Hitman 2

# How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 lands at rank 2768 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. That places this configuration in the bottom 8% of all combinations tested, a sobering result for a CPU that otherwise posts strong synthetic numbers. The data suggests a profound mismatch: the Ryzen 5 5500X3D sits in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, while the Arc B370 languishes in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. This is a pairing where the processor is clearly not the limiting factor.

The rank itself — 2768 of 3001 — tells a story of a system that can run the game but cannot deliver a smooth experience at most settings. When you consider the CPU's PassMark multithread score of 20363 and single-thread score of 2941, both respectable figures for a 5000-series chip, the bottleneck becomes obvious. The Arc B370's average benchmark score of just 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 underscores how far behind the GPU sits. In practical terms, this combo ranks near the bottom because the graphics solution cannot keep pace with the CPU's capabilities.

The deltaPct values from the nearest rivals further contextualize the CPU's standing. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225, and within 0.3% of the Intel Core i9-12900T. These are tight margins, showing that the CPU is competitive with mid-range and even some higher-tier processors. Yet none of that matters when the GPU delivers frame rates in the teens at 4K Ultra. The combo rank reflects the weakest link, and here that link is unequivocally the integrated graphics solution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D brings 6 cores and 12 threads to the table, built on the Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename. This is a 7 nm part from TSMC, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. The base clock sits at 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, and the TDP is rated at 105 W. The cache hierarchy is notable: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. That large L3 cache is the "X3D" hallmark, designed to improve gaming performance by reducing memory latency.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and physics calculations. The PassMark physics score of 2282 and floating-point math score of 34511 indicate solid computational throughput. The data compression score of 230392 and encryption score of 13967 suggest the CPU can handle background tasks without issue. However, the game's measured frame rates do not reflect this CPU strength. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 73 FPS average, which is the highest measured result. This suggests that even at the lowest settings, the CPU is not the primary constraint — the GPU is.

The single-thread score of 2941 is particularly relevant for Hitman 2, a game that relies heavily on single-core performance for its stealth simulation and NPC behavior. The CPU's 4.00 GHz boost clock provides adequate headroom for these tasks. Yet the data shows that dropping from Low to Medium settings at 1080p reduces the average FPS from 73 to 54, a 26% decrease. This is a GPU-driven penalty, not a CPU one. The CPU's percentile rank of 85 among all CPUs reinforces that this processor is more than capable of feeding frames to a faster GPU.

Interestingly, the CPU's nearest rivals — the Ryzen 5 5600F, Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, Core Ultra 5 225, and Core i9-12900T — all score within 0.3% of each other. This tells us the 5500X3D is not an outlier in either direction. It is a well-balanced mid-range CPU that would likely deliver far better gaming results with a discrete graphics card. In this combo, however, the CPU's potential is largely untapped because the Arc B370 cannot translate its compute power into playable frame rates at higher resolutions or settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Arc Graphics-M generation for Panther Lake. It uses a 3 nm process from Intel and is designated as an IGP with a slot width of "IGP" and no power connectors. The TDP is just 25 W, which is remarkably low and indicative of its integrated nature. The base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the system's DDR4 RAM for graphics memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

The GPU's compute specifications are modest: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, 20 raster output units, and 10 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1). These numbers place the Arc B370 in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, which is exceptionally low. The nearest rivals — ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000 — are all legacy parts from over a decade ago, and the deltaPct values (ranging from -0.7% to 1.4%) show the Arc B370 is essentially on par with those ancient GPUs.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is to render the detailed environments, lighting, and character models. The measured frame rates show the Arc B370 struggling across the board. At 1080p Low, it manages 73 FPS, which is playable, but that is the only setting where it exceeds 60 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it drops to 54 FPS, and at 1080p High, it falls to 41 FPS. The 1080p Ultra setting yields just 30 FPS. These results align with the GPU's low percentile rank. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is a direct benchmark measurement that corroborates the in-game data.

The shared memory architecture is a likely culprit. Since the GPU uses system memory, bandwidth is dependent on the DDR4 dual-channel setup, which provides 51.2 GB/s. This is far below what dedicated GDDR6 or GDDR6X memory would offer, likely causing bottlenecks in texture-heavy scenes. The boost clock of 2400 MHz helps, but the fundamental lack of dedicated memory and the low shading unit count cap performance. The ray tracing cores are present, but at this performance level, enabling ray tracing would be impractical for playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best frame rate this combo can achieve in Hitman 2?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 73, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration that crosses the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average benchmark score of 37018. It is 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938), 0.2% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093), and 0.3% slower than the Intel Core i9-12900T (37112).

