Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is a stealth title from 2018 that remains a demanding showcase for modern hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, using only the provided data to interpret how this combination behaves across different settings and resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a clear and predictable pattern: as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 (4K), average frame rates drop substantially across all settings. This scaling is the primary indicator of where the performance bottleneck lies.

At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 285 at 1080p to 97 at 4K. That is a 66% reduction in frame rate when moving to four times the pixel count. This steep decline shows that even at Low settings, the GPU is being pushed hard by the sheer number of pixels at 4K. At Medium settings, the drop is from 214 FPS at 1080p to 137 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 73 FPS at 4K. The progression here is consistent, with each step up in resolution costing roughly 35-40% of the previous frame rate.

High settings follow a similar trajectory: 162 FPS at 1080p, 103 FPS at 1440p, and 55 FPS at 4K. The most dramatic scaling occurs at Ultra settings, where the 4K average of 41 FPS is nearly a third of the 119 FPS seen at 1080p. This indicates that the combination of Ultra presets and 4K resolution places an immense load on the RTX 5070 Ti, pushing it to its limits.

The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 5070 Ti is the primary limiting factor for high-refresh-rate gaming, but the CPU still plays a role. At 1080p Low, the 285 FPS average is likely approaching the point where the i5-14400F's single-thread performance could start to constrain the GPU. However, the fact that frame rates continue to scale downwards smoothly as resolution increases points to the GPU being the dominant bottleneck in most scenarios. The 4K results, especially at Ultra with 41 FPS average, clearly show a GPU-bound situation where the graphics card's raw throughput is the ceiling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, running on the LGA 1700 socket with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide a solid foundation for gaming workloads.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. The benchmark results for this processor show a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. This indicates strong multi-threaded performance for a mainstream desktop chip, which is beneficial for Hitman 2's handling of NPC AI and physics in crowded levels.

However, the data does not show a scenario where the CPU is the primary limiter. At 1080p Low, the 285 FPS average is high, but the GPU is still capable of rendering frames faster than this in less demanding scenes. The fact that the RTX 5070 Ti is a high-end card with an average benchmark score of 49957 means it can easily outpace the CPU's frame generation capacity in many situations. The nearest rival CPUs to the i5-14400F, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i9-11900, have nearly identical average benchmark scores (within 0.2%), suggesting that this level of CPU performance is more than adequate for Hitman 2.

The 16 threads of the i5-14400F ensure that it can handle the game's multi-threaded workloads without becoming a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU takes longer to render each frame. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 41, which is a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU is likely waiting on the graphics card. In contrast, at 1080p Low, the 285 FPS result shows the CPU is being utilized more heavily, but it still manages to keep up with the GPU's output.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this hardware for a balance of visual quality and performance?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 at High settings provides a strong experience with an average of 103 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p. For higher refresh rates, 1080p High delivers 162 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play.

Q: Does the RTX 5070 Ti bottleneck the i5-14400F in this game?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, especially at Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 41. At 1080p Low, the 285 FPS average suggests the CPU is being pushed, but the GPU still has headroom. The GPU's performance is the limiting factor in most scenarios, particularly at higher resolutions.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra experience compare to 1440p Ultra?

A: The average frame rate at 4K Ultra is 41 FPS, which is unplayable for most users. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 76 FPS, which is a much smoother experience. The jump from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings results in a 46% performance drop, making 1440p the more practical choice for Ultra settings.

Q: Is the 16 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5070 Ti sufficient for Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: The data does not list VRAM usage, but the performance at 4K High (55 FPS) and 4K Medium (73 FPS) suggests that the GPU has enough memory to handle the game's textures. The low average FPS at 4K Ultra (41 FPS) is more attributable to the GPU's raw compute power than a memory limitation.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 214 FPS, with a minimum of 182 FPS and a maximum of 246 FPS. This is an excellent result for high-refresh-rate monitors and shows the RTX 5070 Ti is well-suited for 1080p gaming.

Q: How does the i5-14400F's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i9-11900. It is also 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-12800H. This indicates that it performs on par with these CPUs, with no significant advantage or disadvantage in synthetic benchmarks.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti ranks 401st out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the top 10.8% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result. The high ranking is primarily driven by the RTX 5070 Ti's excellent performance, as the GPU sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs.

This ranking reflects the system's ability to deliver high frame rates at 1440p and respectable performance at 4K. The data shows that the combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it can achieve over 100 FPS on High settings. At 4K, it is capable of playable frame rates at Medium and High settings, but struggles with the Ultra preset.

Compared to other combos in the database, this pairing is positioned for high-end 1440p gaming and entry-level 4K gaming. The 401st rank out of 3711 indicates that there are systems that perform better, likely those with higher-end CPUs or GPUs, but this combo still offers a compelling performance profile. The fact that it outranks 89.2% of all tested combos underscores its capability as a high-performance gaming platform.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and smooth gameplay, the data points to 2560x1440 with High settings as the optimal configuration. This yields an average of 103 FPS, which is well-suited for most monitors. If you have a high-refresh-rate 1440p display, the Medium preset at 137 FPS is an excellent choice, offering a significant boost in frame rate with only a modest reduction in visual quality.

For 4K gaming, the High preset at 55 FPS is the most playable option, though it falls short of a locked 60 FPS experience. The Medium preset at 4K provides a much smoother 73 FPS average and is the recommended choice for 4K users who prioritize frame rate over maximum visual detail. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 41 FPS average is below the playable threshold for most users.

At 1080p, all settings are playable, but the High preset at 162 FPS is the sweet spot for most users. The Ultra preset at 119 FPS is also a strong option if you want maximum visual quality without sacrificing too much performance. The Low preset at 285 FPS is only useful for competitive play where every frame matters, but it sacrifices significant visual detail.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 285 FPS average
• Medium: 214 FPS average, with a minimum of 182 FPS and a maximum of 246 FPS
• High: 162 FPS average
• Ultra: 119 FPS average

At 1080p, the RTX 5070 Ti is able to push extremely high frame rates. The Low preset exceeds 280 FPS, while even the Ultra preset maintains an average of 119 FPS. The Medium preset shows a tight frame time distribution, with a minimum of 182 FPS, indicating consistent performance.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 182 FPS average
• Medium: 137 FPS average, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS
• High: 103 FPS average
• Ultra: 76 FPS average

1440p is where this combo shines. Even at Ultra settings, the average frame rate of 76 FPS is playable. The High preset at 103 FPS is ideal for smooth gameplay, and the Medium preset at 137 FPS is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset at 182 FPS is still very fast, showing the GPU's headroom at this resolution.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 97 FPS average
• Medium: 73 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS
• High: 55 FPS average
• Ultra: 41 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU's limits become apparent. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 73 FPS but has a minimum of 62 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 55 FPS and the Ultra preset at 41 FPS are below the ideal playable range, requiring settings adjustments for a better experience. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the 4K Ultra setting being the most demanding, resulting in the lowest average frame rate of all tested configurations.