Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a playable experience in Hitman 2, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling. The pairing ranks 1135th out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS, which show the system struggling at higher resolutions and settings, while exhibiting solid, high-refresh-rate capability at 1080p with lower presets. The performance profile indicates a balanced system where neither component is a massive bottleneck, but both contribute to a mid-range outcome.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, highlighting the GPU as the primary limiting factor at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 152 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 95.8 FPS, a reduction of 56.2 FPS. The jump to 4K Low is even more punishing, resulting in 52.9 FPS, which is roughly a third of the 1080p Low performance. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

For High settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 85.7 FPS down to 54.7 FPS, a 31 FPS decrease. The transition from 1440p High to 4K High further reduces the average to 28.2 FPS. This makes 4K High an unplayable target for smooth gameplay, as the frame rate falls below 30 FPS. The data suggests that the RX 6650 XT’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in Hitman 2, a game that scales its visual load heavily with resolution.

The Ultra preset tells a similar story. At 1080p, the combo manages 66.1 FPS, which is acceptable. However, 1440p Ultra drops to 42.4 FPS, and 4K Ultra plummets to 21 FPS. The pattern across all settings is consistent: the system is capable at 1080p, usable at 1440p with adjusted settings, and not viable at 4K for anything beyond the Low preset. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, as the scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a performance loss that aligns with the increased pixel workload, not a CPU constraint.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its benchmark scores indicate strong single-thread and multi-thread performance, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3925 and a multi-thread score of 27575. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23444 further confirms its capability. These figures suggest the CPU is not the bottleneck in Hitman 2, even at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is typically higher.

The game’s results at 1080p Low, where the CPU has the most influence, show a high average of 152 FPS. This indicates that the i5-12600KF can feed the GPU with enough frames to avoid a CPU-side limit. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 84th versus all CPUs, and its proximity to rivals like the Intel Core i9-10900K (with a deltaPct of 0), confirms it is a high-performing processor. In this context, the CPU’s role is to provide a stable foundation, allowing the GPU to be the deciding factor in the measured FPS differences across resolutions and settings.

The i5-12600KF’s performance in the 3DMark 16-thread test (7956) and single-thread test (1016) further supports its capability. The data shows that the CPU can handle the game’s logic and draw calls without causing significant frame drops. The primary performance variance in the measured FPS is due to the GPU’s rendering workload, which is consistent with a game that is graphically intensive rather than CPU-heavy.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60+ FPS?

A: The data shows 60+ FPS is achievable at 1080p with all presets, and at 1440p with the Low preset, which yields 95.8 FPS. The 1440p Medium preset falls slightly short at 74.1 FPS, which is above 60, while 1440p High drops to 54.7 FPS.

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

A: The measured data indicates 4K is only playable at the Low preset, producing 52.9 FPS average. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 36.9 FPS, and High and Ultra are below 30 FPS (28.2 and 21 FPS, respectively), making them unsuitable for smooth play.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27827, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27829, deltaPct 0) and the Intel Core i5-12600K (27851, deltaPct -0.1). It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700H (27716, deltaPct 0.4).

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is in the 72nd percentile versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 29024, placing it close to the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (29011, deltaPct 0) and AMD Radeon RX 470 (28996, deltaPct 0.1).

Q: Is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra presets at 1080p significant?

A: Yes, the difference is 85.9 FPS. The Low preset yields 152 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 66.1 FPS. This shows a substantial performance cost for the highest visual fidelity settings.

Q: Does the data suggest the CPU or GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops from 95.8 on Low to 42.4 on Ultra, a clear GPU-bound scaling. The CPU’s high single-thread score (3925) supports its ability to keep up with the frame delivery demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings, providing a comprehensive view of performance.

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 152 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset delivers 114.5 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset drops to 85.7 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 66.1 FPS. All 1080p results are playable, with only the Ultra preset approaching lower frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance starts to decline. The Low preset provides a smooth 95.8 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 74.1 FPS, which remains comfortable. The High preset drops to 54.7 FPS, which is below 60 FPS and may be noticeable for some users. The Ultra preset averages 42.4 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low preset yields 52.9 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that maintains an average above 50 FPS. The Medium preset averages 36.9 FPS, which is marginal. The High preset drops to 28.2 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the lowest at 21 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming is only viable with the lowest settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1135 out of 1795 combos places it in the 63rd percentile of tested configurations. This is a mid-pack ranking, suggesting that while the components are capable, they are not top-tier for this specific game. The rank reflects the measured FPS, which show a system that is strong at 1080p but quickly loses ground at higher resolutions.

The CPU’s high percentile ranking (84th) versus the GPU’s lower percentile (72nd) indicates that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing. This is corroborated by the FPS data, where the performance scaling is more dependent on resolution and settings than on CPU load. The combo ranks 1135th, which puts it below the median, but the data shows that this is due to the GPU’s limitations at 4K and demanding presets, not a fundamental flaw in the hardware.

The deltaPct values for the GPU’s nearest rivals are minimal (0 to -0.6), confirming that the RX 6650 XT is performance-consistent with its peers. The CPU’s rivals also show negligible deltas (0 to 0.4), indicating that the i5-12600KF is a solid, predictable performer. The combined result is a system that is reliable but not exceptional in Hitman 2.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to 1080p with the High preset as the optimal balance. This yields 85.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target and provides good visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1080p is also viable at 66.1 FPS, but the 19.6 FPS gain from dropping to High is significant.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only setting that guarantees a high frame rate, at 95.8 FPS. The Medium preset at 74.1 FPS is also acceptable, but the High preset’s 54.7 FPS is below the ideal threshold. For users with 1440p monitors, the Low or Medium presets are recommended to maintain smoothness.

At 4K, the Low preset is the only playable option, at 52.9 FPS. The Medium preset’s 36.9 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets are not recommended due to sub-30 FPS averages. The data suggests that users should prioritize resolution over settings for this combo, as the GPU cannot handle high settings at 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip. Its specifications include a boost clock of 2635 MHz and a game clock of 2410 MHz. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. Its FP32 performance is 10.79 TFLOPS, and it has 2048 shading units.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show a mixed profile. Its Passmark G3D score is 17166, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1859. The Geekbench Vulkan score is 93769, indicating solid API support. However, its Passmark DirectX 11 score of 169 and DirectX 12 score of 62 are relatively low, which may affect performance in older or less optimized titles.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is pivotal. The FPS data clearly shows that the RX 6650 XT is the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K, with performance dropping sharply as resolution increases. The 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 128-bit memory bus may struggle with the bandwidth demands of 4K textures. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 72nd versus all GPUs, and its close scores to rivals like the RX 6800M (deltaPct 0) and RX 470 (deltaPct 0.1), confirm that it is a mid-range performer. The data indicates that the GPU is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, and it is not recommended for 4K gaming beyond the lowest settings.