Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700KF pairs a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake design with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, and the benchmark results in Hitman 2 suggest this CPU is rarely the constraint. At 1080p, the lowest tested resolution, the processor’s single-thread and multi-thread headroom is evident: even at Low settings, where the GPU has the least work, the combo delivers 220.7 FPS. The CPU’s 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and Cinebench R23 single-core result of 4091 indicate strong per-core performance, which matters for a stealth game that must track AI routines and player actions in real time. Meanwhile, its multicore muscle—a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979—ensures that background tasks or engine threads for physics and scripting do not bottleneck frame pacing.

The 12 cores are split between performance and efficiency clusters, though the data does not break down which cores handle Hitman 2’s workload. What the scores do show is that the CPU sits in the 89th percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 35355. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13800H, scores 35416, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the 12700KF is essentially tied with that mobile chip. The Core i5-14400 is just 0.1% behind, and the Core i9-12900HX is 0.2% ahead. In practical terms, this CPU’s capability is not the deciding factor in Hitman 2’s frame rates; the GPU takes over that role as resolution climbs, which the measured FPS data confirms.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Core i7-12700KF and Radeon RX 9070 lands at rank 613 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. That places it in the top third of all configurations, a solid position for a game of this era. The rank reflects the entire system’s measured performance, not just the CPU or GPU in isolation, and the data shows this pairing outperforms a majority of setups. To contextualize, being in the 613th spot means roughly two-thirds of tested combos deliver lower average frame rates across the measured settings and resolutions.

This rank is likely influenced by the GPU’s own standing—the RX 9070 sits in the 79th percentile among all GPUs—while the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking is higher. The gap suggests the graphics card is the more limiting component in this pairing, which is typical for a 2018 title running on modern hardware. The combo’s performance is not top-tier, but it is comfortably above average, and the measured FPS numbers show it can handle high-refresh 1080p and solid 1440p gameplay. At 4K, however, the rank reflects the GPU’s struggle to maintain high frame rates, as the data will show in the resolution breakdown.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p High, the combo averages 124.5 FPS; at 1440p High, it falls to 81.8 FPS; and at 4K High, it drops to 41.7 FPS. That is a 66.5% reduction from 1080p to 4K, a steep decline that points squarely at the GPU. The CPU’s performance headroom, as indicated by its high percentile rank, is not the issue here—the Radeon RX 9070 simply cannot keep up with the pixel count at 4K.

The scaling pattern is consistent across settings. At Low, the combo goes from 220.7 FPS at 1080p to 144.3 FPS at 1440p and 73.9 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, it drops from 92.6 FPS at 1080p to 60.3 FPS at 1440p and 34 FPS at 4K. In every case, the 1440p to 4K jump causes a larger relative loss than the 1080p to 1440p step, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering. The CPU has more than enough power to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as resolution increases, the graphics card’s shading units and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors. This means users targeting 4K should expect playable but not high-refresh results, while 1080p and 1440p are where this combo shines.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the data shows a wide spread across settings. Low settings produce 220.7 FPS, Medium yields 167.9 FPS, High drops to 124.5 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 92.6 FPS. These numbers indicate that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh 1080p monitors, even at Ultra settings, the frame rate remains above 90 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 52.8 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra costs 31.9 FPS, showing diminishing returns as settings rise.

Moving to 1440p, the averages are 144.3 FPS at Low, 110.2 FPS at Medium, 81.8 FPS at High, and 60.3 FPS at Ultra. This resolution still allows for smooth gameplay, with Ultra just passing the 60 FPS threshold. The gap between Low and Medium narrows to 34.1 FPS, and the High to Ultra drop is 21.5 FPS. At 4K, the picture changes dramatically: Low yields 73.9 FPS, Medium drops to 55.4 FPS, High falls to 41.7 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 34 FPS. Only Low settings at 4K can maintain a solid 60+ FPS experience, and even that is borderline. The data clearly shows that 4K Ultra is not viable for this pairing, while 1080p and 1440p offer excellent performance across the board.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of these results, and its specs explain why. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it has ample capacity for Hitman 2’s textures, which is a game from 2018 and unlikely to exceed 8 GB even at 4K. The memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s is more than sufficient for the game’s data demands. The GPU’s boost clock of 2520 MHz and game clock of 2070 MHz provide the raw speed needed for the frame rates seen at 1080p and 1440p.

The RX 9070’s 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs are key to its rasterization performance. Its pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s are high figures that translate directly into the FPS numbers above. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 25381 places it in the 79th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA A2, which scores 34866, a delta of -0.2% relative to the RX 9070’s average benchmark score of 34780. This means the RX 9070 is essentially on par with the A2 in synthetic tests, though Hitman 2’s real-world results will vary based on driver optimization and game engine quirks.

The GPU’s 4 nm process node and RDNA 4.0 architecture contribute to its efficiency, but the measured FPS at 4K shows its limits. The 34 FPS at 4K Ultra is a clear indicator that the card is not a 4K powerhouse for this title. Instead, it excels at 1080p and 1440p, where its compute power is fully utilized. The 16 GB VRAM is a future-proofing advantage, but for Hitman 2 specifically, the bottleneck is raw shading throughput, not memory capacity.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1440p High provides 81.8 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed, while 1080p Ultra at 92.6 FPS is also excellent. 4K is only playable at Low settings with 73.9 FPS.

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

A: The Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35355, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-14400 and 0.2% higher than the Core i9-12900HX, but 0.2% lower than the Core i7-13800H.

Q: Why does 4K performance drop so significantly?

A: The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K, as evidenced by the FPS falling from 124.5 at 1080p High to 41.7 at 4K High. The CPU’s 89th percentile ranking indicates it has headroom, but the RX 9070’s 79th percentile ranking shows it cannot handle the pixel workload at 4K high settings.

Q: Is the 16 GB VRAM of the RX 9070 necessary for Hitman 2?

A: No, Hitman 2 is from 2018 and likely uses less than 8 GB of VRAM even at 4K. The 16 GB capacity is more than enough, and the bottleneck at 4K is the GPU’s compute performance, not its memory.

Q: What settings should be avoided?

A: 4K Ultra should be avoided, as it produces only 34 FPS. Even 4K Medium at 55.4 FPS is borderline, so sticking to 1080p or 1440p is recommended for a consistent experience.

Q: How does this combo rank overall?

A: It ranks 613th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the top third of all configurations tested.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data points to 1440p Medium or High as the sweet spot for this combo. At 1440p Medium, the average is 110.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS smoothness threshold and leaves room for demanding scenes. Moving to High drops the average to 81.8 FPS, still excellent, and the visual upgrade is worth the 28.4 FPS loss. At 1080p, Ultra is the best choice, delivering 92.6 FPS with maximum settings, which is ideal for high-refresh monitors. For users with 4K displays, Low settings at 73.9 FPS is the only viable option, but it sacrifices visual fidelity. The data suggests that 1440p High offers the best balance of image quality and performance, with 81.8 FPS ensuring smooth gameplay without the need to compromise on settings. Avoid 4K Ultra entirely, as 34 FPS is not a playable experience for a stealth game that requires precise timing.