Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from late 2018, presents a demanding workload for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X paired with the Intel Arc B570 across a range of settings. The data indicates a configuration that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but one that struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, with the GPU acting as the primary limiting factor.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 70 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 45 FPS, and at 4K it falls to just 24 FPS. This trajectory shows a significant performance penalty as pixel count increases, a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B570 is the bottleneck. The frame rate at 4K is less than half of what is achieved at 1080p, showing that the GPU is struggling to fill the additional pixels at the higher resolution.

The scaling pattern differs when we examine the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 123 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 79 FPS, and at 4K Low, it reaches 42 FPS. This shows that even with reduced graphical load, the 4K resolution is still too demanding for this GPU to deliver a high frame rate. The difference between the 1080p and 1440p Low results is a 44 FPS drop, while the difference between 1440p and 4K Low is a 37 FPS drop. This more linear scaling at lower settings suggests that the CPU is capable of keeping up, but the GPU's throughput is the limiting factor at all resolutions tested.

The gap between the Low and Ultra presets also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (123 FPS) and Ultra (52 FPS) is 71 FPS. At 1440p, the gap between Low (79 FPS) and Ultra (33 FPS) is 46 FPS. At 4K, the difference between Low (42 FPS) and Ultra (18 FPS) is 24 FPS. This compression of performance at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU is saturated; the additional work required for Ultra settings cannot be compensated for when the base pixel load is already too high. The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1080p is the target resolution, with 1440p requiring a compromise on settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the definitive performance ceiling in this configuration. The benchmark data shows that the GPU sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc A750, which has a deltaPct of -0.1, indicating nearly identical performance. This puts the B570 in a specific performance tier that directly explains the frame rates observed in Hitman 2.

The GPU's memory configuration is a notable factor. It comes with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. While 10 GB is a reasonable amount for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it may be a limiting factor at 4K where texture memory demands are higher. However, the average FPS data suggests that raw compute and memory bandwidth, not just capacity, are the primary constraints, as even the Low preset at 4K fails to break 60 FPS.

Clock speeds for the B570 are listed at 2500 MHz for both base and boost. This consistent clock speed, combined with the 2304 shading units, yields a theoretical FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS. The 144 TMUs and 80 ROPs contribute to the pixel and texture rates of 200.0 GPixel/s and 360.0 GTexel/s, respectively. These specifications are modest for 4K gaming, which is reflected in the measured results. The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 14195, places it in a position where it can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease but will consistently fall short of high-refresh-rate 4K gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2399 out of 3001 combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the lower half of all tested configurations. This ranking is primarily a reflection of the GPU's performance tier, as the CPU is a high-end part that is not the bottleneck in this scenario.

The combo rank of 2399 out of 3001 indicates that while the system is functional and can play the game, it is far from the top of the performance charts. Many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs will deliver higher frame rates, especially at higher resolutions. The ranking is a holistic measure that incorporates all settings and resolutions, and the poor 4K performance significantly drags down the overall position. This suggests that for a user looking to play at 4K, this is not an optimal pairing, but for 1080p or 1440p, the rank is less indicative of the actual experience.

The CPU itself is a strong performer, holding an 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 35909. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 with a deltaPct of 0.3, showing the 7700X is slightly faster. This contrast between a high-ranking CPU and a mid-ranking GPU is the core takeaway from the combo rank. The system's performance is capped by the Arc B570, meaning that the Ryzen 7 7700X's potential is not fully utilized in this game, particularly at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of the system's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system is quite capable. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 123 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 106. High settings yield 70 FPS. The Ultra preset drops the average to 52 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, all settings are playable, with Low and Medium providing excellent frame rates for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, and High still being very smooth. Ultra is the only setting that dips below 60 FPS, but it remains playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance begins to show the GPU's limitations. The Low preset delivers 79 FPS, which is still very good. Medium settings provide 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. High settings yield 45 FPS. The Ultra preset drops the average to 33 FPS. This indicates that 1440p is best suited for Low and Medium settings for a smooth experience. High settings are borderline, and Ultra is not recommended for a consistently playable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system is heavily GPU-bound. The Low preset produces 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 36. High settings drop to 24 FPS. The Ultra preset yields a barely playable 18 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combination, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a stable 60 FPS. The 4K results are only suitable for screenshots or very slow-paced, non-competitive play.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this system depends on the target resolution. For 1080p, the High preset at 70 FPS is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. For players who prioritize frame rate, the Medium preset at 93 FPS is the better choice, as it still offers a significant visual upgrade over Low without the performance hit of High. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS is playable but does not offer a substantial enough improvement over High to justify the 18 FPS drop in average frame rate.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. At 59 FPS, it is just under the 60 FPS target but provides a much better visual experience than Low. The High preset at 45 FPS is a viable alternative for those who prefer higher image quality, but the frame rate is less stable. The Low preset at 79 FPS is the best choice for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor, as it provides a very smooth experience. The Ultra preset should be avoided due to its low 33 FPS average.

At 4K, no settings are recommended for a standard gaming experience. The Low preset at 42 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, but it will not feel smooth. The Medium preset at 32 FPS is playable for slower, more methodical sections of the game, but it will struggle during busy scenes. The data strongly suggests that users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for this game with this hardware. The best overall experience is at 1440p on Medium, which offers a good balance between resolution and frame rate, or 1080p on High for a more stable 60+ FPS experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a high-end processor that is not the limiting factor in this game. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its performance in synthetic benchmarks is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19088 and a single-core score of 1987. This processing power ensures that the GPU is fed with enough data to perform at its maximum potential in Hitman 2.

The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s provide a solid foundation for game data. In the context of Hitman 2, a game that is not heavily CPU-threaded, the 7700X's high single-core performance is more important than its multicore capabilities. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 123 FPS, which is a high frame rate that still shows the GPU is the bottleneck, as the frame rate scales significantly with resolution.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 85th among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35909, confirms its high-end status. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, with a deltaPct of 0.3, meaning the 7700X is slightly faster. This performance headroom means that in Hitman 2, the CPU will rarely cause frame rate dips. The only scenario where the CPU might become more relevant is at lower resolutions with very high frame rates, but even at 1080p Low, the 123 FPS result suggests the GPU is still the primary constraint. This pairing of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range GPU means the Arc B570's performance is the definitive factor in the overall experience.