Hitman 2

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake-S desktop processor with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It has a 12 MB shared L3 cache and a 58 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 11,912 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,681 in single-core, with a PassMark single-thread score of 3,444. Its average benchmark score of 13,516 places it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The data shows this chip trades blows with much more expensive parts: it is just 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U, 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10105, and 1.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K. For a game like Hitman 2, this CPU has enough single-thread strength to keep a high-end GPU fed, but its physical core count is modest. The 3DMark results show that scaling from 4 threads (2,859) to 8 threads (4,026) and max threads (4,023) yields a large jump, but the difference between 8 and max threads is negligible. This indicates the CPU is fully utilized by 8 threads, and Hitman 2’s workload fits within that envelope. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,912 is respectable, but the single-core score of 1,681 is what matters more for frame pacing in a stealth game that relies on AI and physics calculations. The CPU’s 72nd percentile standing suggests it is a mid-to-upper tier part, but it is not the bottleneck in this specific combo; the GPU is far more powerful on paper, sitting at the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F brings 4 cores and 8 threads to the table, clocked between 3.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. This is a dual-channel memory platform supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, with PCIe Gen 5 lanes. For Hitman 2, the game’s engine is known to be sensitive to single-core performance, and this chip delivers a PassMark single-thread score of 3,444. That is a strong result, placing it in a position where it can push high frame rates without holding back a flagship GPU. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,681 confirms this. However, the multi-core story is different: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,912 is solid but not exceptional. The 3DMark 8-thread score of 4,026 is nearly identical to the max-thread score of 4,023, which means the CPU does not benefit from more than 8 threads. Hitman 2 is unlikely to use more than that, so the CPU’s thread count is adequate, but the physical 4-core design means background tasks could interfere with frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU is still able to deliver 279.3 FPS on Low settings, which indicates it is not a limiting factor at that resolution. The CPU’s 72nd percentile rank versus all CPUs means it is a capable part, but in this combo, the GPU is the star. The benchmark results suggest the i3-12100F is sufficient to keep the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER busy, but the gap between this CPU and the GPU’s own percentile (86th) shows the pairing is slightly unbalanced. The 4-core design is the main constraint; 8 threads is the ceiling, and the game appears to respect that ceiling.

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

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER in Hitman 2?

A: The data suggests it is not a severe bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 279.3 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it still reaches 118 FPS. The CPU’s single-thread score of 3,444 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,681 are strong enough to drive high frame rates. However, the 4-core design limits multi-threaded headroom, so the CPU is the weaker link compared to the GPU’s 86th percentile standing.

Q: How does the i3-12100F compare to its closest rivals in CPU benchmarks?

A: The i3-12100F’s average benchmark score of 13,516 is just 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13,534) and 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i7-1250U (13,462). It is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10105 (13,430) and 1.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K (13,280). This means the i3-12100F holds its own against older and more expensive parts.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a balanced experience in Hitman 2?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the Medium preset at 1080p delivers 207.4 FPS, while High yields 159.7 FPS. At 1440p, Medium gives 132.6 FPS and High gives 99.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 73.7 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium provides the best balance of visual quality and high frame rates. For a 60 FPS target, 4K High at 55.2 FPS is close, but Medium at 72.9 FPS is safer.

Q: How much FPS does lowering settings from Ultra to Low gain at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the measured FPS goes from 118 FPS on Ultra to 279.3 FPS on Low. That is a gain of 161.3 FPS, or roughly 136% more performance. The jump from Ultra to Medium (207.4 FPS) is also significant, showing that the GPU has plenty of headroom when settings are reduced.

Q: Does the combo rank well among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 217th out of 1,795 tested combos. That puts it in the top 12% of all configurations. This is a strong result, especially considering the CPU’s lower price point relative to the GPU. The ranking reflects that the i3-12100F + RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a high-performing pairing for this game.

Q: What is the CPU’s memory support and does it affect Hitman 2 performance?

A: The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. The FACT PACK does not specify a memory bandwidth figure, but the dual-channel bus is standard. For Hitman 2, the game is not memory-bandwidth sensitive based on the measured FPS; the CPU’s 12 MB L3 cache is more relevant for game data. No specific memory speed data is provided, so the impact cannot be quantified.

