Thief

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti pairing delivers a performance profile that is heavily dictated by the game's age and the CPU's specific configuration. The i5-14400F brings 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz that boosts up to 4.70 GHz. It uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process. While the CPU’s multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 21914 and single-core score of 3093 are solid, the data from Thief indicates that the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting, especially at higher resolutions. The RTX 5070 Ti, based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, has 8960 shading units and 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This combination explains why frame rates scale dramatically with resolution, as the GPU's raw compute power and memory bandwidth become the primary determinants of performance.

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

The i5-14400F’s role in this pairing is to feed the RTX 5070 Ti without becoming a bottleneck. With 10 cores and 16 threads, it provides ample parallelism for modern game engines, and its boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and draw calls. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a PassMark single-thread score of 3723 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2333, indicate it is a capable processor for this task. However, the performance in Thief is not primarily CPU-bound. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is 184.1, while at 4K Low settings, it drops to 125. This 32% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K is a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The CPU's architecture and cache configuration also play a supporting role. It has 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, which helps reduce memory latency. Its memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration provides flexibility for system builders. In the context of Thief, a 2014 stealth title, the game’s engine is not likely to stress the CPU’s 10 cores to their limit. The data suggests that even at lower settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the CPU can keep up, as evidenced by the high FPS at 1080p. The CPU’s 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32508, places it in a strong position, but its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, show similar average scores, indicating that the i5-14400F is not exceptionally ahead or behind in raw processing power.

The boost clock of 4.70 GHz is crucial for maintaining frame pacing in Thief. The game’s stealth mechanics often require quick reactions, and a CPU that can deliver high single-thread performance helps ensure that frame times remain consistent. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1440p High settings, the average FPS is 122.8, which is a substantial drop from the 1080p High average of 147.2. This indicates that while the CPU is sufficient for the game's logic, the GPU's workload scaling is the dominant factor in performance outcomes.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14400F compare to its nearest rivals in terms of overall CPU benchmark scores?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32508. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-12800H, has a score of 32513, which is a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 scores 32446, putting it 0.2% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 scores 32584, which is 0.2% ahead. The Intel Core i7-13705H also scores 32586, 0.2% ahead. This indicates the i5-14400F is essentially on par with these processors in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 5070 Ti and its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 52086. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 scores 52085, a 0% delta. The AMD Radeon RX 7700S scores 52505, which is 0.8% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A1000 scores 50826, putting it 2.5% lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 53414, which is 2.5% higher. The RTX 5070 Ti is effectively tied with the RTX 4080 in the average benchmark score.

*Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in Thief at any resolution?*

A: At 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is 184.1, while at 4K Low, it is 125. This shows a significant drop due to resolution, meaning the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU does not appear to be a bottleneck, as even at the lowest settings where the GPU has less work, frame rates are high, suggesting the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output.

*Q: What is the combo rank of this CPU and GPU pairing in Thief?*

A: The combo rank is 181 out of 1642 tested combos. This places it in the top 11% of all tested combinations, indicating that this pairing is very strong for this specific game, although it is not at the absolute top of the leaderboard.

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

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 68.3, while at 1080p Ultra, it is 148.4. This represents a 54% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the Ultra preset, highlighting the heavy GPU load at higher resolutions.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions clearly identifies the GPU as the dominant limiting component in this system for Thief. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 184.1 at 1080p to 162.9 at 1440p, and then to 125 at 4K. This is a 32% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. For the High preset, the average FPS goes from 147.2 at 1080p to 122.8 at 1440p, and finally to 71 at 4K. This is a 52% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The Ultra preset shows the steepest decline, with 148.4 at 1080p, 118.6 at 1440p, and 68.3 at 4K, a 54% drop.

These numbers suggest that the game is heavily GPU-bound, especially as resolution increases. The RTX 5070 Ti’s memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s and its 16 GB of GDDR7 memory are being taxed by the higher pixel counts, but the GPU's compute capabilities are still sufficient to deliver playable frame rates at 4K. The fact that the gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is relatively small (184.1 vs 148.4, a 19% difference) compared to the gap at 4K (125 vs 68.3, a 45% difference) further confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU is able to feed the GPU enough data to keep it busy, but at 4K, the GPU’s rendering workload becomes so heavy that it cannot maintain the same frame rates, regardless of the CPU’s performance.

