Hitman 2

# How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X paired with the Intel Arc B370 lands at rank 2768 out of 3001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places the combo in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, which is a significant underperformance for a processor that otherwise ranks in the 81st percentile against all CPUs. The data indicates that while the CPU is far from a bottleneck in most scenarios, this particular GPU pairing drags the overall result down considerably.

The 233-position gap between the CPU's individual standing and the combo's overall rank highlights a stark imbalance. The Ryzen 5 9600X's average benchmark score of 29713 puts it within 0.8% of several competing processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (29955) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT (29879), yet the Arc B370's 5th percentile GPU ranking anchors this system near the bottom of the database. When examining the nearest rival combos, the delta percentages are tight—within 1.4% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and 0.7% of the AMD Radeon HD 7650M—but these are all legacy mobile parts from a different era.

What makes this ranking particularly notable is that the system's measured FPS data shows playable frame rates at 1080p Low and Medium settings, suggesting the rank may be influenced by the GPU's overall benchmark profile rather than strictly by Hitman 2 performance. The combo's position among 3001 tested configurations places it in the company of integrated graphics solutions and decade-old discrete GPUs, which is consistent with the Arc B370's 25W TDP and IGP slot width. This is not a configuration designed for high-refresh gaming; it is a system that barely registers in the competitive landscape of Hitman 2 performance.

# CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X brings substantial processing power to this combination. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it operates on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) built on a 4nm TSMC process. The base clock of 3.90 GHz can boost up to 5.40 GHz, and the processor carries 32 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 1 MB of L2 cache per core. These specifications position the CPU well above what Hitman 2 typically demands from a processor.

Benchmark data reinforces this assessment. The CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17528.5 and a single-core score of 2183.5, with Geekbench results of 14438 multicore and 2923 single-core. The 3DMark thread scaling tests show strong gains from 2 threads (2456) to 8 threads (6726), with max-thread performance reaching 7590. This scaling pattern indicates the processor handles multithreaded workloads efficiently, though Hitman 2's engine does not heavily leverage more than 4-6 threads in most scenarios.

In Hitman 2 specifically, the CPU's role is to feed the Arc B370 with draw calls and physics calculations. Given that the GPU is the clear performance limiter in this pairing, the 9600X's capabilities are largely untapped. The PassMark multithread score of 30027 and single-thread score of 4570 demonstrate ample headroom for the game's AI, crowd simulation, and level streaming systems. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth from dual-channel DDR5 support ensures the CPU can move data quickly, though the GPU's system-shared memory architecture may create contention.

The 65W TDP and 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die show this is an efficient processor, but efficiency does not translate to gaming performance when paired with such a low-power GPU. The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database—the Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (29656, +0.2%), Ryzen 7 7840H (29868, -0.5%), and Ryzen 7 5800XT (29879, -0.6%)—are all within a single percentage point, confirming the 9600X performs as expected for its class. None of these comparisons change the fundamental issue: the CPU is not the constraint in this system.

# GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the dominant factor in this system's performance profile. Built on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake chip) using a 3nm Intel process, this GPU is designed as an integrated graphics solution with a 25W TDP and IGP slot width. Its 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units are modest by discrete GPU standards, and the 10 ray tracing cores provide minimal RT capability.

Memory is the most significant limitation. The Arc B370 uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM, no dedicated bus width, and bandwidth that is system dependent. This means the GPU competes with the CPU for memory access, and in a system with dual-channel DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s, the effective bandwidth available to the GPU is constrained. The 300 MHz base clock boosting to 2400 MHz is respectable, but the architecture's 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate place it far below what Hitman 2 needs for smooth gameplay at higher settings.

The GPU's single benchmark entry—a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184—places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are telling: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7%) are all within 0.7% of the Arc B370's score. These are GPU architectures from the early 2010s, indicating the Arc B370's raw compute falls in line with legacy mobile parts rather than modern discrete graphics.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's limitations become immediately apparent. The game's crowds, reflective surfaces, and large open levels require sustained fill rate and memory bandwidth that this IGP cannot deliver. The 20 ROPs limit pixel throughput, and the shared memory architecture adds latency that affects frame pacing. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility are modern, but API support does not compensate for insufficient hardware resources.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a system that struggles at higher resolutions and quality settings but becomes playable at 1080p with reduced settings. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers only 10 FPS average, while High reaches 14 FPS, Medium hits 19 FPS (with a range of 16-21), and Low achieves 25 FPS. None of these 4K results are playable for a stealth game requiring precise timing and reaction.

Dropping to 2560x1440 improves matters but still falls short of smooth gameplay. Ultra averages 19 FPS, High reaches 26 FPS, Medium hits 35 FPS (30-40 range), and Low achieves 46 FPS. The 1440p results are borderline at Low settings, but the experience would likely feel stuttery and unresponsive for Hitman 2's stealth mechanics.

