Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a compelling mid-range configuration for Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title. The measured data reveals a system that is highly capable at mainstream resolutions but begins to struggle when pushed to the extremes of graphical fidelity. The benchmark results indicate that this combo's performance is heavily influenced by the graphics card, particularly at higher resolutions and settings, while the processor provides a robust foundation.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data across the three tested resolutions paints a clear picture of how this combo handles Hitman 2's graphical presets. The most balanced experience, according to the numbers, is achieved at the Medium preset. At 1080p, the Medium setting yields an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum frame rate of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that stays well above the 60 FPS threshold for competitive play, while maintaining a significantly higher visual quality than the Low preset.

While the Low preset at 1080p produces the highest average frame rate at 123 FPS, this comes at the cost of visual fidelity. The data shows that the Ultra preset, conversely, is too demanding for this configuration, resulting in an average of only 52 FPS at 1080p. This suggests that the Ultra settings push the GPU's limits, creating a performance bottleneck. For players with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Low preset is the only option to approach the 120+ FPS range, but the Medium preset offers a far superior balance of image quality and performance.

Moving up to 1440p, the Medium preset continues to be the sweet spot. The data shows an average of 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. This is right on the cusp of the ideal 60 FPS target, making it a viable choice for gamers who prioritize resolution over maximum frame rates. The High preset at 1440p drops to an average of 45 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls to 33 FPS, which is generally considered too low for a smooth experience.

At 4K resolution (3840x2160), the results show that the combo is not well-suited for high-fidelity gaming. The Medium preset yields an average of just 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS. This is below the playable threshold for most users. The High and Ultra presets are virtually unplayable, with averages of 24 FPS and 18 FPS respectively. The Low preset, at 42 FPS, is the only option at 4K that approaches a playable state, but it still falls short of a consistent 60 FPS. Therefore, the data strongly suggests that 1080p Medium is the recommended settings for the best overall experience, with 1440p Medium being a viable alternative for those who accept a slight performance dip for higher resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's overall standing within the database is modest. The data shows that this configuration ranks 2399th out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the 20th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it is capable of running the game, a significant majority of other hardware combinations deliver higher average frame rates. This ranking is likely a direct result of the Intel Arc B570's performance ceiling, as the CPU is a high-end part.

The ranking suggests that the GPU is the primary factor holding this combo back from a higher position. The Core i7-12700K is a powerful processor, but the Arc B570 is positioned as a more mainstream graphics card. When paired together, the system's overall gaming performance is limited by the GPU's capabilities, especially in a game like Hitman 2 that has significant graphical demands. This is not to say the combo is inadequate, but rather that it is designed for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming, rather than competing with high-end systems that would occupy the top of the rankings.

This specific pairing appears to be a balanced one, but the data implies the balance is tipped towards the CPU being more capable than the GPU. The ranking of 2399 out of 3001 is a clear indicator that users should not expect top-tier performance, but rather a solid, mainstream experience. It is a configuration that prioritizes value and capability at standard resolutions, rather than pushing the absolute limits of the game's engine.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is a pivotal component in this configuration's performance. Its memory configuration includes 10 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, providing a 380.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GPU operates at a 2500 MHz base and boost clock. In the context of Hitman 2, these specifications are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but they become a limiting factor at 4K.

The data suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity are sufficient for the game's textures and assets at lower resolutions. However, the significant frame rate drops at 4K indicate that the GPU is struggling to manage the increased data load. The average FPS falls from 93 at 1080p Medium to 32 at 4K Medium, a 65% decrease that highlights the GPU's computational limits. The core clock of 2500 MHz is a constant, but the performance scaling is not linear, pointing to a bottleneck in the processing pipeline rather than just memory bandwidth.

