Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth classic from 2018, presents a fascinating case study in system scaling when paired with the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT. The measured data reveals a component relationship that shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. This analysis examines the raw FPS figures to understand where the bottleneck lies and what the experience implies for this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a steep performance cliff that clearly identifies the graphics card as the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves a robust 144 FPS average, but this figure collapses to 49 FPS at 4K with the same Low preset—a 66% reduction in frame rate. This dramatic drop is a textbook indicator of GPU-bound performance, as the workload per pixel increases quadratically with resolution, placing immense strain on the Radeon RX 6600 XT.

Looking at the Medium preset data, the scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced. The system delivers 108 FPS at 1920x1080, which falls to 69 FPS at 2560x1440, and then plummets to 37 FPS at 3840x2160. The step from 1440p to 4K represents a 46% loss in performance, while the step from 1080p to 1440p costs 36%. This non-linear degradation suggests that at 4K, the RX 6600 XT is overwhelmed by the pixel throughput demands, with its 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 128-bit bus becoming a severe constraint.

The High preset shows a similar trajectory: 82 FPS at 1080p, 52 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result of 28 FPS is barely playable, indicating that this resolution is simply not viable for a smooth experience with this combo. The Ultra preset, which uses the most demanding settings, yields 60 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and just 21 FPS at 4K—the latter being a slideshow by any standard. The data suggests that the CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but the graphics card cannot keep pace as pixel counts rise.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are formidable: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 19620. In the broader CPU landscape, it ranks in the 91st percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores 53288 (0.6% lower), and the Intel Xeon 6505P at 53701 (0.2% higher)—indicating the i7-14700F sits in elite company.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions, but it becomes increasingly relevant as resolution drops. At 1080p Low, the system hits 144 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. The high single-thread performance, evidenced by the Passmark single-thread score of 4257, is crucial for Hitman 2's game logic and AI simulations, which are typically single-threaded. The boost clock of 5.40 GHz provides the raw speed needed to maintain minimum frame rates, though the measured data does not include min FPS for most settings, making it difficult to assess frame pacing issues.

The fact that the CPU scores in the 91st percentile versus all CPUs, combined with its 33 MB of shared L3 cache, suggests it is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The data shows that even at 1080p Ultra, where the GPU is more stressed, the frame rate drops to 60 FPS—a level that could be attributable to GPU limits rather than CPU limits. The CPU's capability is further evidenced by its performance in synthetic tests: a Passmark multi-thread score of 41317 and a data compression score of 505885, which indicate substantial computational headroom that Hitman 2 likely does not fully utilize.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this combo?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all presets remain playable. At 1080p, the lowest average is 60 FPS on Ultra, while 1440p drops to 39 FPS on Ultra and 4K falls to 21 FPS on Ultra. For a consistent experience above 60 FPS, 1080p with High or Medium settings is recommended.

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

A: The Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620. Its closest rival, the Intel Xeon 6505P, scores 53701, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288, which is 0.6% lower. This places the i7-14700F in a tight competitive cluster with these high-end processors.

Q: Is the RX 6600 XT capable of 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: The measured data indicates it is not. At 4K, the best average FPS is 49 on Low settings, which drops to 37 on Medium, 28 on High, and 21 on Ultra. Even the Low preset at 4K is below the 60 FPS threshold, and the Ultra preset is unplayable.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 1440p on Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 108 with a range of 92 to 125. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 69 FPS with a range of 59 to 80. This represents a 36% reduction in average frame rate when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: How does the GPU rank among all graphics cards?

A: The RX 6600 XT is in the 70th percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 24442. Its closest rival, the Intel Arc A350M, scores 24647, which is 0.8% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 scores 24277, which is 0.7% lower.

Q: Does the CPU have enough threads for modern gaming?

