Hitman 2

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 brings a 6-core, 12-thread configuration based on the Alder Lake-S architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This is a 10 nm part from Intel, and its 18 MB shared L3 cache suggests decent headroom for game logic and asset streaming. In synthetic workloads, the CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and a single-core score of 2249, placing it at the 77th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database. Its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores are telling: the Core i7-9700 scores 19831 (0.1% ahead), the Core i7-8700 scores 19894 (0.2% behind), and the Core i5-11600K scores 19771 (0.4% ahead). The deltaPct values here are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the i5-12400 is essentially performance-equivalent to those older i7 parts in general compute — a notable outcome for a 6-core chip.

For Hitman 2, a stealth title that relies on dense NPC schedules and AI routines, the CPU's multi-threaded throughput matters more than raw single-core speed. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 and max-thread score of 5890 indicate that scaling beyond 8 threads yields only marginal gains (the 8-thread score is 4745), suggesting the chip's 12 threads are sufficient but not transformative for this game's workload. The single-thread score of 910 in 3DMark is competitive, but the game's engine appears to favor balanced multi-core utilization. At 1080p with Low settings, the measured average FPS reaches 228, which is far beyond display refresh rates and implies the CPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, as resolution climbs, the CPU's role diminishes relative to the GPU, and the data reflects that.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process with 28,300 million transistors. It features 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, delivering 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth — a figure that becomes critical at 4K resolutions where texture streaming and frame buffer demands spike. The GPU's base clock is 1440 MHz with a boost of 1710 MHz, and its memory runs at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective). With 8704 shading units, 272 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, the RTX 3080 posts a Passmark G3D score of 25086 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 167014, placing it at the 80th percentile among all GPUs.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is clearly dominant at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 34, while at 4K Low it rises to 81.2 — a gap of nearly 2.4x, which points to the GPU being the primary constraint when settings and resolution are maxed. The RTX 3080's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (36101, 0.9% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile (35435, 1% lower), but these are aggregate compute scores; in-game results will vary. The 10 GB VRAM is a potential concern for 4K Ultra textures, but the measured data shows the card still delivers playable averages at High settings (45.7 FPS at 4K), suggesting the memory capacity is sufficient for this title's needs at the tested presets.

# How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a combo rank of 557 out of 1795 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places the pairing in the top 31% of all combos in the database, which is respectable given that the CPU is a mid-range 12th-gen part while the GPU is a high-end Ampere card. The rank reflects a balance: the CPU is not the strongest available, but it avoids bottlenecking the GPU at most settings. At 1080p Ultra, the combo delivers 96.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and at 1440p High it hits 82.2 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 34 FPS is the weakest showing, and it drags the overall rank down relative to combos with faster CPUs that might push a few more frames at lower resolutions.

What's interesting is how the combo's rank shifts with settings. At 1080p Low, the 228 FPS average suggests the GPU has ample headroom, and the CPU's 12 threads are keeping up. But at 4K Ultra, the 34 FPS result indicates the GPU is fully saturated, and a stronger CPU would not meaningfully improve the outcome. This means the combo's rank of 557 is largely driven by its 4K performance, where it falls behind combos with more powerful GPUs or better CPU-GPU balance. In the 1440p and 1080p ranges, the combo performs competitively, but the 4K Ultra result is a clear weak point.

# FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60+ FPS at High settings?

A: At 1440p High, the combo averages 82.2 FPS, and at 1080p High it averages 129.5 FPS. Both exceed 60 FPS. At 4K High, the average drops to 45.7 FPS, so 1440p is the highest resolution that reliably stays above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, which is 0.1% higher than the i7-9700's 19831. This makes them effectively equal in general performance, despite the i5 having fewer cores (6 vs 8) but newer architecture.

Q: Is the RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM a limitation in Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: The measured data shows the GPU delivers 45.7 FPS at 4K High and 34 FPS at 4K Ultra. The 10 GB capacity is adequate for these settings, but the performance drop from High to Ultra suggests the GPU's compute limits, not just VRAM, are being reached.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo averages 228 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra it averages 96.2 FPS. This represents a 131.8 FPS reduction, or roughly 58% lower performance, when moving to Ultra settings.

Q: How does the combo rank compare to other tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 557th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the top 31% of all combinations in the database. This is a solid mid-to-upper tier position.

Q: At which resolution does the CPU become the limiting factor?

A: At 1080p Low, the 228 FPS average indicates the CPU may be nearing its limit, but the GPU still has headroom. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, as shown by the 4K Ultra result of 34 FPS.

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 228 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 143 FPS; and at 4K Low, it falls to 81.2 FPS. This represents a 64% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. For High settings, the progression is 129.5 FPS at 1080p, 82.2 FPS at 1440p, and 45.7 FPS at 4K — a 65% drop from 1080p to 4K. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests that the GPU is the primary scaling factor, as resolution increases proportionally stress the pixel pipeline.

The scaling pattern changes when looking at Ultra settings: 96.2 FPS at 1080p, 60.1 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 43.4%, which is steeper than the drop from 1080p to 1440p (37.5%). This non-linear scaling at Ultra indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute resources are being pushed harder at 4K, likely due to higher texture fidelity and post-processing effects. The data implies that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU is the clear limiting component. The 10 GB VRAM and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for most settings, but the 34 FPS average at 4K Ultra is below the 60 FPS target, making that preset impractical for smooth gameplay.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance between visual quality and playability is the High preset at 1440p, which delivers 82.2 FPS — comfortably above 60 FPS while retaining meaningful graphical fidelity. At 1080p, High settings yield 129.5 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays, and even Ultra at 1080p (96.2 FPS) is playable. For 4K, the High preset (45.7 FPS) is the highest quality that stays near playable territory, but users seeking 60 FPS should drop to Medium (55.4 FPS) or consider lowering resolution. The Ultra preset at 4K (34 FPS) is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as the frame rate falls below typical playability thresholds.

The Medium preset offers a strong middle ground: 172.9 FPS at 1080p, 110.2 FPS at 1440p, and 55.4 FPS at 4K. At 1440p Medium, the 110.2 FPS result is substantially higher than High's 82.2 FPS, making it a good choice for competitive play or high-refresh monitors. The Low preset, while delivering 228 FPS at 1080p, sacrifices too much visual quality for most users. The data suggests that High at 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a 60+ FPS experience with solid detail, while 4K users should stick to Medium or High with the understanding that 60 FPS is not achievable at Ultra.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average FPS by preset:

• Low: 228 FPS
• Medium: 172.9 FPS
• High: 129.5 FPS
• Ultra: 96.2 FPS

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are:

• Low: 143 FPS
• Medium: 110.2 FPS
• High: 82.2 FPS
• Ultra: 60.1 FPS

At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are:

• Low: 81.2 FPS
• Medium: 55.4 FPS
• High: 45.7 FPS
• Ultra: 34 FPS

The 1080p Low result of 228 FPS is the highest measured value, indicating the combo can push well beyond 144 Hz at minimal settings. The 1440p Ultra result of 60.1 FPS is exactly at the 60 FPS threshold, making it a viable option for users with 60 Hz displays. The 4K Ultra result of 34 FPS is the lowest measured value, and it highlights the GPU's limits at maximum settings. Across all resolutions, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows as resolution increases: at 1080p, the difference is 131.8 FPS; at 1440p, it's 82.9 FPS; and at 4K, it's 47.2 FPS. This trend confirms that at higher resolutions, the GPU's pixel throughput becomes the dominant factor, and the CPU's performance has diminishing influence on the final frame rate.