Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark illustration of a CPU-bound system pushed into an entirely GPU-limited scenario in Hitman 2. The data shows a performance profile dominated by the integrated graphics solution, where the processor's substantial capabilities are largely irrelevant to the final frame rates. The measured results indicate that this combo is only suitable for the lowest graphical settings at 1080p, with any increase in resolution or quality resulting in a precipitous drop in playability.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals a system that is almost entirely constrained by the graphics processor. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 80 to 51, a 36% reduction. This is a significant loss, but the pattern becomes more extreme when pushing to 3840x2160, where the average plummets to 27 FPS. This represents a 66% decrease from the 1080p figure, clearly indicating that the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K.

This trend is consistent across all quality presets. At High settings, the frame rate falls from 46 FPS at 1080p to 29 FPS at 1440p, and then to a mere 16 FPS at 4K. The scaling is not linear; the performance cost of each resolution jump becomes more severe, which is typical of a GPU with a limited pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth. The data suggests that the integrated Arc B390 is the definitive limiting component, as the performance degrades so sharply with resolution that no amount of CPU headroom can compensate.

The difference between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings shows a drop from 60 to 39 FPS, a 35% decrease. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K at the same settings is more punishing, with the average falling from 39 to 21 FPS, a 46% reduction. This demonstrates that the GPU's architecture is particularly inefficient at the 4K resolution, making it a non-viable target for this combo in Hitman 2. The data clearly shows that this system's performance envelope is defined by the graphics solution, and any attempt to play at higher resolutions will be met with severe frame rate penalties.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark results place this specific combination of components at rank 2662 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, a clear indication of its low performance tier for this title. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the processor is a high-end desktop part that should theoretically provide a strong foundation for gaming.

This low rank is further contextualized by the GPU's standalone benchmark performance. The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in that benchmark are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, all of which are entry-level or legacy parts. The delta percentages are small, with the Arc B390 being 1.3% faster than the GT 520MX and 2.7% faster than the GT 710, indicating that its raw graphics performance is in the same class as these very old, low-end components.

The disparity between the CPU and GPU performance is stark. The i5-14600K sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and AMD EPYC 4345P, are within a 0.8% performance delta. This shows the processor is a powerful, modern part. In contrast, the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is profoundly unbalanced for gaming, which is precisely why it ranks so poorly among the tested combos for Hitman 2.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It features a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it demonstrates exceptional capability, scoring 24491 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2064 in single-core tests. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 38682 and single-thread score of 4270 further confirm its position as a high-performance desktop CPU.

However, in the context of Hitman 2 with the Arc B390, the CPU's role is almost entirely passive. The game is not demanding on the processor for this system, as the GPU is so slow that it becomes the bottleneck long before the CPU is stressed. The processor's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Geekbench single-core score of 2491, is more than sufficient for the game's logic and physics, but this capability has no effect on the final FPS because the GPU cannot render frames fast enough.

The data suggests that the CPU is effectively idle, waiting for the GPU to complete its work. With a 125W TDP and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, the i5-14600K is a powerful part that could easily drive a discrete graphics card to high frame rates in this game. But in this configuration, its 14 cores and 20 threads are largely irrelevant. The benchmark results for the combo are a pure reflection of the GPU's performance, and the CPU's only contribution is to ensure that it never becomes a limiting factor, which is hardly a meaningful achievement at these low frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 80 FPS, which is the only playable configuration in the entire dataset. Moving up to Medium settings at the same resolution drops the average to 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 and a maximum of 69, which is still a playable experience for many. High settings at 1080p yields 46 FPS, and Ultra settings brings the average down to 34 FPS, indicating the GPU is struggling with higher-quality effects.

At 2560x1440, the performance becomes marginal. Low settings produce an average of 51 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium settings drop to 39 FPS, and High settings fall to 29 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution manages only 21 FPS, which is not a smooth experience. The data shows a clear pattern of diminishing returns as settings are increased, with the GPU's limited shading units and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s being overwhelmed.

At 3840x2160, the combo is essentially non-functional for gaming. Low settings yield an average of 27 FPS, Medium drops to 21 FPS with a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 24, High falls to 16 FPS, and Ultra manages only 11 FPS. These frame rates are far below the threshold for a playable experience. The data indicates that the 4K resolution is entirely out of reach for this integrated GPU, and even the lowest settings cannot produce a smooth frame rate. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and the system-shared memory with dependent bandwidth are clear limiting factors at this resolution.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration that provides a comfortable frame rate, achieving an average of 80 FPS. This is the recommended target for a playable experience.

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

A: No. The average FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 27 FPS on Low to 11 FPS on Ultra. These results are all far too low for smooth gameplay, indicating the GPU is not capable of rendering at this resolution.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals in the GPU benchmark?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B390 scores 1482. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM and GT 710.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU is in the 90th percentile for all processors and has a high single-thread score of 2064 in Cinebench R23. The GPU, on the other hand, is in the 9th percentile, making it the definitive bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS on Low is 80, while on Medium it is 60. This is a 25% drop in performance for presumably better visual quality.

*Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems for Hitman 2?*

A: The combo ranks 2662 out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems for this game.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data provides a clear directive for users of this hardware combination. The only configuration that achieves a consistently smooth frame rate is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 80 FPS. This should be the starting point for any player. It is the sole preset that offers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a responsive and fluid experience.

If a player is willing to accept a lower frame rate in exchange for better visuals, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is a viable alternative, with an average of 60 FPS and a minimum of 51 FPS. This is the absolute highest quality setting that can be considered playable. Pushing to High settings at 1080p drops the average to 46 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but it introduces noticeable stutter and a less responsive feel. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 34 FPS, should be avoided.

For 1440p and 4K resolutions, the data strongly advises against any settings beyond Low. At 2560x1440, Low settings provide an average of 51 FPS, which is playable, but any higher preset will result in frame rates in the 20s and 30s, which is a poor experience. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only manage 27 FPS, making the game effectively unplayable. The settings recommendations are therefore simple: stick to 1080p for any quality above Low, and only consider Low settings if you must play at 1440p. This combination is fundamentally a 1080p, low-to-medium settings gaming platform for Hitman 2.