Hitman 2

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. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance, scoring 23,444 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,3444 in the same test, while its single-core score of 3,309 reflects capable per-thread performance. The processor sits at the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27,827. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, scores 27,829, a delta of 0%, meaning the i5-12600KF is statistically tied with that higher-tier part in aggregate performance. The i5-12600K is 0.1% behind, and the Core Ultra 5 125H is 0.2% behind, while the Core i7-13700H is 0.4% ahead.

In Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data. The game is a stealth title that often features large crowds and complex AI routines, which can be demanding on the processor. However, the measured FPS data at 1080p reveals a different story. At Low settings, the combo achieves 67 FPS, but at Ultra settings, it drops to 31 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 36 FPS, a 53.7% reduction, indicating that the graphics card is the primary bottleneck. The i5-12600KF’s 10 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for this game’s CPU demands, as evidenced by the fact that lowering resolution from 1080p to 4K at Low settings yields a drop from 67 FPS to 23.8 FPS, a 64.5% decrease. This steep drop at the same settings across resolutions points directly to the GPU being the limiting factor, not the processor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy of playable settings for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination in Hitman 2. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 67 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches a smooth 60 FPS experience. The Medium preset offers 53.3 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a stealth game where quick reactions matter. High drops to 36.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 31 FPS. Based on this data, the Low preset is the most viable for a consistent frame rate, but Medium is acceptable if the user prefers better visuals over the 13.7 FPS difference.

At 1440p, the situation worsens significantly. Low settings yield 44.7 FPS, Medium drops to 32.7 FPS, and High falls to 25.6 FPS. Ultra is nearly unplayable at 17.8 FPS. The 1440p data shows that even the Low preset cannot maintain 60 FPS, so the user must compromise between resolution and frame rate. For 4K, the results are borderline unusable. The Low preset averages 23.8 FPS, Medium at 16.2 FPS, High at 15.7 FPS, and Ultra at 8.1 FPS. None of these are playable for a game requiring precision.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p with the Low preset, which provides 67 FPS. This is the only configuration that meets the standard for smooth gameplay. If the user insists on higher visual fidelity, the Medium preset at 1080p is the next best option at 53.3 FPS, but the drop from Low to Medium is a 20.4% performance penalty. The data suggests that this hardware combination cannot handle High or Ultra settings at any resolution without falling below 40 FPS, so those presets should be avoided entirely. The recommendation is clear: prioritize frame rate over visual polish with this GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck lies in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 67 at 1080p to 44.7 at 1440p, a 33.3% reduction, and then to 23.8 at 4K, a 64.5% reduction from 1080p. This pattern indicates a GPU-bound scenario, as the CPU’s performance does not degrade with resolution. The i5-12600KF’s single-thread score of 3,309 in Cinebench R23 is more than adequate for Hitman 2’s CPU workload, and its multi-thread score of 23,444 shows headroom that is not being utilized.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 53.3 FPS at 1080p, 32.7 FPS at 1440p, and 16.2 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 69.6%, which is even steeper than at Low settings. This is expected because higher settings increase the GPU’s workload per pixel, amplifying the resolution effect. At High settings, the drop is from 36.5 FPS to 25.6 FPS to 15.7 FPS, with a 57% decrease from 1080p to 4K. Ultra settings show the most dramatic degradation, falling from 31 FPS to 17.8 FPS to 8.1 FPS, a 73.9% drop from 1080p to 4K.

The data indicates that the GTX 1650 is the limiting component at all resolutions. The 4K results are uniformly poor across all settings, with the best being 23.8 FPS at Low. This is because the GPU’s 4 GB of VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K workloads. The CPU, by contrast, shows no signs of bottlenecking, as the frame rate drops are consistent with what one would expect from a GPU that is overwhelmed by pixel count. For a smooth experience, the user must stick to 1080p, as the 1440p and 4K data points are all below the playable threshold for this genre.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this CPU and GPU in Hitman 2?

A: The 1080p Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 67, making it the only configuration that achieves a smooth 60+ FPS experience. All other settings at 1080p, and all settings at 1440p and 4K, fall below this threshold.

Q: How does the i5-12600KF compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27,827, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-10900K at 27,829, a 0% delta. It also matches the i5-12600K, which is 0.1% behind, and is 0.4% faster than the Core i7-13700H.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data shows the GPU is the bottleneck. At Low settings, FPS drops from 67 at 1080p to 23.8 at 4K, a 64.5% reduction. This steep decline with resolution, while CPU scores remain constant, indicates the GTX 1650 cannot keep up with higher pixel counts.

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at Ultra settings smoothly?

A: No. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 31, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 17.8 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it is only 8.1 FPS. Ultra settings are not viable at any resolution.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile relative to all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 8,713. Its nearest rival, the RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8,746, which is 0.4% higher.

Q: How much VRAM does the GTX 1650 have, and does it affect 4K performance?

A: The GTX 1650 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 128.1 GB/s bandwidth. This limited capacity is a major factor in the poor 4K results, where the best average FPS is 23.8 at Low settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 896 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz, with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 2.984 TFLOPS, and it has a pixel rate of 53.28 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 93.24 GTexel/s. In synthetic benchmarks, the GTX 1650 scores 7,880 in Passmark G3D and 8,713 on average, placing it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8,746, a 0.4% difference, showing the GTX 1650 is competitive with that mobile part.

In Hitman 2, the GTX 1650’s role is decisive. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary constraint at every resolution and settings combination. At 1080p Low, the GPU manages 67 FPS, but this is the peak performance. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a critical limitation, as the game’s textures and geometry at higher presets likely exceed this amount, causing performance to collapse. At 4K Ultra, the GPU delivers only 8.1 FPS, which is a 87.9% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This is not just a resolution issue but a memory bandwidth and capacity problem, as the 128.1 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for 4K data transfer.

The GPU’s boost clock of 1665 MHz is modest, and its 75 W TDP indicates a low-power design that relies on the PCIe slot for power. The lack of additional power connectors suggests it is not designed for sustained high-load scenarios. The benchmark results confirm this: the Passmark DirectX 12 score of 35 and DirectX 11 score of 58 are low, reflecting the GPU’s struggle with modern API workloads. For Hitman 2, the data suggests that the GTX 1650 can handle the game at 1080p Low or Medium, but any attempt to scale resolution or settings results in a disproportionate FPS loss. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with even the Low preset failing to reach 24 FPS, indicating that this GPU is not suited for resolutions beyond 1440p in this title.