Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Hitman 2, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data shows a smooth, predictable degradation as resolution increases, but the CPU's high core count and strong single-thread performance ensure that even the most demanding Ultra settings at 4K remain playable, though just barely.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, revealing a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 170.2 at 1920x1080 to 110 at 2560x1440, a 35.4% reduction, and then to 60.3 at 3840x2160, a further 45.2% drop. This pattern is repeated across all settings. The Low preset demonstrates the CPU's capability: at 1080p, the combo hits 299 FPS, which is likely near the engine's practical limit, but at 4K, it drops to 104.8. This 64.9% reduction from 1080p to 4K is the largest of any preset, indicating that the GPU is being pushed to its absolute limit at higher resolutions, while the CPU is barely challenged. The scaling suggests that for a 4K target, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the limiting factor, while at 1080p, the i7-12700KF has ample headroom to keep up.

CPU Role

The i7-12700KF's architecture is a major contributor to its strong showing in Hitman 2. With 12 cores and 20 threads based on the Alder Lake architecture, it provides a substantial parallel processing capability. However, it is the single-thread performance that matters most for this title. The benchmark data shows a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3984, which are strong indicators of the processing power needed for game logic and physics. The CPU's boost clock of 5.00 GHz, paired with 25 MB of shared L3 cache, ensures that the game's primary thread is never starved for data. This is evidenced by the 1080p Low result of 299 FPS, which confirms the CPU's ability to feed the GPU at high frame rates. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979 further confirms that the processor has more than enough multi-threaded headroom for Hitman 2, meaning its role is to ensure a stable frame delivery rather than being the primary constraint on performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark results place this specific combination in a strong position relative to other tested configurations. The combo rank for Hitman 2 is 114 out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.4% of all systems. This high rank is primarily driven by the GPU's excellent average benchmark score, which sits at 53610, representing the 88th percentile when compared to all GPUs. The CPU also performs well, with an average benchmark score of 35355, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The combination of two components that are both in the upper echelon of their respective categories results in a system that is well-balanced for this game. It is important to note that the rank is a composite of the parts, and the data indicates that neither component is a significant weak link in this particular title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across different quality presets. At 1080p, the system is exceptionally fast, with the Low preset averaging 299 FPS, Medium at 225.2 FPS, High at 170.2 FPS, and Ultra at 126.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the performance remains very high, with the Low preset achieving 196.1 FPS, Medium at 145.9 FPS, High at 110 FPS, and Ultra at 82.3 FPS. At 4K, the system transitions from being CPU-bound to clearly GPU-bound. The Low preset still manages a very playable 104.8 FPS, while Medium drops to 79.2 FPS and High to 60.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding scenario in the data, yielding an average of 42.9 FPS. This shows a clear performance hierarchy where the gap between settings widens as resolution increases, confirming that the GPU's workload scales significantly with pixel count.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary driver of frame rates in Hitman 2, especially at higher resolutions. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for the game's textures and geometry at 4K. The GPU's high boost clock of 2550 MHz and 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are the key specifications that allow it to maintain high frame rates. The data shows a clear GPU bottleneck at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 42.9. This is not a sign of a weak GPU, but rather an indication of the extreme demands of the Ultra preset at that resolution. The GPU's performance is further validated by its average benchmark score of 53610, which puts it just 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 2.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti in the data. This placement confirms that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier card that excels in this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data suggests that the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for most users. At 1440p, the High preset delivers an average of 110 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay, while at 4K it maintains a solid 60.3 FPS, making it the ideal choice for a 60Hz display. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, the Medium preset at 225.2 FPS or even the High preset at 170.2 FPS are excellent choices, as they provide a significant visual upgrade over Low without sacrificing the high frame rates needed for competitive play. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive, should be reserved for users who prioritize image quality over frame rate. The data shows that at 1440p, Ultra still achieves a very playable 82.3 FPS, but at 4K, it drops to 42.9 FPS, which may be unacceptable for some users. The Low preset is generally not recommended, as it offers minimal performance gains over Medium at 4K (104.8 vs 79.2) but at a significant cost to visual quality.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 299 FPS, which is achieved with the Low preset at 1920x1080.

*Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS in Hitman 2?*

A: Yes, the High preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 60.3 FPS, which meets the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at the same resolution falls short, averaging 42.9 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its nearest rival, the RX 6900 XT, in average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 53610, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT's score of 53489.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 110 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 82.3 FPS, representing a 25.2% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The CPU's performance is evident by the 299 FPS result at 1080p Low, while the GPU's workload scaling is shown by the dramatic FPS drops when moving from 1440p to 4K.

Q: Does the CPU have enough single-thread performance for this game?

A: Yes, the i7-12700KF's 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and Passmark single-thread score of 3984 are strong, and the 1080p Low result of 299 FPS demonstrates that the CPU can handle the game's primary thread without bottlenecking the GPU.