Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12400 presents a fascinating case study when paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in Hitman 2. With 6 cores and 12 threads, this Alder Lake-S processor operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark profile suggests a strong balance between single-threaded efficiency and multi-threaded capability, scoring 2249 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 15935 in multi-core. The data indicates this CPU sits at the 77th percentile among all tested processors, placing it squarely in the upper-midrange tier. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700, which scores a mere 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i5-11600K, which trails by 0.4%. This clustering implies that the 12400 is not a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios, as its performance envelope is nearly indistinguishable from those older but still potent chips.

However, Hitman 2 is a game that scales with both CPU and GPU depending on the settings and resolution. The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (both DDR4 and DDR5) provide ample bandwidth for game logic and AI calculations. The benchmark results show that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 234.1 FPS, a figure that heavily taxes the CPU to feed the GPU. The fact that this is the highest FPS recorded in the entire dataset suggests that the i5-12400 is capable of pushing frames well beyond typical display refresh rates, but it also hints that the GPU is not the limiting factor at this low-fidelity setting. The processor’s performance in 3DMark’s 2-thread test (1692) versus its 16-thread score (5873) indicates that while it has headroom for multi-threaded workloads, Hitman 2 likely leverages fewer cores, making the high boost clock critical for maintaining fluid gameplay.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, is a formidable graphics card that anchors this combination. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus delivers a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is crucial for high-resolution textures in Hitman 2’s dense, detailed environments. The GPU’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and its 5888 shading units allow it to process complex lighting and shadow effects, which are hallmarks of the Hitman series. With a launch MSRP of 599 USD, this card was designed for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance, and the measured data supports that positioning.

The RTX 4070 holds the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37283. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which is actually 0.6% ahead, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, which is 2.2% ahead. This is curious, as the RTX 4070 desktop should theoretically outperform a mobile part, but the data shows the mobile 4080 edging it out in aggregate benchmarks. The 4070’s 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores are underutilized in Hitman 2, which is not a ray-tracing-heavy title, meaning the raw rasterization performance of the 64 ROPs and 184 TMUs is what drives the frame rates. The GPU’s TDP of 200 W and dual-slot design suggest it has thermal headroom, but the data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system drops to 36 FPS, indicating that the GPU is heavily stressed at this extreme setting.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear narrative about which component becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is likely CPU-bound at lower settings, as evidenced by the massive jump from Low (234.1 FPS) to Ultra (102.2 FPS). The drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is 83.7 FPS (from 234.1 to 150.4), which is a 35.8% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is starting to struggle, but the CPU still has headroom. Moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low, the FPS falls from 150.4 to 83.2, a 44.7% drop. This pattern suggests that the RTX 4070 is the primary limiter at 4K, as the rendering load increases exponentially with pixel count.

The scaling from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is even more telling. At 1080p Ultra, the system hits 102.2 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 36 FPS, a 64.8% decrease. This is a classic sign of GPU saturation, where the 12 GB VRAM and the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings. The data implies that the i5-12400 is not holding back the RTX 4070 until the resolution drops to 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU’s single-thread performance (2249 in R23) becomes the limiting factor. For gamers seeking consistent 60 FPS, the sweet spot appears to be 1440p High, where the system delivers 87.2 FPS, or 4K Medium at 61.9 FPS, which just barely clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Examining the measured FPS data resolution by resolution provides a granular view of this combo’s capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system exhibits remarkable versatility: Low settings produce 234.1 FPS, Medium yields 179.1 FPS, High delivers 135.7 FPS, and Ultra still manages 102.2 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, this combination is overkill for most displays, with even Ultra settings comfortably exceeding 100 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 131.9 FPS, which shows the GPU’s scaling under different pixel shader loads.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU’s workload. Low settings hit 150.4 FPS, which is still high enough for competitive play. Medium settings produce 111.3 FPS, while High drops to 87.2 FPS, which is still smooth for a stealth game. Ultra settings fall to 65.5 FPS, which is playable but begins to approach the threshold where frame pacing might become noticeable on high-refresh-rate monitors. The drop from 1080p High to 1440p High is 48.5 FPS, a 35.7% reduction, which aligns with the increase in pixel count from 2.07 million to 3.69 million.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4070’s limits are exposed. Low settings yield 83.2 FPS, which is excellent for 4K, but Medium drops to 61.9 FPS, and High falls to 44.6 FPS. Ultra settings produce only 36 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that 4K is only viable with Low or Medium settings, and even then, the 44.6 FPS at High is borderline. This breakdown confirms that the i5-12400 is not the bottleneck at 4K, as the FPS scales almost linearly with GPU load, leaving the RTX 4070 as the sole constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds a rank of 438 out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top 24.4% of all configurations, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The rank indicates that while this combo is not elite, it outperforms the vast majority of systems tested in this game. The percentile standings of the individual components—77th for the CPU and 81st for the GPU—suggest that the combination is well-balanced, with neither component dragging the other down significantly.

