Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a playable but demanding experience in Hitman 2, with performance heavily dictated by the GPU at higher resolutions. The data shows a system where the CPU provides ample headroom, allowing the graphics card to become the primary bottleneck as visual fidelity and pixel count increase. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across the three tested resolutions and four quality presets, interpreting what the numbers reveal about component roles and optimal settings.

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

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 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory position it as a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark scores confirm this standing. The CPU sits in the 84th percentile of all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 27827, placing it in near-lockstep with the Intel Core i9-10900K (deltaPct of 0) and the Intel Core i5-12600K (deltaPct of -0.1). This indicates the 12600KF is a formidable performer, unlikely to bottleneck a mid-range GPU in most scenarios.

In the context of Hitman 2, a stealth game that often features complex crowd simulations and AI-driven environments, the CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are relevant. The processor’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23444 and Passmark multithread score of 27575 suggest it can handle the game’s logical threads without breaking a sweat. However, the measured FPS data reveals that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 131.6 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. This high ceiling implies that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with frames well beyond what most displays can show. Even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 20.6, the bottleneck is clearly not the processor, as the single-threaded performance (Passmark single-thread score of 3925, 3DMark single-thread score of 1016) is robust enough for the game’s primary simulation thread. The data suggests that in this pairing, the i5-12600KF’s role is to provide a stable, high-throughput foundation, enabling the RTX 2060 to operate at its full potential until pixel throughput becomes the absolute constraint.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture card with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, offering a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it features 1920 shading units. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 16074, placing it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (deltaPct of 0.5) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (deltaPct of -1.7). This places the RTX 2060 firmly in the mid-range tier, and the Hitman 2 results reflect that positioning.

The GPU’s 6 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor in this game. As resolution increases, the demand on VRAM grows, and the data shows a sharp decline in performance from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p High, the card produces 73.2 FPS, which is smooth, but at 4K High, the average drops to 25.4 FPS, a figure that is barely interactive. This pattern strongly suggests that the RTX 2060 is the dominant bottleneck at higher resolutions, struggling to maintain fill rate and memory bandwidth demands. The card’s FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s are respectable for 1080p gaming but insufficient for the 8.3 million pixels of 4K. The data implies that the RTX 2060 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gameplay, where its 6 GB frame buffer and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate, but it becomes overwhelmed at 4K, particularly on Ultra settings where the average FPS plummets to 20.6.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 131.6 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it drops to 82.5 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 42.9 FPS. This represents a significant decline, but the pattern is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 53.3 FPS, dropping to 32.3 FPS at 1440p Ultra and a mere 20.6 FPS at 4K Ultra. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial across all settings, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting component.

Specifically, moving from 1080p High (73.2 FPS) to 1440p High (49.9 FPS) results in a loss of approximately 32% of the frame rate, and then to 4K High (25.4 FPS) another 49% is lost. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU has enough headroom to keep feeding frames, but the RTX 2060 cannot keep up with the increasing pixel workload. The data suggests that the CPU’s performance is relatively constant across resolutions, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate drops are roughly proportional to the increase in pixel count. For example, 4K has four times the pixels of 1080p, and at Low settings, the FPS drops from 131.6 to 42.9, which is roughly a 3x reduction, not a 4x reduction, suggesting some CPU involvement at the lowest settings. However, at Ultra settings, the drop is from 53.3 to 20.6, a 2.6x reduction, which is less severe, indicating that the GPU is even more dominant at higher quality presets. This analysis reveals that the system is GPU-limited at 1440p and 4K, but the CPU still plays a role at 1080p Low, where the frame rate ceiling is high enough to expose any potential CPU limitations.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset delivers 73.2 FPS, which is ideal for smooth, responsive gameplay. The Ultra preset drops to 53.3 FPS, which is still playable but sacrifices some fluidity for marginal visual gains. The Medium preset at 101 FPS is a strong alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, but High offers a better balance of quality and performance. At 1440p, the High preset produces 49.9 FPS, which is acceptable for a stealth game but may feel slightly less smooth. The Medium preset at 64.4 FPS is a more comfortable choice, providing a significant boost over High while still maintaining decent visual quality. The Low preset at 82.5 FPS is the best option for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, but it compromises the game’s atmosphere.

At 4K, the results are less encouraging. The High preset averages 25.4 FPS, which is below the threshold for a playable experience. The Medium preset at 36.6 FPS is marginal, while the Low preset at 42.9 FPS is the only 4K option that approaches playability, though it is still not ideal. The Ultra preset at 20.6 FPS is effectively unplayable. The data suggests that for this combo, 1080p High is the sweet spot, offering a high frame rate with good visual fidelity. For 1440p, Medium is recommended to maintain a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. At 4K, users should stick to Low settings or consider lowering the resolution, as the GPU lacks the resources to handle the pixel count with any quality preset.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 60 FPS on 1080p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1080p with Medium settings, the average FPS is 101, and at High settings it is 73.2, both comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the i5-12600KF a bottleneck for the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: The data indicates no significant CPU bottleneck. The system reaches 131.6 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a high ceiling, and the frame rate drops are proportional to resolution increases, suggesting the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best 4K setting for this combo?

A: The Low preset at 4K yields 42.9 FPS, which is the highest average at that resolution. However, this is still below the ideal 60 FPS target, so playing at a lower resolution is recommended for a better experience.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rival in this test?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074, which is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996) and 1.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15786).

Q: Does the CPU’s 20 MB of L3 cache impact the game’s performance?

A: The CPU’s cache is a feature of its architecture, but the measured FPS data does not isolate its impact. The system’s performance is ultimately limited by the GPU at higher resolutions, so the CPU’s cache is not a determining factor in the observed frame rates.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the High preset averages 49.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 32.3 FPS, representing a significant drop of 17.6 FPS for the higher quality setting.

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

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 in Hitman 2 is as follows:

• 1920x1080: Low settings average 131.6 FPS, Medium settings average 101 FPS, High settings average 73.2 FPS, and Ultra settings average 53.3 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Low settings average 82.5 FPS, Medium settings average 64.4 FPS, High settings average 49.9 FPS, and Ultra settings average 32.3 FPS.
• 3840x2160: Low settings average 42.9 FPS, Medium settings average 36.6 FPS, High settings average 25.4 FPS, and Ultra settings average 20.6 FPS.

This table reveals a clear hierarchy: each step up in resolution or settings reduces the average FPS. The most significant single drop occurs between 1080p Medium (101 FPS) and 1440p Medium (64.4 FPS), a reduction of 36.6 FPS. Conversely, the smallest relative drop is from 1440p Low (82.5 FPS) to 4K Low (42.9 FPS), which still represents a 48% decrease. The data confirms that the RTX 2060 struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, with no preset exceeding 43 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1475 out of 1795 total combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, with a percentile position of approximately 82% (calculated from the rank and total). This ranking reflects the GPU’s mid-range standing, as the CPU is a high-end part that could support a more powerful graphics card. The data indicates that while the i5-12600KF is capable of driving much higher frame rates, the RTX 2060 limits the overall performance, particularly at higher resolutions. The combo’s rank is a direct result of the GPU’s 58th percentile performance, which drags the overall score down despite the CPU’s 84th percentile showing. This suggests that users with this CPU would benefit from a GPU upgrade to unlock its full potential, as the current pairing leaves significant performance on the table, especially for 1440p and 4K gaming. The measured FPS data supports this, showing that the system excels at 1080p but falls short of a high-end experience at higher resolutions.