Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 in Hitman 2 presents a clear picture of a system where the graphics card is the primary determinant of performance across the board. The data indicates a predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, with the most significant frame rate drops occurring between 1440p and 4K. The Arc B570's capabilities are the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom to keep up with the GPU's output at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a classic resolution scaling curve, with the average frame rate dropping consistently as the pixel count increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 123 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average falls to 79 FPS, a reduction of 44 FPS or roughly 36%. The jump to 4K at Low settings yields an average of 42 FPS, which is a further drop of 37 FPS from the 1440p result. This trend indicates that the GPU is being pushed harder at each higher resolution, with the frame rate nearly halving from 1080p to 4K on the Low preset.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 93 at 1080p, to 59 at 1440p, and finally to 32 at 4K. This represents a 65% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The High preset shows a similar trajectory, starting at 70 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 45 FPS at 1440p, and landing at 24 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with average FPS of 52 at 1080p, 33 at 1440p, and a marginal 18 FPS at 4K.

These results strongly suggest that the limiting component at higher resolutions is the Intel Arc B570. The frame rate drops are proportionally larger when moving from 1440p to 4K compared to the transition from 1080p to 1440p. For instance, on the High preset, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 21 FPS. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are becoming severely constrained, leading to the sub-30 FPS averages seen on Medium and High presets. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to be sufficient to feed the GPU at these resolutions, as the bottleneck clearly shifts to the graphics card as resolution increases.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the dominant factor in this combo's Hitman 2 performance. The GPU's specifications, including its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, provide a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a key element in how the card handles the increasing texture and geometry loads at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K, the card struggles to maintain playable frame rates, with the average FPS falling to 24 on High and 18 on Ultra. This points to the GPU's raw compute and memory throughput being insufficient for the most demanding settings at 4K.

The GPU's clock speeds are listed as a base and boost of 2500 MHz. This consistent clock speed, combined with 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, defines its processing capacity. The card's pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits for how quickly it can fill the screen and apply textures. In practice, the measured results show that these capabilities are well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but they are overwhelmed at 4K. For example, the difference between 1080p High (70 FPS) and 4K High (24 FPS) is a 65% reduction in performance, which directly correlates with the four-fold increase in pixel count.

The GPU's performance percentile of 65 indicates it sits above the median of all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, with average benchmark scores within 0.1% of the B570. This places the B570 in a competitive tier, but the Hitman 2 data shows that even with this level of performance, 4K Ultra is not a realistic target for a smooth experience. The card's 10 GB VRAM is likely a factor at 4K with High or Ultra textures, potentially causing the system to swap data, which would explain the severe frame rate drops. The data suggests that the GPU is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it can deliver frame rates well above 60 FPS on most presets.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS is 123, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K resolution smoothly?

A: No, the data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 42 on Low, 32 on Medium, 24 on High, and 18 on Ultra. None of these results reach the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534) and 0.1% lower than the Intel Arc A750 (20582). It also sits 0.4% above the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (20480) and 0.5% below the AMD Radeon R9 M390X (20662).

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p and 1440p on High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 70. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 45. This represents a 25 FPS decrease when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: Which resolution and settings combination provides the best balance of performance for this combo?

