Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a striking bottleneck scenario in Hitman 2. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated-class solution with performance that places it in the 9th percentile of all tested graphics cards. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are consistently low, indicating that the Arc B390 is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration, with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D’s substantial processing power left largely untapped.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly illustrates the GPU-bound nature of this combination. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 80 FPS. Stepping up to 1440p at the same settings reduces the average to 51 FPS, a 36% decrease. Moving further to 4K at Low settings, the average plummets to 27 FPS, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p result. This steep scaling curve is characteristic of a GPU that is overwhelmed by pixel count, even at the lowest graphical fidelity.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. With High settings, the average frame rate drops from 46 FPS at 1080p to 29 FPS at 1440p and finally to 16 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable, with averages of 34 FPS at 1080p, 21 FPS at 1440p, and just 11 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that the Arc B390’s rendering pipeline, with its 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs, is simply saturated by the resolution increase. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in this title, regardless of how much headroom the Ryzen 7 7800X3D might have.

The scaling pattern also reveals that the performance penalty for increasing resolution is not linear. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the gap between 1440p and 4K is even more punishing. For instance, on Medium settings, the 1080p to 1440p drop is from 60 FPS to 39 FPS (a 35% loss), while the 1440p to 4K drop is from 39 FPS to 21 FPS (a 46% loss). This indicates that the GPU’s memory bandwidth, which is "System Shared" and dependent on the platform, becomes a critical constraint at higher resolutions, further compounding the lack of raw compute power.

Settings Recommendations

Given the benchmark results, the only viable path to a playable experience is to prioritize lower resolutions and settings. The data shows that at 1080p, the Low preset provides an average of 80 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that approaches a consistently smooth frame rate. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 60 FPS on average, with a minimum of 51 FPS, which is also technically playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

For users with a 1080p display, the Low preset is the clear recommendation for a responsive experience. The Medium preset is a viable alternative for those who prioritize visual quality over a higher average frame rate, as the 60 FPS average is still within a reasonable range, though the 51 FPS minimum indicates occasional dips. High settings at 1080p should be avoided, as the 46 FPS average is borderline and will likely feel inconsistent.

At 1440p, the situation is much more challenging. The Low preset delivers an average of 51 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that provides a remotely fluid experience. The Medium preset falls to 39 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for serious play, with averages of 29 FPS and 21 FPS, respectively. The 4K resolution is simply not viable for this game with this GPU, as even the Low preset only manages a 27 FPS average, and the Ultra preset drops to a slideshow-like 11 FPS.

The best experience per the measured data is unequivocally the 1080p Low preset. It is the only configuration that consistently exceeds 60 FPS, providing a playable foundation. While it requires significant compromises in visual fidelity, it is the only way to achieve a functional frame rate in Hitman 2 with this hardware pairing.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this CPU and GPU in Hitman 2?*

A: Based on the measured data, the 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that delivers a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 80 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset is an alternative, providing a 60 FPS average but with a lower minimum of 51 FPS.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?*

A: No. The benchmark results show that even at the lowest settings, the 4K resolution yields only a 27 FPS average. At higher settings, the performance drops to 16 FPS on High and 11 FPS on Ultra, making the game unplayable at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an average benchmark score of 33079. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and Intel Core i7-13650HX, both with an average score of 33089 (a 0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H with a score of 33201, which is 0.4% higher.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The frame rates are consistently low across all settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited scenario, especially given the high-end nature of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset achieves an average of 51 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 21 FPS. This represents a 59% decrease in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: What are the key specifications of the Intel Arc B390?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, 24 ROPs, and 12 ray tracing cores. Its boost clock is 2500 MHz, and it has a TDP of 80 W.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Intel Arc B390 combination in Hitman 2 are detailed below.

At 3840x2160 (4K):

• The Ultra preset yields an average of 11 FPS.
• The High preset yields an average of 16 FPS.
• The Medium preset yields an average of 21 FPS, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 24 FPS.
• The Low preset yields an average of 27 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p):

• The Ultra preset yields an average of 21 FPS.
• The High preset yields an average of 29 FPS.
• The Medium preset yields an average of 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS.
• The Low preset yields an average of 51 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p):

• The Ultra preset yields an average of 34 FPS.
• The High preset yields an average of 46 FPS.
• The Medium preset yields an average of 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS.
• The Low preset yields an average of 80 FPS.

The data shows a clear hierarchy, with performance scaling down as resolution and settings are increased. The Medium preset is the only one that provides minimum and maximum frame rate data, suggesting it was the focus of more detailed testing. The lack of min/max data for other presets makes it difficult to assess frame time consistency, but the average figures are sufficient to show the overall performance envelope.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Intel Arc B390 ranks at 2662 out of 3001 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is consistent with the low average frame rates observed. The ranking reflects the severe limitation imposed by the GPU, which is a dominant factor in determining overall gaming performance.

The CPU itself is not the issue. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has a percentile ranking of 83 against all CPUs, indicating it is a top-tier processor. Its average benchmark score of 33079 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and Intel Core i7-13650HX, which are its closest rivals. The fact that this high-performing CPU is paired with a GPU that sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs creates a massive imbalance, dragging the overall combo ranking down to near the bottom of the list.

This ranking reflects how a single weak component can define the entire system's gaming capability. The combo's rank of 2662 out of 3001 demonstrates that while the CPU can handle the game's logic and physics with ease, the GPU cannot keep up with the rendering demands. The result is a system that is fundamentally unsuited for playing Hitman 2 at acceptable performance levels, despite its powerful processor.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a formidable processor that brings significant capabilities to this pairing. It is an 8-core, 16-thread part based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its defining feature is the large 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a key asset for gaming workloads. The CPU also supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, and it offers PCIe Gen 5 connectivity.

In terms of raw processing power, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D scores 16817 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1713 in single-core. It also achieves 34293 in Passmark's multithread test and 3759 in the single-thread test. These scores are a strong indicator of its ability to handle complex simulations and draw calls. However, in Hitman 2, the CPU's role is largely underutilized due to the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough to make use of the CPU's headroom.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. The frame rates are consistently low, even at 1080p Low, suggesting that the GPU is working at its maximum capacity while the CPU waits for work. The CPU's high benchmark scores and its 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs confirm that it is a high-performance part. The bottleneck is unequivocally the Intel Arc B390, whose 80 W TDP and integrated design are not designed for the demands of a game like Hitman 2 at high resolutions and settings.