Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-9400 pairs with the Intel Arc B390 to deliver a benchmark result that places this combo at rank 3300 out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, with the CPU providing sufficient foundation for the game’s logic while the GPU struggles to translate that into playable frame rates. This analysis breaks down the measured results to explain how each component contributes to the overall experience.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and can boost up to 4.10 GHz, with a thermal design power of 65 W. The CPU features a 9 MB shared L3 cache, along with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Memory support is DDR4 via a dual-channel interface, providing a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The processor connects through PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-9400 scores 6629 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 935 points in single-core. Its Geekbench results are 5141 multi-core and 1389 single-core. These scores place the CPU at the 47th percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 2254. The nearest rivals show a tight cluster of performance: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259 (deltaPct -0.2), the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248 (deltaPct 0.3), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246 (deltaPct 0.4), and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264 (deltaPct -0.4). This indicates the i5-9400 sits squarely within a performance band where no single rival holds a meaningful advantage.

For Hitman 2, a stealth game that relies on AI-driven NPC behavior and complex scene simulations, the 6-core/6-thread configuration is adequate to handle the game's computational demands. The 4.10 GHz boost clock helps maintain responsiveness during crowded scenes, though the lack of hyper-threading means the CPU has exactly 6 threads to distribute across game logic and background tasks. Given that the measured frame rates at 1080p Low reach 80 FPS, the CPU appears capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach that ceiling. However, the dramatic drop in performance as settings increase suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and fabricated on a 3 nm process node. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with memory designated as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system's RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. The GPU contains 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The theoretical pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS. The TDP is 80 W, and it uses no power connectors due to its IGP form factor.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482 points, placing it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts with similar scores: the GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 (deltaPct 1.3), the GeForce 800M scores 1460 (deltaPct 1.5), the GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (deltaPct 2.5), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 (deltaPct 2.7). This places the Arc B390 in a performance tier that is historically associated with entry-level, low-power graphics solutions, which is consistent with its integrated nature and system-dependent memory bandwidth.

The impact of this GPU on Hitman 2 is evident across all measured resolutions. The game's rendered scenes, which include detailed environments and lighting effects, place a heavy load on the graphics pipeline. The Arc B390's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The system-shared memory means the GPU competes with the CPU for bandwidth, further limiting performance. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the GPU reaches 80 FPS, which is the highest measured average for this combo, but this drops rapidly with any increase in graphical fidelity.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings presets offer the most playable experience for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 80 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 1080p drops to 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and maximum of 69 FPS, which is still borderline playable for a stealth game where reaction times matter. The High preset at 1080p averages 46 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to 34 FPS.

Given these numbers, the recommended approach is to use the Low preset at 1080p for the most consistent performance, as the 80 FPS average provides headroom for scene complexity. The Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative if visual quality is prioritized, since the 60 FPS average with a 51 FPS minimum keeps the experience within a tolerable range. However, the data indicates that pushing beyond Medium results in a noticeable degradation: High averages 46 FPS, which is below the typical 60 FPS target, and Ultra averages 34 FPS, which is likely to feel sluggish during gameplay.

At higher resolutions, the situation worsens significantly. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 51 FPS, which is the only setting that remains somewhat playable. The Medium preset averages 39 FPS, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 21 FPS. At 3840x2160, all presets fall below 30 FPS, with Low averaging 27 FPS, Medium 21 FPS, High 16 FPS, and Ultra 11 FPS. The recommendation based on measured data is to play at 1080p with the Low preset to maximize frame rate, or accept the Medium preset at 1080p if visual fidelity is essential and the player can tolerate occasional dips to 51 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-9400 with Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 3300 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places the system in the bottom 11 percent of all configurations tested for this game. The low ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU's performance tier, as evidenced by the 9th percentile placement of the Arc B390 among all GPUs. The CPU ranks at the 47th percentile, which is near the midpoint of all processors. The combination of a mid-range CPU with an entry-level GPU produces a result that is far below what the CPU alone could support.

Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The i5-9400's nearest rivals, which include the i7-1068NG7 and i3-10305, show nearly identical average scores, confirming that the CPU is performing as expected for its class. The GPU, however, sits alongside the GeForce GT 710 and GT 520MX, which are legacy parts from a much older era. This disparity explains why the combo ranks so low: the GPU is the dominant constraint, and the CPU's capabilities are never fully utilized because the GPU cannot process frames quickly enough.

The ranking also reflects the game's demands. Hitman 2's open-ended levels with dynamic lighting and shadow calculations require substantial graphics throughput. The Arc B390's 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance is theoretically adequate for some titles, but the integrated nature of the GPU and its system-shared memory create bottlenecks that prevent it from sustaining higher frame rates. The combination's 3300th place ranking is a direct consequence of these hardware limitations.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the combo achieves 80 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low drops the average to 51 FPS, a 36 percent reduction. At 3840x2160 at Low, the average falls to 27 FPS, representing a 66 percent drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling behavior is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, where the number of pixels rendered directly impacts the frame rate.

For the Medium preset, the scaling is similar: 60 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p (35 percent drop), and 21 FPS at 4K (65 percent drop). The High preset shows 46 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p (37 percent drop), and 16 FPS at 4K (65 percent drop). The consistency of these percentage drops across presets indicates that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution in the same manner.

The data suggests that the Arc B390's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks. With 24 ROPs and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s, the GPU is capable of a theoretical maximum that is far below what is needed for 4K gaming. The system-shared memory bandwidth, which is dependent on the host system, further constrains performance at higher resolutions where memory access patterns become more demanding. The CPU, with its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, is not the limiting factor since the GPU's demands are what drive the frame rate down.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low preset achieves 80 FPS, Medium averages 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 and maximum of 69, High averages 46 FPS, and Ultra averages 34 FPS. The 1080p Medium setting provides the only data with min and max values, indicating a range of 51 to 69 FPS, which suggests some variability in scene complexity.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 51 FPS, Medium averages 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 and maximum of 44, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 21 FPS. The performance at this resolution is significantly lower across all settings, with the Medium preset showing a 15 FPS drop from the 1080p Medium figure.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 27 FPS, Medium averages 21 FPS with a minimum of 17 and maximum of 24, High averages 16 FPS, and Ultra averages 11 FPS. The 4K Medium preset shows a narrow range of 17 to 24 FPS, indicating that the GPU is operating near its limits and cannot sustain higher frame rates.

The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent pattern: Low is roughly 2.5 to 3 times faster than Ultra at the same resolution. For example, at 1080p, Low at 80 FPS compared to Ultra at 34 FPS is a 2.35x difference. At 1440p, the ratio is 51 to 21, which is 2.43x. At 4K, the ratio is 27 to 11, which is 2.45x. This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU's performance is uniformly affected by the graphical settings, with no single setting causing a disproportionate impact.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with the Low preset achieves an average of 80 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 60 FPS, which is also playable, but the Low preset provides the most headroom for consistent performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, which is 1.3 percent lower. The GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5 percent lower), the GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5 percent lower), and the GT 710 scores 1443 (2.7 percent lower).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU ranks at the 47th percentile, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. The FPS drops from 80 at 1080p Low to 27 at 4K Low show a 66 percent reduction that is consistent with GPU-bound rendering.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 with Intel Arc B390 ranks 3300 out of 3711 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11 percent of all configurations tested for this game.

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at any setting?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the system averages 80 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 60 FPS, which meets the 60 FPS target, though it has a minimum of 51 FPS.

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

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259 (-0.2 percent), the i7-10710U scores 2248 (0.3 percent), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246 (0.4 percent), and the i3-10305 scores 2264 (-0.4 percent).