Hitman 2

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. It runs at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boosts up to 5.30 GHz, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This CPU sits in the 93rd percentile of all processors tested, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of alternatives in synthetic workloads. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600K, scores within 0.4% of it, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X trails by 0.6% and the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 1.4% behind.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's job is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The data suggests the i5-14600KF is more than adequate for this task. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 160.7 FPS, which is high enough that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4643, helps maintain high frame rates even when many NPCs and AI routines are active in Hitman 2's sandbox levels. The 14 cores (likely a mix of performance and efficiency cores, given the architecture) provide headroom for background tasks, but the game itself rarely stresses all threads simultaneously.

The 125 W TDP and active production status mean this is a mainstream desktop part with broad compatibility. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which gives builders flexibility, though memory bandwidth is not a listed constraint for this game. Since Hitman 2 is not heavily multithreaded, the CPU's 20 threads are a safety margin rather than a necessity. The benchmark data shows the CPU's multicore muscle (Cinebench R23 multicore: 32889) is far beyond what this game demands, so the limiting factor in this pairing will almost always be the GPU, especially at higher resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC's 12 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The chip (TU104) contains 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, with base and boost clocks of 1605 MHz and 1770 MHz respectively. The memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which includes ray tracing and variable rate shading features that Hitman 2 can optionally use.

The RTX 2070 SUPER sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs tested, which is respectable but not top-tier. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A400, scores within 0.5% higher, while the GeForce GTX TITAN Z is 0.9% ahead. The GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile leads by 2.3%, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 trails by 2.5%. In Hitman 2, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo's frame rates range from 65.3 FPS at Ultra to 160.7 FPS at Low, showing that the GPU still has headroom at lower settings. But at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 23 FPS, indicating the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count and the game's rendering features.

The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for Hitman 2 at most settings, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of high-resolution textures and geometry likely pushes close to that limit. The GPU's 448.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes a factor at higher resolutions, where texture streaming and memory access patterns are more demanding. The 215 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU are typical for this class, and the dual-slot cooler with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors means it fits in most mid-tower cases. The GPU's end-of-life production status means it's no longer manufactured, but its performance in this game remains consistent with its 65th percentile ranking.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 160.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 103.5 FPS (a 35.6% reduction), and 4K Low yields 57.2 FPS (another 44.7% drop from 1440p). This steep decline indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases. The CPU is capable of driving much higher frame rates, but the RTX 2070 SUPER cannot keep up with the pixel workload.

At High settings, the pattern repeats: 89.6 FPS at 1080p, 56.2 FPS at 1440p (a 37.3% drop), and 28.9 FPS at 4K (a 48.6% drop from 1440p). The Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling: 65.3 FPS at 1080p falls to 42.9 FPS at 1440p (34.3% drop) and then to 23 FPS at 4K (46.4% drop). These percentage drops are consistent across settings, which suggests the bottleneck is purely resolution-driven — the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated.

The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, Ultra is 59.4% slower than Low (160.7 vs 65.3 FPS). At 4K, Ultra is 59.8% slower than Low (57.2 vs 23 FPS). This similarity indicates that the GPU is equally strained by both settings and resolution increases. The CPU's contribution to frame rate is minimal at 4K — the i5-14600KF can easily keep up, but the RTX 2070 SUPER simply runs out of steam. For players targeting 4K, this combo will require Low or Medium settings to stay playable, while 1080p and 1440p offer more flexibility.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1099th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the database — roughly the 61st percentile. The rank reflects the GPU's mid-tier status more than the CPU's strength; the i5-14600KF is a high-end processor, but the RTX 2070 SUPER is several generations old and was never a flagship.

The rank makes sense given the measured FPS. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 65.3 FPS, which is playable but not high-refresh territory. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 42.9 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls below 30 FPS. Many other combos in the database will outperform this pairing, particularly those with newer GPUs. However, the rank is not catastrophic — it's better than roughly 38% of all tested combos, and the CPU's high percentile (93rd) means that upgrading the GPU later would dramatically improve this rank without needing a new processor.

The data suggests this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming with medium-to-high settings. The GPU's 65th percentile ranking is the limiting factor, while the CPU's 93rd percentile provides a strong foundation. If the goal is to maximize Hitman 2 performance, the CPU can handle a much faster GPU without becoming a bottleneck. This combo represents a balanced mid-range build from a few years ago, but the CPU outclasses the GPU by a significant margin.

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

Here is the complete measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2:

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 160.7 FPS average
• Medium: 121.1 FPS average
• High: 89.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 65.3 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo is comfortably playable at all settings. Even Ultra exceeds 60 FPS, which is the standard for smooth gameplay. Low settings push past 160 FPS, suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. The step from Low to Medium costs 39.6 FPS, while Medium to High costs 31.5 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 24.3 FPS. The diminishing returns are clear — each tier of settings has a smaller absolute FPS cost.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 103.5 FPS average
• Medium: 80.1 FPS average
• High: 56.2 FPS average
• Ultra: 42.9 FPS average

At 1440p, the combo remains playable but with caveats. Low and Medium are smooth, but High drops below 60 FPS, and Ultra falls to 42.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 60.6 FPS, showing that settings have a significant impact at this resolution. For a 1440p monitor with a 60 Hz refresh, High is borderline, and Ultra is not recommended.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 57.2 FPS average
• Medium: 43.7 FPS average
• High: 28.9 FPS average
• Ultra: 23 FPS average

At 4K, the combo struggles. Only Low settings manage to stay above 50 FPS, and that's marginal. Medium drops to 43.7 FPS, High to 28.9 FPS, and Ultra to 23 FPS. The GPU is clearly the bottleneck here, as the CPU has no trouble driving these frame rates. For 4K gaming, this combo is only viable at Low settings, and even then, frame pacing may be inconsistent.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo playable at 1080p Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 65.3, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The combo handles 1080p well across all settings, with Low reaching 160.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1080p is the sweet spot, with all settings playable. At 1440p, Low and Medium are smooth (103.5 and 80.1 FPS), but High and Ultra drop below 60 FPS. 4K is only viable at Low settings (57.2 FPS).

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-14600K, 0.5% of the AMD EPYC 4345P, 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and 1.4% of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H. The differences are minor.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER scores within 0.5% of the NVIDIA RTX A400, 0.9% of the GeForce GTX TITAN Z, 2.3% of the GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile, and 2.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5700.

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU ranks in the 93rd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 65th. At 4K, the GPU's limitations are obvious, with Ultra settings averaging only 23 FPS.

Q: What does the combo rank tell us?

A: This combo ranks 1099th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. That places it in the lower-middle tier, reflecting the GPU's mid-range status. The CPU's high performance means a GPU upgrade would significantly improve this rank without needing a new processor.