Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is a stealth title from 2018, and the measured data for this combination of an Intel Core i5-14600KF and an Intel Arc B370 tells a clear story: this is a configuration that is overwhelmingly constrained by its graphics solution. The CPU is a high-end desktop part with a 90th percentile ranking among all processors, while the GPU sits at just the 5th percentile, resulting in a system that struggles to maintain playable frame rates at most settings and resolutions. The data indicates that while the processor has ample headroom, the integrated graphics solution is the definitive bottleneck, making this pairing suitable only for the lightest loads in this specific game.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a formidable desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads, which is a combination of performance and efficiency cores designed to handle heavily threaded workloads. Its base clock is listed at 3.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.30 GHz, providing substantial single-thread performance that is often critical for game logic and physics. The processor has a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, with a TDP of 125 W. Benchmark data confirms its strength: it scores 32,544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 4,594 in single-core, and 38,697 in Passmark multithread. Its average benchmark score is 49,394, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, scoring 49,228, a mere 0.3% difference.

In the context of Hitman 2, a title released in 2018, this CPU is far more than sufficient. The game’s engine is not known for being exceptionally demanding on modern high-end processors. However, the measured frame rates in this dataset are extremely low, which indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor. For example, at 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 41. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see significantly higher frame rates given its benchmark scores, which are comparable to top-tier rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388. The fact that scores are in the 40s and below suggests that the graphics processor is unable to keep up with the CPU’s output. The CPU is effectively waiting on the GPU at every turn. The data shows a processor with massive headroom that is being held back by a graphics solution that is nowhere near its performance class.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system’s main memory, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." With 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, it offers a theoretical FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. The GPU’s TDP is exceptionally low at 25 W, and it is designed for portable devices, as indicated by its "IGP" slot width and bus interface. Its benchmark presence is minimal, with only one score listed: 1,184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. This score places the Arc B370 at the 5th percentile of all GPUs, making it one of the least performant options in the database.

This GPU’s performance in Hitman 2 is the core issue. The measured FPS data shows that even at the lowest settings and resolution (1080p Low), the average frame rate is only 73 FPS. While that is technically playable, it is the absolute ceiling for this combination. At 1080p High, the average drops to 41 FPS. The GPU’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7% delta). These are all older, low-end parts, confirming that the Arc B370 is in a performance class that is decades behind the CPU. The GPU is the clear and absolute bottleneck in every single measured scenario. Its low pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply not sufficient to render Hitman 2’s detailed environments at higher settings or resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this system scales across resolutions. The most telling comparison is between 1080p and 4K at various settings. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 73 at 1920x1080 to 46 at 2560x1440, and then to 25 at 3840x2160. This is a dramatic drop of 48 FPS from 1080p to 4K, a 65.7% reduction in performance. At High settings, the drop is from 41 FPS at 1080p to 26 FPS at 1440p and finally to 14 FPS at 4K, a 65.8% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. When the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases exponentially, and the frame rate drops accordingly. A CPU-bound system would show much smaller differences between resolutions, as the CPU’s workload would remain constant. The fact that the frame rate nearly halves or more when moving from 1080p to 1440p and then halves again when moving to 4K shows that the Arc B370 is saturated at even the lowest resolution. The limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU has far more performance to offer. The data suggests that the frame rate is directly tied to the GPU’s pixel throughput, which is severely limited. Even at 1080p, the GPU is working at its maximum capacity, and any increase in resolution overwhelms it further.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF a good match for the Intel Arc B370 in Hitman 2?

A: No, the data indicates a severe imbalance. The CPU is in the 90th percentile of all processors, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The CPU has a massive performance advantage, but the GPU holds the system back in every measured scenario.

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

A: Based on the measured data, the only combination that achieves an average above 60 FPS is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields 73 FPS. All other combinations, including 1080p Medium (54 FPS) and 1080p High (41 FPS), fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B370’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1,184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1,186, which is 0.2% higher. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1,190 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1,192 (0.7% higher). These are all very close scores, indicating similar performance levels.

Q: Does the CPU’s performance have any impact on the frame rates in Hitman 2?

A: The data suggests the CPU has minimal impact on the measured frame rates. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. The significant FPS drops from 1080p to 4K indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor, with the CPU having ample headroom.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 41. At 4K High, the average FPS drops to 14. This represents a 27 FPS decrease, or a 65.8% reduction in performance, when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is this system capable of running Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: Technically, yes, but the performance is not acceptable. The best 4K result is 25 FPS at Low settings. At Ultra settings, the average is just 10 FPS. These frame rates are far below what would be considered playable.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the recommendation is straightforward: to achieve a playable experience, the user must select the lowest settings and resolution. The only configuration that exceeds the 60 FPS mark is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 73 FPS. This should be the target for any gameplay. The next step down in performance is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which yields an average of 54 FPS. While this is closer to playable, it is still below the 60 FPS target, and the minimum FPS for this setting is 46, which could lead to noticeable stutters. At 1080p High, the average drops to 41 FPS, which is a significant compromise on smoothness.

The data suggests that even the Medium preset is a gamble, as the minimum FPS of 46 indicates that the system can dip into less smooth territory. The High and Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution, as they deliver average frame rates below 30 FPS in most cases. At 1440p, even Low settings only manage 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. For the best experience, users should prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The 1080p Low preset is the only viable option for consistent performance. The data shows that the Arc B370 cannot handle the demands of higher presets in this game, and any attempt to increase visual quality will result in a significant loss of frame rate. The experience will be much more stable and enjoyable at Low settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average frame rates (FPS) for this hardware combination in Hitman 2.

1920x1080 (Full HD)

• Low: 73 FPS average. This is the only measured configuration that achieves an average above 60 FPS.
• Medium: 54 FPS average, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. This is playable but can dip below 60 FPS.
• High: 41 FPS average. This is a significant drop from Medium and is below the 60 FPS target.
• Ultra: 30 FPS average. This is at the edge of playability and represents a major visual compromise for performance.

2560x1440 (Quad HD)

• Low: 46 FPS average. This is below the 60 FPS threshold and is a 27 FPS drop from the 1080p Low setting.
• Medium: 35 FPS average, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. This is a substantial reduction from 1080p Medium.
• High: 26 FPS average. This is a 15 FPS drop from the 1080p High setting, making it difficult to play.
• Ultra: 19 FPS average. This is not a playable frame rate for a stealth game that requires precision.

3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD)

• Low: 25 FPS average. This is the highest frame rate achievable at 4K and is not playable.
• Medium: 19 FPS average, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. This is a slideshow.
• High: 14 FPS average. This is far below any acceptable playability threshold.
• Ultra: 10 FPS average. This is the lowest measured result and is completely unplayable.

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting factor at every resolution and setting. The system’s overall rank for this game is 2768 out of 3001 combinations, which places it in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations. This is a direct reflection of the GPU’s low percentile ranking. The CPU’s high performance is entirely negated by the GPU’s inability to render the game at a reasonable speed. For any user with this combination, the only sensible path is to play at 1080p with Low settings to get a playable, if not visually impressive, experience.