Thief

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination ranks in the 44th percentile of tested systems for Thief, landing at 1586 out of 2851 combos. This places the pairing in the middle of the pack, indicating a balanced but not exceptional configuration for this specific title. The data shows a system capable of smooth gameplay at mainstream resolutions, but one that will require settings adjustments to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The performance profile suggests a system where the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom even at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1586 out of 2851 tested configurations places it squarely in the lower-middle tier of the database for Thief. While this position is not flattering, it reflects the GPU’s moderate standing in the broader benchmark hierarchy rather than a fundamental flaw in the pairing. The RX 9060 holds the 59th percentile among all GPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 16014, while the Core Ultra 5 245 sits in the 90th percentile among all CPUs with an average score of 48995. This disparity in relative standing is the key to understanding the combo’s overall rank: the processor is a top-tier part, but the graphics card holds the system back from achieving a higher placement.

The measured frame rates support this interpretation. At 1080p, the combo delivers strong performance, with an average of 171 FPS at Low settings and 99 FPS at High settings. These numbers are respectable for a stealth title from 2014, and they demonstrate that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution. However, the GPU’s limitations become apparent when pushing to higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 38 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth play on many displays. The rank of 1586 reflects this ceiling: the system can handle the game well at 1080p and 1440p, but it cannot compete with higher-end configurations at 4K.

Comparing the components to their nearest rivals clarifies the situation. The RX 9060’s average benchmark score of 16014 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti’s 16129, a delta of -0.7%. This means the AMD card offers performance essentially on par with that well-known mid-range GPU. The CPU, meanwhile, is within 0.8% of the Intel Core i5-14600K’s average score of 48618, and within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900’s 49228. The Core Ultra 5 245 is a high-performing processor that punches above its weight class, but its partner GPU anchors the combo’s rank.

The practical implication is that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1440p High, the system delivers 68 FPS on average, which is playable but not exceptional. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 65 FPS, still within a playable range for many users. The 4K numbers are less encouraging, with only the Low preset achieving an average above 60 FPS at 69 FPS. The combo’s rank of 1586 out of 2851 thus represents a system that is competent for its intended resolution targets but not a top performer in the database.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this combo in Thief?

A: The combo ranks 1586 out of 2851 tested combinations, placing it in the 44th percentile of all systems in the database for this game.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3060 Ti’s score of 16129, indicating nearly identical performance.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Thief with this combo?

A: The data shows the best performance at 1920x1080, where the system achieves 171 FPS at Low settings and 99 FPS at High settings. At 2560x1440 High, the average is 68 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Thief?

A: At 3840x2160, the system averages 69 FPS at Low settings and 40 FPS at High settings. The Ultra preset drops to 38 FPS, which is below the desired 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance rank compared to other processors?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995, placing it in the 90th percentile among all CPUs tested. It is within 0.8% of the Core i5-14600K’s score.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all tested graphics cards?

A: The RX 9060 holds the 59th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16014.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 99 FPS at 1080p to 68 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 31 FPS. Moving to 4K High, the average falls further to 40 FPS, representing a total drop of 59 FPS from the 1080p baseline. This pattern of performance degradation is typical of a configuration where the graphics card is the limiting component; the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the RX 9060’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become constraints as pixel count increases.

The scaling at Low settings is even more telling. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 171 FPS, which drops to 117 FPS at 1440p and 69 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is approximately 60%, which is a significant reduction but not as severe as the High preset’s 60% drop. This suggests that at Low settings, the CPU plays a larger role in maintaining frame rates, as the GPU is less burdened by graphical effects. However, the fact that 4K Low still cannot reach 70 FPS indicates that the GPU’s raw throughput is the primary bottleneck.

The Medium preset offers a middle ground in terms of scaling. The average frame rate goes from 130 FPS at 1080p to 89 FPS at 1440p, then down to 52 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium numbers include a min FPS of 45 and a max of 60, showing significant variance that suggests the GPU is struggling to maintain consistent performance. This variance, combined with the steep drop from 1440p to 4K, points to the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute capacity being insufficient for the higher resolution’s demands.

