Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a strikingly lopsided performance profile in Hitman 2, one that reveals a system almost entirely constrained by its graphics processor. The benchmark data paints a clear picture: this combination struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions and settings, yet shows surprising capability when the graphical load is reduced. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions and presets, the role of the CPU and GPU, and what the data implies for potential users.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a dramatic and consistent scaling pattern as resolution increases, which is the clearest indicator of where this system’s bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 80 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 51 FPS, a reduction of 29 FPS or roughly 36%. Pushing further to 3840x2160 at Low settings yields an average of just 27 FPS—a mere third of the 1080p performance. This steep decline with each resolution step is a textbook sign of GPU-bound performance; the CPU is capable of feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them at higher pixel counts.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At High settings, the system delivers 46 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and only 16 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 17 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is another 13 FPS. This near-linear degradation with pixel count suggests the GPU’s rendering throughput is the hard ceiling. At Medium settings, the averages are 60 FPS (1080p), 39 FPS (1440p), and 21 FPS (4K), showing a similar proportional decline. At Ultra settings, the numbers fall to 34 FPS, 21 FPS, and 11 FPS respectively, with the 4K result being essentially unplayable.

What this scaling says about the limiting component is unambiguous: the Intel Arc B390 is the sole bottleneck. The CPU’s performance does not change with resolution, so the fact that FPS drops by roughly half when pixel count doubles indicates the GPU is saturated. The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings at any given resolution is significant—at 1080p it is 46 FPS (80 vs 34), which further confirms that the GPU is responsible for the majority of the performance variance. This is not a system where the CPU is holding back the GPU; it is a system where the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU’s output.

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 Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It features a 25 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU shows strong multi-threaded performance, scoring 28,838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 9,983 in 3DMark max threads. Its single-thread score of 4,071 in Cinebench R23 and 1,043 in 3DMark single-thread indicates robust per-core performance as well. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 85 means it outperforms 85% of all tested CPUs, placing it in the upper echelon of processors.

Given this CPU’s capability, the measured FPS in Hitman 2 is almost certainly not limited by the processor. At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lightest, the system reaches 80 FPS. This is respectable but not exceptional for a CPU of this caliber, suggesting the GPU is already starting to become a constraint even at this low resolution and preset. The fact that the FPS drops to 27 at 4K Low—while the CPU’s workload remains essentially unchanged—proves that the processor has headroom left on the table. The CPU is effectively waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

The nearest rivals to this CPU, according to benchmark data, include the Intel Core i7-13700T with an average score of 35,403 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i5-13600T with 35,305 (0.2% lower). All four listed rivals are within 0.2% of the i7-12700KF’s average score of 35,365, indicating that the CPU’s performance tier is well-established. For Hitman 2, a game that is not particularly CPU-intensive by modern standards, this processor provides ample computational power. The data suggests that any FPS differences between this CPU and its direct rivals would be negligible in this game, as the GPU is the limiting factor at all measured settings.

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

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Hitman 2?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 80, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the data that breaks the 80 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 11, which is the lowest score recorded in the entire dataset. This is effectively unplayable for a stealth action game.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS scales almost linearly with resolution, dropping from 80 at 1080p Low to 51 at 1440p Low to 27 at 4K Low, while the CPU’s workload remains constant.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures recorded, and at which settings?

A: Minimum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 17 FPS; at 2560x1440 Medium, it is 33 FPS; and at 1920x1080 Medium, it is 51 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Hitman 2?

A: This combo ranks 2,662 out of 3,001 tested combos for this game, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems. This low ranking is consistent with the GPU’s poor performance.

Q: Does the CPU’s performance vary significantly between its nearest rivals?

A: No. The CPU’s nearest rivals—the i7-13700T, i5-13600T, Core 5 213PE, and i7-12700K—are all within 0.2% of its average benchmark score, making any performance difference in Hitman 2 negligible.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable settings for a reasonably smooth experience are at 1920x1080 with Low or Medium presets. At 1080p Low, the system delivers an average of 80 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p is likely the best balance between visual quality and performance, as it maintains a 60 FPS average while offering improved graphics over Low. The minimum of 51 FPS is acceptable for a stealth game, where occasional dips below 60 are not catastrophic.

