Hitman 2

Intel Core i5-12400F paired with Intel Arc B390 produces a specialized configuration in Hitman 2, with benchmark results indicating a system heavily constrained by the integrated graphics solution. The measured data shows a combo ranking of 2662 out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of performance. This pairing delivers playable frame rates only at 1080p with reduced settings, while higher resolutions and graphical presets expose significant limitations. The following analysis breaks down the GPU and CPU contributions, scaling behavior, and provides specific frame rate data for each tested configuration.

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

The Intel Arc B390 operates as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) within the Panther Lake chip, built on the Xe3-LPG architecture using a 3 nm process. Its base clock is set at 300 MHz with a boost clock reaching 2500 MHz, and the memory subsystem is entirely system-shared, meaning there is no dedicated VRAM. Memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which ties graphics performance directly to the host system's memory configuration. The GPU contains 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its peak pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and FP32 throughput is 7.680 TFLOPS.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's shared memory architecture and modest compute resources directly dictate the observed frame rates. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 80 FPS average, but this drops to 60 FPS at Medium and 46 FPS at High, showing a steep performance cost as graphical loads increase. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to just 11 FPS, illustrating that the Arc B390 cannot sustain playable performance at high resolutions with demanding settings. The GPU's benchmark percentile versus all GPUs is 9, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% higher score), GeForce 800M (1.5% higher), GT 625 OEM (2.5% higher), and GT 710 (2.7% higher). These rivals are all legacy or entry-level discrete parts, confirming the Arc B390's position at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

The integrated nature of this GPU means it relies on the CPU's memory controller for all data transfers, and with no dedicated VRAM, texture streaming and geometry processing compete with system memory bandwidth. This is particularly problematic for a game like Hitman 2, which features large, detailed environments. The data shows that at 1440p, even Low settings only produce 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 21 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the frame rates collapse to 16 FPS at High and 11 FPS at Ultra, indicating that the rendering pipeline is overwhelmed by the pixel count and shader complexity.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen family, based on the Alder Lake-S architecture built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and its TDP is rated at 65 W. Its launch MSRP was $174. In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12400F posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 9472 and single-core score of 1964. Its average benchmark score is 19039, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs.

The nearest CPU rivals, based on average score, include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (0% delta), Intel Core 3 201E (-0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-1335U (0.3% delta), and AMD EPYC 7773X (0.3% delta). These comparisons show that the i5-12400F is a solid mid-range performer, with enough multi-threaded capability to handle modern gaming workloads. In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is less about raw frame generation and more about feeding the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. The 6-core/12-thread configuration with a 4.40 GHz boost is more than sufficient for the game's stealth-based AI and crowd simulations, especially when paired with such a weak GPU.

The benchmark data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this combo. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 80 FPS, which is a respectable number that shows the CPU can push frames when the GPU load is minimal. However, as settings increase, the frame rate drops disproportionately, indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs, combined with the GPU's 9th percentile ranking, creates a massive imbalance. The i5-12400F is effectively idle in many scenarios, waiting for the Arc B390 to finish rendering. This is evident in the scaling pattern: at 1080p Ultra (34 FPS) versus 1440p Ultra (21 FPS), the drop is 38%, which is more consistent with GPU-bound behavior than CPU limitations.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the dominant bottleneck. Starting at 1080p Low, the system produces 80 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 51 FPS, a 36% reduction, and at 4K Low, it falls to 27 FPS, a 66% reduction from 1080p. This scaling is typical of a GPU that lacks the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth to handle higher resolutions, especially with system-shared memory.

At Medium settings, the progression is 60 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p (35% drop), and 21 FPS at 4K (65% drop). The High preset shows 46 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p (37% drop), and 16 FPS at 4K (65% drop). Ultra settings follow the same trend: 34 FPS at 1080p, 21 FPS at 1440p (38% drop), and 11 FPS at 4K (68% drop). The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings — approximately 35-38% from 1080p to 1440p and 65-68% from 1080p to 4K — is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would plateau or show minimal change when resolution increases, because the CPU workload remains constant regardless of pixel count.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (80 FPS) and Ultra (34 FPS) is 46 FPS. At 1440p, the difference is 30 FPS (51 vs 21), and at 4K, it narrows to 16 FPS (27 vs 11). This narrowing indicates that at 4K, even Low settings overwhelm the GPU, leaving little headroom for additional graphical features. The 4K Medium preset (21 FPS average, 17 FPS minimum) is borderline unplayable, while 4K Ultra (11 FPS) is a slideshow. The conclusion is unambiguous: the Arc B390 is a low-resolution GPU, and Hitman 2 is only playable at 1080p with medium or lower settings, or at 1440p with low settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2662 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 89th percentile from the bottom, or roughly in the bottom 11% of all systems tested. This ranking reflects the severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU, as the i5-12400F is a capable mid-range processor (73rd percentile) while the Arc B390 is an entry-level integrated GPU (9th percentile). The combo rank is dragged down almost entirely by the GPU's performance ceiling.

