Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth classic from 2018, remains a demanding title for modern hardware, and the combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B580 produces a fascinating dataset. The measured results reveal a system that is exceptionally capable at mainstream resolutions but hits a definitive wall at 4K. The data indicates a pairing where the CPU has ample headroom, leaving the GPU as the sole arbiter of performance. This analysis breaks down the measured frames to determine the optimal settings, the role of the graphics card's specifications, and how resolution scaling impacts the experience.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data strongly suggests that the Ultra preset is not the intended experience for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Ultra setting yields an average of 60.7 FPS, which is playable but leaves little overhead for demanding scenes. However, the cost of that visual fidelity is steep. Moving down to the High preset at the same resolution produces a substantial jump to 80.2 FPS, a 32% performance increase that brings the frame rate well into the smooth territory for a stealth action game. The High preset appears to be the sweet spot, balancing visual quality with a comfortable performance margin.

For users with 1440p monitors, the High preset remains the clear choice. The average of 49.4 FPS at 2560x1440 is slightly below the 60 FPS target, but the consistency suggests it is a more stable experience than the Ultra preset at the same resolution, which drops to a demanding 37.1 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p achieves 68.7 FPS, which is a solid option for those prioritizing fluidity over maximum detail. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers 101.9 FPS, making it the best option for high-refresh-rate displays, as it provides a significant boost over High without the severe performance penalty of Ultra. The Low preset, with its 141.2 FPS at 1080p, is only relevant for esports-level refresh rates and sacrifices too much visual fidelity for most players.

The data indicates that the Ultra preset is disproportionately taxing. The performance difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is a 24% drop in FPS, which is a significant cost for what is typically a marginal visual upgrade in this title. Therefore, the recommendation is unequivocal: the High preset at either 1080p or 1440p provides the best measured balance of image quality and frame rate. Pushing beyond that into Ultra introduces a performance penalty that the data does not justify for this specific GPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the defining component in this configuration. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth, is a substantial asset. The benchmark data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU's raw compute power is the primary factor, but the memory subsystem is also critical. The GPU's boost clock is listed at 2670 MHz, and its FP32 performance is rated at 13.67 TFLOPS. These specifications align with the measured frame rates, which show a clear scaling pattern based on resolution.

In the context of this game, the Arc B580's role is to handle the increasing pixel count as resolution scales up. At 1080p, the GPU is not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates across all settings. However, the dramatic drop at 4K reveals its limitations. The jump from 1080p to 4K at High settings represents a 63% reduction in frame rate, from 80.2 FPS to 29.6 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's shading units and texture rate are being saturated by the 3840x2160 resolution. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 80 ROPs are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with this game's engine. The data positions the Arc B580 as a capable 1080p and entry-level 1440p card for Hitman 2, but it struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, regardless of settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is stark and clearly identifies the limiting component. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 80.2 FPS at 1920x1080 to 49.4 FPS at 2560x1440, a 38% decrease. This is a substantial hit, but it is within the expected range for the increase in pixel count (1.78x). The more telling drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K. The frame rate falls from 49.4 FPS to 29.6 FPS, a 40% decrease for a 2.25x increase in pixels. This disproportionate drop indicates that the GPU is running out of compute resources.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the system scales from 141.2 FPS at 1080p to 90 FPS at 1440p, but then plummets to 45.3 FPS at 4K. The fact that the 4K Low setting (45.3 FPS) is slower than the 1440p Ultra setting (37.1 FPS) is not surprising, but the data shows that the GPU is the absolute bottleneck at 4K. The CPU, an Intel Core i5-12400 with 6 cores and 12 threads, is clearly not the limiting factor here. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and a single-core score of 2249, indicate it has more than enough processing power to feed the GPU at these resolutions. The data suggests that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to bottleneck, the frame rate of 141.2 FPS is high enough to indicate the CPU is still keeping pace. The limiting component at 4K is exclusively the Arc B580.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset achieves an average of 141.2 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset delivers 101.9 FPS, which is also exceptionally smooth. The High preset, as previously noted, offers a great balance at 80.2 FPS. The Ultra preset, while playable, drops to 60.7 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual settings. The scaling here shows a clear linear relationship between quality and frame rate, with the GPU having enough headroom to handle the load.

At 2560x1440, the performance begins to tighten. The Low preset still delivers a very playable 90 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 68.7 FPS, which is still smooth. The High preset comes in at 49.4 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset falls to 37.1 FPS, which starts to feel less fluid. This resolution represents the edge of the GPU's comfort zone, where High settings are the maximum recommended for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The Low preset manages an average of 45.3 FPS, which is playable but requires significant visual compromises. The Medium preset drops to 36.5 FPS. The High preset falls to 29.6 FPS, and the Ultra preset bottoms out at 20.2 FPS, which is not a playable experience. The data conclusively shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware combination in Hitman 2, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a stable 60 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with the High preset, averaging 80.2 FPS, is the optimal combination for a smooth and visually detailed experience. For those with a 1440p monitor, the High preset at 49.4 FPS is the best balance, though the Medium preset at 68.7 FPS is preferable if frame rate is the priority.

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

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 45.3 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not playable, with averages of 29.6 FPS and 20.2 FPS, respectively. 4K gaming is not recommended for this configuration.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 or the Intel Arc B580 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results show that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's strong benchmark scores (e.g., 15935 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) suggest it has ample headroom. The GPU's performance limits are the primary constraint.

Q: How much performance is gained by dropping from High to Low settings at 1080p?

A: According to the data, the average frame rate increases from 80.2 FPS on High to 141.2 FPS on Low. This is a 76% performance uplift, but it comes at the cost of significant visual fidelity. The Medium preset offers a middle ground at 101.9 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to the High preset in terms of performance?

A: The Ultra preset is significantly more demanding. At 1080p, it drops the average frame rate from 80.2 FPS (High) to 60.7 FPS (Ultra), a 24% performance penalty. At 1440p, the drop is from 49.4 FPS to 37.1 FPS. The data suggests the visual upgrade from High to Ultra is not worth the performance cost.

Q: What is the average FPS for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The measured data shows the Intel Arc B580 achieves an average of 68.7 FPS at 2560x1440 with the Medium preset. This is a good option for users who want a high frame rate at a higher resolution than 1080p.