The ranking data becomes more interesting when considering the CPU’s nearest rivals. The i5-12400’s average benchmark score of 19850 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-9700 (19831, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i7-8700 (19894, 0.2% ahead). This means that swapping in an older i7 would yield virtually identical performance in Hitman 2, as the game is not heavily multi-threaded. Conversely, the RTX 4070’s nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, is 0.6% ahead in average score, but the 4070’s modern architecture likely gives it an edge in newer titles. The fact that this combo ranks 438th out of 1795 suggests that there are many systems with higher-end CPUs (like the Threadripper PRO 5995WX, which is only 0.4% ahead of the i5-12400) that don’t meaningfully improve FPS in this game, underscoring that the GPU is the primary driver of the ranking.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 4K 60 FPS?*

A: Only with Low settings, where it achieves 83.2 FPS. At Medium, it drops to 61.9 FPS, which just clears 60 FPS, but High and Ultra fall to 44.6 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively.

Q: How does the i5-12400 compare to the i7-8700 in this game?

A: The i5-12400 scores 19850 in average benchmarks, which is 0.2% lower than the i7-8700’s 19894. In Hitman 2, this difference is negligible, so performance would be nearly identical.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 a bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: No, the CPU is the limiter at 1080p Low, as the system hits 234.1 FPS. The i5-12400’s single-thread performance (2249 in Cinebench R23) is what caps the frame rate at this setting.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 100+ FPS?

A: At 1440p Low, it achieves 150.4 FPS, and at 1440p Medium, it hits 111.3 FPS. At 1080p, all settings except Ultra exceed 100 FPS, with High reaching 135.7 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank in the database?

A: It ranks 438th out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the top 24.4% of all systems tested.

Q: Does the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM matter at 4K?

A: Yes, the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth and 12 GB memory are insufficient for Ultra settings, as evidenced by the 36 FPS result. Lower settings reduce the memory pressure, allowing for 83.2 FPS at Low.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the user’s display and preference for smoothness versus visual fidelity. For 1080p displays, High settings at 135.7 FPS provide an excellent balance, offering detailed visuals without sacrificing frame rate. Ultra is also viable at 102.2 FPS, but the 33.5 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the visual gains for most players. For 1440p, High settings at 87.2 FPS are recommended, as they deliver smooth gameplay while maintaining the game’s atmospheric lighting and shadows. Medium at 111.3 FPS is a better choice for competitive players who prioritize frame time consistency over reflections.

For 4K, the data strongly suggests using Low settings to achieve 83.2 FPS, as Medium drops to 61.9 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. High and Ultra at 44.6 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for active gameplay, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider the minimum for a stealth title. The best overall experience, balancing visuals and performance, is 1440p High, which achieves 87.2 FPS. This setting leverages the RTX 4070’s strengths without pushing it into the territory where the 12 GB VRAM becomes a limitation. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, Medium at 179.1 FPS is the sweet spot, ensuring the i5-12400’s boost clock of 4.40 GHz is fully utilized without excessive GPU load.