Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 pairs with the Intel Arc B370 to deliver a configuration that is heavily constrained by its integrated graphics solution. Benchmark results in Hitman 2 show a system that can handle the game's CPU demands with ease, but the GPU component becomes the primary bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and detail settings. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for low-resolution, low-detail play, with performance dropping sharply as graphical load increases.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates on the AMD Socket AM4 platform and features a base clock of 3.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The processor is built on a 7 nm process node from TSMC and includes a 32 MB shared L3 cache, alongside 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Its memory support is DDR4 with a dual-channel bus, providing a peak memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

In the context of Hitman 2, a stealth game that typically relies on CPU performance for AI and simulation, the Ryzen 5 5600's specifications are more than adequate. The processor's multi-threaded capability is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309 and a single-core score of 2584. This level of performance ensures that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios. The processor's percentile ranking of 74 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20468, places it in a strong position for gaming workloads. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is virtually tied with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which has an average score of 20454 and a delta of 0.1%. Similarly, it holds a 0.2% lead over both the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and the AMD EPYC 9454P, and a 0.5% lead over the AMD EPYC 7713. These marginal differences suggest that the CPU's raw computational power is consistent with other high-performing processors.

Given that the measured FPS in Hitman 2 drops dramatically with increasing resolution and settings, it is clear that the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are not being saturated. The game's engine, while demanding, is unlikely to stress the Ryzen 5 5600 to its limits at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS is 73. The CPU's role here is to provide a stable foundation, ensuring that frame times are consistent and that the game logic runs smoothly. The data supports the conclusion that the CPU is a capable partner, but its potential is left untapped due to the limitations of the accompanying GPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Panther Lake generation. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 raster operation pipelines (ROPs). It also includes 10 ray tracing cores, though this feature is unlikely to be utilized effectively given the overall performance level. The memory configuration is System Shared, meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 memory rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as System Dependent.

The GPU's performance is weak, as indicated by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This score is nearly identical to that of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186, a delta of -0.2%. The Arc B370 also trails the ATI Radeon HD 5770 by 0.5% and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M by 0.7%, while leading the AMD FirePro M2000 by 1.4%. These comparisons place the Arc B370 in a category with legacy integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs from over a decade ago, which explains its inability to handle modern gaming loads.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is to render the game's detailed environments, which include dynamic lighting, shadows, and textures. The measured FPS data shows that the Arc B370 struggles significantly. At 1080p with Low settings, it achieves an average of 73 FPS, which is playable, but this is the only setting where the frame rate approaches a smooth experience. Moving to Medium settings drops the average to 54 FPS, and High settings reduce it further to 41 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average falls to 30 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistent experience. The GPU's limited ROP count of 20 and low pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s are direct contributors to this poor scaling, as higher resolutions and detail levels demand more fill rate and memory bandwidth than the system-shared memory can provide.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance degradation. Starting at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 73. When the resolution is increased to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 46, a reduction of 27 FPS or approximately 37%. Further increasing to 3840x2160 results in an average of 25 FPS, which is a 48 FPS drop from 1080p, representing a 66% decrease. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU's performance would not degrade so significantly with resolution changes.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 41 at 1080p, to 26 at 1440p, and finally to 14 at 4K. This represents a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K. Medium settings show a similar trend, with averages of 54, 35, and 19 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The Ultra preset exhibits the most severe scaling, with averages of 30, 19, and 10 FPS across the same resolutions. The fact that even at Low settings, the 4K average is only 25 FPS, demonstrates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are exhausted well before the CPU becomes a factor.

The data suggests that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The frame rate drops are proportional to the increase in pixel count, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its robust multi-threaded scores, could likely maintain higher frame rates if paired with a more capable GPU. However, with the Arc B370, the system is unable to push beyond 30 FPS at 4K even on the lowest settings, indicating that the integrated graphics solution is not designed for high-resolution gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this combination of AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and Intel Arc B370 ranks 3428 out of 3711 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, underscoring the significant performance limitation imposed by the GPU. The rank is a direct reflection of the measured FPS data, which shows that the combo cannot achieve playable frame rates at higher resolutions or settings.

The ranking indicates that the majority of other CPU-GPU combinations tested in this game outperform this setup. The CPU's high percentile ranking of 74 does not offset the GPU's low percentile of 5, resulting in a net poor performance. The combination's rank confirms the fact that a high-end CPU cannot compensate for a severely underpowered GPU in a graphically intensive game like Hitman 2. The data suggests that users with this combo should expect a subpar experience, limited to low-resolution and low-detail settings to achieve acceptable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system in Hitman 2?

A: The only configuration that achieves an average frame rate above 60 FPS is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields 73 FPS. All other settings and resolutions result in averages below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of GPU benchmark score?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570's score of 1186, and 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770's score of 1190. It is also 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7650M's score of 1192.

Q: What is the CPU's performance percentile relative to all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is in the 74th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20468, indicating it is a strong processor for its class.

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 35, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system for Hitman 2?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU's performance is sufficient, as evidenced by its high benchmark scores, but the GPU's low scores and the sharp FPS drops with increased resolution indicate it is the limiting component.

Q: How many combos does this system rank above in Hitman 2?

A: This combo ranks 3428 out of 3711 tested combos, meaning it outperforms 283 other configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 73 FPS, which is the highest score in the dataset. The Medium preset at the same resolution averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 63. High settings at 1080p average 41 FPS, while Ultra settings average 30 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 46 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. High settings at this resolution average 26 FPS, and Ultra settings average 19 FPS. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 25 FPS. Medium settings at 4K average 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 21. High settings at 4K average 14 FPS, and Ultra settings average 10 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern where each step up in resolution or settings reduces the average FPS by a significant margin. The gap between Low and Ultra at the same resolution is substantial: at 1080p, the difference is 43 FPS; at 1440p, it is 27 FPS; and at 4K, it is 15 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's performance headroom is exhausted quickly, and users must make a trade-off between resolution and visual fidelity.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable configuration for a smooth gaming experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which delivers an average of 73 FPS. This is the sole preset that meets the 60 FPS threshold, and it is recommended for users who prioritize frame rate over visual quality. The Low preset at 1440p, with an average of 46 FPS, is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action sequences.

For users who can tolerate lower frame rates, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a balance between visuals and performance, with an average of 54 FPS. This may be acceptable for a stealth game like Hitman 2, where precise timing is less critical than in a competitive shooter. However, the High and Ultra presets at any resolution are not recommended, as they all fall below 41 FPS, with the 4K Ultra preset dropping to a single-digit average of 10 FPS.

The data suggests that the system is not capable of handling the game's higher graphical demands. The best experience is achieved by sticking to 1080p and the Low or Medium presets. Users should avoid 1440p and 4K resolutions unless they are willing to accept a significant performance hit, as even the Low preset at 4K only achieves 25 FPS. The recommendation is to prioritize resolution scaling down to 1080p and use the Low preset to ensure a stable and responsive gameplay experience.