Hitman 2

Hitman 2 places modest demands on modern hardware, and the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 reflects that dynamic clearly in the measured results. The data shows a configuration that is heavily skewed toward CPU capability, with the graphics card acting as the primary constraint at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across three resolutions and four quality presets, contextualizes the component roles, and explains how this specific combo ranks among the 3,001 tested configurations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, drawing a TDP of 125 W. This is a desktop-class chip with an unlocked multiplier, supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 24 MB L3 cache.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. Its Cinebench R23 scores are 4,594 single-core and 32,544 multi-core. Geekbench results show 2,445 single-core and 17,085 multi-core. The PassMark multi-thread score is 38,697, with a single-thread score of 4,273. These figures place the processor in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,394.

When comparing to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, the i5-14600KF shows near-identical performance to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, with a delta of only 0.3% in favor of the Intel chip. It also edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G by 0.4% and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 by 0.8%. The only rival that scores slightly higher is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, which leads by 0.8%. In the context of Hitman 2, this level of CPU performance is far beyond what the game requires. The game is not heavily threaded, and even at lower resolutions where the CPU has more influence on frame rates, the processor's headroom means it is rarely the bottleneck.

The measured FPS data supports this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 152 FPS, which is the highest average recorded. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is 64 FPS. These numbers indicate that the CPU is delivering frames without significant constraint, as the GPU is likely the limiting factor in most scenarios. The CPU's high single-core performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,594, is particularly relevant for a game like Hitman 2, which relies on a few primary threads for game logic and AI. The data suggests that the i5-14600KF provides ample processing power to feed the RTX 5050, even at high frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 2,560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The card has 20 ray tracing cores and 80 tensor cores. Its memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The base clock is 2,317 MHz with a boost clock of 2,572 MHz, and memory runs at 2,500 MHz with an effective speed of 20 Gbps. The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 13.17 TFLOPS.

In synthetic testing, the RTX 5050 scores 17,326 in PassMark G3D and 9,184 in PassMark GPU Compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2,502. These results place the GPU in the 66th percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 21,035. The nearest rivals are closely matched: the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is 0.6% higher, the AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% higher, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% lower than the RTX 5050.

For Hitman 2, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 4K Ultra, the average is only 22 FPS, which is unplayable by most standards. At 4K High, it rises to 29 FPS, still below a smooth threshold. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a factor here; at 4K with high-detail textures, the card may be near its memory limit, though the data does not directly confirm this. What is clear is that the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 3840x2160, regardless of settings except Low, where it reaches 52 FPS.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals suggests it is a mid-range card that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming well, but 4K is a significant challenge. The data shows that at 1440p High, the combo achieves 55 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a smooth experience. At 1080p High, it hits 86 FPS, which is a comfortable level for most players. The GPU's 130 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate a power-efficient card, but its 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus limit its high-resolution potential. The benchmark results consistently show the GPU as the bottleneck when moving from 1080p to 4K, as the CPU has ample headroom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience for this combination depends on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. The data provides four settings presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—across three resolutions. The best experience per the measured rows is a balance between visual quality and frame rate stability.

At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. This is the sweet spot for smooth gameplay, providing a high refresh rate experience without the visual sacrifices of Low. High at 1080p yields 86 FPS, which is still smooth but with better visuals. Ultra drops to 64 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal for fast-paced stealth action where reaction time matters. Low at 152 FPS is the highest, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. For 1080p, Medium is recommended as it combines a high average with a minimum that stays above 90 FPS.

At 2560x1440, Medium provides an average of 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. This is the only preset at 1440p where the average exceeds 60 FPS. High yields 55 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel inconsistent. Low reaches 97 FPS, which is very smooth, but the lower visual fidelity is noticeable on a 1440p panel. Ultra is not recommended at 41 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is the best choice, as it maintains a playable frame rate with reasonable graphical detail.