A: Based on the data, 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides a solid experience with an average FPS of 59, which is close to the 60 FPS target. Another option is 1920x1080 with High settings, which achieves an average of 70 FPS.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 18, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably, with all presets delivering playable frame rates. The Low preset yields an average of 123 FPS, making it the fastest setting tested. Medium settings produce an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 70 FPS, which is still well within the range for smooth play. The most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p still achieves an average of 52 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for all users.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance impact becomes more noticeable. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, which is still a very good result. Medium settings at 1440p produce an average of 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. This is a marginal result, hovering right around the 60 FPS target. High settings at this resolution drop to an average of 45 FPS, which is acceptable but shows the GPU starting to struggle. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the Intel Arc B570 is clearly out of its comfort zone. The Low preset manages an average of 42 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that could be considered marginally playable. Medium settings drop to an average of 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 36 FPS. High settings produce a low average of 24 FPS, and the Ultra preset bottoms out at 18 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming is not viable for this combo, even on the lowest settings, for a consistently smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F plays a supporting role in this combination, and its performance data suggests it is not the bottleneck in Hitman 2. The CPU features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This configuration is based on the Comet Lake architecture and is manufactured on a 14 nm process. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10283 and a single-core score of 1451, indicate a solid mid-range processor that is capable of handling modern game workloads.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's role appears to be primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The CPU's percentile rank of 68 against all CPUs shows it is above average, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E and the AMD EPYC 7552, with performance deltas of 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively. This level of performance is more than sufficient for the frame rates the Arc B570 is producing. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU is less stressed and the CPU has more room to be the limiting factor, the combo achieves 123 FPS. This suggests the i5-10400F can handle high frame rate scenarios without becoming a bottleneck.

When comparing the FPS data to the CPU's capabilities, it is clear that the GPU is the limiting component. For example, the minimum FPS recorded is 27 at 4K Medium, which is a GPU-bound situation. The CPU's 12 threads and high boost clock are adequate for the game's engine, as there are no signs of CPU-related frame rate dips in the data. The i5-10400F's memory support for DDR4 and dual-channel configuration, with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, is also sufficient to keep the GPU fed without creating a data throughput issue. The evidence points to the CPU providing a stable platform, while the Arc B570 determines the overall performance ceiling at each resolution and setting.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommended settings for this combo depend on the user's performance target and resolution. For a target of 60 FPS, the only reliable option is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which achieves an average of 123 FPS, or Medium settings, which average 93 FPS. At 1440p, the Medium preset provides an average of 59 FPS, which is very close to the 60 FPS target, but the minimum FPS of 50 suggests there may be occasional dips below that threshold. For a more consistent experience at 1440p, the Low preset with an average of 79 FPS is a safer choice.

For users with a 1080p monitor, the High preset is a strong recommendation, offering an average of 70 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium without sacrificing smoothness. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 52 FPS, is a trade-off between visual fidelity and performance, and it may be acceptable for those who prefer higher graphical quality over a locked 60 FPS. At 1440p, the High preset's average of 45 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action, while the Ultra preset's 33 FPS average is not recommended for a smooth experience.

The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this combo. Even the Low preset at 4K only averages 42 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and will likely result in a subpar experience. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets at 4K all fall below 32 FPS, making them unsuitable for any serious gameplay. Therefore, the best experience with this hardware is at 1080p with High settings, or at 1440p with Medium settings if a higher resolution is preferred. These settings balance visual quality with the frame rates needed for a responsive and enjoyable game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Hitman 2, the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B570 combo ranks at 2399 out of 3001 total combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is consistent with the measured FPS data showing the GPU struggling at higher resolutions. The rank of 2399 indicates that while this system is capable of running the game, there are many other hardware combinations that deliver better performance in this specific title.

The combo's rank is a direct reflection of the Arc B570's performance profile. The GPU's percentile rank of 65 against all GPUs is reasonable, but in the context of Hitman 2, the card's performance is not sufficient to push the combo higher in the rankings. The CPU's percentile rank of 68 is also above average, but it does not compensate for the GPU's limitations at 4K. The combination of a mid-range CPU and a mid-range GPU results in a system that is solid for 1080p and 1440p gaming but falls short of higher-end configurations.

The data shows that this combo is positioned in the lower 20% of tested systems, which may be surprising given the individual component rankings. This is because the ranking is specific to Hitman 2, and the game's engine appears to be particularly demanding on the GPU at higher resolutions. While the i5-10400F provides a stable foundation, the Arc B570 is the deciding factor in this ranking. The measured results, such as the 24 FPS average at 4K High and the 18 FPS average at 4K Ultra, are the primary reasons for the low rank. For users considering this combo, the ranking indicates that it is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can deliver a satisfactory experience, rather than for high-resolution or high-refresh-rate scenarios.