Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a fascinating, if lopsided, performance profile in Hitman 2. The data reveals a system where a top-tier CPU is severely constrained by an entry-level integrated GPU, resulting in frame rates that are playable only at the lowest settings and resolution. This analysis breaks down the measured performance metrics, comparing them against rival hardware and providing clear guidance on how to configure the game.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior in Hitman 2 for this combo is a textbook example of GPU-bound performance collapse. The Arc B370’s frame rate drops precipitously as pixel count increases, confirming that the integrated GPU, not the Core i7-13700K, is the limiting factor in every scenario.

At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 73 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average falls to 46 FPS, a substantial reduction of 27 FPS. Scaling further to 4K at Low settings yields only 25 FPS, a drop of another 21 FPS. This linear degradation pattern is typical of a GPU hitting its memory bandwidth and shading throughput limits.

The scaling becomes even more pronounced at higher quality presets. With High settings, the frame rate drops from 41 FPS at 1080p to 26 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to a barely interactive 14 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with the system managing 30 FPS at 1080p, 19 FPS at 1440p, and a slideshow-like 10 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the gap between 1080p and 4K performance widens with each settings tier, indicating that the GPU’s shading units and texture units are overwhelmed by the combined load of higher resolution and more complex visual effects.

The fact that the 13700K is capable of far more in compute-heavy tasks—evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and 3DMark max-thread score of 12412—makes the performance bottleneck starkly clear. The CPU is never the constraint here; the Arc B370’s 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 48.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are simply insufficient for high-resolution rendering in a modern stealth title. The scaling data suggests that for any playable experience, users must prioritize reducing resolution over tweaking individual settings, as the GPU’s performance headroom is minimal.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this combination at rank 2768 out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU is a high-end desktop part that sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs tested.

The GPU’s own percentile ranking is a harsh indicator: the Arc B370 falls into the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of just 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals in that synthetic test are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%). The delta percentages here are minuscule, showing that the Arc B370 is performance-equivalent to GPUs from over a decade ago, which explains its poor standing in the game’s overall combo ranking.

In contrast, the CPU’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (score 46971, delta -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (score 47022, delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (score 46654, delta 0.5%). The 13700K’s average score of 46881 places it squarely in the middle of these modern processors, with a negligible performance difference of less than 1% in either direction. This highlights the stark mismatch: a CPU that trades blows with high-end Ryzen 9 parts is being held back by a GPU that trades blows with decade-old ATI cards.

The game’s measured FPS data confirms this ranking. The combo’s best-case scenario of 73 FPS at 1080p Low is a result that many lower-tier CPU and GPU pairings could achieve, while the 4K Ultra score of 10 FPS is firmly in unplayable territory. The ranking of 2768 out of 3001 is a fair reflection of a system whose overall gaming capability is defined almost entirely by its weakest link.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture (Panther Lake). Its role in this benchmark is the primary determinant of the system’s Hitman 2 performance, and the data shows it is severely underpowered for the game’s demands.

The GPU’s clock speeds are surprisingly modest for a modern part: a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. While the boost clock is respectable, the base clock and the architectural design (with 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and only 20 ROPs) constrain its output. The memory configuration is the most telling limitation: it uses System Shared memory, meaning it draws from the system’s DDR4/DDR5 RAM rather than having dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as System Dependent, so while the 13700K supports dual-channel memory, the GPU’s performance is tied to that shared bandwidth and is subject to contention with the CPU.

The GPU’s compute capabilities are quantifiable: it offers 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. These figures are low for a modern gaming GPU, especially one expected to run a 2018 title like Hitman 2 at high settings. The RTX and tensor core counts (10 RT cores) are irrelevant here, as the game’s rendering engine is not using those features in the measured scenarios.

The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 paint a clear picture of its standing. It is placed in the same performance tier as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190). The Arc B370’s 25W TDP and IGP slot width confirm its purpose as a low-power integrated solution, not a discrete gaming card. The data indicates that while the GPU can technically render the game, it lacks the raw throughput and memory bandwidth needed to maintain high frame rates at demanding resolutions and presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo’s performance envelope. Across 12 different resolution and settings combinations, the system’s frame rates range from a playable 73 FPS at the lowest settings to an unplayable 10 FPS at the highest.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, the average FPS is 73, which is the highest score recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield an average of 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 63 FPS, indicating a degree of frame pacing stability. High settings drop the average to 41 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to 30 FPS. The range from 73 to 30 FPS across the settings tiers shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the system has any headroom to adjust visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 46 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40 FPS. High settings drop to 26 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 19 FPS. The data shows that 1440p is only viable at Low or Medium settings for a consistent experience, and even then, the frame rates are not high enough for fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, the system is effectively incapable of providing a playable experience. Low settings average just 25 FPS. Medium settings average 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 21 FPS. High settings average 14 FPS, and Ultra settings average 10 FPS. All 4K scores are below the 30 FPS threshold generally considered the minimum for playability, confirming that this resolution is outside the Arc B370’s capabilities in this game.

The data also reveals a consistent pattern: the difference between Low and Ultra settings at any given resolution is roughly a 2.4x factor in performance (e.g., 73 FPS vs 30 FPS at 1080p). This suggests that the game’s Ultra preset includes expensive effects that disproportionately impact the GPU, even though the base game is from 2018.

Settings Recommendations

Based solely on the measured FPS data, the optimal configuration for this combo is to prioritize resolution over visual fidelity. The only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience is 1080p with Low settings, which achieves an average of 73 FPS. This is the only configuration that hits the 60+ FPS target for fluid gameplay.

If a higher visual quality is desired, 1080p with Medium settings is a viable alternative, delivering an average of 54 FPS. The minimum FPS of 46 ensures that the experience remains playable even in crowded scenes. This preset offers a good balance between clarity and performance, as the jump to High settings at 1080p (41 FPS) begins to dip below ideal smoothness for a stealth game that requires precise camera control.

For users who must play at 1440p, the data suggests that Low settings are the only viable option, offering an average of 46 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p (35 FPS) is borderline, and the High (26 FPS) and Ultra (19 FPS) presets should be avoided due to sub-30 FPS averages.

The 4K resolution is not recommended under any settings preset, as even the Low preset fails to reach 30 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K (10 FPS) is a slideshow and should be considered a stress test rather than a playable mode.

In summary, the measured data supports a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the best experience, 1080p Medium is a good compromise, 1440p Low is an acceptable fallback, and all other configurations are too demanding for the Arc B370.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration to exceed 60 FPS, averaging 73 FPS. For better visuals, 1080p Medium (54 FPS) or 1440p Low (46 FPS) are the next best options, but all 4K settings and 1440p High/Ultra presets result in averages below 30 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, +1.4%). The performance deltas are all less than 1.5%, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K the bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the limiting factor. The 13700K ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881, putting it on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (46971, -0.2%) and AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX (46654, +0.5%). The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking is the clear bottleneck.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 41 at 1920x1080 to 26 at 2560x1440, and then to 14 at 3840x2160. This represents a 27 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, a 66% reduction in performance.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking among other tested systems in Hitman 2?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2768 out of 3001 tested combos for this game. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, reflecting the GPU’s severe performance limitations.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated VRAM?

A: No. The Intel Arc B370 uses System Shared memory, meaning it relies on the system’s main RAM. Its memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means its performance is directly tied to the speed and configuration of the system’s DDR4/DDR5 memory, rather than having a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth VRAM pool.