Hitman 2

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread Raptor Lake-S processor with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a high-end desktop CPU with a 125W TDP, built on Intel's 10 nm process, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The CPU has a 30 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache, with 80 KB of L1 per core. It also includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, though in this test setup, the discrete AMD Radeon RX 7700 handles rendering.

For a game like Hitman 2, a stealth title released in 2018, the CPU's single-thread performance and multi-thread capabilities both matter, but in different ways. The benchmark data for the i7-13700K shows strong synthetic scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. Geekbench results are similarly robust at 19429 multi-core and 2529 single-core. The 3DMark tests show a single-thread score of 1136, scaling to 12412 at max threads, which indicates the CPU can handle both lightly-threaded game logic and heavily-threaded background tasks.

In Hitman 2 specifically, the measured FPS results across all resolutions suggest that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower settings, but it becomes more relevant as the GPU load decreases. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 182 FPS average, which is far above any display's refresh rate for most users. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU can feed frames quickly enough that the GPU becomes the limiting factor even at low resolution. However, the i7-13700K's 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881, puts it in the top tier of processors, so it is unlikely to hold back the RX 7700 in most scenarios.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (46971, delta -0.2%), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (47022, delta -0.3%), AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (46654, delta 0.5%), and Intel Xeon w3-2535 (46653, delta 0.5%). These deltas are all within 0.5%, meaning the i7-13700K performs essentially identically to these alternatives in aggregate benchmarks. For Hitman 2, this means any of these CPUs would deliver similar frame rates, and the choice between them would come down to platform features rather than gaming performance.

The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads are more than sufficient for Hitman 2, which was released in 2018 and predates the current trend of heavy multi-threading in games. The game's stealth mechanics and AI-driven crowd simulations can benefit from multiple threads, but the i7-13700K's high single-core boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures that even single-threaded game logic runs smoothly. The Passmark single-thread score of 4333 confirms this, showing that the CPU excels at tasks that rely on one or two cores.

# FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K powerful enough for Hitman 2 at high frame rates?

A: Yes. The measured FPS data shows this combo achieving 103 FPS at 1080p High, 66 FPS at 1440p High, and 35 FPS at 4K High. The CPU's single-core Cinebench R23 score of 2116 and multi-core score of 30745 indicate it has ample headroom for a 2018 stealth title.

Q: How does the i7-13700K compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i7-13700K scores 46881 on average, which is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (46971), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (47022), AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (46654), and Intel Xeon w3-2535 (46653). The performance differences are negligible.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all tested processors?

A: The i7-13700K ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 89% of tested processors. Its average benchmark score of 46881 is well above the median.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics that could be used as a fallback?

A: Yes, the i7-13700K includes UHD Graphics 770. However, in this test setup, the discrete AMD Radeon RX 7700 is used for rendering, so the integrated graphics are not relevant to the measured FPS.

Q: What memory types does this CPU support, and does it matter for Hitman 2?

A: The i7-13700K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The fact pack does not specify which memory type was used in testing, so the impact on Hitman 2 frame rates cannot be determined from the data alone.

Q: How does the CPU's thread count affect Hitman 2 performance?

A: With 24 threads, the i7-13700K can handle any multi-threaded workload Hitman 2 throws at it. The game's AI and simulation systems can use multiple cores, but the CPU's strong single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 1136) is more critical for maintaining high average FPS.

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend as resolution increases, showing that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. Starting at 1080p, the combo achieves 182 FPS at Low settings, 136 FPS at Medium, 103 FPS at High, and 76 FPS at Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these numbers drop to 116 FPS at Low, 87 FPS at Medium, 66 FPS at High, and 49 FPS at Ultra. At 4K (3840x2160), the frame rates fall further to 62 FPS at Low, 46 FPS at Medium, 35 FPS at High, and 26 FPS at Ultra.

The scaling pattern is consistent: from 1080p to 1440p, average FPS drops by roughly 36-41% across all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is more severe, ranging from 47% at Low (116 to 62 FPS) to 53% at High (66 to 35 FPS). This behavior indicates that the RX 7700's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint as pixel count increases. The GPU's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 4K textures, but the raw compute power (25.18 TFLOPS FP32) is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra.

At 1080p Low, the 182 FPS result suggests that the CPU is still capable of pushing well beyond 180 FPS, so the bottleneck at lower resolutions is not the i7-13700K. However, the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p (182 to 76 FPS, a 58% drop) shows that the GPU's performance scales significantly with settings. The data indicates that for a 60 FPS target, this combo can handle 4K Medium (46 FPS is close but slightly below), 1440p Ultra (49 FPS is close), and 1080p Ultra (76 FPS comfortably). For 144 Hz gaming, 1080p High (103 FPS) is the sweet spot, while 1440p High (66 FPS) is better suited to 60-75 Hz displays.

