Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a stark study in component imbalance for Hitman 2. The data shows a system where the CPU is operating at the top of its class, while the GPU is positioned at the absolute bottom of the performance curve. This leads to a gaming experience that is severely constrained by the graphics processor at every resolution, turning what should be a stealth-action showcase into a test of graphical endurance. The benchmark results indicate that this combination is only viable for players willing to make significant compromises on visual fidelity and resolution. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, what it means for the playability of Hitman 2, and how the individual components contribute to the overall result.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and clearly illustrates that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 73 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average falls to 46 FPS, a reduction of 27 FPS. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields only 25 FPS. This scaling pattern is indicative of a GPU that is being overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count, as the CPU’s workload does not scale in the same linear fashion with resolution.

The trend continues across all settings presets. For Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 54 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p and then to 19 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most severe collapse, starting at a playable 30 FPS at 1080p, halving to 19 FPS at 1440p, and then plummeting to a slideshow-like 10 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that the Intel Core i7-14700F is not the bottleneck here; if it were, we would expect to see a smaller performance delta between 1080p and 1440p as the GPU would have more headroom. Instead, the consistent and steep drop-offs point directly to the Arc B370's limited fillrate and processing power.

This scaling behavior is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The 14700F, with its high core count and boost clock, is more than capable of feeding frames to the graphics card. The bottleneck is in the rendering pipeline of the Arc B370, which struggles to maintain frame throughput as the number of pixels it must shade increases. For a player, this means that the resolution must be considered the primary lever for achieving acceptable performance. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is not a minor tweak but a fundamental change in playability, with average FPS nearly halving in most presets. The jump to 4K is even more punishing, effectively rendering the game unplayable at any setting above Low.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination are heavily dependent on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset provides the best balance of performance and playability, delivering an average of 73 FPS. This is the only settings/resolution combination in the entire dataset that approaches high-refresh-rate territory. While the Medium preset is also playable at 54 FPS average, the jump to Low offers a substantial 19 FPS performance gain, which is more valuable than the modest visual improvements Medium might offer on this hardware.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset yields an average of 46 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced stealth game, but the Medium preset drops to 35 FPS. The data suggests that 1440p Low is the most sensible choice for this resolution. The High preset at 26 FPS and Ultra at 19 FPS are both too inconsistent for a comfortable experience, especially in a game where precision and timing are key for silent takedowns and evading guards.

The 4K resolution is largely a non-starter for this combo. Even the Low preset only manages an average of 25 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS with a minimum of 16, and the Ultra preset averages 10 FPS. None of these are recommended. The data clearly indicates that this hardware configuration should be used at 1080p for a decent experience, with 1440p being a viable alternative only if the player is willing to stick to the Low preset. The performance cost of moving from Low to Ultra at any resolution is severe, often halving the frame rate.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is a mobile-class integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and its performance in Hitman 2 reflects that positioning. The GPU’s benchmark data shows a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, are over a decade old, underscoring the Arc B370's extremely low placement in the current performance hierarchy.

The GPU has a boost clock of 2400 MHz and features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. These specifications translate to a peak pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. Despite these numbers, the memory configuration is a critical weakness. The Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its bandwidth is "System Dependent" and not dedicated. This shared memory architecture is a significant bottleneck, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory access, which is particularly detrimental at higher resolutions where larger frame buffers are required.

The 25W TDP and "IGP" slot width confirm its status as an integrated processor, not a discrete graphics card. The measured FPS data aligns perfectly with this profile. The GPU is simply not equipped to handle the rendering load of Hitman 2 at high resolutions. The fact that it scores in the 5th percentile and is on par with GPUs from a bygone era explains why the system struggles to maintain 30 FPS at 1080p on the Ultra preset. This is a component that is fundamentally mismatched for the demands of modern gaming at anything above 720p, and the data shows it cannot deliver a fluid experience in this title at 1080p with high settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The overall ranking of this CPU-GPU combination in Hitman 2 is a sobering statistic. The combo ranks 2768 out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This poor ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part. The data suggests that while the processor is providing the necessary instructions and physics calculations, the graphics card is failing to execute the rendering work, dragging the entire system to the bottom of the rankings.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's 5th percentile standing. The system is effectively a high-end CPU paired with a low-end GPU, creating a massive imbalance. The benchmark results indicate that a system with a much weaker CPU but a stronger GPU would likely rank significantly higher in this specific game, as Hitman 2 is more dependent on graphical fidelity than on raw CPU multithreaded performance. The 2768th place ranking is a clear warning to anyone considering this pairing for gaming purposes; it is a combination that is not designed for the task and will result in a subpar experience compared to virtually any other modern configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a powerhouse processor that is completely wasted in this configuration. It features 20 cores and 28 threads with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and its benchmark scores are exceptional. The data shows a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, with a Geekbench multicore score of 19620. It sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which it edges out by a 0.6% margin.

In the context of Hitman 2, this CPU is not the limiting factor. The game’s engine, while capable of using multiple threads, does not require the immense processing power that the 14700F provides. The benchmark results show that the CPU is more than capable of handling the game’s logic, AI, and physics at any resolution. The performance bottleneck is entirely on the GPU side, as evidenced by the fact that reducing the resolution from 1080p to 4K has a massive impact on FPS, which would not be the case if the CPU were struggling.

The 14700F has 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, which helps in feeding the GPU with data. However, the Arc B370 cannot keep up with the data throughput. The CPU is effectively idle, waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame. This is a classic example of a system where a less powerful CPU could be paired with the Arc B370 without any loss in game performance, as the GPU is the absolute ceiling. The data shows that the CPU is not a contributing factor to the low FPS; it is the GPU that is failing to deliver.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows:

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 73 FPS. This is the only playable option for a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 63. This is playable but with noticeable dips.
• High: Average 41 FPS. This is borderline playable but will feel stuttery in action sequences.
• Ultra: Average 30 FPS. This is the edge of playability, with the frame rate likely to drop further in busy scenes.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 46 FPS. This is the best option at this resolution, offering a consistent enough frame rate.
• Medium: Average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. This is in the low end of playable.
• High: Average 26 FPS. This is not recommended for a smooth experience.
• Ultra: Average 19 FPS. This is unplayable.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 25 FPS. This is not playable for a responsive game.
• Medium: Average 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 21. This is unplayable.
• High: Average 14 FPS. This is a slideshow.
• Ultra: Average 10 FPS. This is a slideshow.

The data paints a clear picture. The system can handle 1080p at low settings, and with significant compromises, can run at 1440p. Any attempt to play at 4K or with high/ultra settings will result in a broken experience. The frame time variance, as shown by the min and max FPS for Medium settings, also indicates that the experience is not just about the average, but about consistency. The 1080p Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, which is a 15% reduction from the average, suggesting that the GPU is prone to stuttering under load. This is a hardware combination that is fundamentally unsuited for Hitman 2 at anything beyond the most modest settings.