Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 1435th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, a result that places it behind the majority of the database. The CPU (launch MSRP $359) is a high-end part with a 94th percentile standing, while the GPU (launch MSRP 329 USD) sits at the 69th percentile. Benchmark results indicate a GPU-bound pairing: the CPU's strong single-thread performance cannot overcome the GPU's limits at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and steep drop as resolution increases, which points to the GPU as the primary limiting component. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 78.2 at 1080p to 48.8 at 1440p and further to 24.2 at 4K. Low settings follow a similar trajectory: 129.6 at 1080p, 87.5 at 1440p, and 45.7 at 4K. Medium settings produce 97.9, 64.6, and 35.7 across the same resolutions, while Ultra yields 55.5, 33.8, and 21.5. The uniformity of these drops—roughly halving from 1080p to 4K for every preset—indicates that the GPU is saturated before the CPU becomes a factor. The CPU's high single-thread benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 single 5003) would not cause such a uniform scaling pattern; a CPU bottleneck would typically show smaller FPS differences at higher resolutions. At 4K, even Low settings only reach 45.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that the GPU cannot handle 4K in this title regardless of quality preset.

GPU Role

The RX 6600 features 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. Its base clock is 1626 MHz, boost clock 2491 MHz, and game clock 2044 MHz. These specifications are modest for 4K gaming, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 21.5, which is unplayable. The GPU's average benchmark score is 25235, placing it in the 69th percentile. It is within 0.5% of the RTX 3060 Ti (delta 0.5) and within 0.2% of the RX 580 2048SP (delta -0.2), indicating a mid-range part. The Passmark G3D score of 15096 further underscores its position. In Hitman 2, the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity appear sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by playable frame rates at those resolutions. However, at 4K, the combination of 8GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient, as even Low settings only achieve 45.7 FPS. The GPU's 69th percentile ranking relative to all GPUs suggests it is a capable mid-range card, but it is clearly the bottleneck in this pairing.

CPU Role

The i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its L3 cache is 33 MB. In Cinebench R23, it scores 35443 multi-core and 5003 single-core. Geekbench scores are 16571 multi and 2711 single. Passmark multithread is 41765 and single thread 4261. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, is only 0.6% faster in average benchmark score (delta -0.6). This strong CPU performance suggests it is not the bottleneck in Hitman 2. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 129.6 FPS, which is likely limited by the GPU rather than the CPU, given the CPU's high single-thread capabilities. The CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads are more than sufficient for a stealth game like Hitman 2, which typically relies on single-thread performance. The measured FPS scaling across resolutions further supports the conclusion that the CPU is not the limiting factor; if it were, the FPS would not drop so dramatically when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 24.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 45.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 35.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 21.5 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 48.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 87.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 64.6 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 33.8 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 78.2 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 129.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 97.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 55.5 |

At 1080p, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings, with Low at 129.6 and Ultra at 55.5. At 1440p, only Low and Medium exceed 60 FPS, with 87.5 and 64.6 respectively. At 4K, no setting reaches 60 FPS; the highest is Low at 45.7. The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is not fully utilized at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1435th out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database. The majority of tested combinations outperform it. The CPU's 94th percentile and GPU's 69th percentile highlight the imbalance: the strong CPU is held back by the GPU. In Hitman 2, the GPU's limitations are evident at higher resolutions, where even Low settings at 4K only achieve 45.7 FPS. This rank suggests that for this specific game, the pairing is not well balanced, and the GPU is the primary reason for the low standing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: At 1080p, High settings deliver 78.2 FPS, while 1440p Medium delivers 64.6 FPS. 4K is not playable at any setting, with the highest average FPS being 45.7 at Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 69th. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario.

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 1080p with Low (129.6), Medium (97.9), or High (78.2) settings. At 1440p, only Low (87.5) and Medium (64.6) exceed 60 FPS. At 4K, no setting reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 6600's average benchmark score is 25235, which is within 0.5% of the RTX 3060 Ti (delta 0.5) and within 0.2% of the RX 580 2048SP (delta -0.2).

Q: What is the combo's rank in the database?

A: It ranks 1435 out of 1795 tested combos, meaning the majority of tested combinations outperform it.

Q: Is 8GB VRAM enough for Hitman 2?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the measured FPS suggests 8GB is sufficient, but at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 21.5, indicating the GPU's memory and bandwidth are insufficient for that configuration.

Settings Recommendations

The data shows that 1080p High delivers 78.2 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, while 1440p Medium delivers 64.6 FPS. For a smooth experience, 1080p High is the best choice, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while maintaining visual quality. If the user prefers 1440p, Medium at 64.6 FPS is the only setting that exceeds 60 FPS; High at 48.8 and Ultra at 33.8 are below playable thresholds. At 4K, no setting reaches 60 FPS, so it is not recommended. The lowest playable configuration is 1080p Low at 129.6 FPS, but that sacrifices visual fidelity. The optimal balance of performance and quality is 1080p High, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for higher resolution.