Thief

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Thief. The data shows a clear trend: performance scales dramatically with resolution, and the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher settings. For the best balance of smoothness and visual fidelity, the Medium preset is the standout choice. The benchmark results indicate this combination ranks in the lower third of tested combos, but it remains capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This processor sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, according to the benchmark database, indicating it is a strong performer for general compute tasks. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 33 MB L3 cache, which helps with data access in demanding workloads.

While Thief is a 2014 title that does not heavily stress modern multi-core processors, the i7-14700KF’s high single-core performance is relevant. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235 and Geekbench single-core score of 2578 reflect strong per-thread capability, which is often more important for older game engines. The processor’s multi-core prowess, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167, ensures that background tasks and any game engine threads that do scale will not be a limiting factor.

In this specific pairing, the CPU’s role is largely to feed the GPU without becoming a bottleneck. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 152 FPS, a figure that would likely be higher with a more powerful GPU, but the CPU is clearly not holding back the frame rate to an unplayable degree. The processor’s Passmark single-thread score of 4480 and multi-thread score of 52425 confirm it is a top-tier part, placing it among rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which is only 0.9% behind in average benchmark score. The data suggests that in Thief, the i7-14700KF is more than sufficient, and any performance ceiling observed in the measured FPS is due to the graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific configuration, the Intel Core i7-14700KF with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, is ranked 2731 out of 3720 tested combos in Thief. This places it in the 73rd percentile of all tested combinations, meaning roughly 73% of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher average frame rates in this game. This ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, as the RX 5700 XT is an older mid-range card, while the CPU is a modern flagship.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 16361, which places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (0.1% ahead), the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 (0.9% behind). This clustering shows that the RX 5700 XT’s raw compute performance is comparable to a wide range of cards, but its age is evident in the overall combo ranking.

On the CPU side, the i7-14700KF is a much stronger component. Its average benchmark score is 70163, which is 0.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and 1% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K. This contrast highlights the imbalance of the combo: the CPU is a top-tier part, while the GPU is a mid-range part that is several generations old. In Thief, the data shows that this imbalance results in a combo that is capable of high frame rates at lower resolutions but falls behind more balanced pairings at higher resolutions and settings. The rank of 2731 out of 3720 suggests that while this setup is not a top performer, it is far from the bottom, offering a playable experience for most users.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases, which is typical for a system where the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 152 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 104 FPS, a reduction of roughly 32%. At 4K Low, the average FPS falls to 61, which is a further drop of about 41% from the 1440p figure. This scaling demonstrates that the GPU is being pushed harder as pixel count increases, while the CPU remains relatively idle.

The pattern is similar across all settings. At 1080p Medium, the average is 115 FPS, which drops to 79 FPS at 1440p Medium and 47 FPS at 4K Medium. The High preset shows 88 FPS at 1080p, 60 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K. For the Ultra preset, the numbers are 84 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. In every case, the drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, with the 4K frame rates often being less than half of the 1080p figures.

This data strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the limiting component. The i7-14700KF’s high single-core performance is not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate is 34 FPS, which is a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limitation, we would expect frame rates to remain more consistent across resolutions. Instead, the clear and consistent drop in FPS as resolution increases points directly to the GPU’s rendering capabilities being exhausted. The 4K Ultra result of 34 FPS is below the 35 FPS achieved at 4K High, showing that the GPU is barely able to maintain a playable frame rate at the highest settings, while the CPU has ample headroom.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Thief?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 152, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This demonstrates the system’s capability for very high frame rates when graphical demands are minimal.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Thief?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K resolution, the average FPS ranges from 61 on Low settings to 34 on Ultra settings. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, users would need to use Low settings, while Medium settings yield 47 FPS and High settings yield 35 FPS, which are playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, is only 0.1% faster, while the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is 0.3% slower. This indicates that the GPU’s performance is closely matched with several other cards in the database.

Q: What is the difference in frame rates between the High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 resolution, the High preset delivers an average of 60 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 57 FPS. This is a small difference of 3 FPS, suggesting that the visual upgrade from High to Ultra is relatively inexpensive in terms of performance at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo for Thief?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 59th percentile. More importantly, frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The CPU’s high single-core score of 6235 in Cinebench R23 ensures it is not a bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between the 1080p and 4K resolutions at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 115, while at 4K Medium, it drops to 47. This represents a 68 FPS difference, or a roughly 59% reduction in performance, highlighting the significant strain that higher resolutions place on the GPU.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is based on the RDNA 1.0 architecture and the Navi 10 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. These specs were competitive at its release in 2019, but they now place the card in the 59th percentile of all GPUs.

In Thief, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures, even at 4K resolution. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU can handle the game’s load, but its raw compute power is the limiting factor. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 9.754 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate is 121.9 GPixel/s, which are modest figures by modern standards. The card’s Passmark G3D score is 16277, and its DirectX 11 score is 116, which is relevant for a game from 2014.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (0.1% faster) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (0.3% slower). This shows that the RX 5700 XT is still a capable performer in synthetic benchmarks, but its age is apparent in real-world gaming tests. In Thief, the 4K High preset yields 35 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, indicating that the GPU is unable to maintain high frame rates at the highest resolutions. The memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) and 256-bit bus width are adequate, but the overall compute throughput of the Navi 10 chip is the bottleneck, not the memory subsystem.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance for this combo. At 1080p Medium, the system delivers an average of 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 133 FPS. This is a smooth, highly playable experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS, which is still excellent for a 1440p monitor. Even at 4K Medium, the system maintains an average of 47 FPS, which is playable for a stealth game where precise timing is less critical.

The High preset is also viable, but it offers diminishing returns. At 1080p High, the average is 88 FPS, which is 27 FPS lower than Medium. At 1440p High, the average is 60 FPS, which is right at the target for most displays. However, at 4K High, the average drops to 35 FPS, which is not ideal. The Ultra preset provides marginal visual improvements over High but costs more performance. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 84 FPS, at 1440p Ultra it is 57 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it is 34 FPS.

For users with a 1080p monitor, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, as it provides a significant FPS advantage over High with only a minor visual fidelity loss. For 1440p users, Medium is again the best choice, offering 79 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target, while High’s 60 FPS is acceptable but leaves less headroom. For 4K users, the Low preset is the only way to achieve a smooth 61 FPS average, while Medium’s 47 FPS is playable for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it offers the lowest frame rates at all resolutions without a proportional visual benefit. The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for this hardware combination.