Hitman 2

# Hitman 2 with AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D + Intel Arc B370

This combination of AMD's 6-core Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel's Arc B370 integrated graphics produces surprisingly playable results at lower resolutions in Hitman 2, but the data reveals a clear ceiling imposed by the GPU. The combo ranks 2768th out of 3001 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the bottom 8% of all pairings, yet the CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores suggest the processor is not the limiting factor in most scenarios. The measured frames per second tell a story of a system that can handle 1080p Low at 73 FPS but falls to single digits at 4K Ultra, which points directly at the integrated GPU as the bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals a system that is severely GPU-limited. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 73 FPS, but dropping to 1440p Low reduces that to 46 FPS—a 37% decline. Moving to 4K Low, the average falls to 25 FPS, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This scaling pattern indicates that the Arc B370's rendering throughput, not the CPU, is the constraining factor, as the Ryzen 5 7500X3D has ample headroom at these settings.

The High preset shows a similar trend: 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p (a 37% drop), and 14 FPS at 4K (a 66% drop from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across presets suggests a linear relationship between pixel count and performance, which is typical for GPU-bound workloads. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect the FPS gap between resolutions to narrow at lower settings, but the data shows the opposite—the gap remains proportional regardless of preset quality.

Ultra settings expose the most severe scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages 30 FPS, but 1440p Ultra drops to 19 FPS, and 4K Ultra collapses to 10 FPS. The 4K Ultra result represents a 67% reduction from 1080p Ultra, matching the scaling observed in Low and High presets. This uniformity across all quality levels strongly implies that the Arc B370's 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply insufficient for 4K rendering in this game, regardless of how much CPU headroom exists.

Interestingly, the Medium preset provides the only min/max FPS data in the entire measured set. At 1080p Medium, the average is 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 and maximum of 63, showing a relatively tight frame delivery window. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 35 FPS with min/max of 30/40, and at 4K Medium, the average is 19 FPS with min/max of 16/21. These ranges suggest that frame pacing remains consistent even as resolution increases, which is a positive sign for playability at lower settings.

The data implies that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being marginal at best. The 4K results are uniformly below playable thresholds, with even Low settings only reaching 25 FPS. This resolution scaling analysis clearly identifies the GPU as the limiting component, as the CPU's performance characteristics would not produce such dramatic drops when pixel count increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2768 out of 3001 tested combinations places it in the 92nd percentile from the bottom, meaning only 233 combinations performed worse in Hitman 2. This low ranking is primarily attributable to the Intel Arc B370, which sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in its benchmark data. The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic testing—the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, and AMD Radeon HD 7650M—are all older discrete parts, yet the Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is within 0.7% of these aging components.

The CPU component of this combo tells a different story. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D ranks at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44573. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (0.2% faster), Intel Core i9-13950HX (0.5% faster), and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (0.6% faster), while the Intel Core i5-14600 is 0.7% slower. This places the 7500X3D in elite company, significantly outperforming the GPU's standing in its respective field.

The disconnect between CPU and GPU performance tiers creates an imbalanced system profile. In Hitman 2, this imbalance manifests as a situation where the processor is capable of far higher frame rates than the graphics solution can deliver. The combo rank of 2768/3001 reflects this bottleneck, as the system's actual gaming performance is constrained entirely by the weakest link.

When interpreting the rank, it's important to consider that the bottom 8% of combos typically represent integrated graphics solutions or severely mismatched pairings. The Arc B370's 5th percentile GPU ranking is the primary driver of this low position, as the CPU's 89th percentile ranking would normally place a combo much higher if paired with a capable discrete GPU. The data suggests that this combination is fundamentally limited by the graphics processor, and the CPU's potential is largely wasted in this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The data shows 73 FPS at 1080p Low, 54 FPS at 1080p Medium, and 41 FPS at 1080p High. However, 1080p Ultra drops to 30 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 7500X3D compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573, placing it 0.2% behind the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, 0.5% behind the Intel Core i9-13950HX, and 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385. It is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600.

