Hitman 2

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts up to 5.50 GHz, with 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 per core. This is a modern desktop part with 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and DDR5 dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's raw processing headroom is far beyond what the measured frame rates require. The PassMark multithread score of 36,470 places it at the 94th percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 69,996. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 9700F is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% faster), the Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% slower), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% faster), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (0.9% faster). This means the CPU is not a bottleneck in any scenario here—even at 1080p Low, where the game is most likely to be CPU-limited, the processor has ample headroom.

The single-thread performance (PassMark single thread score of 4,691) is also strong, which matters for Hitman 2's game logic and AI routines. The data shows that across all resolutions and settings, the frame rates scale almost entirely with GPU load rather than CPU capability. At 1080p Low, the average of 80 FPS is the highest measured, and even that is a modest result for a CPU this powerful. The 9700F's 65 W TDP and 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die indicate an efficient design, but efficiency is irrelevant when the GPU is the limiting factor, as it clearly is here.

The benchmark data for the CPU (PassMark physics score of 2,122, integer math score of 120,788, floating point math score of 77,955) all confirm a processor that can handle far more demanding workloads than Hitman 2 presents at these settings. The conclusion is straightforward: the Ryzen 7 9700F is not the component holding back performance in this pairing. Its role is to feed frames to the GPU without stuttering, and it does so with massive surplus capacity. The game's measured results reflect GPU limitations, not CPU ones.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake) on a 3 nm Intel process. It has 1,536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with 12 ray tracing cores. The base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2500 MHz. Critically, the memory is "System Shared" — there is no dedicated VRAM. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all system-dependent, and the FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS.

This is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a 80 W TDP, and its benchmark results reflect that positioning. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1,482, which places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs — meaning it outperforms only about 9% of the database. Its nearest rivals are all ancient or entry-level discrete parts: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% slower), the GeForce 800M (1.5% slower), the GT 625 OEM (2.5% slower), and the GT 710 (2.7% slower). The data indicates this GPU is operating at a performance tier equivalent to decade-old low-end discrete graphics.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's shared memory architecture is a significant handicap. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 11 FPS, and at 4K High it is only 16 FPS. Even at 1080p Low — the least demanding configuration measured — the average is 80 FPS, which is playable but far from smooth for a stealth game that benefits from consistent frame pacing. The 2,500 MHz boost clock cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated VRAM bandwidth; the system-dependent memory means the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access, which is a structural limitation.

The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are theoretical maximums that the shared memory system cannot sustain in practice. The measured FPS data shows a GPU that struggles as resolution increases, with the 4K results being unplayable at every setting. This is consistent with a GPU that has 24 ROPs — a very low count for modern resolutions. The Arc B390's role in this pairing is the definitive bottleneck; every frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is attributable to the GPU's inability to process pixels fast enough.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions tells a clear story of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p Low, the average is 80 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 51 FPS — a 36% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 27 FPS, which is a 66% drop from 1080p. This steep scaling curve is characteristic of a GPU that runs out of fill rate and memory bandwidth as pixel count increases.

The pattern repeats across all settings. At High, the averages are 46 FPS (1080p), 29 FPS (1440p), and 16 FPS (4K). The 1440p High result is 37% lower than 1080p High, and 4K High is 65% lower. At Medium, the averages are 60 FPS (1080p), 39 FPS (1440p), and 21 FPS (4K), with min FPS values of 51, 33, and 17 respectively. The Ultra preset shows the same trend: 34 FPS at 1080p, 21 FPS at 1440p, and 11 FPS at 4K.

The resolution scaling demonstrates that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, frame rates would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, because the CPU workload is resolution-independent. Instead, the data shows a near-linear relationship between pixel count and performance degradation. Doubling the resolution from 1080p to 4K (a 4x pixel increase) results in frame rates dropping to roughly one-third to one-quarter of the 1080p values, depending on the preset. This is exactly what a GPU with 24 ROPs and shared system memory would produce.

The min FPS data at Medium settings further confirms this: at 1080p the min is 51 FPS, at 1440p it is 33 FPS, and at 4K it is 17 FPS. The frame time consistency degrades as resolution climbs, which is typical of a GPU that is starved for memory bandwidth. For a game like Hitman 2, where stealth mechanics reward steady frame delivery, the 4K results are unusable for any serious play. The 1440p results are borderline, and only 1080p offers anything approaching a smooth experience — and even then, only at Low or Medium settings.

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

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F 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 tested for this game. The rank reflects the GPU's severe limitation; the CPU's high percentile (94th) does not boost the combo because the GPU holds the pair back so dramatically.