Q: Is this combo better suited for 1080p or 4K gaming?

A: The data shows a clear preference for 1080p. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 73 FPS, while at 4K Low, it drops to 25 FPS. The 4K Ultra setting yields only 10 FPS, which is unplayable.

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile?

A: The Intel Arc B370 sits in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test.

Q: How much does the CPU's cache affect gaming performance?

A: The CPU has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is substantial for a 6-core part. However, the measured frame rates in Hitman 2 do not show a significant benefit from this cache because the GPU becomes the bottleneck at most settings.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: No. The highest Ultra setting result is 30 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 19 FPS at 1440p and 10 FPS at 4K. None of these are smooth gaming experiences.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a steep decline as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 73 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p and 25 at 4K. That is a 37% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 66% decrease from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the progression is 54 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Medium is a 65% reduction, nearly identical to the Low setting percentage.

High settings tell a similar story: 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. That is a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K. Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling: 30 FPS at 1080p, 19 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K, a 67% drop. The consistency of these percentage drops — all in the 65-67% range for 1080p to 4K — indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor regardless of settings. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller differences at lower resolutions where the CPU does more of the work.

The resolution scaling also reveals that the Arc B370's performance degrades roughly in line with pixel count. Going from 1080p to 4K increases the pixel count by 4x, and the frame rate drops by roughly two-thirds. This is not a linear relationship, but it is close to what we would expect from a GPU that is bandwidth-limited. The shared memory architecture means that higher resolutions require more memory bandwidth, which the system shared memory cannot provide efficiently. The data suggests that this combo is only viable at 1080p, and even then, only at Low or possibly Medium settings for a playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only playable configuration for this combo in Hitman 2 is 1080p with Low settings, which delivers 73 FPS average. This is the single row that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider smooth. The 1080p Medium setting at 54 FPS is borderline — it may be acceptable for some, but it is below the ideal threshold. The 1440p Low setting at 46 FPS is playable but not ideal, while all 4K settings are below 30 FPS and should be avoided.

For players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, the 1080p High setting at 41 FPS might be tempting, but the drop from Low to High at 1080p is a 44% reduction in performance. The Ultra setting at 1080p yields only 30 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for a playable experience but will feel choppy in a stealth game where precision matters. The data suggests that the best balance between visual fidelity and performance is 1080p Medium, which offers 54 FPS and includes the only measured min/max values (46 min, 63 max) that show a reasonable frame time distribution.

The 1440p Medium setting at 35 FPS could work for players who prefer higher resolution over smoothness, but the 30 FPS minimum frame rate indicates occasional stutters. The 4K settings are all below 25 FPS and should be disregarded for any serious gameplay. In summary, 1080p Low is the recommended setting for the best experience, with 1080p Medium as a viable alternative for those who want better visuals and can tolerate slightly lower frame rates. Anything above 1080p or above Medium settings will result in a subpar experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 25 FPS average
• Medium: 19 FPS average, 16 FPS min, 21 FPS max
• High: 14 FPS average
• Ultra: 10 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 46 FPS average
• Medium: 35 FPS average, 30 FPS min, 40 FPS max
• High: 26 FPS average
• Ultra: 19 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 73 FPS average
• Medium: 54 FPS average, 46 FPS min, 63 FPS max
• High: 41 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the only configuration with an average above 60 FPS (73 FPS). The 1080p Medium setting is the only other row with an average above 50 FPS (54 FPS). All other configurations fall below 50 FPS, with 4K Ultra being the worst at 10 FPS. The min/max values are only provided for Medium settings at each resolution, which gives us some insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the range is 46 to 63 FPS, a spread of 17 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 30 to 40 FPS, a spread of 10 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 16 to 21 FPS, a spread of 5 FPS.

The narrowing of the frame rate range as resolution increases is interesting. It suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is consistently saturated, leaving little headroom for variation. At 1080p Medium, the GPU has more capacity to burst above the average, resulting in a wider range. This further reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the system. The CPU's PassMark scores — including the multithread score of 20363 and single-thread score of 2941 — would likely support much higher frame rates if paired with a more capable GPU, but the Arc B370 caps performance at the levels shown above.