The frame time consistency, where available, also degrades with resolution. At 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 116 and max is 157, a spread of 41 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 74 to 100 FPS (26 FPS spread). At 4K Medium, the range narrows to 39 to 53 FPS (14 FPS spread). This tightening of the frame rate range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is consistently saturated, reducing variance but also capping maximum performance.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target display refresh rate and resolution. For 1080p users with a 144 Hz monitor, High settings (103 FPS) is the optimal choice, as it provides a smooth experience with good visual fidelity. Medium settings (136 FPS) would be preferable for those with 165 Hz or 240 Hz displays, but the visual quality trade-off may not be worth it for a stealth game where detail matters for spotting enemies. Low settings (182 FPS) is excessive for any current display and sacrifices too much visual quality.

For 1440p, High settings (66 FPS) is ideal for 60 Hz displays, offering the best visual experience at a playable frame rate. Medium settings (87 FPS) would enable 75-100 Hz displays to run smoothly, while Ultra (49 FPS) is borderline for 60 Hz and should be avoided unless the player prioritizes graphics over smoothness. Low settings (116 FPS) is viable for high-refresh 1440p monitors, but again, the visual compromise is significant.

At 4K, the situation is more constrained. Medium settings (46 FPS) is the highest quality preset that approaches 60 FPS, but it falls short. High (35 FPS) and Ultra (26 FPS) are only suitable for 30 FPS console-style play or for players who value resolution over frame rate. Low settings (62 FPS) is the only 4K preset that achieves a solid 60 FPS, but it requires sacrificing most graphical features. For most 4K users, Medium is the recommended balance, as it provides the best visual quality while staying within a playable frame rate range (39-53 FPS).

The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being playable only at reduced settings. The i7-13700K's strong CPU performance means that settings changes have a predictable impact on FPS, with the GPU being the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

# How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1371 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the 54th percentile, meaning it outperforms just over half of all tested combinations. Given that the CPU ranks in the 89th percentile among all processors and the GPU ranks in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, the combo's mid-pack ranking suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing.

The RX 7700's average benchmark score of 15852 places it near the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, delta -0.1%), AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16014, delta -1%), AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679, delta 1.1%), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, delta -1.7%). These deltas are all within 1.7%, indicating that the RX 7700 performs similarly to these GPUs in aggregate benchmarks. However, in Hitman 2 specifically, the combo's rank of 1371 out of 3001 suggests that many other GPU pairings achieve higher frame rates.

The fact that the CPU is far more capable than the GPU in this pairing is evident from the resolution scaling data. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 182 FPS, which is the highest measured result, but this is still limited by the GPU's pixel throughput. If a more powerful GPU were paired with the i7-13700K, the combo rank would likely improve significantly, as the CPU has headroom to push even higher frame rates.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured FPS values are as follows:

• Low: 182 FPS average
• Medium: 136 FPS average, with min 116 and max 157
• High: 103 FPS average
• Ultra: 76 FPS average

At 2560x1440, the measured FPS values are:

• Low: 116 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average, with min 74 and max 100
• High: 66 FPS average
• Ultra: 49 FPS average

At 3840x2160, the measured FPS values are:

• Low: 62 FPS average
• Medium: 46 FPS average, with min 39 and max 53
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 26 FPS average

The data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern across all settings and resolutions. From Low to Ultra at any given resolution, the FPS drops by approximately 58-60% (e.g., 182 to 76 at 1080p, 116 to 49 at 1440p, 62 to 26 at 4K). This consistency indicates that the RX 7700's performance scales predictably with graphical load, and that the CPU does not introduce any unexpected bottlenecks.

The min and max FPS data for Medium settings across resolutions provides insight into frame pacing. At 1080p, the range is 116-157 FPS, which is a 35% variation from min to max. At 1440p, the range narrows to 74-100 FPS (35% variation), and at 4K, it is 39-53 FPS (36% variation). This consistency in relative variation suggests that frame pacing is stable across resolutions, with no sudden spikes or drops that would indicate CPU or GPU instability.

For the other settings, min and max FPS are not provided, but the average values alone are sufficient to characterize performance. The lack of min/max data for Low, High, and Ultra presets means that frame time consistency cannot be fully assessed for those settings, but the available data for Medium suggests that the game runs smoothly without major hitches.