The 1920x1080 results finally reach playable territory. Low settings average 73 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. Medium averages 54 FPS (46-63 range), providing a reasonable experience with some visual improvements. High averages 41 FPS, which is marginal but potentially playable for less action-heavy sequences. Ultra drops to 30 FPS, which is the minimum threshold for playability but would feel inconsistent during crowded or explosion-heavy scenes.

The pattern across all resolutions shows a consistent scaling: Ultra is roughly 60-65% slower than Low at each resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low (73 FPS) to Medium (54 FPS) represents a 26% performance loss, while Medium to High (41 FPS) loses another 24%. The step from High to Ultra (30 FPS) is a 27% decrease. This consistent drop suggests the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity are the limiting factors rather than any single setting.

# Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data clearly identifies the GPU as the performance bottleneck. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K produces dramatic FPS reductions that far exceed what would be expected from pixel count increases alone. At Low settings, 1080p yields 73 FPS, 1440p drops to 46 FPS (a 37% reduction), and 4K falls to 25 FPS (a 66% reduction from 1080p). This scaling pattern indicates the GPU is running out of fill rate and memory bandwidth as resolution increases.

The Ultra settings show even more severe degradation. From 1080p's 30 FPS, 1440p drops to 19 FPS (37% lower), and 4K falls to 10 FPS (67% lower). The proportional drops are nearly identical across settings, suggesting the limiting factor is resolution-dependent rather than setting-dependent. This is characteristic of a GPU that is constrained by its rasterization throughput and memory subsystem rather than shader complexity.

The system-shared memory architecture exacerbates this scaling problem. At 4K, the framebuffer alone consumes significant memory bandwidth, leaving less available for texture streaming and geometry processing. The 89.6 GB/s system bandwidth is shared between CPU and GPU, and at higher resolutions the GPU's share becomes insufficient. The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal; the Ryzen 5 9600X has ample headroom to maintain frame delivery at all tested resolutions.

The scaling behavior suggests that 1080p is the practical ceiling for this combination. At 1440p, even Low settings cannot maintain 60 FPS, and at 4K, all settings produce results below 30 FPS. The GPU's limited ROP count (20) and pixel rate (48.00 GPixel/s) make higher resolutions computationally prohibitive. For Hitman 2, players would need to accept either 1080p with medium visual quality or significantly reduced resolutions to achieve playable frame rates.

# FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 1080p smoothly?

A: Yes, at 1080p with Low settings the average FPS is 73, and Medium settings deliver 54 FPS (46-63 range). High settings drop to 41 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a stealth game requiring precise timing.

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where playable frame rates are consistently achievable. At 2560x1440, even Low settings only reach 46 FPS, and 3840x2160 produces results below 25 FPS across all settings.

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

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is within 0.7% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). The AMD FirePro M2000 (1168) is 1.4% slower.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 9600X the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 81st percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 29713, and its nearest rivals are within 0.8% of its performance. The GPU's 5th percentile ranking makes it the clear limiting factor.

Q: What settings should I use for the best experience at 1080p?

A: Low settings provide the best experience at 73 FPS average. Medium settings offer 54 FPS with improved visuals, which remains playable. Ultra settings at 30 FPS are not recommended due to inconsistent frame pacing potential.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems in Hitman 2?

A: The combination ranks 2768 out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of systems. This low ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU's performance ceiling rather than CPU limitations.

# Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data supports a clear hierarchy of settings for this system in Hitman 2. At 1080p, Low settings deliver 73 FPS average, which provides a smooth and responsive experience well above the 60 FPS threshold. This should be the default choice for players prioritizing gameplay consistency. Medium settings at 54 FPS (46-63 range) offer a compromise that improves visual quality while maintaining near-playable frame rates, though the minimum of 46 FPS may cause occasional slowdowns during dense crowd scenes.

High settings at 1080p produce 41 FPS average, which is below the ideal threshold for a stealth game where reaction times matter. The visual improvements over Medium are noticeable but not worth the 24% performance penalty. Ultra settings at 30 FPS are not recommended; the game's dynamic lighting and crowd simulations become more taxing, and the average frame rate sits right at the edge of playability with no headroom for frame time spikes.

At 1440p, Low settings (46 FPS) are the only viable option, and even this falls below 60 FPS. Players with 1440p displays should consider running the game at 1080p resolution with Medium settings instead, as this produces higher frame rates (54 FPS) with better visual fidelity than 1440p Low. The 4K resolution is not viable for this combination; all settings produce results below 30 FPS, with Ultra at 10 FPS being unplayable.

The optimal configuration for this system is 1080p with Medium settings, balancing the 54 FPS average with improved textures and shadow quality over Low. For competitive or high-precision play, 1080p Low at 73 FPS provides the most consistent experience. The Arc B370's 25W TDP and shared memory architecture suggest that players should prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity when configuring Hitman 2 with this hardware.