The data indicates that for a game like Thief, which is from 2014, the CPU is not the primary constraint. The i5-14400F’s high boost clock and core count are more than adequate for this title. The limiting factor is purely the GPU’s ability to render frames at higher resolutions. This is typical for older games that are not heavily multithreaded, where the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become the deciding factors.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti achieves a combo rank of 181 out of 1642 tested combos in Thief. This places the pairing in the 89th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of other CPU and GPU combinations tested in this game. This is a strong result, indicating that the i5-14400F is well-matched with the RTX 5070 Ti for this title.

The rank of 181 suggests that while this is a high-performing combination, there are 180 other combos that deliver even better results. These likely include higher-end CPUs with more cores or higher clock speeds, or GPUs with even more compute power. However, given the game’s age and its tendency to be GPU-bound, the CPU choice has less impact on the final rank than the GPU. The RTX 5070 Ti’s performance, which is nearly identical to the RTX 4080 in synthetic benchmarks, is the primary driver of this high rank. The i5-14400F’s 88th percentile ranking among CPUs ensures it does not hold the GPU back, allowing the combo to achieve a top-tier position.

The delta between this combo and the top ranks is not specified, but the placement in the top 11% indicates that the system is well-balanced for this game. For a player looking to achieve high frame rates in Thief, this pairing is more than capable, and the rank reflects that the system is not leaving significant performance on the table.

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

Examining the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, all settings provide good performance. The Low preset offers the highest average FPS at 184.1, but the Ultra preset is not far behind at 148.4, which is still very smooth. For a quality visual experience at 1080p, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it delivers a high frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 163.8 FPS is also viable, but Ultra offers the best visual fidelity without a significant performance penalty.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset provides an average of 118.6 FPS, which is excellent and still well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 122.8 FPS is nearly identical in performance, so the Ultra preset is the better choice for maximum quality. The Low preset at 162.9 FPS is faster but sacrifices visual quality unnecessarily, given that Ultra is already so fast.

At 4K, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to 68.3 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target and may be acceptable for some players. However, the High preset at 71 FPS offers a marginal improvement and might be slightly more stable. The Medium preset at 92.8 FPS is a much more comfortable option, providing a significant FPS boost with only a slight reduction in visual quality compared to High. The Low preset at 125 FPS is the fastest, but it is not recommended for a game like Thief where the atmosphere and shadows are important. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best balance, offering a high frame rate that ensures smooth gameplay while maintaining a reasonable level of visual detail.

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

1920x1080:

• Low: 184.1 avg FPS
• Medium: 163.8 avg FPS
• High: 147.2 avg FPS
• Ultra: 148.4 avg FPS

At 1080p, the performance is uniformly high. The Low preset yields the highest average at 184.1 FPS, while the Medium preset provides 163.8 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are nearly identical, with 147.2 and 148.4 FPS, respectively. The data indicates that the CPU and GPU have ample headroom at this resolution, and even the most demanding settings do not cause a significant frame rate drop.

2560x1440:

• Low: 162.9 avg FPS
• Medium: 146.2 avg FPS
• High: 122.8 avg FPS
• Ultra: 118.6 avg FPS

At 1440p, the frame rates remain high but begin to show a more distinct separation between settings. The Low preset averages 162.9 FPS, while Medium is at 146.2 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall to 122.8 and 118.6 FPS, respectively. This resolution still provides a very smooth experience across all settings, with the Ultra preset remaining well above 60 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Low: 125 avg FPS
• Medium: 92.8 avg FPS
• High: 71 avg FPS
• Ultra: 68.3 avg FPS

At 4K, the GPU load becomes significant. The Low preset averages 125 FPS, which is still excellent. The Medium preset drops to 92.8 FPS, and the High preset falls to 71 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, averaging 68.3 FPS. The data shows that the RTX 5070 Ti is capable of handling 4K, but the Ultra preset is close to the 60 FPS threshold, making the Medium or High presets more advisable for a consistent frame rate.