The GPU's synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 14195, place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, with delta percentages of 0.1 and -0.1 respectively. This indicates that the Arc B570 is a solid performer in its class, but it is not designed to compete with high-end desktop cards. The data shows that in a demanding title like Hitman 2, the GPU's capabilities are the primary determinant of the overall frame rate, especially when the settings are turned up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the combo's performance across all resolution and settings combinations. At 1920x1080, the results are generally strong. The Low preset achieves an average of 123 FPS, making it the only tested setting to break the 120 FPS barrier. The Medium preset follows with 93 FPS, and the High preset drops to 70 FPS. The Ultra preset is the outlier, with a significantly lower average of 52 FPS. This 1080p data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with diminishing returns as the settings are increased.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. The Low preset maintains a high average of 79 FPS. The Medium preset is the only other option to remain above 60 FPS, with an average of 59 FPS. The High preset drops to 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 33 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 50 FPS and maximum of 68 FPS show that the frame times are relatively consistent, which is a positive sign for gameplay smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the performance takes a significant hit. The Low preset is the only one that remains playable, with an average of 42 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 32 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets become largely unplayable at 24 FPS and 18 FPS, respectively. The data shows that the gap between the Low and Medium presets at 4K is 10 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 8 FPS. This suggests that each setting tier adds a similar load, but the baseline performance is too low to accommodate any of them for a smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals key insights about the system's bottleneck. When moving from 1080p Medium to 1440p Medium, the average FPS drops from 93 to 59, a 36.5% decrease. This is a significant reduction, but the resulting 59 FPS is still near the playability threshold. However, the drop from 1440p Medium to 4K Medium is even more severe, falling from 59 FPS to 32 FPS, a 45.7% decrease. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the system becomes increasingly constrained at higher resolutions.

The data strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting component. A CPU-bound scenario would typically show a smaller performance difference between resolutions, as the processor's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's workload increases. Here, the massive frame rate drops at 4K point directly to the GPU's inability to render the increased pixel count. The core i7-12700K is more than capable of feeding the GPU with data, but the Arc B570 simply does not have the raw compute power to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

This is further supported by the performance at the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 123 FPS, but at 4K Low, it falls to just 42 FPS. This 65.8% decrease in performance is a clear sign that the GPU's pixel-pushing capabilities are the primary constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate at 4K Low would be much closer to the 1080p Low figure. The data indicates that for this combo, 1080p is the "sweet spot," with 1440p being a stretch goal, and 4K being out of reach for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K provides a robust foundation for this gaming configuration. With 12 cores and 20 threads, it offers substantial multi-threaded processing power. The processor's architecture is Alder Lake, built on a 10 nm process. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 25 MB of L3 cache. This large cache pool helps to keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and a single-core score of 1850.5. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4013. In the context of Hitman 2, this level of single-core performance is crucial, as many game engines, especially those from 2018, rely heavily on a few primary threads. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this system. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and max-thread score of 9979 confirm that the CPU can handle complex simulations and AI, which are common in a stealth game like Hitman 2.

The CPU's performance in the overall combo ranking is likely a positive contributor. The data suggests that while the GPU holds the combo back at higher resolutions, the CPU is more than capable of maintaining high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The processor's strong single-thread performance ensures that the game's logic and physics are processed efficiently, allowing the GPU to focus on rendering. The Core i7-12700K is a powerful partner, and its capabilities are not fully utilized by the Arc B570 in this specific game at higher settings, further confirming the GPU as the performance limiter.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this combo?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At the Medium preset, it achieves an average of 93 FPS, which is significantly higher than the 59 FPS average at 2560x1440 Medium and the 32 FPS average at 3840x2160 Medium.

*Q: Can this system handle the Ultra settings in Hitman 2?*

A: The benchmark results indicate that the Ultra preset is too demanding. At 1080p, it only reaches an average of 52 FPS, and performance drops to 33 FPS at 1440p and 18 FPS at 4K. These frame rates are below the threshold for a smooth gaming experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K or the Intel Arc B570 the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data points to the Intel Arc B570 as the limiting factor. The CPU is a high-end processor with strong single-thread scores, while the GPU's performance drops dramatically at higher resolutions, indicating a rendering bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo's performance at 1440p compare to its performance at 1080p?

A: At the Medium settings, the combo delivers 93 FPS at 1080p but only 59 FPS at 1440p, a 36.5% decrease. While 1440p is still playable, the drop is significant and shows that the GPU is working much harder.

Q: What is the expected frame rate on the Low preset at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows that the Low preset at 1920x1080 achieves an average of 123 FPS. This is the highest average frame rate recorded for any setting in the entire data set.

*Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested systems for Hitman 2?*

A: The combo is ranked 2399th out of 3001 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, indicating that while it is competent, many other hardware pairings provide higher average frame rates.