Thief

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K drives this configuration with 16 cores and 24 threads, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock runs at 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock reaching 5.40 GHz. The processor includes an 80 KB L1 cache per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU records a single-thread score of 1136 in 3DMark, and a 16-thread score of 10717, with a max-thread score of 12412. Cinebench R23 results show 2116 single-core and 30745 multi-core. These figures indicate strong per-core performance and substantial multi-threaded capacity.

For Thief, released in 2014, the game's engine does not rely heavily on many threads. The recorded data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 212 FPS average, and at 1080p Ultra it holds 165 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 67 FPS. The CPU's high single-thread performance, reflected in the 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and Geekbench single-core score of 2529, matters more for frame pacing in this title. The 24 threads are not fully utilized by Thief, but the processor's 5.40 GHz boost clock ensures that the main game thread runs with minimal bottleneck.

The CPU's percentile ranking versus all CPUs is 89, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (average score 46971, delta -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (47022, delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (46654, delta 0.5%), and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 (46653, delta 0.5%). The i7-13700K's average benchmark score is 46881, placing it within 0.5% of these competitors. In Thief specifically, the CPU's capability is sufficient to push the GPU to its limits at lower resolutions, where the frame rates climb above 200 FPS.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER uses the AD103 chip on the Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It houses 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 672.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 2340 MHz, with a boost clock of 2610 MHz. Memory runs at 1313 MHz, effectively 21 Gbps. The GPU includes 8448 shading units, 264 texture mapping units, 96 raster operation units, 66 ray tracing cores, and 264 tensor cores. Its FP32 throughput is 44.10 TFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 250.6 GPixel/s.

In Thief, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the measured average FPS is 212, but at 4K Ultra it falls to 67 FPS. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, even at 4K with Ultra settings, as Thief's texture requirements are modest by modern standards. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s helps maintain consistent frame delivery at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K Medium, the average FPS is 92, with a minimum of 78 and maximum of 106. At 4K High, the average is 70 FPS, and at 4K Low, it jumps to 121 FPS.

The GPU's percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 76. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (average score 31206, delta -0.4%), the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q (31220, delta -0.4%), the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell (31532, delta -1.4%), and the NVIDIA TITAN RTX (31676, delta -1.9%). The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's average benchmark score is 31087. In the context of Thief, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the frame rate drops below 70 FPS, whereas at 1080p the CPU and GPU together deliver very high frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo in Thief?

A: The highest average frame rate is 212 FPS, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the measured average frame rate is 67 FPS, with no minimum or maximum values recorded.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 156, with a minimum of 133 and a maximum of 180.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game at high resolutions?

A: The data indicates that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 67, while at 4K Low it reaches 121. This suggests the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution and settings increase, since the CPU's single-thread performance remains constant across resolutions.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, while its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, scores 46971, a delta of -0.2%. The i7-13700K is within 0.5% of all four nearest rivals.

Q: What is the GPU's average benchmark score relative to the NVIDIA TITAN RTX?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER scores 31087 on average, while the NVIDIA TITAN RTX scores 31676, a delta of -1.9%. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER trails the TITAN RTX by 1.9% in the database's GPU benchmark average.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data for Thief shows a clear progression across settings at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 212 FPS on Low, 192 FPS on Medium, 174 FPS on High, and 165 FPS on Ultra. The difference between Low and Ultra is 47 FPS, which is significant but still leaves Ultra above 165 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages are 187 FPS on Low, 156 FPS on Medium, 119 FPS on High, and 113 FPS on Ultra. At 3840x2160, the averages are 121 FPS on Low, 92 FPS on Medium, 70 FPS on High, and 67 FPS on Ultra.

The best experience depends on the target resolution. At 1080p, Ultra settings deliver 165 FPS average, which is well above typical display refresh rates, so there is no reason to drop below Ultra. At 1440p, Ultra still holds 113 FPS average, which remains smooth for most displays. At 4K, Ultra drops to 67 FPS, which may feel less fluid on high-refresh monitors. For 4K users, Medium settings at 92 FPS average, with a minimum of 78 FPS, provide a better balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Medium preset at 4K retains most visual features while improving the average frame rate by 25 FPS over Ultra, and the minimum FPS of 78 indicates less severe dips. High settings at 4K offer 70 FPS average, which is only 3 FPS above Ultra, making Medium the more sensible choice for 4K. At 1440p and 1080p, Ultra is the recommended preset because the frame rates remain high enough to avoid any perceptible stutter.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER ranks 255th out of 3720 tested combos in Thief. This places it in the top 7% of all configurations in the database for this game. The rank reflects the overall capability of the pairing, which is strong but not at the absolute top tier. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking and the GPU's 76th percentile ranking contribute to a combo that performs well in Thief, though the game's age and modest hardware demands mean that many newer or more powerful components achieve higher frame rates. The measured data shows that the combo delivers playable frame rates at all settings and resolutions, with the exception of 4K Ultra where the average dips to 67 FPS. The rank of 255 indicates that there are 254 other combos that produce higher FPS in Thief, likely featuring top-tier GPUs such as the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX, but the margin is not large at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average frame rates: Low settings produce 212 FPS, Medium settings produce 192 FPS with a minimum of 163 and maximum of 221, High settings produce 174 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 165 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 47 FPS, with the minimum FPS at Medium being 163, which is close to the Ultra average.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are: Low at 187 FPS, Medium at 156 FPS with a minimum of 133 and maximum of 180, High at 119 FPS, and Ultra at 113 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with roughly a 20-25% reduction in FPS at each preset.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are: Low at 121 FPS, Medium at 92 FPS with a minimum of 78 and maximum of 106, High at 70 FPS, and Ultra at 67 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K causes a larger relative drop, especially at High and Ultra, where the FPS falls below 75. The Medium preset at 4K provides the most stable experience, with a minimum FPS of 78, which is higher than the Ultra average of 67 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the FPS penalty grows disproportionately at higher settings. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 22%, but at 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is 45%. This indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become limiting factors at 4K with Ultra settings, while the CPU remains less relevant at higher resolutions. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's 16 GB VRAM and 672.3 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for Thief's textures, but the raw rendering load at 4K Ultra pushes the GPU to its limits.