Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a fascinating study in system bottlenecking within Hitman 2. The data reveals a configuration where a high-end 12th Gen processor is paired with an entry-level integrated GPU, resulting in performance that is almost entirely dictated by the graphics solution. The combination ranks at 2768 out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this specific title. This analysis will dissect the measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings to understand the dynamics of this pairing.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It operates on the Intel Socket 1700 platform and features a base clock of 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This processor is clearly designed for high-throughput workloads, as evidenced by its substantial cache hierarchy: 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a large 25 MB of shared L3 cache.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-12700KF demonstrates formidable multi-threaded capabilities. It scores 28,838 points in Cinebench R23 multicore and 14,367 in Geekbench multicore. Its Passmark multithread score stands at 34,092, and it achieves 9,983 in the 3dmark max threads test. The processor’s single-thread performance is equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,071 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,255. This combination of high multi-core and single-core scores suggests the CPU is more than capable of feeding even a powerful discrete GPU in most gaming scenarios.

However, the measured FPS in Hitman 2 tells a different story. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 73 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect this number to be significantly higher, given the processor’s benchmark scores. The fact that the frame rate is capped at this level, and drops further as resolution and settings increase, points directly to the GPU as the primary constraint. The i7-12700KF is effectively idling, waiting for the graphics processor to render each frame. The processor’s 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 35,365, places it in a performance tier that is entirely mismatched with the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking. The CPU is providing ample headroom, but the system's overall performance is held back by the graphics component. The data implies that the CPU’s role in this specific configuration is to ensure there are no frame drops or stutters originating from processing logic, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's raw rendering limits.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. Its specifications are modest, with 1,280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 20 raster output units (ROPs). It has 10 ray tracing cores and operates at a base clock of 300 MHz, boosting up to 2400 MHz. Crucially, its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system’s main memory for both capacity and bandwidth. This is a fundamental limitation, as the memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" rather than being dedicated high-speed VRAM.

The GPU’s only benchmark result in the data is a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,184. This score, combined with its 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, firmly establishes the Arc B370 as an entry-level part. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which have average scores of 1,186 and 1,192, respectively. This contextualizes the GPU's performance as being comparable to integrated graphics solutions from over a decade ago.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's limitations are starkly evident. At 1080p Low, the system produces 73 FPS, which is playable. However, its performance collapses as graphical demands increase. The integrated nature of the GPU, with its reliance on shared system memory, likely contributes to the steep performance penalties seen at higher settings and resolutions. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are theoretical maximums that are unlikely to be sustained in a real-world game like Hitman 2, which has complex scenes and lighting. The data clearly shows that this GPU is the primary bottleneck, determining the playability of the game across all tested configurations.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance decline as resolution increases, which is classic behavior for a GPU-bound system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 73 at 1920x1080 to 46 at 2560x1440, and finally to 25 at 3840x2160. This represents a significant 65.8% drop in frame rate from 1080p to 4K.

This scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 41 at 1080p to 26 at 1440p and then to 14 at 4K. A similar pattern is observed at Medium settings, where the average FPS is 54 at 1080p, 35 at 1440p, and 19 at 4K. The consistent and substantial drops at every step resolution-wise indicate that the rendering pipeline is saturated. When the number of pixels is increased, the GPU must do significantly more work, and its performance degrades proportionally.

If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload is less dependent on pixel count. The fact that FPS scales inversely with resolution strongly suggests that the Intel Arc B370 cannot keep up with the demands of Hitman 2 at higher resolutions. The system is not able to leverage the i7-12700KF's power to maintain playable frame rates beyond 1080p, except at the lowest settings. The data shows that even at 1080p, the system is still GPU-limited, as the CPU is capable of far higher frame rates in less demanding scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined system achieves a rank of 2768 out of 3001 tested configurations in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 7.8% of all combos tested, a very poor showing for a system featuring a high-end CPU. This ranking highlights the severe imbalance of the pairing. The i7-12700KF is a top-tier processor, ranking in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

The data suggests that this combo's performance is effectively anchored by the GPU. While the CPU is capable of much more, the system's final FPS is dictated by the slowest component. The rank of 2768 is a direct consequence of the GPU's low performance ceiling. The fact that the CPU is so powerful does not boost the combo's rank because the GPU cannot translate that CPU power into higher frame rates. This is a textbook example of a bottleneck, where a high-end component is rendered irrelevant by a low-end counterpart in a gaming workload.

When examining the CPU's nearest rivals, we see it is virtually tied with the Intel Core i7-13700T and Intel Core 5 213PE, with deltaPct values of -0.1 and -0.2, respectively. This confirms that the CPU is performing as expected for its class. The issue is not with the CPU's performance, but with the system's overall architecture. The combo's rank would likely be much higher if the same CPU were paired with a more capable discrete GPU, but with the Arc B370, it is relegated to the bottom tier of the rankings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for a playable experience are limited. At 1920x1080, the "Low" preset delivers an average of 73 FPS, which is the only setting that provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience. The "Medium" preset at 1080p yields 54 FPS, which is acceptable for many players, but the "High" preset drops to 41 FPS, and "Ultra" falls to 30 FPS.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the situation becomes more challenging. The "Low" preset is the only viable option for decent performance, averaging 46 FPS. The "Medium" preset at 1440p averages 35 FPS, which may be playable for some, but it is on the lower end. "High" and "Ultra" at 1440p produce averages of 26 FPS and 19 FPS, respectively, which are not smooth. At 3840x2160, no preset is truly playable. Even the "Low" preset only averages 25 FPS, and "Ultra" is a slideshow at 10 FPS.

Therefore, the recommendation is clear: for a playable experience, users should set the resolution to 1920x1080 and the preset to "Low." This is the only combination that consistently delivers frame rates above 60 FPS. If visual quality is a priority, the "Medium" preset at 1080p is a compromise, offering a higher quality image at a cost of approximately 19 FPS. For those who prefer higher resolutions, the game is not viable at 1440p or 4K, even at the lowest settings. The data suggests that the best experience is a 1080p "Low" or "Medium" setting, as higher settings and resolutions result in frame rates that would be detrimental to the gameplay experience, especially in a stealth game where smooth camera control is important.

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

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for every recorded configuration in Hitman 2.

1920x1080

• Low: 73 FPS
• Medium: 54 FPS (min 46, max 63)
• High: 41 FPS
• Ultra: 30 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 46 FPS
• Medium: 35 FPS (min 30, max 40)
• High: 26 FPS
• Ultra: 19 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 25 FPS
• Medium: 19 FPS (min 16, max 21)
• High: 14 FPS
• Ultra: 10 FPS

This data illustrates a consistent and predictable performance curve. The system loses roughly 37% of its performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings (73 to 46 FPS), and a further 46% when moving from 1440p to 4K (46 to 25 FPS). The trend is similar across all settings presets, confirming that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance, with no evidence of the CPU stepping in to mitigate the load.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience is at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 73 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is also viable, providing an average of 54 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other systems tested in this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF + Intel Arc B370 combo ranks 2768 out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems for Hitman 2.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this configuration?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 85th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile. The FPS drops significantly with increased resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited system.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 73 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS. This represents a 43 FPS decrease in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest settings.

Q: Can this system achieve a playable frame rate at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, only the Low preset offers a playable frame rate, averaging 46 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, which is marginal, while High and Ultra settings produce averages of 26 FPS and 19 FPS, respectively.

Q: What is the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS, which is not a smooth experience.