The limiting component is clearly the RX 9060. The Core Ultra 5 245, with its 14 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock, is more than capable of handling the game’s CPU demands, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p. As resolution increases, the GPU’s pixel fill rate and texture rate become the deciding factors. The GPU’s 191.4 GPixel/s pixel rate and 334.9 GTexel/s texture rate are modest figures, and they translate into a performance ceiling that cannot be overcome by the CPU’s strength.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance across all settings. The Low preset averages 171 FPS, which is well above any display’s refresh rate and indicates that the system is not CPU-bound at this resolution. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a min of 110 and a max of 149, showing solid consistency. High settings average 99 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 94 FPS. The small gap between High and Ultra, just 5 FPS, suggests that the GPU is handling the additional effects without a major penalty. All 1080p results are playable and smooth, making this the sweet spot for the combo.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains playable but the GPU’s limitations become more apparent. Low settings average 117 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium averages 89 FPS, with a min of 76 and a max of 102, indicating some frame pacing issues but generally smooth gameplay. High settings average 68 FPS, which is acceptable for most users, while Ultra drops to 65 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1440p is only 3 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset’s additional features are not the primary bottleneck. The 1440p results are suitable for gamers with 60 Hz or 75 Hz monitors, but those with high-refresh displays may need to stick to Medium or Low.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates on higher presets. Low settings average 69 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 52 FPS, with a min of 45 and a max of 60, showing that the GPU is hitting its limits. High settings average 40 FPS, and Ultra drops to 38 FPS. These numbers are below the standard for smooth gameplay, and the data indicates that the RX 9060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for 4K gaming in Thief. Users who want to play at 4K will need to use Low settings or accept frame rates in the 40-50 FPS range on Medium.

The measured data shows a clear pattern: the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not a 4K-capable configuration. The frame rates at 4K High and Ultra are below 45 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced stealth game where quick reactions matter. The Medium preset at 4K offers a playable experience for those willing to accept a 52 FPS average, but the min FPS of 45 suggests occasional drops that could affect gameplay.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the defining component of this combo’s performance in Thief. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, the GPU provides a memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This is a moderate figure, and the data suggests it is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The GPU’s base clock is 1700 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. The boost clock is high for the architecture, but the GPU’s overall compute performance, rated at 21.43 TFLOPS FP32, is not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 59th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 16014. This is nearly identical to the RTX 3060 Ti’s score of 16129, confirming that the RX 9060 is positioned as a mid-range part. The nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7700 with a score of 15852 and the AMD Radeon R9 370X with a score of 15862, both of which are within 1% of the RX 9060’s performance. This clustering of scores indicates that the GPU’s performance is well-known and consistent.

In Thief specifically, the GPU’s role is to handle the game’s graphical effects, which include dynamic lighting and shadowing. The 4K results show that the GPU’s pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s is not enough to fill the screen at high settings, resulting in average frame rates below 45 FPS. At 1080p, however, the GPU has sufficient resources to deliver 99 FPS at High settings and 94 FPS at Ultra, demonstrating that it is a capable part for lower resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for the game’s textures at 1080p and 1440p, but the data indicates that the memory bandwidth becomes a constraint at 4K.

The GPU’s 1792 shading units and 112 TMUs provide a solid foundation for the game’s rendering workload. The 64 ROPs are responsible for pixel output, and their count is a factor in the 4K performance degradation. The combination of these specifications results in a GPU that is well-matched to a mid-range system, but it is the primary reason the combo ranks at 1586 out of 2851. The CPU is not the bottleneck; the GPU’s compute and memory resources are.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a high-performance processor that provides more than enough headroom for Thief. With 14 cores and 14 threads, the CPU is built for multi-threaded workloads, and its base clock of 3.50 GHz can boost up to 5.10 GHz. The processor’s benchmark scores are impressive: it achieves 32924 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4648 in single-core, placing it in the 90th percentile among all CPUs. The average benchmark score of 48995 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900’s 49228, showing that the CPU is competitive with higher-tier parts.

In Thief, the CPU’s role is to manage game logic, AI, and physics. The game is from 2014, and its CPU demands are modest by modern standards. The measured frame rates at 1080p Low, which average 171 FPS, indicate that the CPU is not a limiting factor. Even at 4K Low, the system achieves 69 FPS, which shows the CPU’s ability to maintain frame rates when the GPU is not overwhelmed. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth provide ample memory bandwidth for the game’s data.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600K, which has an average score of 48618, a delta of 0.8% from the Core Ultra 5 245. This indicates that the two processors perform nearly identically, despite the Core Ultra 5 245 being a newer architecture. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is also close, with a score of 49196 and a -0.4% delta. These comparisons show that the CPU is a strong performer that will not hold back the GPU in most scenarios.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution or setting in Thief. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with GPU limitations, not CPU limitations. The CPU’s 14 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads. The 65 W TDP is a modest power envelope, indicating that the CPU runs efficiently without generating excessive heat. Overall, the Core Ultra 5 245 is a capable partner for the RX 9060, and its high percentile ranking suggests that it will remain relevant for future games. The combo’s rank is thus a reflection of the GPU’s mid-range status, not a criticism of the CPU’s performance.