Thief

Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. That is the pairing under the microscope for Thief, a stealth title from early 2014. The dataset presents a complete picture: 12 measured frame-rate points across four resolutions and three quality presets, plus one Ultra preset, providing a comprehensive view of how this hardware combination handles the game. The results show a system that is powerfully capable, but not without its bottlenecks, particularly when pushing to 4K with maximum settings. This analysis will dissect the CPU and GPU roles, trace the scaling from 1080p to 4K, answer key questions, rank the combo against the database, and break down the exact measured numbers.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10nm process node. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, but it boosts to 5.40 GHz under load, a substantial frequency advantage for legacy titles. The CPU has a 30 MB shared L3 cache, plus 2 MB per core of L2 cache, which helps with both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). It launched in the market with a launch MSRP of $409. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present, but in this gaming scenario, it is the discrete GPU that carries the load.

The benchmark data for the CPU is extensive. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 30745, while the single-core score is 2116. The single-core performance is a strong indicator for game physics and game logic. The 3DMark test with 8 threads scores 8193, and the max threads score is 12412. The Passmark single thread score is 4333. Based on the aggregate average benchmark score of 46881, the CPU holds the 89th percentile against all CPUs tested in the database. Its nearest rivals are a tight group: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 with an average score of 46971, a delta of -0.2%; the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, which scores 47022, a delta of -0.3%; the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX with a score of 46654 and a delta of 0.5%; and the Intel Xeon w3-2535, which scores 46653, also delta of 0.5%. The results show the 13700K is essentially neck-and-neck with these rivals, separated by a fraction of a percentage point.

For a game like Thief, the 13700K's single-core and multi-core performance is likely not the primary limitation. The game is a stealth title with a focus on environmental interaction and AI, which does not heavily scale across 16 cores. The high boost clock of 5.40 GHz is the key attribute for maintaining high frame rates. The data suggests that even at the lowest resolution and settings, which is the most CPU-bound scenario, the system is capable of producing very high frame rates. The measured 1080p Low average is 212 frames per second, which indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. Even at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate is 112, which is still high. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking, combined with its benchmark scores, positions it as a top-tier processor for gaming, but the measured data for Thief will show that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is based on the Ampere architecture, built on the 8nm process node. It has 8 GB of GDDR6X memory, a 256-bit bus width, and a memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s. The base clock is 1575 MHz, with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The memory clock is listed as 1188 MHz, which is 19 Gbps effective. The GPU has 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. It has 48 RT cores and 192 Tensor cores. The pixel rate is 169.9 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 339.8 GTexel/s. The compute capability is 21.75 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16. The power consumption is 290 W, and it requires a 600 W power supply.

The GPU's benchmark performance shows a strong card. In Passmark, the G3D score is 23356, and the compute score is 11601. In Geekbench, the OpenCL score is 119718, and Vulkan is 139541. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 29945, placing it in the 75th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (29928, 0.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6800 (30095, -0.5%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (29783, 0.5%), and AMD Radeon RX 6700 (30433, -1.6%). This shows that the RTX 3070 Ti is a high-end card, sitting on the same performance level as these other options.

In Thief, the GPU is the dominant component for the majority of the tested scenarios. The memory size of 8 GB is likely sufficient for the game's textures, but the measured frame rates will show how the GPU struggles at higher settings. The game's engine uses advanced lighting and shadow effects, which are GPU-intensive. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, the GPU is the primary limiter except at the lowest settings. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The boost clock of 1770 MHz and the VRAM bandwidth are critical for maintaining frame rates as the resolution increases. The 3070 Ti is a capable card, but it is not a 4K powerhouse for this game at Ultra settings.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear picture of the limiting component. At 1080p, the system is heavily GPU-bound at most settings, but the CPU can push high frames. The 1080p Low average is 212 FPS. The 1080p High average is 122, and the 1080p Medium average is 167. The Ultra preset at 1080p is 112. This shows that as settings rise, the frame rate drops, which is typical.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates scale down. The Low at 1440p is 151, High is 87, Medium is 114, and Ultra is 83. Compared to 1080p, the Low frame rate drops from 212 to 151, a decrease of about 30%. The Ultra drops from 121 to 83, which is a 31% drop. This indicates the GPU is being stressed more.

