Hitman 2

Hitman 2 with an Intel Core i7-12700K and an AMD Radeon RX 580 is a combination defined by a profound bottleneck. The data shows a system where the CPU holds immense potential, but the GPU consistently caps the experience, resulting in a combo rank of 1677 out of 1795 tested configurations. This pairing is only viable for lower resolutions and settings, and even then, it struggles to deliver a consistently smooth experience at higher presets.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 580 is the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 74.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 52.7 FPS at 2560x1440, a 29% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the frame rate collapses to 24.3 FPS, representing a 67% drop from the 1080p baseline. This pattern of diminishing returns at higher resolutions is the classic signature of a GPU that has run out of pixel-pushing capability.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing than the 1080p to 1440p transition. For instance, on High settings, moving from 2560x1440 (26.7 FPS) to 3840x2160 (12.9 FPS) results in a 52% performance hit, whereas the shift from 1080p (44.8 FPS) to 1440p (26.7 FPS) is a 40% reduction. The RX 580’s 256-bit memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are simply insufficient for the data demands of 4K, as the rendering load outpaces the available memory throughput.

Ultra settings at 4K are effectively unplayable, with an average of 8.4 FPS. Even at 1440p, Ultra settings yield only 22.6 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that the i7-12700K, with its high boost clock of 5.00 GHz, is not the constraining factor here; the frame rate is being dictated almost entirely by the RX 580's ability to fill pixels and process geometry. The GPU's pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s are not enough to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, regardless of the CPU's readiness.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the primary determinant of this system’s gaming performance in Hitman 2. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is a key specification, but the data reveals that capacity alone does not translate to high frame rates. The GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 13559 place it in the mid-range, a fact reflected in the measured FPS. The card's boost clock of 1340 MHz and base clock of 1257 MHz are modest, and its 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is clearly outpaced by the demands of Hitman 2's engine at higher presets.

The memory configuration is particularly telling. With a bus width of 256 bit and bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, the RX 580 has the theoretical capacity for 1080p gaming, but the data shows it struggles. At 1080p High, it averages 44.8 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. However, when the settings are pushed to Ultra, the frame rate drops to 33.5 FPS, indicating that the GPU's compute units and memory bandwidth are saturated. The 8 GB frame buffer is not the issue; rather, it is the 2304 shading units and 144 texture mapping units that are unable to handle the increased shader complexity.

The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (0% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 (0.1% delta), have nearly identical average scores, confirming that the RX 580 sits in a performance tier far below the CPU's capabilities. The data indicates that the GPU's 185 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU are not relevant to its performance ceiling; the bottleneck is purely architectural and clock-speed related. The 8 Gbps effective memory speed is insufficient for the high-resolution textures and effects in Hitman 2, leading to the precipitous drops seen at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is an exceptionally powerful processor that is severely underutilized in this configuration. With 12 cores and 20 threads, it offers a high level of multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29241. Its single-core performance is also strong, with a score of 4128 in the same test, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a top-tier CPU, ranking in the 89th percentile among all CPUs.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, AI, and draw calls. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 74.6 FPS, which is a respectable number, but it is still below the frame rates that this CPU could potentially feed a more powerful GPU. The CPU’s 3dmark_single_thread score of 1043 and 3dmark_2_threads score of 2065 indicate it has ample headroom for the game's primary thread. The processor is likely idling, waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

The i7-12700K's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (-0.3% delta) and the Intel Core i7-13700T (0.6% delta), have nearly identical average benchmark scores, reinforcing its high-end status. This CPU is capable of far more than the RX 580 can deliver, and the measured frame rates are a direct result of the GPU's limitations. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield massive performance gains, as the CPU would have no trouble keeping up with a faster graphics card. The 12th Gen Core architecture and 10 nm process node provide efficiency, but that efficiency is irrelevant when the GPU is the sole performance limiter.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system performs best with Low settings, achieving an average of 74.6 FPS. Medium settings drop this to 58.8 FPS, while High settings yield 44.8 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, resulting in only 33.5 FPS. This shows a steady decline as graphical fidelity increases, with a 55% performance difference between Low and Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates become less playable. Low settings produce 52.7 FPS, which is still acceptable, but Medium falls to 39.3 FPS. High settings average 26.7 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS threshold for console-like playability, and Ultra drops further to 22.6 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p on High settings represents a 40% performance loss, highlighting the GPU's struggle as the pixel count increases.

At 3840x2160, the system is out of its depth. Low settings yield 24.3 FPS, Medium produces 19.1 FPS, and High drops to 12.9 FPS. Ultra settings are virtually unplayable at 8.4 FPS. The scaling from 1440p Low (52.7 FPS) to 4K Low (24.3 FPS) is a 54% reduction, demonstrating that the RX 580 is not equipped for 4K gaming in this title. The data shows that the only viable configuration for a playable experience (above 60 FPS) is 1080p with Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and the AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 1677 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 7% of all configurations, which is a clear verdict on its suitability for this game. The ranking reflects the massive imbalance between the CPU and GPU, where the processor’s high-end performance is wasted by the mid-range graphics card.

The CPU's 89th percentile ranking contrasts sharply with the GPU's 53rd percentile, creating a system that is fundamentally unbalanced. While the CPU has the power to drive high frame rates, the GPU's average benchmark score of 13559 is the limiting factor. The data shows that this combo performs worse than nearly all other pairings, likely because most other systems feature a more evenly matched CPU and GPU. The combo's low rank is not a reflection of the CPU or GPU individually, but rather their poor synergy in this specific game, where the GPU is the sole bottleneck. This ranking suggests that users would see a dramatic improvement with almost any other GPU pairing.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: The data indicates no. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 24.3 on Low settings, with Ultra settings producing only 8.4 FPS. These frame rates are far below what is considered playable.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for a 60 FPS experience?

A: Benchmark results show that only one configuration achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher: 1920x1080 with Low settings, which averages 74.6 FPS. All other settings at 1080p and all settings at higher resolutions fall below 60 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The data shows the CPU is highly capable, with a 89th percentile ranking and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29241. The GPU's 53rd percentile ranking and the steep FPS drops at higher resolutions confirm that the AMD Radeon RX 580 is the limiting component.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its closest rivals in terms of GPU score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13559. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, has a score of 13564 (0% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has a score of 13549 (0.1% delta). These scores are nearly identical, indicating they are in the same performance tier.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 26.7 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is below the 30 FPS threshold and may not provide a smooth gameplay experience.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 580 sufficient for Hitman 2?

A: While the GPU has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, the benchmark results suggest that memory capacity is not the primary issue. The performance drops are more closely tied to the GPU's processing power, as frame rates fall drastically with increased graphical settings, even at 1080p where VRAM is less likely to be a limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only way to achieve a consistently smooth experience is to use 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 74.6 FPS. This configuration is the sole point where the system approaches the 60 FPS target with enough headroom to avoid frequent dips. Moving to Medium settings at 1080p drops the frame rate to 58.8 FPS, which is borderline but may still be acceptable for some players who prioritize visual quality over a rock-solid frame rate.

For players who prefer higher visual fidelity, 1920x1080 with High settings is the next option, averaging 44.8 FPS. However, this comes with a significant performance cost and may result in noticeable stuttering in action-heavy scenes. Ultra settings at 1080p are not recommended, as the 33.5 FPS average is too low for a responsive stealth game. At 2560x1440, the only playable option is Low settings, which produce 52.7 FPS. All other settings at 1440p, and all settings at 3840x2160, fall below 40 FPS and should be avoided. The data is clear: this hardware combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with reduced settings.