Thief

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon 8060S combination delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Thief, a 2014 stealth title. The data shows a system that can push high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K with higher graphical presets. This analysis breaks down the measured results, focusing on how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the final frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a TDP of 28 W. Its cache configuration includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743, placing it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs.

For a game like Thief, which was released in 2014, the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck. The game's engine is not heavily threaded, but the 155H’s high single-core performance is sufficient to feed the GPU. The data supports this: the CPU’s PassMark single-thread score of 3468 is respectable, and its multi-thread score of 24873 shows ample headroom. Looking at the nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-14600T scores 32707, with a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 scores 32662, with a 0.1% delta. This indicates the 155H is essentially performance-equivalent to these desktop and mobile competitors in CPU-bound workloads.

In Thief, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and physics. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU load is lightest, the system reaches 168 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is not limiting performance at lower resolutions. However, the CPU's 28 W TDP and mobile design mean it is not a high-end desktop part. The benchmark results indicate that it is the GPU, not the CPU, that becomes the limiting factor as resolution and settings increase. The CPU consistently provides enough throughput to avoid being the cause of frame rate drops, as evidenced by the fact that FPS scales predictably with GPU load.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, using the Strix Halo chip. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC and features 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The GPU has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." The GPU’s TDP is 55 W, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 8060S scores 2162 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 84626 in Geekbench OpenCL. It sits in the 87th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (avg score 55698, delta 0.1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (avg score 56083, delta -0.6%). This places the 8060S's raw compute performance in a competitive range with dedicated desktop GPUs from previous generations.

For Thief, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining performance. The game's graphics load scales dramatically with resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 168 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 38 FPS. This steep decline is typical for a game that relies heavily on fill rate and shader complexity. The lack of dedicated VRAM and reliance on shared system memory means that at higher resolutions, the GPU must access memory with higher latency, further impacting performance. The data clearly shows that the 8060S has enough raw power for 1080p and 1440p gaming but is overburdened at 4K with high or ultra settings.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 168 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, scores 32707, resulting in a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 scores 32662, a 0.1% delta, meaning the 155H is statistically tied with both.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 38 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated video memory?

A: No. The AMD Radeon 8060S uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all system-dependent rather than dedicated.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces an average of 168 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces 94 FPS. This is a difference of 74 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable. The High preset delivers 99 FPS, which is smooth, while the Ultra preset still achieves 94 FPS. For the best visual experience without sacrificing fluidity, the Ultra preset is viable at this resolution. The Medium preset offers a middle ground at 130 FPS, but the jump to Ultra only costs 36 FPS and provides the highest image quality.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. The Low preset hits 117 FPS, and the Medium preset delivers 89 FPS. The High preset is still solid at 68 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 65 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. For a stable experience, the High preset is recommended, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while retaining most visual fidelity. The Medium preset is also a strong choice if higher frame rates are preferred.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles. The Low preset averages 69 FPS, which is acceptable. The Medium preset drops to 52 FPS, and the High preset falls to 40 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst, at 38 FPS. For a consistent gaming experience at 4K, the Low preset is the only option that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset is playable but will have noticeable dips, as the minimum FPS is 45. Given the steep performance cost, users should prioritize the Low preset at 4K.

Across all resolutions, the data indicates that the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, sacrificing settings is necessary, and the Low preset is the only one that delivers a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon 8060S ranks 1641 out of 2851 tested combos for Thief. This places it in the lower-middle portion of all tested systems. While the individual components perform well in their respective categories—the CPU in the 83rd percentile and the GPU in the 87th percentile—their combined performance in this specific game is less impressive.

The rank suggests that many other CPU and GPU combinations, likely including those with more powerful discrete graphics cards, achieve higher frame rates. The 8060S, despite being an IGP, is competitive in synthetic benchmarks, but its performance in Thief is limited by its shared memory architecture and thermal constraints. The combo's rank of 1641 indicates that while it can play the game, it is not a top-tier performer. The data shows that at 1080p, it can compete with mid-range systems, but at 4K, it falls behind. This rank is a direct result of the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions and settings, a factor that more powerful dedicated GPUs would handle with ease.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset averages 168 FPS. The Medium preset averages 130 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149. The High preset averages 99 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 94 FPS. All presets at this resolution are above the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding Ultra preset maintaining a high average.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 117 FPS. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 102. The High preset averages 68 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 65 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are close, but both remain above 60 FPS, making 1440p gaming a viable option.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 69 FPS. The Medium preset averages 52 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 60. The High preset averages 40 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 38 FPS. Only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, while the Medium preset dips below it. This resolution is only playable with significant graphical compromises.

The data also shows that the gap between presets narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 74 FPS. At 1440p, it is 52 FPS. At 4K, it is just 31 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming saturated at higher resolutions, and the impact of settings is reduced.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals the limiting component. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS across all settings drops by roughly 30-40%. For example, at High settings, the frame rate falls from 99 FPS to 68 FPS, a 31 FPS decrease. At Low settings, it drops from 168 FPS to 117 FPS, a 51 FPS decrease.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 68 FPS to 40 FPS, a 28 FPS decrease. At Low settings, it drops from 117 FPS to 69 FPS, a 48 FPS decrease. This non-linear scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of fill rate and memory bandwidth.

The number of pixels at 4K is 2.25 times that of 1440p, but the FPS does not scale proportionally. This indicates that the AMD Radeon 8060S is the bottleneck. The CPU's performance is consistent regardless of resolution, as evidenced by its high synthetic scores. The GPU, however, is overwhelmed by the pixel count and the demand for texture and shader operations.

The data strongly suggests that the system is GPU-limited at all resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU can still provide high frame rates, but its performance degrades rapidly as the resolution increases. The shared memory architecture is likely a contributing factor, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The result is a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p gaming but is not suitable for 4K gaming at high settings. The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU has more than enough headroom to handle the game's logic at any resolution.