Hitman 2

# CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the 5 nm process with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. It belongs to the 7000 series and uses the Raphael codename, which places it firmly in the Zen 4 generation. The chip carries a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, alongside 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Its 65 W TDP and locked multiplier suggest an efficiency-focused design, but the large cache is the standout feature for gaming workloads.

In Hitman 2, which is a stealth game that often involves complex AI routines and large open levels, the CPU's cache hierarchy can be decisive. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 80 FPS average, while at 1080p Ultra it drops to 34 FPS. This scaling pattern indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower settings — the GPU takes over as the limiting factor when graphical load increases. However, the 7500X3D's 96 MB L3 cache likely helps maintain framerate stability in scenes with many NPCs, as the data compression score of 271,649 in Passmark suggests strong memory subsystem performance.

The processor's single-thread score of 3,494 and multithread score of 25,047 place it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with an average score of 44,466 (0.2% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-14600 at 44,889 (0.7% behind). These margins are tight, meaning the 7500X3D is competitively positioned in raw compute, but the X3D cache is what differentiates it in gaming scenarios. The physics test score of 2,779 is relevant for Hitman 2's ragdoll and explosion physics, though the game's age (released in 2018) means modern CPUs rarely struggle here.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,662 out of 3,001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is a surprisingly poor showing for a modern CPU paired with an integrated GPU solution. The data indicates that while the processor is capable — sitting in the 89th percentile for CPU performance — the overall system performance is dragged down significantly by the graphics subsystem.

To put this in perspective, the GPU alone ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% ahead), GeForce 800M (1.5% ahead), GT 625 OEM (2.5% ahead), and GT 710 (2.7% ahead). These are all entry-level or legacy discrete GPUs, and the Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with system-shared memory. The combination of a top-tier gaming CPU with a bottom-tier GPU creates a massive imbalance that the combo rank reflects.

What this means for Hitman 2 specifically is that the game's performance is almost entirely GPU-bound. The CPU has ample headroom — its 12 threads and large cache can handle the game's AI and simulation loads without breaking a sweat. But the Arc B390's integrated nature, with system-shared memory and a 300 MHz base clock boosting to 2500 MHz, cannot feed frames fast enough to utilize the processor's potential. The combo rank of 2,662 suggests that most other tested configurations, even those with older CPUs, outperform this pairing because they use dedicated graphics cards.

# Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 80 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 51 FPS — a 36% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 27 FPS, which is a 66% drop from 1080p. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, where increasing pixel count directly impacts render time without any CPU relief.

The Medium settings tell a similar story: 60 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p (35% drop), and 21 FPS at 4K (65% drop). The High preset shows 46 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p (37% drop), and 16 FPS at 4K (65% drop). This consistent ~35% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and another ~45-50% reduction from 1440p to 4K across all presets strongly indicates that the integrated GPU's shading units (1,536) and ROPs (24) are the bottleneck.

The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are modest figures, and the FP32 throughput of 7.680 TFLOPS is far below what any dedicated gaming GPU offers. The fact that FPS scales nearly linearly with pixel count — not with CPU workload — confirms that the Ryzen 5 7500X3D is not the limiting factor at any resolution. Even at 1080p Low, where a strong CPU might become a constraint in CPU-heavy titles, the 80 FPS ceiling is set by the GPU's ability to process geometry and pixels, not by the processor's 4.50 GHz boost clock.

# FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D a good CPU for Hitman 2?

A: The CPU itself is highly capable, with a 89th percentile ranking among all processors and a multithread score of 25,047. However, the measured combo performance is limited by the integrated GPU, so the CPU's potential is largely untapped in this configuration.

Q: Why does the combo rank so poorly (2,662 out of 3,001) if the CPU is strong?

A: The Intel Arc B390 GPU ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with performance comparable to legacy chips like the GeForce GT 710 (2.7% behind). The massive gap between CPU and GPU capability drags the overall combo rank down.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and maximum of 69 FPS. This is the only preset that hits a 60 FPS average at 1080p.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390's average 3DMark score of 1,482 is 1.3% behind the GT 520MX, 1.5% behind the GeForce 800M, 2.5% behind the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% ahead of the GT 710. These are all entry-level parts.

Q: Does the CPU's 96 MB L3 cache help with Hitman 2's performance?

A: The large cache improves CPU-side data handling, which is evident in the strong Passmark data compression score of 271,649. However, in this combo, the GPU bottleneck masks any potential cache benefits in actual framerate.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at with this combo?