At 4K, the impact is severe. The Low at 4K is 89, which is a 58% drop from 1080p Low. The High is 51, Medium is 67, and Ultra is 49. The Ultra at 4K is below 50 FPS, which is not a smooth experience. The pattern shows that the GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU is not strong enough to maintain high frame rates, especially at High and Ultra settings.

The frame scaling between 1080p and 1440p shows a near-linear relationship, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The 4K results show a larger drop, which is expected due to the 4x pixel count. The data indicates that the Intel Core i7-13700K is not the bottleneck, as the CPU can deliver 212 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU limits at 4K. The system is balanced enough that the GPU is the performance cap in this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 167 frames per second. The minimum FPS is 142, and the maximum is 192.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its nearest rival in the GPU benchmark?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29945. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, which has an average score of 29928, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 has a score of 30095, which is a -0.5% delta.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K's single-thread performance in Cinebench R20 is 2299 points, and in Geekbench it scores 2529. The 3DMark single-thread score is 1136.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 114 FPS, which is a smooth experience. The Ultra preset drops to 83 FPS, which is still playable but less smooth. The High preset is 87 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 Ti capable of 4K gaming in this title?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti at 4K (3840x2160) with High settings averages 49 FPS. At Ultra, it is 49 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold for a perfect experience, but it is playable. The Low preset at 4K gives 89 FPS.

Q: What is the CPU's multi-threaded score?

A: In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 30745. In PassMark, the multithread score is 45887, and in 3DMark 16-thread, it is 10717.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti has a rank of 1096 out of 3720 tested combos in the database for Thief. This places it in the top 29% of tested systems. This is a solid ranking, indicating the combo is above average for the game. The rank is based on the measured FPS from the 12 data points. The combo is not in the top-tier for the game, but it is still a very playable system.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table shows the exact measured FPS for each resolution and settings combination:

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 51 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 89 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 67 | 57 | 77 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 49 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 87 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 151 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 114 | 97 | 131 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 83 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 127 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 212 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 167 | 142 | 192 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 121 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent pattern. The 1080p Low is the fastest, at 212 FPS. The 4K Ultra is the slowest, at 49 FPS. The Medium settings at each resolution have min/max FPS recorded, which is helpful for understanding frame time consistency. At 4K, the Medium preset has a min of 57 and a max of 77, showing a 20 FPS variance. At 1440p, the Medium has a min of 97 and a max of 131, a 34 FPS variance. At 1080p, the Medium has a min of 142 and a max of 192, a 50 FPS variance, which is a larger spread.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience depends on the resolution.

For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best, as it delivers 121 FPS, which is high and should be smooth on a 144Hz monitor. The Medium preset is also a good choice, with 167 FPS, but the visual quality is lower. The High preset is 127 FPS, which is also good. The Ultra preset is the most visually impressive and still has a high frame rate.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the best balance, with an average of 114 FPS, which is smooth. The High preset is 87 FPS, which is still good, but the Medium gives a better frame rate. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS is also acceptable, but the Medium is the best for a high refresh experience.

At 4K, the Low preset is the best for a playable experience, with 89 FPS. The Medium preset is 67 FPS average, which is playable but not smooth. The High and Ultra presets are below 60 FPS, at 51 and 49 respective, which is not ideal for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 4K is the best option for a high frame rate. The Medium preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, but 67 FPS is not as high as the Low.

In summary, the recommended settings per resolution are as follows:

• 1080p: Use the Ultra preset for the highest visual quality while maintaining a high frame rate (121 FPS).
• 1440p: Use the Medium preset is the best choice, as it provides a high frame rate (114 FPS) and good visual quality.
• 4K: Use the Low preset for a smooth experience (89 FPS). The Medium preset is a viable option if visual quality is a priority, but it will lower the frame rate to 67 FPS.

The data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, and the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. The user should configure the settings based on their resolution and frame rate preference.