A: The i7-14700F has 28 threads and scores 14751 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. This level of multi-threading is far beyond what most games require, and the data shows it maintains high frame rates at 1080p, suggesting it is not a limiting factor in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance across all settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 144 FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Medium settings produce 108 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 and maximum of 125 FPS, indicating smooth frame delivery. High settings yield 82 FPS average, while Ultra drops to 60 FPS average. The step from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 58% reduction in frame rate, showing the significant impact of quality presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance declines noticeably. Low settings still manage a respectable 92 FPS average, but Medium drops to 69 FPS (59-80 range), High falls to 52 FPS, and Ultra reaches just 39 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 58 FPS, or 63% lower, which is a larger proportional drop than at 1080p. This suggests that at 1440p, the GPU is already struggling with the increased pixel count, and higher settings exacerbate this strain.

At 3840x2160, the results are marginal at best. Low settings produce 49 FPS average, Medium drops to 37 FPS (31-42 range), High falls to 28 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 21 FPS. The 4K results show that even the lowest settings cannot achieve a 60 FPS average, and the Ultra preset is effectively unplayable. The data reveals that the RX 6600 XT's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K rendering in this title, particularly at higher quality settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip, is a mid-range graphics card that ranks in the 70th percentile among all GPUs. Its specifications include 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2589 MHz and a game clock of 2359 MHz. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its synthetic benchmark scores include a Passmark G3D score of 16461 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1804.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is dominant across all measured resolutions. The data shows that as resolution increases, the frame rate drops more steeply on higher presets than on lower ones, which is consistent with a GPU that has limited memory bandwidth and compute resources. At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 144 FPS, but this falls to 92 FPS at 1440p and 49 FPS at 4K—a scaling pattern that suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, which scores 24277 (0.7% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, which scores 24170 (1.1% lower). This places the RX 6600 XT in a competitive position relative to older high-end cards, but its 8 GB VRAM is a limitation in modern titles. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the GPU produces only 21 FPS, indicating that it cannot handle the combined load of high resolution and demanding settings. The GPU's compute capabilities, rated at 10.60 TFLOPS FP32, are adequate for 1080p gaming but insufficient for 4K at high quality.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on which presets offer the best experience for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers an excellent balance with an average of 108 FPS (92-125 range), which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 82 FPS is also viable, but the 26 FPS difference between Medium and High suggests diminishing returns for the visual upgrade. The Ultra preset at 60 FPS is borderline, and the Low preset at 144 FPS is only suitable for competitive play where maximum frame rate is prioritized.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the most playable option with an average of 69 FPS (59-80 range). The Low preset at 92 FPS provides a smoother experience but sacrifices visual quality. The High preset at 52 FPS is below the ideal threshold, and the Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for a satisfying experience. The data suggests that 1440p users should stick to Medium or Low settings to maintain fluid gameplay.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets deliver a truly playable experience. The Low preset at 49 FPS is the only option that approaches 60 FPS, but it is still below ideal. The Medium preset at 37 FPS and High at 28 FPS are marginal, while the Ultra preset at 21 FPS is unplayable. For 4K gaming, this combo is not recommended, as even the lowest settings cannot provide a stable 60 FPS. The best overall experience is at 1080p with Medium settings, which offers a high average frame rate with a minimum of 92 FPS, ensuring smooth performance even in demanding scenes.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT combination ranks 2681 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the 72nd percentile of performance, meaning it outperforms roughly 72% of all tested hardware combinations in this specific game. Given that the CPU ranks in the 91st percentile and the GPU in the 70th percentile, the combo's ranking is dragged down by the GPU, which is the limiting factor.

The combo's ranking of 2681 out of 3711 indicates that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is far from the bottom. The data suggests that this pairing is well-suited for 1080p gaming with high frame rates, but struggles at higher resolutions. The CPU's strong performance, evidenced by its 91st percentile ranking, ensures that the system does not suffer from CPU bottlenecks, but the GPU's 70th percentile ranking means it cannot fully utilize the CPU's capabilities at higher resolutions.

In comparison to other combos, the i7-14700F's nearest CPU rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, would likely produce similar results in Hitman 2 given the same GPU, as their benchmark scores are within 0.6% of each other. The RX 6600 XT's nearest GPU rival, the Intel Arc A350M, scores 0.8% higher, suggesting that combos with that GPU might perform marginally better. However, the combo's overall rank of 2681 indicates that there are many combinations that outperform it, primarily those with more powerful GPUs that can handle higher resolutions and settings more effectively.