Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, shows a wide performance spread across resolutions with the Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD Radeon RX 7700. The data reveals a system that is clearly capable at 1080p and 1440p but begins to struggle significantly at 4K, particularly with higher settings. The measured FPS values indicate a shift in the bottleneck from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU as pixel count increases, painting a clear picture of the hardware's limits in this specific game.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about which component is the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 182 FPS, but this plummets to 116 FPS at 1440p and further to 62 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K. These are steep declines that point directly at the GPU being overwhelmed by the increased pixel count.

Examining the High settings row reinforces this conclusion. The transition from 1080p (103 FPS) to 1440p (66 FPS) is a 36% drop, which is identical to the percentage drop seen in Low settings. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K at High settings is a 47% reduction, going from 66 FPS down to 35 FPS. The scaling is not linear; the gap widens as resolution increases, which is a classic symptom of a GPU that is running out of raw pixel-pushing power. The data suggests that the Core i7-14700K is not the primary constraint in these scenarios.

The pattern becomes even more pronounced at Ultra settings. At 1080p, the combo manages 76 FPS. At 1440p, this falls to 49 FPS, and at 4K, it drops to a nearly unplayable 26 FPS. The decline from 1440p to 4K is a 47% loss, mirroring the High settings trend. This consistency across different quality presets indicates that the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are the key factors limiting performance as resolution scales, not the CPU's ability to feed the frame. The i7-14700K's high core count and clock speeds are sufficient to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions where the GPU can keep up, but once the GPU is saturated, the frame rate falls off a cliff.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. In a game like Hitman 2, which is a stealth title that often involves complex AI and physics simulations, this kind of CPU muscle is generally beneficial. The benchmark data supports the idea that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 182 FPS, a figure that is far above what most displays can even show. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of processing the game's logic and draw calls rapidly enough to feed the GPU at these settings.

However, the CPU's role becomes less critical as resolution increases. The fact that the FPS drops by a consistent percentage across all settings from 1080p to 1440p (around 36%) indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less of a difference between resolutions at lower settings, as the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU workload increased. Instead, the data shows the opposite. The CPU is powerful enough to serve the game data, but the RX 7700 cannot render the frames fast enough to take advantage of it at higher resolutions.

The i7-14700K's benchmark scores place it in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with strong multi-core and single-core performance. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which has a nearly identical average score (69515 vs 69355 for the i7-14700K), showing that this is a top-tier processor. This level of performance ensures that in Hitman 2, the CPU will rarely be the cause of low frame rates. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of delivering very high FPS, and the only reason it doesn't go higher is likely due to the game's engine or other system limits, not the CPU itself.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this CPU and GPU combo in Hitman 2?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 182 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low graphics settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution with the highest settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers an average of 26 FPS. This is the lowest performance point in the measured data and is not considered a smooth, playable experience for most users.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700K or the Radeon RX 7700 the primary limiting factor at 1440p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 1440p. For example, at High settings, the frame rate drops from 103 FPS at 1080p to 66 FPS at 1440p, a 36% reduction that indicates the GPU is struggling with the increased pixel load.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Medium and High settings at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset achieves an average of 87 FPS, while the High preset achieves 66 FPS. This is a 21 FPS difference, showing that the Medium preset offers a significant performance headroom over High at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 1371 out of 3001 tested configurations. This places it in the upper half of tested systems, though it is not a top-tier performer for this specific game.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo first dip below 60 FPS on average?

A: The first dip below 60 FPS occurs at 3840x2160 with High settings, where the average frame rate is 35 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings, including Ultra, remain at or above 49 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the combo performs across the three most common gaming resolutions. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally strong. With Low settings, it achieves 182 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 136 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. The High preset delivers 103 FPS, while the demanding Ultra preset still manages a respectable 76 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is more than capable of handling the game at high refresh rates, even with maximum quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance is still solid, but the strain on the GPU becomes apparent. The Low preset delivers 116 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 66 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 49 FPS, which is the first point in the data where the average frame rate falls below the 60 FPS threshold. This suggests that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, users should stick to High settings or lower.

The 3840x2160 resolution is where the combo's limitations are most evident. The Low preset achieves an average of 62 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold. Medium settings drop the average to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 FPS. High settings produce an average of 35 FPS, and Ultra settings result in a lowly 26 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this GPU requires significant compromises in settings to achieve a playable frame rate. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is a substantial 36 FPS, highlighting the GPU's inability to handle the pixel throughput required by the highest quality settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700K and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1371 out of 3001 total combos. This places it in the 54th percentile, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of all tested systems. While this is a solid mid-pack result, it is not indicative of a top-tier gaming experience for this specific title. The rank suggests that while the CPU is very powerful, the GPU is holding the combo back from reaching the higher echelons of the ranking.

The GPU's benchmark scores help contextualize this rank. The RX 7700 sits in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15852. Its nearest rival in the database is the AMD Radeon R9 370X, which has a nearly identical average score of 15862, a difference of only -0.1%. This indicates that the RX 7700's raw compute performance is on par with much older hardware, which explains its mid-tier ranking in a game that is heavily reliant on GPU fill rate and shader performance. The CPU, by contrast, is in the 94th percentile, showing a significant mismatch in the performance tiers of these two components.

The combo's rank implies that for Hitman 2, the overall system performance is largely dictated by the GPU. The high-performing CPU cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this GPU-bound game at higher resolutions. This is consistent with the FPS data, which shows performance scaling that is typical of a GPU bottleneck. The rank serves as a useful indicator that this configuration is balanced for 1080p and acceptable for 1440p, but it is not a high-end 4K gaming solution for this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 76 FPS. This provides a high-quality visual experience while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the smoothness threshold. For players with high refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset at 136 FPS or High at 103 FPS are excellent choices, offering a significant boost in frame rate with a modest reduction in visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 66 FPS, which is still smooth and playable. While the Ultra preset offers better visuals, its 49 FPS average is a noticeable step down in responsiveness. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is the best option for those who prefer higher frame rates over maximum visual quality. The data suggests that for a balanced experience at 1440p, High settings are the best choice, offering a good compromise between visual quality and performance.

For 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset is the only setting that achieves an average frame rate above 60 FPS, hitting 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay but is not ideal for action sequences. Players targeting 4K will need to stick with Low settings to ensure a consistent and responsive experience. The Ultra and High presets, with averages of 26 and 35 FPS respectively, are not recommended for general play. The recommendation is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity at this resolution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700, based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, is the clear limiting factor in this combo at higher resolutions. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it has a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. While this is a substantial amount of memory, the GPU's core specifications are more telling. It has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2459 MHz. These specs translate to a pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s. The GPU's 25.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is moderate for a modern card, and its 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs reflects this.

The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance in Hitman 2 is directly tied to resolution. The 16 GB of VRAM is not a limiting factor, as the game's requirements are easily met, but the GPU's compute and fill rate capabilities are. The data shows that the GPU can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming with relative ease at most settings, but it struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher quality presets. The 26 FPS at 4K Ultra is a stark illustration of the GPU's inability to keep up with the pixel workload.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database provide an interesting comparison. Its average benchmark score is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon R9 370X, a much older card, and it is only 1.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. This suggests that while the RX 7700 is a competent 1080p and 1440p card, it does not offer the raw performance needed for demanding 4K gaming. In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is to render the game's detailed environments and character models, and the data shows that it does so effectively up to 1440p, but the performance cliff at 4K is a direct result of its hardware limitations.