A: Based on measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where any preset reaches playable framerates. At 1440p, even Low settings only achieve 51 FPS, while 4K drops to 27 FPS on Low.

# GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2500 MHz, which is a wide dynamic range that allows the IGP to conserve power when idle but ramp up for gaming. The memory configuration is entirely system-shared — there is no dedicated VRAM, and the memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent."

This shared-memory architecture is the critical weakness for Hitman 2. The game requires rapid access to textures and geometry data, and sharing system memory with the CPU introduces latency and bandwidth contention. The 83.2 GB/s system memory bandwidth of the Ryzen 5 7500X3D is shared between CPU and GPU, and the GPU's memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," meaning it varies based on the CPU and motherboard configuration.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and FP16 of 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio) are respectable for an integrated solution but insufficient for modern gaming at high resolutions. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s translate directly to the measured framerates: at 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 11 FPS average, which is consistent with the GPU being overwhelmed by the 8.3 million pixel workload. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 confirms this — it ranks in the 9th percentile, indicating the GPU is in the lowest tier of tested graphics hardware.

The GPU's 80 W TDP and IGP slot width mean it draws power from the CPU package and uses no additional power connectors. This makes it suitable for compact systems, but the performance trade-off is severe in a game like Hitman 2, which demands consistent frame delivery for stealth gameplay where timing matters.

# Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Analyzing the measured FPS data, the only preset that achieves a 60 FPS average at 1080p is Medium, with an average of 60 FPS and a minimum of 51 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for this combo at 1080p. The Low preset reaches 80 FPS average, which provides a smoother experience but sacrifices visual quality. The High preset drops to 46 FPS average, which is borderline playable but may introduce noticeable stutter in action sequences. The Ultra preset at 34 FPS average is not recommended for a playable experience.

At 1440p, the situation deteriorates. The Low preset achieves 51 FPS average, which is playable but below the 60 FPS target. Medium hits 39 FPS, High drops to 29 FPS, and Ultra falls to 21 FPS. For 1440p gaming, Low is the only viable option, and even then, the user must accept a framerate below 60 FPS. At 4K, all presets are essentially unplayable: Low at 27 FPS, Medium at 21 FPS, High at 16 FPS, and Ultra at 11 FPS.

The measured data includes min and max FPS only for Medium presets. At 1080p Medium, the range is 51-69 FPS, indicating some frametime variance. At 1440p Medium, the range is 33-44 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it's 17-24 FPS. This suggests that Medium preset provides the most consistent frame pacing relative to its average, which is important for a stealth game where precise timing is required.

The best experience per the measured rows is clearly 1080p Medium, which balances visual fidelity with playable framerates. Users who prioritize smoothness over visuals could opt for 1080p Low at 80 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of quality and performance without dipping below 51 FPS.

# Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 80 FPS average
• Medium: 60 FPS average (min 51, max 69)
• High: 46 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo demonstrates its best performance. The Low preset delivers 80 FPS, which is the highest measured framerate across all resolutions and settings. Medium achieves a solid 60 FPS average with a minimum of 51 FPS, making it the only preset to maintain a playable floor at this resolution. High drops to 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target but still usable for less demanding scenes. Ultra falls to 34 FPS, which is marginal for a stealth game where reaction time matters.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 51 FPS average
• Medium: 39 FPS average (min 33, max 44)
• High: 29 FPS average
• Ultra: 21 FPS average

At 1440p, the integrated GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings are the only viable option, with 51 FPS average — just below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium drops to 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutter during crowded scenes. High and Ultra are not recommended at this resolution, as framerates fall below 30 FPS, making the game feel sluggish.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 27 FPS average
• Medium: 21 FPS average (min 17, max 24)
• High: 16 FPS average
• Ultra: 11 FPS average

At 4K, the combo is severely GPU-bound. Even the Low preset only achieves 27 FPS, which is below playable thresholds for most users. Medium averages 21 FPS with a minimum of 17 FPS, indicating poor frame pacing. High and Ultra are effectively slideshows at 16 and 11 FPS respectively. The 4K results confirm that this configuration is not suitable for high-resolution gaming, and users should stick to 1080p for any reasonable experience.

The overall pattern across all resolutions and settings shows a linear relationship between pixel count and framerate drop, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited system. The CPU's performance is consistent regardless of resolution, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K matches the pixel count scaling almost exactly. This data reinforces that the Intel Arc B390's integrated nature is the primary constraint, and the Ryzen 5 7500X3D is not the bottleneck in this pairing.