does not provide the same consistency as Medium.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for this configuration. At 1080p, it only marginally improves on High, achieving 66 FPS, while at 1440p it drops to 45 FPS. The 4K Ultra setting is effectively unplayable, with an average of 27 FPS. The data clearly indicates that the Medium preset offers the best experience, as it maintains frame rates above 60 FPS at 1080p and near 60 FPS at 1440p, while providing a significant visual upgrade over Low. The minimum FPS figures for Medium are also the most stable of any preset, suggesting fewer stutters and a more consistent experience.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 3179 out of 3720 tested combos in Thief. This places it in the 85th percentile, meaning it outperforms 85% of all other hardware combinations tested for this game. This is a strong showing for a mid-range pairing, indicating that the system is well-balanced for the game's requirements.

The ranking suggests that while this combo is not at the top tier, it is significantly better than the average system. The high rank is likely due to the CPU's robust single-thread performance, which prevents it from bottlenecking the GPU in a game that is not heavily multi-threaded. The GPU, while not a high-end part, is more than sufficient for the game's engine at moderate settings and resolutions. The data shows that this combo sits in a sweet spot, offering a performance level that is superior to many older or entry-level systems, without the exorbitant cost of high-end parts.

The fact that the combo ranks in the 85th percentile, while the CPU and GPU individually rank in the 83rd and 53rd percentiles, highlights the synergy between the two components. The CPU's strength compensates for the GPU's relative weakness, ensuring that the system does not suffer from a major bottleneck. This confirms the i5-14400F's ability to keep up with the GTX 1660 SUPER, even at lower resolutions where CPU load is highest. The ranking also reflects the game's age, as modern titles would likely place this combo in a lower percentile due to more demanding GPU requirements.

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

The FPS data reveals a clear story about the limiting component in this system. As resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops dramatically, indicating that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At Medium settings, the frame rate falls from 91 FPS at 1080p to 62 FPS at 1440p, and then to 37 FPS at 4K. This is a 59% reduction from 1080p to 4K, a severe drop that underscores the GTX 1660 SUPER's limitations at higher pixel counts.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the FPS drops from 69 at 1080p to 47 at 1440p and 28 at 4K. For Low settings, it goes from 120 at 1080p to 82 at 1440p and 48 at 4K. The proportional drop is similar in each case, which strongly suggests that the GPU's computational throughput and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a less significant FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p, as the resolution increase would not affect the CPU's workload.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the system has some headroom, as the CPU is able to push the GPU to its limits. However, at 4K, the GPU is overwhelmed, and the frame rates become unplayable at all but the lowest settings. This analysis confirms that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting component in this pairing for Thief. The 6 GB of VRAM is likely also a factor, as the higher resolution textures and rendering requirements may exceed the available memory, causing performance to plummet. The system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where the GPU can maintain acceptable frame rates.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across different configurations. At 1920x1080 resolution, the system delivers its best results. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 120 FPS. The Medium preset yields an average of 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. High settings produce an average of 69 FPS, while the Ultra preset gives an average of 66 FPS. This resolution is clearly the sweet spot for this combo, offering playable frame rates even at the highest settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops notably. The Low preset still provides a smooth experience with an average of 82 FPS. The Medium preset is the best balance, averaging 62 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. High settings yield an average of 47 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 45 FPS. At this resolution, the Medium preset is the only one that consistently stays above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for a good balance of quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles significantly. The Low preset manages an average of 48 FPS, which is borderline playable. The Medium preset falls to an average of 37 FPS, with a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 42 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 28 FPS, and Ultra settings yield an unplayable 27 FPS. The data shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware, as even the lowest settings fail to provide a consistently smooth experience. The frame rates at this resolution highlight the GPU's severe limitations and confirm that players should stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best experience.