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

The measured data provides four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—across three resolutions. For a 1080p display, the Medium preset at 207.4 FPS is the sweet spot. It offers a massive jump from Ultra (118 FPS) and is only 71.9 FPS behind Low (279.3 FPS). At 1440p, Medium at 132.6 FPS is again the best choice, as it stays well above 100 FPS while High drops to 99.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p (73.7 FPS) is playable, but the visual difference between Medium and Ultra may not justify the 58.9 FPS loss. For 4K, the situation changes: Medium at 72.9 FPS is the recommended preset, as it is the only one that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. High at 4K (55.2 FPS) is borderline, and Ultra at 4K (39 FPS) is not smooth enough for a stealth game where quick reactions matter. The Low preset at 4K (95.1 FPS) is an option for competitive play, but it sacrifices too much visual fidelity. The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the best overall experience across all resolutions, with High being a viable alternative at 1080p and 1440p for those who prioritize image quality over raw FPS. The Ultra preset is only recommended at 1080p, where 118 FPS is still high, but at higher resolutions, it is not worth the performance hit. In summary, for most users, Medium is the default choice, and High is for those with 1080p or 1440p monitors who want a visual upgrade.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER achieves a combo rank of 217 out of 1,795 tested combinations in Hitman 2. That places it in the top 12.1% of all configurations. This is a strong showing, especially given that the CPU is a budget-oriented 4-core part. The ranking reflects the GPU’s dominance; the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48,704. The CPU, at the 72nd percentile, is the weaker component, but the gap is not large enough to drag the combo down significantly. In comparison, the CPU’s nearest rivals—such as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (0.1% faster) and Intel Core i7-7700K (1.8% slower)—would likely produce similar combo ranks, as the GPU does most of the heavy lifting. The data shows that the combo is well-balanced for this game, but not top-tier. Combos ranked above 217 likely feature more powerful CPUs, such as 8-core or 16-core parts, which could provide higher minimum frame rates in CPU-intensive scenes. However, for the majority of Hitman 2 gameplay, this combo delivers excellent performance. The rank of 217 out of 1,795 is a practical data point: it tells a builder that this setup is faster than 88% of all tested combos, making it a reliable choice for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, and even for 4K at Medium settings.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend as resolution increases. At 1080p Ultra, the combo delivers 118 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, that drops to 73.7 FPS, a 37.5% decrease. At 4K Ultra, it falls to 39 FPS, which is a 67% drop from 1080p. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The i3-12100F is capable of producing high frame rates at 1080p, as evidenced by the 279.3 FPS on Low settings, but as resolution increases, the GPU’s workload grows exponentially. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, despite being a high-end card, is being pushed to its limits at 4K Ultra. The difference between 1080p Low (279.3 FPS) and 4K Low (95.1 FPS) is a 65.9% reduction, which is less severe than the Ultra preset drop, indicating that the GPU is still the primary limiter even at Low settings. The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution in this game. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the FPS drops significantly with each resolution increase, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. For example, at 1440p Medium, the combo hits 132.6 FPS, while at 4K Medium, it drops to 72.9 FPS. This 45% reduction is consistent with the GPU’s rendering load. The conclusion is clear: the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the component that determines performance, and the i3-12100F has enough headroom to keep up. For users looking to play at 4K, the Medium preset is the highest playable setting, while 1440p and 1080p allow for Ultra settings with high frame rates.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS across presets is as follows: Low delivers 279.3 FPS, Medium delivers 207.4 FPS, High delivers 159.7 FPS, and Ultra delivers 118 FPS. This is a wide spread, with Low being 136% faster than Ultra. The 1080p results show that the combo is more than capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors, even at Ultra settings. For 2560x1440, the FPS drops to 179.5 (Low), 132.6 (Medium), 99.6 (High), and 73.7 (Ultra). At this resolution, Low still exceeds 170 FPS, but Ultra falls below 75 FPS, which is still playable for most users. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 105.8 FPS, a 143% difference. At 3840x2160, the results are 95.1 FPS (Low), 72.9 FPS (Medium), 55.2 FPS (High), and 39 FPS (Ultra). This is where the GPU starts to struggle, with only Low and Medium maintaining playable frame rates above 60 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 39 FPS is not suitable for smooth gameplay. The data shows a consistent pattern: the Medium preset offers roughly a 50% performance increase over Ultra at every resolution. Specifically, at 1080p, Medium is 75.8% faster than Ultra; at 1440p, it is 79.9% faster; and at 4K, it is 86.9% faster. This suggests that the GPU’s performance is heavily dependent on the preset, and the CPU is not a factor. The High preset at 1440p (99.6 FPS) and 4K (55.2 FPS) are borderline, but the Medium preset is the most consistent performer across all resolutions, providing a smooth experience without sacrificing too much visual quality.