Thief

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination delivers a robust performance profile in Thief, a 2014 stealth title that remains demanding at high resolutions. The benchmark data reveals a system that handles 1080p and 1440p with ease but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K Ultra settings. Core counts, clock speeds, and memory bandwidth all play distinct roles in shaping these results, and the measured FPS across resolutions and presets provides a clear view of where the system excels and where it falls short.

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

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 by TSMC. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This is a desktop chip for the Intel Socket 1851 platform, and it carries 24 MB of shared L3 cache, with 3 MB of L2 per core and 192 KB of L1 per core. The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, yielding a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. It is not multiplier unlocked, meaning overclocking is not an option for squeezing out more performance.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 5 235 posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. The PassMark multithread score is 37816, with a single-thread score of 4516. These figures indicate a strong all-around performer. The processor sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs tested, meaning it outpaces the vast majority of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (average score 46056, a 0.1% difference) and Intel Core i9-13900HX (average score 46098, a -0.1% delta). The AMD EPYC 4364P and EPYC 7303 are also within a 0.2% delta, underscoring that the Ultra 5 235 competes at the high end of desktop and mobile CPU performance.

For a game like Thief, which is known for CPU-light scenes but also for building complex environments, the 14 cores and high boost clock are relevant. The single-thread performance is critical for game logic and AI. With a single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2085, the CPU can handle the simulation side of Thief without being a bottleneck at most resolutions. The multi-core score is less critical for this game, but the processor's overall strength ensures that it won't hold back the GPU in most scenarios. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is sufficient for the game's data requirements, and the CPU's strong PassMark physics score of 2570 indicates capable handling of in-game physics calculations. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the limiting factor at 1080p or 1440p, where frame rates are high, but at 4K, the system's overall performance is more constrained by the GPU.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU, built by TSMC on a 5 nm process. It has 2560 shading units, 80 tensor cores, and 20 RT cores, with a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz. The memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The GPU's FP32 performance is 13.17 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 205.8 GTexel/s. The RTX 5050 is a dual-slot card, uses a single 8-pin power connector, and has a suggested PSU of 300 W. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6.

In PassMark tests, the GPU scores 17326 in G3D and 9184 in GPU compute. This places it at the 66th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 21035. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (0.6% delta), AMD Radeon HD 8970M (-1% delta), AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (1.6% delta), and NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile (-1.6% delta). These comparisons show the RTX 5050 is a mid-range GPU, but it is well-suited to a game from 2014.

The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is adequate for Thief, which does not require the massive memory pools of modern AAA games. The memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s is more than sufficient for the texture data in this title. In the measured FPS data, the GPU shows its strength at lower resolutions and settings, but the results at 4K Ultra indicate a performance ceiling. The 4K Ultra average of 36 FPS is below the 60 FPS standard, and even 4K High at 44 FPS is not smooth. This is a 2025 GPU, and the game is from 2014, but the data shows that at 4K, the GPU is still the bottleneck, not the CPU. The RTX 5050's performance at 1440p and 1080p is excellent, with 1440p High hitting 65 FPS and 1080p High hitting 95 FPS. The GPU's 32 ROPs and 80 TMUs are sufficient for the game's scenes, but the pixel rate of 82.30 GPixel/s is not enough to push 4K at high settings smoothly.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is ranked 2258 out of 3720 tested combos for Thief. This puts it in the top 39% of all combinations tested, which is a solid placement. The data shows that the CPU and GPU are well-matched, with neither being a clear bottleneck at most settings. However, the combo's rank indicates that there are many other combinations that perform better, likely due to more powerful GPUs or CPUs.

