Thief

This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT in Thief. The data provided represents measured frame rates across multiple resolutions and settings, offering a clear view of this combination’s capabilities in this 2014 stealth title. The benchmark results indicate a system that is generally capable of high frame rates, with performance scaling predictably from 1080p to 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT achieves a rank of 381 out of 1642 tested combos in Thief. This places the pairing in the upper quarter of all tested configurations, indicating a strong overall performance level. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, where neither component appears to be a significant bottleneck at most settings.

Looking at the individual components, the CPU sits in the 93rd percentile when compared to all processors. Its average benchmark score of 49166 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which scores 49062, a mere 0.2% difference. The Intel Core i5-14600KF is slightly faster, with a score of 49367, placing it 0.4% ahead of the non-K variant. The data shows this CPU is also competitive with server-class parts, as it is only 0.9% behind the AMD EPYC 4345P and 1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H.

The GPU also performs well in its own right, landing in the 87th percentile of all graphics cards. Its average benchmark score of 49982 is slightly higher than the Intel Arc A550M, which scores 49737, a 0.5% advantage. However, it trails the NVIDIA RTX A1000 by 1.7% and is 1.9% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 50HX. The most substantial gap is with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, which leads this GPU by 2.6%.

When these two components are combined in Thief, the resulting rank of 381 out of 1642 demonstrates that the synergy is effective. The system is not at the very top of the charts, but it is firmly in the top 25% of all combinations. This suggests that the pairing offers a consistent experience without a clear weak point, making it a reliable choice for this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across the four settings presets. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 131.9 FPS, which is a strong result. However, the Medium preset achieves 181.6 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 208 FPS. The High preset sits between these, with an average of 139 FPS.

For a 1440p display, the Ultra preset yields 87.6 FPS, which is still very playable. The High preset provides a more comfortable margin with 94.6 FPS. The Medium preset jumps to 124.1 FPS, and the Low preset is significantly faster at 160.5 FPS.

At 4K, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to 50.7 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. The High preset is better at 57.6 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a more substantial improvement at 74.6 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that approaches high refresh rate territory, with 97.2 FPS.

The best experience depends on the target resolution. For 1440p and below, the High preset offers an excellent balance, providing high frame rates with acceptable visual quality. For 4K, the Medium preset appears to be the optimal choice, as it maintains a frame rate above 70 FPS, which is a significant step up from High and Ultra. The data suggests that the Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, where the performance cost is less impactful.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a clear trend as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound at lower settings, as the GPU has ample headroom. For instance, the Low preset at 1080p produces 208 FPS, while at 1440p it produces 160.5 FPS. This is a drop of approximately 23% when moving from 1080p to 1440p. At 4K, the Low preset yields 97.2 FPS, a further drop of about 39% from the 1440p result.

This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance, is capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s rendering workload becomes more demanding at higher pixel counts. The performance gap between the Low and Ultra presets widens with resolution, confirming this.

For example, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 76.1 FPS. At 4K, that difference shrinks to 46.5 FPS. This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is the primary constraint, and the CPU’s influence on frame rate diminishes. The data points to a system that is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where neither component is severely overtaxed, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following section details the exact average frame rates measured for each resolution and settings combination.

1920x1080:

• Low: 208.0 FPS
• Medium: 181.6 FPS
• High: 139.0 FPS
• Ultra: 131.9 FPS

At 1080p, even the most demanding preset, Ultra, keeps the average well above 120 FPS. The Low preset nearly doubles the Ultra performance, highlighting the CPU’s ability to push very high frame rates when the GPU load is low.

2560x1440:

• Low: 160.5 FPS
• Medium: 124.1 FPS
• High: 94.6 FPS
• Ultra: 87.6 FPS

The 1440p results show a more significant performance penalty for higher settings. The Ultra preset still provides a playable frame rate above 85 FPS, but the High preset offers a noticeable improvement. The Medium preset is the clear sweet spot, delivering over 120 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Low: 97.2 FPS
• Medium: 74.6 FPS
• High: 57.6 FPS
• Ultra: 50.7 FPS

At 4K, the performance drops considerably. The Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS, making it less ideal for a smooth experience. The Low preset is the only option that stays above 90 FPS. The Medium preset provides the best trade-off between visual quality and speed, staying above the 70 FPS mark.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU and GPU combination in Thief?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks 381st out of 1642 tested combos in Thief.

Q: At which settings should this system be run for a 4K experience?

A: For 4K, the Medium preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 74.6 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the High preset, which averages 57.6 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 49166, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X’s score of 49062.

Q: Is the system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1080p, the Low preset produces 208 FPS, and the Ultra preset still achieves 131.9 FPS, both of which are suitable for high refresh rate monitors.

Q: How does the GPU performance compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER by 2.6% in average benchmark score.

Q: What is the main bottleneck when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops more steeply from 1440p to 4K than from 1080p to 1440p, especially at lower settings.