At 1080p High, the average falls to 46 FPS, which is playable but noticeably less smooth. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 34 FPS, which is borderline for a game that benefits from precise timing. At 2560x1440, the situation worsens. Even at Low settings, the average is 51 FPS, and at Medium it is 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS. These figures are playable for single-player stealth but may cause frustration during action sequences. The 1440p High and Ultra presets, at 29 FPS and 21 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a good experience.

At 3840x2160, no preset is truly playable. The best case is Low at 27 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium averages 21 FPS, High averages 16 FPS, and Ultra averages 11 FPS. Given these numbers, the data strongly suggests that users should stick to 1080p. Among the 1080p options, Medium offers the best experience: it provides a 60 FPS average, a 51 FPS minimum, and a 69 FPS maximum, which is a solid frame rate range for Hitman 2. For users who prioritize frame rate above all else, Low at 80 FPS is the clear choice, but Medium is the recommended sweet spot for visual fidelity and performance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2,662 out of 3,001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 11.3% of all systems tested for this game. The ranking reflects the severe GPU bottleneck identified in the FPS data. While the CPU is a high-performing part—ranking in the 85th percentile among all CPUs—the GPU’s performance drags the entire system down. The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (score 1,463, 1.3% slower), GeForce 800M (1,460, 1.5% slower), GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446, 2.5% slower), and GeForce GT 710 (1,443, 2.7% slower). This places the Arc B390 at the very bottom of the GPU performance hierarchy. The combo’s rank of 2,662 out of 3,001 is therefore not surprising; it is consistent with a GPU that is only marginally faster than a decade-old entry-level part.

The contrast between the CPU and GPU rankings is stark. The CPU is a top-tier performer, while the GPU is near the bottom. This imbalance means the combo’s rank in Hitman 2 is almost entirely determined by the GPU’s capabilities. In a game that is not heavily CPU-bound, the i7-12700KF provides no meaningful advantage to offset the GPU’s weakness. The data shows that if the GPU were replaced with a mid-range part, the rank would improve dramatically, but as configured, this combo is firmly in the lower quartile of tested systems.

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

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a complete picture of performance.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 80 FPS. This is the highest score in the entire dataset.
• Medium: Average 60 FPS, minimum 51 FPS, maximum 69 FPS.
• High: Average 46 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 34 FPS.

At 1080p, the spread from Low to Ultra is 46 FPS, showing a clear progression of graphical load impacting performance. The Medium preset is the only one with reported minimum and maximum values, indicating a stable frame delivery in the 51-69 FPS range.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 51 FPS.
• Medium: Average 39 FPS, minimum 33 FPS, maximum 44 FPS.
• High: Average 29 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 21 FPS.

At 1440p, the average FPS drops by roughly 36-38% compared to 1080p at the same settings. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 33 FPS, which is the lowest minimum recorded at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 21 FPS is below the threshold for comfortable play.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 27 FPS.
• Medium: Average 21 FPS, minimum 17 FPS, maximum 24 FPS.
• High: Average 16 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 11 FPS.

At 4K, all presets are below 30 FPS, with Ultra at 11 FPS being nearly a slideshow. The Medium preset has the most detailed data, with a minimum of 17 FPS and a maximum of 24 FPS, indicating that even the best-case scenario at 4K is not playable.

The overall trend shows that the system loses about half its FPS when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings, which is consistent with a GPU that is overwhelmed by pixel count.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is a graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with 1,536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The GPU features 12 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. Its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses system RAM rather than dedicated VRAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

This GPU’s performance in Hitman 2 is extremely poor. The measured FPS at any setting above 1080p Low is below 60, and at 4K it never exceeds 27 FPS. The GPU’s average benchmark score is 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts from the early 2010s, which underscores how weak this component is by modern standards. The GT 520MX, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710 are all within 2.7% of the Arc B390’s score, meaning the Arc B390 is effectively competing with decade-old entry-level hardware.

The relationship between the GPU’s specs and the game’s results is clear. The shared memory architecture likely contributes to the poor performance, as the GPU must contend with system memory bandwidth rather than dedicated VRAM. The boost clock of 2500 MHz is respectable, but the low shading unit count (1,536) and narrow pipeline (48 TMUs, 24 ROPs) limit fill rate and texture throughput. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are insufficient for Hitman 2’s detailed environments at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, and its low percentile ranking (9th) fully explains the combo’s low rank in this game.