The rank is influenced by the GPU's limitations at 4K. While the CPU is strong, the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and its overall compute power mean that at 4K, the system can't maintain high frame rates. The combo's rank of 2258 suggests that in the overall picture, it's a mid-tier performer. This is consistent with the GPU's 66th percentile ranking, which is lower than the CPU's 89th percentile. The CPU, being a high-end desktop processor, is capable of driving more powerful GPUs, but the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor in this pairing at higher resolutions. The data indicates that for 1080p and 1440p gaming, this combo is very strong, but it's not at the top of the heap for 4K. The rank reflects a system that is well-balanced for mainstream resolutions, but not a top-tier 4K machine.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the combo performs across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers:

• Low: 164 FPS average
• Medium: 124 FPS average (min 106, max 143)
• High: 95 FPS average
• Ultra: 90 FPS average

The 1080p results show that the system handles the game easily at all settings. The difference between High and Ultra is only 5 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset's extra graphical effects are not a significant burden. The Low setting, at 164 FPS, is extremely high and would allow for high refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong:

• Low: 112 FPS average
• Medium: 85 FPS average (min 71, max 98)
• High: 65 FPS average
• Ultra: 62 FPS average

At 1440p, the system still provides a smooth experience. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is notable: High drops from 95 to 65 FPS, a 30 FPS loss. This suggests that the GPU is starting to become more of a factor, but the system remains playable. The Ultra preset at 1440p is still above 60 FPS, which is a good sign for a demanding title.

At 4K (3840x2160), the system's limitations become clear:

• Low: 66 FPS average
• Medium: 50 FPS average (min 43, max 58)
• High: 38 FPS average
• Ultra: 36 FPS average

The 4K results show a significant drop. The High preset averages only 38 FPS, and Ultra at 36 FPS is below the 30 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for playability. The Low preset at 66 FPS is the only 4K setting that provides a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 50 FPS is borderline, but the frame rate drops during some scenes, as indicated by the min FPS of 43. The data shows that for 4K, the GPU is the bottleneck, with the CPU not being the limiting factor. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 30 FPS, indicating that the GPU's compute power is being stressed by the higher settings.

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

Resolution scaling is a key indicator of whether a system is CPU-bound or GPU-bound. From the data, the FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are substantial across all settings. For High settings, the average FPS drops from 95 at 1080p to 38 at 4K, a 60% reduction of the original value. For Medium, the drop is from 124 to 50, a 60% drop. Low goes from 164 to 66, a 60% drop. Ultra goes from 90 to 36, also a 60% drop.

The consistent percentage drop across all settings indicates that the system is GPU- bound at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would not drop as much when lowering the resolution, because the CPU would be the limiting factor. Here, the FPS halves as the resolution quadruples (from 1080p to 4K), which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are not sufficient for the 4K textures and effects, and the GPU's compute power (13.17 TFLOPS) can't handle the workload at acceptable frame rates. The CPU, with its high single-thread score, is not the limiting factor; it can feed frames fast enough, but the GPU can't render them.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is also telling. For High, the FPS drops from 65 to 38, a 41% drop. This confirms that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The CPU's 14 cores and high boost clock are more than adequate for the game's AI and physics, but the GPU's performance at 4K is the primary constraint. The data shows that for the best experience, 1440p is the sweet spot, where the system can deliver over 60 FPS at High and Ultra.

FAQ

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

A: The average FPS at 1080p with High settings is 95.

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

A: The average FPS at 4K Ultra is 36, with a minimum of 43 and a maximum of 58. This is below the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 14769.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus.

Q: How does the CPU's average score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, has an average score of 46056, a 0.1% delta. The Intel Core i9-13900HX has an average score of 46098, a -0.1% delta.

Q: What is the combo's rank in the game?

A: The combo is ranked 2258 out of 3720 tested combos in Thief.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data suggests that 1080p at High settings provides a smooth 95 FPS, which is more than enough for a stealth game. If you want to max out settings, 1080p Ultra at 90 FPS is also excellent, with only a 5 FPS penalty. At 1440p, High at 65 FPS is the best option, as Ultra at 62 FPS is only a 3 FPS difference. The Medium preset at 1440p gives 85 FPS, which is an excellent balance if you want to ensure high frame rates for a competitive edge. For 4K, the data shows that only Low at 66 FPS is above the 60 FPS standard. Medium at 50 FPS is borderline, but the minimum FPS of 43 could cause stutter. High and Ultra at 38 and 36 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay. The measured rows indicate that for most users, 1440p at High is the best balance, offering 65 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. For those prioritizing frame rates over visual quality, 1080p at Medium is a good choice, as it still provides 124 FPS. The settings recommendations align with the data: the system is great for 1080p and 1440p, but 4K is only viable with Low settings.