Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a mixed picture for Hitman 2, depending heavily on the target resolution. The data, measured directly from this combination, shows a system that is fully capable of delivering smooth, playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but one that falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K. The Arc B580’s performance scales predictably with resolution, but the demands of 4K, particularly at higher presets, prove too steep for this GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination of the i7-14700KF and Arc B580 delivers a wide range of performance across the four quality presets. The Low preset yields an average of 137.8 FPS, providing a significant margin over the playable threshold. Moving up to Medium reduces the average to 105.3 FPS, still more than 40 FPS above the 60 FPS target. The High preset maintains a strong 81 FPS average, while the most demanding Ultra preset still clears the 60 FPS bar with an average of 60.3 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to run the game at its highest visual quality without dropping below playable frame rates.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance impact is significant and immediate. The Low preset is still very fast, with an average of 88.9 FPS. The Medium preset, however, drops to a 68.7 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS threshold but with less margin for error. The High preset falls to 49 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and the Ultra preset further declines to 35.9 FPS. The data shows a clear shift at 1440p: the system can handle the game comfortably at lower presets, but high and ultra settings require more graphical horsepower than the Arc B580 can provide.

At 3840x2160, the Arc B580 is overwhelmed. The Low preset produces an average of 49.5 FPS, which is still below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 37.2 FPS, while the High preset drops to 27.2 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset yields an average of just 17.6 FPS, making the game virtually unplayable at that setting. Across all resolutions, the data shows a consistent and expected scaling: frame rates drop as resolution and preset quality increase, but the magnitude of the drop at 4K is particularly severe.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data highlights a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the Intel Arc B580 in Hitman 2. At 1080p, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as even the Ultra preset achieves a playable 60.3 FPS. The high frame rates at lower presets, such as 137.8 FPS on Low, suggest that the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU, and the limiting factor is the Arc B580’s pixel-pushing ability. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop of over half the frame rate, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

As the resolution increases to 1440p, the GPU’s role becomes even more dominant. The frame rate drops from 88.9 FPS on Low to 35.9 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of more than 50%. This steep decline indicates that the Arc B580’s raw rendering throughput is the defining constraint. The i7-14700KF, with its high multi-core performance, is not the limiting factor at this resolution; the data shows that the GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at High or Ultra settings, regardless of the CPU’s capabilities.

At 4K, the GPU bottleneck is absolute. The best average frame rate is 49.5 FPS on Low, which is below the playable threshold. The i7-14700KF’s performance, while strong, cannot compensate for the Arc B580’s inability to render Hitman 2 at this resolution. The data suggests that the CPU is effectively idle relative to the GPU’s workload, as the frame rates are uniformly low across all presets. In summary, the benchmark results indicate that the Intel Arc B580 is the decisive component for Hitman 2 performance, with the CPU playing a supporting role that becomes less relevant as resolution increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

For users targeting a consistent 60 FPS, the optimal settings vary significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that still meets the performance target, achieving an average of 60.3 FPS. This allows for the full visual experience at 1080p without sacrificing smoothness. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the highest quality that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 68.7 FPS. Choosing High would drop the frame rate to 49 FPS, so Medium is the recommended ceiling for this resolution. At 3840x2160, no preset achieves the 60 FPS target. The Low preset comes closest with an average of 49.5 FPS, but it still falls short. Therefore, there is no recommended preset for 4K gaming with this hardware configuration in Hitman 2.

The Verdict

The benchmark data provides a definitive answer on whether this PC can run Hitman 2. At 1920x1080, the system delivers a fully playable experience across all presets, with the Ultra preset averaging 60.3 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the resolution where the i7-14700KF and Arc B580 combination excels, offering a smooth experience at maximum settings. At 2560x1440, the system is partially capable. The data shows that the Low and Medium presets are playable, with Medium averaging 68.7 FPS, but High and Ultra fall below the 60 FPS mark. This resolution offers a good balance if the user is willing to adjust settings. At 3840x2160, the system cannot deliver a playable experience. No preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold, with the best case being Low at 49.5 FPS. The verdict is clear: this PC is a strong performer for 1080p and a capable one for 1440p, but it is not suited for 4K gaming in Hitman 2.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the Intel Core i7-14700KF, the nearest performance rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which scores 0.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which is 0.4% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is also close, scoring 0.9% higher, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is 1% lower. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Hitman 2, meaning the frame rates would be similar at lower resolutions or when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

For the Intel Arc B580, the nearest performance rivals are a mixed group. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP scores 0.2% lower, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 0.6% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is 0.7% lower, and the NVIDIA P106-100 is 1% lower. In practical terms, users with these GPUs would see very similar frame rates in Hitman 2. For example, a system with an RTX 2080 would perform nearly identically to the Arc B580, meaning it would also struggle to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p High settings, while a system with an RTX 3080 would be slightly slower, reinforcing the Arc B580’s position in the mid-range GPU tier.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Hitman 2 at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The benchmark data shows the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 achieves an average of 60.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 68.7 FPS. High and Ultra presets fall below the threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware in Hitman 2?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 49.5 FPS on the Low preset, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. No preset is listed as playable at this resolution.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 137.8 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 60.3 FPS. This shows a performance difference of more than double the frame rate.

Q: Which component is more important for performance in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 4K, even the Low preset fails to reach 60 FPS, showing that the Intel Arc B580 cannot keep up regardless of the CPU’s capabilities.

Q: Are there other GPUs with similar performance to the Intel Arc B580?

A: Yes. The data lists the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 as having an average score 0.6% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP as 0.2% lower. These would offer very similar frame rates in Hitman 2.