Thief

Thief is a 2014 stealth title that remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. The measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT shows a configuration that is capable of high frame rates at 1080p, but which begins to show its limits as resolution scales up. The overall combination ranks in the 70th percentile of tested configurations for this game, indicating a solid, if not top-tier, pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data across the three tested resolutions reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 214 FPS, which indicates a scenario where the CPU is likely the primary driver of performance, as the GPU has ample headroom. Moving to 2560x1440 Low, the average drops to 147 FPS, a significant decrease of 67 FPS, or roughly 31%. This substantial drop suggests that the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the system is still delivering very high frame rates.

At 4K (3840x2160), the scaling becomes more pronounced. The Low preset average falls to 86 FPS, which is a 61 FPS decline from the 1440p result. This pattern strongly indicates that the limiting component is transitioning from the CPU to the GPU as resolution increases. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is large, but the gap between 1440p and 4K, while still significant, shows the GPU struggling more to maintain the same relative performance.

The most telling data point is the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at each resolution. At 1080p, the frame rate drops from 214 FPS on Low to 118 FPS on Ultra, a 96 FPS difference. At 4K, the same preset change results in a drop from 86 FPS to 48 FPS, a 38 FPS difference. This narrowing of the performance gap at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The CPU is powerful enough to push high frame rates at lower resolutions, but the RX 7700 XT's rendering workload at 4K, especially on Ultra, limits the output to around 48 FPS, which is below the ideal for a smooth experience. The data shows a system that is well-balanced for 1440p gaming but will require settings adjustments for a playable 4K experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: With the Ultra preset at 1920x1080, the configuration produces an average of 118 FPS.

Q: How does the frame rate at 4K compare to 1440p on the High preset?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 yields an average of 85 FPS, while the same preset at 3840x2160 drops to 50 FPS, a reduction of 35 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded in this dataset?

A: The highest average frame rate is 214 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers an average of 111 FPS, while High drops to 85 FPS, making a 26 FPS difference between those two settings levels.

Q: Does the 4K Medium preset provide a playable experience?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 66 FPS, which is above the standard 60 FPS threshold for playability.

Q: How large is the gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the difference is significant. The Low preset achieves 214 FPS, while the Ultra preset only reaches 118 FPS, a difference of 96 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination is ranked 844th out of 2851 tested combos for Thief. This position places it in the upper 30% of all configurations in the database, indicating a strong performer for this specific title. While it is not in the top tier of systems, it outperforms the majority of tested hardware pairings.

This ranking is a product of the strengths of both components. The CPU's performance is significant, as its average benchmark score of 46062 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The GPU, while not as dominant, still holds a respectable 67th percentile ranking among all GPUs with an average score of 22549. The combination of a high-performing CPU and a mid-to-high-tier GPU results in a system that is well-suited for Thief, which appears to be sensitive to both CPU and GPU capabilities. The data suggests that this combo is more powerful than a typical 1080p system but may require some compromises for 4K gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system shows exceptional performance. With Low settings, it reaches an average of 214 FPS. The Medium preset still delivers a very high 162 FPS, with a minimum of 138 FPS and a maximum of 187 FPS. High settings produce an average of 124 FPS, and even the demanding Ultra preset maintains a smooth 118 FPS average.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to moderate. The Low preset averages 147 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 111 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 95 and 128 FPS respectively. High settings average 85 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces a solid 81 FPS average. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this hardware, offering high frame rates without compromising visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset drops to an average of 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 75 FPS. High settings average 50 FPS, which is on the edge of smooth playability. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, bringing the average down to 48 FPS. This data demonstrates that while the 4K Low and Medium presets are playable, the High and Ultra presets will result in a less fluid experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This configuration provides substantial multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, which is reflected in its benchmark scores. For instance, it scores 14769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2085 in single-core, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

In Thief, the CPU's role is critical for achieving the very high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the system can produce over 200 FPS, which is far beyond what the GPU would be able to handle if it were the sole bottleneck. This indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain such high output. The 14 cores and high boost clock ensure that the game's logic and physics threads are handled efficiently.

However, the CPU's influence wanes as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rate is significantly lower than at 1080p, showing that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the rendering demands. The CPU's performance, while still a strong contributor, is no longer the primary constraint. The benchmark data suggests that this processor has enough headroom to support a more powerful GPU in this game, as the current graphics card becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with game data access, though its impact is not directly measured in the FPS data.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware configuration. For a 1080p display, all presets are playable and offer a smooth experience. The Ultra preset, with an average of 118 FPS, is the best choice for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing performance. The High preset is also excellent, and the Medium preset at 162 FPS is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors where frame rate is the priority.

For 1440p, the Ultra preset remains a viable option with an average of 81 FPS, which is comfortably within the playable range. However, for those who prefer a higher frame rate, the High preset at 85 FPS offers a marginal improvement, while the Medium preset at 111 FPS provides a significantly smoother experience. The data suggests that the High preset at 1440p is a good balance, but players targeting 100+ FPS should consider the Medium settings.

At 4K, the recommendations change. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, which is playable but visually basic. The Medium preset, with an average of 66 FPS, is the recommended choice for a balance of visual quality and smooth performance. The High and Ultra presets, at 50 and 48 FPS respectively, are playable but may be too inconsistent for some users. The data indicates that the Medium preset at 4K is the best experience, as it maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS while still offering a significant visual upgrade over Low settings. The 4K Ultra preset is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is a powerful graphics card based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. It has a boost clock of 2544 MHz and a game clock of 2171 MHz, with a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. Its performance is reflected in its benchmarks, where it scores 22547 in Passmark G3D and 3316 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, placing it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's role in Thief is most evident at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows a clear scaling pattern where the GPU's workload becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized, allowing the CPU to drive frame rates up to 214 FPS. But at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor, with the average frame rate dropping to 86 FPS on Low settings and 48 FPS on Ultra.

The 12 GB of VRAM is a significant asset for this game, ensuring that texture data is not a limiting factor even at 4K with the Ultra preset. The GPU's 96 ROPs are responsible for pixel output, and its 35.17 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power handles the shading workload. The data suggests that the RX 7700 XT is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Thief, offering very high frame rates. At 4K, it can handle Medium settings well, but the High and Ultra presets will tax it heavily, resulting in average frame rates below 60 FPS. This makes it a capable card for this title, but not one that can max out the game at 4K.