Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a performance profile in Hitman 2 that is heavily dictated by resolution and graphics settings. The data shows a clear scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, with the most demanding configuration at 4K Ultra producing an average of 22.6 FPS, while the least demanding 1080p Low configuration reaches 143.7 FPS. This spread indicates that the combination is versatile but requires careful settings management to achieve target frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 83.3 FPS, which drops to 50.4 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 30.2 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 39.5% reduction in performance from 1080p to 1440p and a 63.7% reduction from 1080p to 4K at the same High preset. The pattern is consistent across all settings tiers, with Low settings showing the highest absolute frame rates: 143.7 FPS at 1080p, 95.5 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K.

The scaling behavior indicates that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough that the CPU (12 cores, 20 threads, base clock 3.60 GHz, boost clock 5.00 GHz) likely plays a more significant role in maintaining minimum performance. As resolution increases, the GPU workload grows, and the RTX 3060 Ti (with 4864 shading units, 152 TMUs, and 80 ROPs) becomes the primary bottleneck. Evidence for this is the proportionally larger drop between 1440p and 4K compared to 1080p to 1440p; at High settings, the drop from 1440p to 4K is 40.1%, while the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 39.5%. The gap narrows only slightly, suggesting the GPU is under increasing strain at higher pixel counts.

Ultra settings amplify the resolution scaling effect. The 4K Ultra result of 22.6 FPS is the lowest in the entire dataset, and the 1440p Ultra result of 38.9 FPS is barely above the 4K High result of 30.2 FPS. This shows that the combination of high resolution and Ultra presets pushes the RTX 3060 Ti beyond its comfortable operating range, resulting in frame rates that are generally considered unplayable for smooth action. Conversely, Low settings at 4K (52 FPS) are surprisingly playable, indicating that the GPU can handle 4K when the visual load is reduced.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this combination of Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ranks 1263 out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the 70.4th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it outperforms roughly 70% of the field but is outclassed by the remaining 30%. This ranking reflects a mid-to-upper tier position that is consistent with the component specifications.

The CPU itself holds an 89th percentile ranking against all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35684. Its nearest rivals in the CPU database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, which scores 35802 (a delta of -0.3%), and the Intel Core i5-14500HX, which scores 35940 (a delta of -0.7%). The Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35468 (delta of 0.6%) and the Intel Core i7-13800H scores 35416 (delta of 0.8%). These deltas are all within 1% of the i7-12700K, indicating that the processor's compute performance is tightly clustered with its direct competitors, none of which represent a significant advantage or disadvantage in this game.

The GPU ranks in the 69th percentile overall, with an average benchmark score of 25120. Its nearest rivals in the GPU database are the AMD Radeon RX 6700M (score 25180, delta -0.2%), AMD Radeon RX 6600 (score 25235, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon 890M (score 25246, delta -0.5%), and AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (score 25287, delta -0.7%). The RTX 3060 Ti is effectively tied with these cards in aggregate benchmarks, yet the combo's specific ranking in Hitman 2 suggests that the game's engine may favor the NVIDIA architecture's driver optimizations or specific feature set.

The gap between the combo's overall rank (70.4th percentile of combos) and the individual component percentiles (89th for CPU, 69th for GPU) indicates that Hitman 2 is more sensitive to GPU performance than CPU performance. This is corroborated by the resolution scaling data, where the frame rates drop dramatically with higher pixel counts, a hallmark of GPU-bound workloads.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest measured average FPS at 1920x1080 is 143.7 FPS with Low settings. With Medium settings, the average drops to 107.7 FPS, and High settings yield 83.3 FPS. The lowest 1080p result is 60.9 FPS at Ultra settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 22.6 FPS at Ultra settings to 52 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset produces 37.5 FPS, and High settings yield 30.2 FPS. None of these results reach the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that 4K is only viable at Low settings for acceptable playability.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck at higher resolutions?

A: The data indicates the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. The RTX 3060 Ti, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, shows large frame rate drops from 1440p to 4K (e.g., High settings drop from 50.4 to 30.2 FPS). The CPU's strong 89th percentile ranking and high boost clock of 5.00 GHz suggest it is not the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the combo better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming in Hitman 2?

A: The measured data shows that 1080p is the strongest resolution for this combo, with all settings presets producing over 60 FPS except Ultra, which still hits 60.9 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (95.5 FPS) and Medium (67.3 FPS) presets exceed 60 FPS, while High (50.4 FPS) and Ultra (38.9 FPS) fall below that threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's core and thread configuration affect the game?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has 12 cores and 20 threads, which is more than sufficient for Hitman 2's engine. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241 and a single-core score of 4128, indicate strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core also contribute to responsive gameplay.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded in the entire dataset?