At 3840x2160, no preset provides a consistently smooth experience. Low averages 52 FPS, which is the only playable option, but it sacrifices most visual quality. Medium averages 39 FPS, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. All of these are below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. If 4K is the target, Low is the only viable setting, but the experience is compromised. Given the data, the recommended approach is to use Medium at 1440p or Medium at 1080p for the best balance of performance and quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 1,837 out of 3,001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU's mid-range positioning and the demanding nature of 4K gaming. The rank reflects the overall performance across all tested settings and resolutions, not just the best-case scenario.

This ranking is influenced by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. While the CPU is in the 90th percentile, the GPU is only in the 66th percentile, and the combo's performance is dragged down by the 4K results. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo performs well, with High preset reaching 86 FPS, which is competitive with many other mid-range configurations. However, at 4K, the performance falls to 22-52 FPS, which is significantly below what top-tier combos achieve.

Compared to the nearest rival GPUs, the RTX 5050's performance is closely matched with several older or lower-tier cards, which suggests that the combo's rank is not exceptional. The 1,837th position out of 3,001 means there are roughly 1,164 combos that perform worse, but also 1,836 that perform better. This is a middle-of-the-pack result, indicating that the combo is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but not for high-refresh 4K or ultra settings. The rank is a holistic measure, and the data shows that this combo is best suited for mainstream gaming resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The combo achieves an average of 86 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 52 at Low settings. Medium averages 39 FPS, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. None of these reach a smooth 60 FPS, so 4K is not recommended for a good experience.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest minimum FPS at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 has a minimum FPS of 62, which is the highest minimum among all 1440p presets.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14600KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900's average score of 49,228.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is in the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21,035.

Q: What is the maximum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the maximum FPS is 131, with an average of 114 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 152 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. Medium follows with 114 FPS average, a minimum of 97 FPS, and a maximum of 131 FPS. High yields 86 FPS average, and Ultra drops to 64 FPS average. There is a clear progression, with Low being more than double the frame rate of Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the pattern shifts. Low averages 97 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium averages 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. High averages 55 FPS, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 24 FPS, while the drop from Medium to High is 18 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 14 FPS. This indicates diminishing returns as settings increase, but the GPU's limitations become more apparent.

At 3840x2160, performance degrades significantly. Low averages 52 FPS, which is the only preset above 50 FPS. Medium averages 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 22 FPS. The data shows that even at Low settings, the combo cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS at 4K, making this resolution unsuitable for a smooth experience. The measured rows include minimum and maximum values only for the Medium preset at each resolution, which shows a range of 97-131 FPS at 1080p, 62-84 FPS at 1440p, and 33-45 FPS at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals the limiting component. At 1080p Medium, the average is 114 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 73 FPS, a reduction of 36%. At 4K Medium, it falls to 39 FPS, a further reduction of 47% from 1440p. This aggressive scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU has more than enough headroom to handle the increased resolution.

Looking at High settings, the pattern is similar. 1080p High averages 86 FPS, 1440p High drops to 55 FPS, a 36% reduction, and 4K High falls to 29 FPS, a 47% reduction from 1440p. The consistent percentage drops across settings suggest that the GPU's raw compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors, not the CPU. The i5-14600KF's strong single-thread performance, as shown by its Cinebench R23 score of 4,594, is sufficient to drive the game at high frame rates, but the RTX 5050 cannot keep up as pixel count increases.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, Low is 152 FPS and Ultra is 64 FPS, a difference of 88 FPS. At 4K, Low is 52 FPS and Ultra is 22 FPS, a difference of only 30 FPS. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is so constrained that even lowering settings has a limited effect on frame rates, as the memory bandwidth and fill rate are saturated. The 8 GB VRAM and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for high-detail 4K textures, but the measured data shows that even Low settings cannot fully overcome the hardware limitations. This scaling analysis confirms that the RTX 5050 is the bottleneck, and the CPU's role is to provide stable frame pacing without being a limiting factor.