Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B570 across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data indicates a configuration that is highly capable at 1080p, adequate at 1440p, and struggling at 4K. The results clearly delineate the roles of the CPU and GPU in this specific pairing, offering practical insights for builders targeting this game.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, but the rate of decline reveals where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 123 FPS. Stepping up to 1440p Low drops that to 79 FPS, a significant reduction of approximately 36%. Moving to 4K Low yields just 42 FPS, which is roughly 47% lower than the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario; the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions, but the graphics card's rendering workload becomes the limiting factor as pixel count rises.

The trend is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the average frame rate falls from 70 FPS at 1080p to 45 FPS at 1440p, and then to 24 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 25 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 21 FPS. This shows that while the absolute frame rates are halving, the relative performance loss is somewhat consistent. This further reinforces that the Intel Arc B570's rendering throughput is the primary constraint as resolution climbs, not the Core i7-14700F's processing power.

The gap between the 1080p and 4K results is stark. At Low settings, the 4K average of 42 FPS is only about one-third of the 1080p average of 123 FPS. At Ultra settings, the situation is more severe; the 4K average of 18 FPS is barely a third of the 1080p average of 52 FPS. This data suggests that 4K gaming on this configuration is not a viable option for a smooth experience, except perhaps in the most static scenes, and that the GPU is the definitive limiting component at this resolution. The scaling behavior indicates that players targeting 4K would need to significantly reduce settings or rely on upscaling technology, which is not reflected in these measured rows.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This substantial core count and high boost clock are reflected in its strong synthetic benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958. Its average benchmark score of 53620 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier processing capability. In the context of Hitman 2, this level of performance is more than sufficient to prevent the CPU from becoming a bottleneck.

The data supports this conclusion. At 1080p Low, the frame rate of 123 FPS is high, but it is likely not the absolute maximum the CPU could produce. The fact that the frame rate scales down so heavily with resolution and settings points to the GPU being the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions at the same settings, as the CPU's workload (game logic, physics, AI) does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the measured FPS drops consistently with every resolution increase, confirming that the i7-14700F is feeding the GPU as fast as the GPU can render.

The processor's nearest rivals, according to benchmark data, include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores an average of 53288, a delta of 0.6% from the i7-14700F. This indicates that the i7-14700F is performing in the same league as other high-end desktop processors. For a game like Hitman 2, which is not known for being exceptionally CPU-intensive in its core logic, the 20-core processor provides immense headroom. The high single-core performance, evidenced by the 4958 score in Cinebench R23, is also crucial for maintaining high frame rates, as many game engines still rely heavily on a few primary threads.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage) and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is listed at 2500 MHz. With 2304 shading units and 80 ROPs, it offers a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s. Its average benchmark score of 20556 puts it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. This data points to a mid-range graphics card that is competent for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but its performance limits are clearly exposed at 4K.

The measured FPS data directly reflects the GPU's capabilities. At 1080p, the card delivers playable frame rates across all settings, from 123 FPS on Low to 52 FPS on Ultra. This shows that the GPU has enough raw power to handle the game at its native resolution with high refresh rates on lower presets. At 1440p, performance is still respectable, with an average of 59 FPS on Medium and 45 FPS on High, though Ultra drops to 33 FPS. This suggests that 1440p is a viable target for this GPU, provided settings are managed.

However, at 4K, the GPU's limitations become the defining factor. The average frame rate at 4K High is 24 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to a slideshow-like 18 FPS. Even at 4K Low, the card only manages an average of 42 FPS. This aligns with the GPU's memory configuration; 10 GB of VRAM may be sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but 4K textures and higher resolutions can demand more memory, and the 160-bit bus width may also restrict memory bandwidth at that resolution. The benchmark shows the Arc B570 is similar to the Intel Arc A750, with a delta of -0.1%, indicating they are near-identical in general compute performance. This paints a clear picture: the Arc B570 is a 1080p and entry-level 1440p card, not a 4K solution for demanding titles like Hitman 2 on high presets.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the sweet spot. The average frame rate is 70 FPS on High and 93 FPS on Medium, both of which provide smooth gameplay. 1440p is also viable, with 45 FPS on High and 59 FPS on Medium, but 4K performance is too low for a consistent experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F or the Intel Arc B570 the bottleneck in this system?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting component. This is evident from the significant frame rate drops as resolution increases (from 123 FPS at 1080p Low to 42 FPS at 4K Low). If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would be more consistent across resolutions.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals in general performance?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc A750, scores 20582, a delta of -0.1%. This makes them functionally equivalent in performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile also scores similarly at 20534, a delta of 0.1%.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K Low settings, the average frame rate is 42 FPS. At 4K High, it drops to 24 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it is only 18 FPS. These results are generally below the threshold for comfortable, smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average frame rate is 93 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 59 FPS. This represents a 34 FPS decrease, showing a substantial performance cost for the higher resolution.

Q: How does the i7-14700F's multi-core performance compare to its rivals?

A: The i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620. It is 0.6% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores 53288. It also outperforms the AMD EPYC 7313P by 0.8%, which scores 53206.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for this configuration. For a 1080p display, the Low preset yields an average of 123 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. However, for a more balanced visual and performance experience, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, delivering a strong average of 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS. This suggests that Medium settings provide a significant visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. High settings at 70 FPS are also very playable, but Ultra, at 52 FPS, begins to dip below the ideal threshold for competitive or fast-paced action.

For 1440p, the recommendation shifts. The Medium preset, with an average of 59 FPS, is the best balance, offering smooth gameplay that is mostly above 60 FPS. The High preset at 45 FPS is acceptable for slower, more methodical stealth gameplay, but it may feel less fluid in action sequences. The Low preset at 79 FPS is the best option for maximum smoothness, but the visual quality takes a noticeable hit. Ultra at 33 FPS is not recommended for a playable experience.

At 4K, the data suggests that no preset provides a truly optimal experience. The Low preset at 42 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, but it may still feel choppy. Medium and High presets, at 32 and 24 FPS respectively, are too slow for a game that requires precise timing and awareness. Ultra at 18 FPS is effectively unplayable. Therefore, for 4K, the only viable option is Low, and even then, players should be prepared for a compromised experience. For the best overall experience, 1080p Medium or 1440p Medium are the clear winners based on the measured frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following breakdown details the exact average frame rates measured for the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B570 combination in Hitman 2.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 123 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire test suite, indicating no CPU bottleneck.
• Medium: Average 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. This shows a stable performance window above 60 FPS.
• High: Average 70 FPS. This is a solid playable frame rate for most users.
• Ultra: Average 52 FPS. This is playable but may not be smooth enough for all players.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 79 FPS. This is a significant drop from 1080p Low, showing the GPU's workload increasing.
• Medium: Average 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. The minimum indicates occasional dips, but it remains mostly smooth.
• High: Average 45 FPS. This is on the edge of smooth playability for a stealth game.
• Ultra: Average 33 FPS. This is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 42 FPS. This is the only 4K preset that is arguably playable.
• Medium: Average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 36 FPS. This is a stuttery experience.
• High: Average 24 FPS. This is too slow for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: Average 18 FPS. This is a slideshow and not recommended.

In summary, the data confirms that this pairing is optimized for 1080p and can handle 1440p with adjusted settings. The 4K results show a clear hardware limitation, primarily from the GPU.