To contextualize this rank: the Ryzen 7 9700F is a top-tier processor that sits within 1% of the Ryzen 9 7950X and Core i7-14700K in average benchmark scores. But the Arc B390 sits in the 9th GPU percentile, competing with the GT 710 and GT 625 OEM. The combination of a 94th-percentile CPU with a 9th-percentile GPU produces a result that is far below what either component would suggest individually. This is a textbook case of a mismatched pairing where the GPU is the sole determinant of game performance.

The combo rank of 2,662 out of 3,001 means that 89% of tested configurations outperform this pairing in Hitman 2. This is not a reflection of the CPU — it is entirely a function of the GPU's integrated-class performance. The data shows that any discrete GPU from the past decade would likely rank higher, as evidenced by the Arc B390's nearest rivals being low-end parts from 2011-2013 era. The rank is consistent with the measured FPS: a combo that cannot reach 60 FPS at 1080p High (46 FPS average) or 30 FPS at 1440p High (29 FPS average) will naturally fall near the bottom of a benchmark database that includes modern discrete graphics cards.

For builders, this rank serves as a warning: pairing a high-end CPU with an integrated GPU yields a system that is only suitable for low-resolution, low-settings gaming. The CPU investment is wasted in this context, because the GPU cannot translate CPU headroom into visible frame rate gains. The data shows that the combo's performance is bounded by the GPU's 9th-percentile capability, and no amount of CPU power can overcome that barrier.

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

Given the measured data, the best playable experience is at 1080p with the Low preset, which yields an average of 80 FPS. This is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS threshold comfortably. The 1080p Medium preset averages 60 FPS (min 51, max 69), which is technically playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes; the min FPS of 51 could lead to noticeable hitches in crowded areas of Hitman 2.

At 1080p High, the average drops to 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target that most players prefer for a stealth game where quick reactions matter. The 1080p Ultra preset averages 34 FPS, which is too low for consistent gameplay. At 1440p, the best option is Low with 51 FPS average — playable but not smooth. The 1440p Medium preset averages 39 FPS (min 33), and 1440p High drops to 29 FPS; both are marginal at best. The 1440p Ultra average of 21 FPS is unplayable.

At 4K, none of the presets are viable. The best 4K result is Low at 27 FPS, followed by Medium at 21 FPS (min 17), High at 16 FPS, and Ultra at 11 FPS. These are all well below playable thresholds. The data indicates that 4K gaming is simply not possible with this GPU, regardless of settings.

The optimal recommendation is 1080p Low for a smooth experience, or 1080p Medium if you can tolerate occasional dips to 51 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a 60 FPS average with a 51 FPS minimum, which is the highest visual quality that maintains playable frame rates. The Low preset's 80 FPS average provides a 33% performance buffer over Medium, which is preferable for competitive or reaction-heavy play. The data shows that the GPU's shared memory and low ROP count make high settings counterproductive — the visual gains from High and Ultra are not worth the frame rate penalties of 43% and 58% respectively compared to Medium.

# FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F a good match for the Intel Arc B390 in Hitman 2?

A: No. The CPU ranks at the 94th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. The combo ranks 2,662 out of 3,001 tested configurations, indicating a severe bottleneck where the GPU limits performance to below what the CPU can deliver.

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 60 FPS?

A: Only at 1080p with the Low preset, which averages 80 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset averages exactly 60 FPS (min 51, max 69). At 1440p, the best average is 51 FPS on Low, and at 4K, no preset reaches 30 FPS.

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

A: The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GT 710. These are all low-end or legacy parts.

Q: What is the biggest factor limiting performance in this pairing?

A: The GPU's shared memory architecture and low ROP count (24). The GPU uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, which cannot sustain the pixel throughput required for higher resolutions. The resolution scaling data shows frame rates dropping by roughly 66% from 1080p to 4K at Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU's performance affected by the GPU bottleneck?

A: No. The CPU's PassMark multithread score of 36,470 and single-thread score of 4,691 are unaffected by the GPU. However, the CPU's headroom is wasted because the GPU cannot translate it into higher frame rates. The CPU sits within 1% of the Ryzen 9 7950X and Core i7-14700K in average benchmark scores.

Q: What settings should be used for the best experience?

A: 1080p Low provides the smoothest experience at 80 FPS average. For better visuals while maintaining playability, 1080p Medium at 60 FPS average (51 FPS minimum) is the highest quality option that stays above 50 FPS. Higher settings at any resolution result in averages below 50 FPS, which are not recommended for Hitman 2's stealth gameplay.