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

A: 1080p is clearly the best choice. The measured data shows playable frame rates at Low, Medium, and High settings, while 1440p only achieves 46 FPS at Low and 4K never exceeds 25 FPS even at Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is definitively the limiting component. The Arc B370 ranks at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks at the 89th percentile. The resolution scaling data confirms this, as FPS drops proportionally with pixel count increases, which is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770, and 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M. It is 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 35 FPS at 1440p Medium, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. This is marginally playable but may feel inconsistent during busy scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance across all settings. Low settings produce 73 FPS average, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. Medium settings yield 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 and maximum of 63, providing a playable experience with some headroom. High settings drop to 41 FPS, which is still acceptable for a stealth game where precise timing matters less than in fast-paced action titles. Ultra settings fall to 30 FPS, which represents the minimum threshold for smooth gameplay and may cause noticeable stuttering during crowded scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly across the board. Low settings achieve 46 FPS, which is still playable but represents a 37% reduction from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40, placing the experience in the "playable but not ideal" category. High settings drop to 26 FPS, which begins to feel sluggish for a game that requires precise movement and timing. Ultra settings fall to 19 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly poor. Low settings manage 25 FPS, which is technically playable but far from smooth. Medium settings average 19 FPS with a minimum of 16 and maximum of 21, indicating significant frame drops during gameplay. High settings drop to 14 FPS, making the game feel like a slideshow. Ultra settings bottom out at 10 FPS, which is unplayable by any reasonable standard.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions, providing insight into frame consistency. At 1080p, the range from 46 to 63 FPS shows a 17 FPS spread, which is acceptable. At 1440p, the spread narrows to 10 FPS (30-40), suggesting more consistent frame delivery but at lower absolute rates. At 4K, the spread is just 5 FPS (16-21), indicating that the GPU is so saturated that frames arrive at a nearly constant, albeit very low, rate.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D features 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. The processor operates at a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boosts up to 4.50 GHz, with a 65 W TDP that keeps thermal requirements modest. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is particularly beneficial for gaming workloads that frequently access the same data.

The CPU's benchmark results demonstrate strong all-around performance. The PassMark multithread score of 25047 and single-thread score of 3494 indicate balanced capabilities for both multi-core and single-core workloads. The integer math score of 70774 and floating point math score of 43594 show robust computational throughput, while the data compression score of 271649 and random string sorting score of 32999 suggest efficient memory and cache utilization.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is somewhat diminished due to the GPU bottleneck. The game is a stealth title that typically relies more on AI and physics calculations than on massive thread counts, and the 7500X3D's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for this workload. The large 96 MB L3 cache likely helps with the game's map data and enemy AI pathfinding, but the measured FPS values are so low at higher resolutions that the CPU's contribution is masked by the GPU's limitations.

The CPU's 89th percentile ranking among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 44573, places it in the top tier of available CPUs. Its nearest rivals—the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, Intel Core i9-13950HX, and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385—are all high-end mobile or desktop parts, showing that the 7500X3D competes with significantly more expensive processors. However, in this specific combo, the CPU's capabilities are largely untapped because the integrated GPU cannot translate that processing power into higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo, 1080p Low settings provide the highest frame rates at 73 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. However, Low settings may compromise visual quality in a game like Hitman 2, where environmental detail and lighting contribute to the stealth atmosphere. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a better balance, delivering 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS, which remains playable while providing improved visual fidelity.

The data suggests that 1080p Medium is the sweet spot for this combination. The 54 FPS average provides a comfortable margin above the 30 FPS minimum for playability, and the min/max range of 46-63 FPS indicates that frame times are relatively stable. This preset also benefits from the game's stealth genre, where reaction time requirements are less demanding than in competitive shooters, allowing for a slightly lower frame rate target.

If visual quality is the priority, 1080p High at 41 FPS is viable but requires some compromise. The 30% reduction from Medium settings may be noticeable during fast camera movements or when tracking targets across large environments. The Ultra preset at 30 FPS is not recommended, as it sits right at the edge of playability and offers diminishing returns in visual quality over High.

For users willing to accept lower resolution, 1440p Low at 46 FPS is a reasonable alternative that provides additional screen real estate. However, the 37% performance penalty compared to 1080p Low makes this a less attractive option unless the larger resolution is essential. The 4K resolutions are not recommended under any settings, as even Low quality only achieves 25 FPS, which is below the minimum threshold for comfortable gaming.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2400 MHz, with a power envelope of just 25 W. The memory configuration is system shared, meaning the GPU uses the CPU's DDR5 memory with bandwidth dependent on the system configuration.

The GPU's benchmark performance is modest, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places the Arc B370 at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being older discrete parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1080p gaming at lower settings but become inadequate as resolution increases.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's limitations are clearly exposed. The game's environments feature complex lighting, shadows, and reflective surfaces that require significant pixel and texture throughput. The Arc B370's 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is simply insufficient for 4K rendering, as evidenced by the 10-25 FPS results across all settings at that resolution. Even at 1440p, only Low settings achieve playable frame rates, and the GPU's performance degrades rapidly as quality increases.

The system shared memory configuration means that the GPU's bandwidth is dependent on the system's DDR5 implementation. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s is shared between the processor and GPU, which may contribute to performance limitations in memory-intensive scenarios. However, the measured data suggests that raw compute throughput, rather than memory bandwidth, is the primary constraint, as the FPS scaling with resolution is consistent with a fill-rate-limited GPU.

The Arc B370's 3 nm process and 25 W power envelope make it an efficient solution for portable devices, but this efficiency comes at the cost of raw performance. In a game like Hitman 2, which was released in 2018 and is not particularly demanding by modern standards, the GPU still struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions. This indicates that the Arc B370 is best suited for 1080p gaming at medium to low settings, with no expectation of high refresh rate or high resolution performance.