A: The lowest average FPS in the measured data is 22.6 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the only configuration in the dataset that drops below 30 FPS, making it the most demanding scenario for this hardware combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are: Low 143.7 FPS, Medium 107.7 FPS, High 83.3 FPS, and Ultra 60.9 FPS. These numbers show a steady decline as settings increase, with a 57.6% drop from Low to Ultra. The 1080p results are the only resolution where all presets clear the 60 FPS mark, making it the most versatile for high refresh rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales as follows: Low 95.5 FPS, Medium 67.3 FPS, High 50.4 FPS, and Ultra 38.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 59.3%, which is slightly steeper than at 1080p. The Medium preset at 1440p (67.3 FPS) is comparable to the Ultra preset at 1080p (60.9 FPS), showing that resolution and settings have a trade-off relationship. Only Low and Medium achieve the 60 FPS target at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the results are: Low 52 FPS, Medium 37.5 FPS, High 30.2 FPS, and Ultra 22.6 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 56.5%, and notably, the Low preset at 4K (52 FPS) is only slightly lower than the High preset at 1440p (50.4 FPS). This suggests that 4K Low is a viable alternative to 1440p High for users prioritizing resolution over visual fidelity. The 4K results are uniformly below 60 FPS, with only Low coming close to playable frame rates.

The progression across resolutions for each setting is also instructive. For High settings, the FPS drops from 83.3 at 1080p to 50.4 at 1440p to 30.2 at 4K. This represents a 39.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 40.1% drop from 1440p to 4K, showing a nearly linear scaling with pixel count. For Low settings, the drops are 33.5% from 1080p to 1440p and 45.5% from 1440p to 4K, indicating that the GPU's limits are reached more abruptly at lower quality settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K plays a supporting role in Hitman 2's performance, providing ample compute headroom that prevents CPU-bound bottlenecks in most scenarios. The processor features 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This high boost clock is critical for gaming, as Hitman 2's engine relies on single-threaded performance for game logic and AI calculations. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4013 and Geekbench single-core score of 2561 confirm strong single-core capabilities.

The CPU's benchmark results show robust multi-threaded performance as well. In Cinebench R23, it scores 29241 in multi-core and 4128 in single-core, while in Geekbench it scores 13892 multi-core and 2561 single-core. The 3DMark tests show a scaling from 2065 in the 2-thread test to 9979 in the max-thread test, indicating efficient use of additional threads. In Hitman 2, this means the CPU can handle the game's simulation load without interfering with frame delivery, allowing the RTX 3060 Ti to operate as the primary performance limiter at higher resolutions.

The CPU's architecture, Alder Lake, uses a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, though the game's engine likely does not distinguish between them. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 80 KB L1 cache per core provide sufficient data locality for the game's assets. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking against all CPUs suggests it is well above average for gaming workloads. However, the combo's overall rank of 1263 out of 1795 in Hitman 2 shows that the GPU is the more decisive factor, as the CPU's strong scores do not translate to a top-tier combo ranking.

The data suggests that at 1080p Low (143.7 FPS), the CPU may begin to exert some influence, as frame rates approach the upper limits of what the engine can deliver. The 12 cores and 20 threads ensure that background tasks do not interfere with game performance, and the 5.00 GHz boost clock helps maintain consistent frame pacing. Yet, the lack of a significant performance plateau at 1080p across settings indicates that the GPU is still the bottleneck, even at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset delivers 60.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is the recommended choice for users with 60 Hz monitors who want maximum visual quality. For users with 144 Hz monitors, the High preset at 83.3 FPS is the best balance, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (107.7 FPS) while still maintaining frame rates that benefit from higher refresh rates. The Low preset at 143.7 FPS is suitable for competitive play where frame rate is paramount over visuals.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 67.3 FPS offers the best experience for 60 Hz displays, as it is the only mid-tier setting that exceeds 60 FPS. The High preset at 50.4 FPS is playable but may suffer from occasional stutters on demanding scenes. For users with adaptive sync monitors, the Ultra preset at 38.9 FPS could be acceptable, but the visual fidelity gains over Medium are minimal relative to the 42.2% frame rate drop. The Low preset at 95.5 FPS is recommended for high refresh rate 1440p monitors, though it sacrifices significant graphical detail.

At 4K, the Low preset at 52 FPS is the only configuration that approaches playable frame rates. The Medium preset at 37.5 FPS is borderline, and the High (30.2 FPS) and Ultra (22.6 FPS) presets are not recommended for active gameplay. For users who prioritize 4K resolution, the Low preset provides a stable experience, while those who prioritize visual quality should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p and using the High preset instead, which yields 50.4 FPS with better graphical fidelity than 4K Low.

The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 3060 Ti is best utilized at 1080p with High or Ultra settings, or at 1440p with Medium settings. Pushing to 4K requires dropping to Low settings, which negates the resolution advantage. For the best overall experience, 1080p Ultra at 60.9 FPS offers the highest visual quality at a playable frame rate, while 1440p Medium at 67.3 FPS provides a good middle ground for users with higher resolution displays.