Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a compelling mid-range combination for Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title that remains popular in benchmark suites. The data shows a system that scales predictably across resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at higher settings while the CPU holds its ground admirably. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the hardware's role, and answers common questions based strictly on the observed data.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, revealing a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher pixel counts. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 79 FPS at 1920x1080 to 51 FPS at 2560x1440, a 35% reduction, and then further down to 27 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 66% drop from the 1080p baseline. This trajectory indicates that the Intel Arc B580's rendering throughput is the limiting factor as resolution increases; the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, and the performance nearly quarters, which is a textbook sign of pixel-fill limitations.

The pattern holds across all settings tiers. At Low settings, the system achieves 140 FPS at 1080p, drops to 89 FPS at 1440p (a 36% decrease), and bottoms out at 48 FPS at 4K (a 66% decrease from 1080p). Interestingly, the relative scaling between resolutions is consistent regardless of the quality preset, suggesting that the bottleneck shift is purely resolution-driven rather than settings-driven. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistently around 35-37%, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is larger, around 46-47%, indicating that the B580's memory bandwidth and shading power struggle disproportionately with the jump to 2160p.

For gamers targeting high refresh rates, the 1080p results are the only viable path, with Medium settings hitting 105 FPS and Low reaching 140 FPS. The 1440p resolution offers a playable middle ground for High settings at 51 FPS, but 4K is only suitable for Low settings at 48 FPS, and even then, the frame pacing may suffer given the lack of min FPS data. The Ultra preset is particularly punishing, with 4K Ultra yielding just 20 FPS, a figure that confirms the Arc B580 is not designed for maxed-out 4K gaming in this title.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580, built on the Xe2-HPG architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, is the clear performance driver in this configuration. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. In Hitman 2, this memory configuration is more than sufficient for the game's textures, even at 4K, where the 27 FPS average at High settings is not a memory capacity issue but a compute limitation. The card's 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs operate at a constant 2670 MHz for both base and boost clocks, which is a high sustained frequency that helps maintain consistent performance in less demanding scenes.

The GPU's benchmark data shows a Passmark G3D score of 15748, placing it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22895 (a 0.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP at 23061 (a -0.2% delta). This clustering suggests that the B580 trades blows with older flagship cards in raw compute, but in Hitman 2, the actual FPS figures reveal a more nuanced story. At 1080p Low, the system hits 140 FPS, showing that the GPU can feed frames rapidly when pixel work is light, but the 4K Ultra result of 20 FPS highlights the card's limits with heavy shading and fill-rate demands.

The memory clock at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective) and the 192-bit bus width are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the data shows healthy margins above 60 FPS on Medium settings. However, the transition to 4K exposes the bandwidth constraint; the 456.0 GB/s figure is not enough to sustain high frame rates when the render target size quadruples. The GPU's 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 compute is also a factor, as Hitman 2's DX12 path likely utilizes these cores extensively, but the lack of min FPS data at 4K High makes it impossible to assess frame-time consistency at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F provides a solid foundation for the Arc B580, with its 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Alder Lake architecture. The CPU operates at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.40 GHz, which is a modest but effective frequency range for gaming. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache are well-suited for Hitman 2's AI-driven stealth simulation, which can be CPU-intensive in crowded areas. The 65 W TDP is a modest power envelope, but the data shows no signs of bottlenecking at lower resolutions.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12400F achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (avg score 19047, delta 0%) and the Intel Core 3 201E (avg score 19056, delta -0.1%), indicating that the 12400F is competitive with newer mobile and low-power desktop parts. The Passmark single-thread score of 3481 reinforces its capability for gaming workloads, where single-core performance often dictates frame pacing.

The CPU's role in this combo is evident in the 1080p Low results, where the system reaches 140 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the 12400F can keep up with the GPU's output at lower settings, preventing a CPU bottleneck. However, at 4K Ultra with 20 FPS, the CPU is clearly not the limitation; the GPU is overwhelmed. The data implies that the 12400F has headroom to spare, as the FPS drops are almost entirely attributable to the Arc B580's rendering capabilities. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5895 and 2-thread score of 1699 show balanced scaling, indicating that Hitman 2's engine can utilize multiple threads effectively without hitting a wall.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B580 ranks 2810 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the lower-middle tier of all configurations in the database. This ranking might seem low given the individual component percentiles (73rd for CPU, 68th for GPU), but it reflects the fact that this is a mid-range pairing, and the benchmark database includes many high-end combos with flagship GPUs that drastically outperform it in absolute FPS.

The rank suggests that while the combo is capable of playable framerates at 1080p and 1440p, it does not compete with top-tier systems. For context, the GPU's nearest rival, the RTX 2080, has a similar synthetic score, but in real-world gaming, the Arc B580's driver maturity and specific game optimizations may vary. The combo rank of 2810 out of 3711 means that roughly 76% of tested combos perform better in Hitman 2, which is expected given that the B580 is a budget-to-midrange card and the 12400F is an entry-level Alder Lake part.

This ranking is not a condemnation; it is a reflection of the hardware's market position. The data shows that this combo is optimized for 1080p gaming, where it delivers excellent results on Medium and High settings. At 1440p, it remains viable for most players, but the 4K performance is only marginally playable on Low settings. The rank should be interpreted as a warning for 4K enthusiasts and a confirmation for 1080p gamers seeking a balanced build.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers strong performance across all settings. Low settings achieve an average of 140 FPS, providing a high-refresh-rate experience for competitive play. Medium settings see a drop to 105 FPS, with a recorded min of 89 FPS and max of 121 FPS, indicating smooth frame pacing. High settings average 79 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays. Ultra settings, however, pull the average down to 58 FPS, which is playable but may show occasional dips in busy scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. Low settings still manage a healthy 89 FPS average, but Medium settings fall to 67 FPS (min 57, max 77), which is acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay. High settings average 51 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience, and Ultra settings drop to 37 FPS, which may feel stuttery. The 1440p results suggest that players should stick to Medium settings for a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

At 3840x2160, the Arc B580 struggles to maintain playable framerates. Low settings average 48 FPS, which is barely acceptable for a stealth game where precision is key. Medium settings drop to 36 FPS (min 30, max 41), and High settings fall to 27 FPS. Ultra settings are effectively unplayable at 20 FPS. The 4K data clearly indicates that this combo is not suited for native 4K gaming, and players would need to rely on upscaling techniques or lower resolutions to achieve a better experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the sweet spot, with Low settings hitting 140 FPS and Medium at 105 FPS. High settings at 79 FPS are also viable for a smooth experience.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 48 FPS. Medium settings drop to 36 FPS, and High settings fall to 27 FPS, making 4K playable only with significant compromises.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The B580's average benchmark score is 23021, which is within 1% of the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, -0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, 0.6%). The RTX 3080 scores 23172 (-0.7%), showing the B580 is competitive with older high-end cards.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F a bottleneck for the Arc B580?

A: The data suggests no. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 140 FPS, indicating the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. The FPS drops at higher resolutions are due to GPU limitations, not CPU performance.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking compared to other processors?

A: The i5-12400F is in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047 with a 0% delta.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 89. At 1440p Medium, it is 57. At 4K Medium, it is 30. These figures provide a baseline for frame-time stability, with the 1080p result being the most consistent.