Thief

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti combination delivers a strong performance profile in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. The data shows that this pairing is capable of high frame rates across all tested resolutions, with the CPU providing ample headroom for the GPU to operate at its full potential. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, scaling characteristics, and the specific roles of each component in this game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average of 169 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 116 FPS, a reduction of 53 FPS. At 4K, the average further declines to 68 FPS, which is a 48 FPS drop from the 1440p result. This consistent decline indicates that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario.

However, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is not perfectly linear, suggesting that at lower resolutions, the CPU's performance ceiling is being approached. The jump from 1080p Ultra (169 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (116 FPS) is a 31.4% reduction in frame rate. In contrast, the jump from 1440p Ultra (116 FPS) to 4K Ultra (68 FPS) is a 41.4% reduction. The larger relative drop at higher resolutions reinforces that the RTX 5070 Ti is the primary limiting factor at 4K, while the system's overall capability is more balanced at 1440p.

The pattern holds across other settings. For High settings, the FPS goes from 177 at 1080p to 121 at 1440p, then to 71 at 4K. The 4K High result (71 FPS) is nearly identical to the 4K Ultra result (68 FPS), which is a small 4.4% difference. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are so heavily utilized that the incremental load from Ultra settings over High settings has a minimal impact on the final frame rate. The limiting factor is the sheer number of pixels, not the specific quality preset.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The 4K Low average of 124 FPS is significantly higher than the 4K Ultra average of 68 FPS. This 82% performance uplift from Low to Ultra settings at 4K shows that the game's visual features have a substantial cost. The 1080p Low result of 221 FPS suggests that even at this resolution, the CPU is keeping up with the GPU's output, as the frame rate is very high but not unlimited. The data clearly indicates that for maximum frame rates, lowering the resolution is far more impactful than lowering the settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 159, with a minimum of 136 and a maximum of 183.

Q: How does the combo rank among other tested CPU-GPU combinations in Thief?

A: The combo ranks 142nd out of 2851 tested combinations, placing it in the top 5% of all tested systems for this game.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The average FPS at 4K ranges from 68 (Ultra) to 124 (Low), showing that the GPU's performance dictates the frame rate. The CPU's power is sufficient to feed the GPU even at lower resolutions where frame rates are much higher.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate at 1080p with Low settings is 221 FPS, while at Ultra settings it is 169 FPS. This represents a 52 FPS difference, or a 30.8% improvement when using Low settings.

Q: Does the RTX 5070 Ti's 16 GB VRAM cause any limitations in this game?

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related limitations. The game's release date and the measured frame rates suggest that the VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for all tested settings and resolutions, as frame rates remain playable even at 4K Ultra.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 46062. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, scores 46030, which is a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46098, also a -0.1% difference. This indicates the Ultra 5 235 is statistically tied with its closest competitors.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 142 out of 2851 tested combinations places it in the top 5% of all systems tested for Thief. This is a strong result, indicating that the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is well-suited for this title. The rank suggests that the system provides a high level of performance that will satisfy most users looking for high refresh rate or high-resolution gameplay.

This high ranking is supported by the measured frame rates. At 1440p Ultra, the combo achieves 116 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay on high refresh rate monitors. At 4K Ultra, the 68 FPS average is still playable, though it may not fully utilize a 120Hz or 144Hz display. The rank of 142 indicates that a small number of other combos perform better, likely those with more powerful GPUs or CPUs, but the overall position is excellent.

The percentile ranking of the individual components reinforces this. The CPU is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. This means that both components are high-performing parts in their own right, and their combination produces a system that is greater than the sum of its parts in the context of this game. The combo's rank is a direct result of this balanced, high-end hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data provides a complete matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 221 FPS on Low, 200 FPS on Medium (with a min of 170 and max of 230), 177 FPS on High, and 169 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that the system is capable of extremely high frame rates at the most common resolution, making it ideal for competitive or high-refresh-rate gaming.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The average FPS is 195 on Low, 159 on Medium (with a min of 136 and max of 183), 121 on High, and 116 on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra result of 116 FPS is a key data point, showing that the system can handle the most demanding settings at this resolution while still providing a smooth experience. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p shows a 40.5% reduction in frame rate, which is a moderate cost for the visual quality improvements.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. The average FPS is 124 on Low, 94 on Medium (with a min of 80 and max of 108), 71 on High, and 68 on Ultra. The 4K Ultra result of 68 FPS is a playable frame rate, but it is not as high as the 1440p results. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 56 FPS, which is the largest absolute difference of any resolution, highlighting the GPU's workload at this pixel count. The Medium preset at 4K provides a solid middle ground with an average of 94 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the 1440p High preset (121 FPS) or 1440p Ultra preset (116 FPS) are excellent choices. These settings provide high visual fidelity while maintaining an average frame rate that is well above 100 FPS, which is ideal for a smooth and responsive experience. The difference between High and Ultra at this resolution is minimal in terms of FPS (5 FPS), so for most users, the Ultra preset would be preferable for the extra visual polish.

If the user prioritizes maximum frame rates, the 1080p Medium preset (200 FPS) or 1080p Low preset (221 FPS) are the best options. These settings are the most suitable for competitive play or for use with a very high refresh rate monitor (240Hz or above). The 1080p Ultra setting (169 FPS) is also a strong contender, offering a high frame rate that is still significantly higher than typical 144Hz displays, while providing the highest image quality at that resolution.

For those with a 4K display, the 4K Medium preset (94 FPS) is the recommended starting point. It provides a significant improvement over the Low preset (124 FPS) in visual quality, while the average frame rate remains high enough for a good gaming experience. The 4K Ultra preset (68 FPS) is playable but may be too demanding for users who prefer consistently higher frame rates. The data suggests that at 4K, using the Medium or High preset is a better trade-off than Ultra, as the FPS cost of Ultra is high, and the visual difference may be less noticeable in a fast-paced game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its performance in this game is shown to be more than adequate. The benchmark results show that its multi-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 score of 14769) and single-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 score of 2085) are both robust. The 89th percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms its high standing.

In Thief, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and process game logic. The measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this pairing. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 221 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU can process game data quickly enough to keep the GPU busy. The fact that the FPS scales down as resolution increases, rather than remaining flat, is a clear sign that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as the render load increases.

The CPU's 14 cores and 14 threads are likely more than sufficient for a game from 2014, which was designed for far fewer cores. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz is beneficial for the game's single-threaded performance, which is often the most critical factor in older titles. The data shows that the CPU's performance is a non-issue, providing enough headroom for the RTX 5070 Ti to perform at its best, even at lower resolutions where frame rates are extremely high.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the primary driver of performance in this game, as evidenced by the resolution scaling. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2452 MHz. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 32974 and its 86th percentile ranking show that it is a high-performance part.

The GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as the resolution increases. The data shows a clear relationship between pixel count and frame rate. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized, allowing for frame rates above 200 FPS on lower settings. At 1440p, the GPU is working harder, and we see a more significant drop in FPS. At 4K, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, with the average frame rate dropping to as low as 68 FPS on Ultra settings.

The 16 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor in this game. The frame rates do not show any signs of stuttering or performance collapse that would indicate memory swapping. The high memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s ensures that the GPU can quickly access textures and geometry data, even at 4K resolution with high-quality settings. The data confirms that the RTX 5070 Ti is the component that determines the ultimate performance ceiling of this combo, and its capabilities are well-matched to the CPU, providing a balanced and powerful system for Thief.