To contextualize this ranking, consider that the GPU's nearest rivals are all discrete cards from over a decade ago, with the GT 710 being a common budget placeholder. Yet, even those parts score slightly higher in synthetic benchmarks than the Arc B390. The CPU, on the other hand, outperforms its nearest rivals by negligible margins (0% to 0.3% delta), meaning the i5-12400F is not contributing to the low ranking — it is the GPU holding the combo back. In practical terms, this combo ranks below any system with a mainstream discrete GPU from the last decade, and it only surpasses systems with very old or very low-end integrated graphics.

The ranking data indicates that users of this combo would see a massive improvement in Hitman 2 by simply swapping the GPU for any modern discrete solution, as the CPU has headroom to support much higher frame rates. The 1080p Low result of 80 FPS shows that the CPU can drive over 80 FPS in this game, but the GPU cannot maintain that performance at higher settings. The combo rank of 2662/3001 is a clear signal that this pairing is not optimized for gaming, and the data suggests that the Arc B390 is the primary reason for the low standing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that provides consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p Low, the average is 80 FPS, and at Medium it is 60 FPS, both above the 30 FPS threshold. At 1440p, only Low settings (51 FPS) are playable, while at 4K, even Low (27 FPS) falls below 30 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GT 710 (1443). These are all very close scores, indicating similar performance levels.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Hitman 2?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K shows consistent drops of 35-38% per resolution step, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p Low, the system hits 80 FPS, showing the CPU can feed the GPU adequately.

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

A: At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 80 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 34 FPS. This is a 46 FPS difference, or a 57% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra. The Medium preset sits at 60 FPS and High at 46 FPS, showing a linear progression of performance loss with increased settings.

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

A: Technically yes, but the results are not playable. At 4K Low, the average is 27 FPS, at Medium it is 21 FPS, at High it is 16 FPS, and at Ultra it is 11 FPS. All of these fall below the 30 FPS threshold typically considered playable, so 4K is not recommended.

Q: How does the i5-12400F perform in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-12400F scores 12380 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1680 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 9472 multi-core and 1964 single-core. Its average benchmark score is 19039, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, has an almost identical score of 19047 (0% delta).

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy of playable settings for Hitman 2 with this combo. At 1080p, the Medium preset (60 FPS average, 51 FPS minimum) offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it maintains a solid 60 FPS average with only occasional dips to 51 FPS. The High preset (46 FPS) is still playable for most users, but the 14 FPS drop from Medium may not be worth the visual upgrade. The Low preset (80 FPS) is the only option for users seeking 60+ FPS consistently, but it sacrifices significant graphical fidelity.

At 1440p, the Low preset (51 FPS) is the only playable option, as Medium (39 FPS) dips below 40 FPS and High (29 FPS) falls below 30 FPS. Users with 1440p monitors should stick to Low settings for a smooth experience. At 4K, no settings are recommended, as even Low (27 FPS) fails to maintain 30 FPS. The best experience, according to the data, is 1080p Medium, which provides a 60 FPS average with a minimum of 51 FPS, ensuring no major stuttering. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low delivers 80 FPS, which is ideal for competitive or fast-paced play. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it produces unplayable frame rates even at 1080p (34 FPS).

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete measured FPS data for Hitman 2 with the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B390:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 27 FPS average
• Medium: 21 FPS average, 17 FPS minimum, 24 FPS maximum
• High: 16 FPS average
• Ultra: 11 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 51 FPS average
• Medium: 39 FPS average, 33 FPS minimum, 44 FPS maximum
• High: 29 FPS average
• Ultra: 21 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 80 FPS average
• Medium: 60 FPS average, 51 FPS minimum, 69 FPS maximum
• High: 46 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

The data shows that the Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum values, indicating that it was the most tested configuration. The minimum FPS values are critical for understanding stuttering: at 1080p Medium, the minimum is 51 FPS, which is still smooth, while at 1440p Medium, the minimum drops to 33 FPS, which may cause noticeable hitches. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 17 FPS, making it unplayable. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is consistent across all settings, with roughly a 35% drop at each resolution step, confirming the GPU-bound nature of this configuration. For users with this combo, the sweet spot is clearly 1080p Medium, which offers a 60 FPS average and a minimum above 50 FPS, providing a stable and enjoyable experience in Hitman 2.