Hitman 2

Hitman 2 with the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti presents a fascinating study in bottleneck dynamics. This pairing of a mid-range 11th Gen processor with a flagship-tier Blackwell GPU produces a performance curve that is heavily dictated by resolution and settings. The measured data reveals a system where the GPU’s immense raw power is often constrained by the CPU, particularly at lower resolutions, while at 4K the tables turn and the graphics card becomes the definitive limiting factor. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across three resolutions and four quality presets to determine where the bottleneck lies and how to best configure the game.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and highly informative. At the Low preset, the system delivers 262.8 FPS at 1920x1080, which plummets to 186.7 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 99.4 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 62% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. Such a dramatic collapse indicates that at 1080p Low, the CPU is the primary limiting factor; the GPU is not being fully utilized, as evidenced by the incredibly high frame rate. As resolution increases, the pixel-pushing workload on the RTX 5070 Ti grows exponentially, shifting the bottleneck from the processor to the graphics card.

The scaling pattern is similar but with different magnitudes across other presets. With the High preset, performance drops from 165 FPS at 1080p to 105.4 FPS at 1440p, a 36% decline, and then to 57.6 FPS at 4K, a further 45% decline from the 1440p figure. The Medium preset shows 217.4 FPS at 1080p, falling to 139.1 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 72.5 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, sees the least relative drop between 1080p and 1440p (from 119 FPS to 74.3 FPS, a 38% decrease), but the most severe absolute drop at 4K, landing at just 40.7 FPS.

These numbers tell a clear story. The 1080p results, all well above 100 FPS, suggest that the Core i5-11400F with its 6 cores and 12 threads is struggling to feed the RTX 5070 Ti enough data to max out its potential. The 4K results, conversely, show a GPU that is being pushed to its absolute limits, especially under the Ultra preset where the frame rate falls below 60 FPS. The 1440p results represent the equilibrium zone where the load is more balanced, though the CPU still holds back the Low preset significantly.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It features a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029. Its performance percentile vs all CPUs is 75, indicating it sits in the upper quartile of processors. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (-0.2% delta), showing it is a competent mid-range part.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's role is most apparent at 1080p. The fact that the system can hit 262.8 FPS on Low settings suggests the CPU is capable of high throughput, but the relatively smaller gains from Low to Medium (262.8 to 217.4 FPS) and the plateau in high-refresh scenarios indicate a limit. The benchmark results show that the CPU's multi-threaded performance is moderate, which is typical for a 6-core part. At 4K, the CPU's influence wanes significantly; the difference between the Low preset (99.4 FPS) and High preset (57.6 FPS) is almost entirely a GPU workload difference. The CPU is not the primary bottleneck at 4K, as it is likely able to maintain frame pacing without being the limiting factor, given the much lower frame rates.

The data suggests that in this pairing, the i5-11400F is a capable but not overwhelming partner. It provides enough single-thread performance for the game’s logic, but its 6-core/12-thread configuration and 14 nm process node prevent it from unlocking the absolute maximum frame rates the RTX 5070 Ti could theoretically produce at lower resolutions. This is a classic case of a processor that is good enough for high-refresh 1440p gaming but leaves performance on the table at 1080p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the dominant component in this configuration. Based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a 5 nm process, it is a massive GPU with 8960 shading units, 70 RT cores, and 280 tensor cores. It boasts 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s. Its clocks are high, with a base of 2295 MHz and a boost of 2452 MHz. In synthetic tests, it scores 32974 in Passmark G3D and 231226 in Geekbench OpenCL. Its performance percentile vs all GPUs is 87, placing it well above the average. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (0% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700S (-0.8% delta), confirming its high-end status.

The GPU's immense power is clearly demonstrated by the 4K benchmark results. At 4K Ultra, the card manages 40.7 FPS, which is a demanding workload for any GPU. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is where the GPU's VRAM and memory bandwidth come into play. The 16 GB frame buffer is sufficient for the game at these settings, and the 896.0 GB/s bandwidth ensures data is fed to the core efficiently. However, the drop from 99.4 FPS at 4K Low to 40.7 FPS at 4K Ultra shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution; the 2.4x increase in frame time is attributable to the increased pixel and shader workload.

The RTX 5070 Ti is clearly the star of the show. At 1440p High, it delivers 105.4 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate for a fast-paced stealth game. The GPU's performance is so high that it easily outpaces the CPU in many scenarios, especially at 1080p where the CPU is the clear limiting factor. This is a GPU that is designed for high-resolution, high-detail gaming, and the data confirms it struggles only at the absolute maximum settings at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti holds a combo rank of 180 out of 1795 tested combos. This places it in the top 10% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing. The high rank is primarily driven by the GPU's exceptional performance, as the CPU is a more modest component. The rank indicates that this system is capable of delivering high frame rates in most scenarios, but it is not at the very top of the chart, where combinations with more powerful CPUs (like high-core-count Ryzen or Core i9 parts) would sit.

The rank of 180 suggests that while the system is excellent, the CPU is holding it back from being a top-tier performer. If the GPU were paired with a faster CPU, the combo would likely rank significantly higher, as the 1080p results would improve and the overall average would increase. The current rank reflects a system that is slightly unbalanced, with the GPU's potential being capped by the CPU. Nevertheless, a rank of 180 out of 1795 means this system outperforms the vast majority of other configurations, making it a highly capable gaming machine.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers an excellent balance, delivering 165 FPS. This is a significant jump from the Ultra preset's 119 FPS, while the visual difference between High and Ultra is often less perceptible in a game like Hitman 2. The Low preset at 262.8 FPS is unnecessary for most displays, and the Medium preset at 217.4 FPS is also viable, but High provides the best combination of visual fidelity and high refresh rate performance.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is again the recommended choice, delivering a smooth 105.4 FPS. The Medium preset offers 139.1 FPS, but the increase in visual quality from Medium to High is worth the frame rate cost. The Ultra preset drops to 74.3 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for those seeking a consistently high refresh rate experience. For 1440p, High is the sweet spot, providing a fluid experience without compromising too much on visual detail.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more challenging. The High preset is the only viable option for a playable experience, delivering 57.6 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold and will provide a smooth experience on most displays. The Medium preset at 72.5 FPS is also playable and might be preferred if the user wants a higher frame rate, but the High preset offers a better visual experience. The Ultra preset at 40.7 FPS is not recommended for a comfortable gameplay experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS target. Therefore, for 4K, users should stick to the High preset, or possibly Medium if they prioritize higher frame rates over visual details.