Hitman 2

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. It launched in October 2023 at a launch MSRP of $409. In the context of Hitman 2, a stealth game released in November 2018, this CPU’s high single-thread performance is crucial. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 202.7 FPS, a figure that relies heavily on the CPU’s ability to feed frames quickly. The processor’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain smooth frame pacing in the game’s crowded, AI-driven environments. The 14700K scores 4,488 in Cinebench R15 multicore and 633 in single-core, but its Passmark single-thread score of 4,472 indicates the rapid per-core throughput that Hitman 2’s simulation logic demands. The CPU’s 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest it is a high-performance desktop part, and its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its top-tier status. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core i7-14700KF scores nearly identically with a 0% delta, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is 0.5% faster, and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 is 1.4% slower in aggregate benchmarks. For Hitman 2, this means the 14700K is never the bottleneck when paired with a strong GPU, as its single-core lead allows the graphics card to operate at full capacity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with an 8 nm process and features 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 608.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 1770 MHz, and it houses 6,144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The GPU’s FP32 throughput is 21.75 TFLOPS, which directly influences raw rasterization performance in Hitman 2. The data reveals that at 1080p High settings, the combo produces 114.6 FPS, while at 4K High, it drops to 38.9 FPS. This scaling indicates that the RTX 3070 Ti’s 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth become limiting factors at higher resolutions, particularly with Hitman 2’s detailed textures and complex lighting. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 23,356 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, showing it is a competent mid-to-high-end card. Its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks include the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME (0.3% faster), the AMD Radeon RX 6700 (0.8% slower), and the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (0.9% slower). In Hitman 2, the RTX 3070 Ti’s 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores are underutilized, as the game does not require ray tracing, but the standard shader performance is what drives the frame rates seen in the measured data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear progression from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 202.7 FPS, which drops to 133.5 FPS at 1440p Low and 68.5 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 66% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases. Conversely, at Ultra settings, the frame rates are 83.4 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p, and 30.5 FPS at 4K—a 63% drop from 1080p to 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is substantial: 202.7 FPS versus 83.4 FPS, a 119.3 FPS difference. This suggests that Hitman 2’s Ultra preset imposes heavy shading and memory demands on the RTX 3070 Ti, while the CPU’s headroom at 1080p Low is sufficient to push beyond 200 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate falls to 30.5 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, and the data implies that the 8 GB VRAM is a limiting factor. The pattern across all resolutions—High at 114.6 FPS (1080p), 74 FPS (1440p), and 38.9 FPS (4K)—shows a consistent halving of performance with each step up in resolution, a classic sign of GPU-bound scaling. The CPU’s role diminishes at 4K, where the RTX 3070 Ti’s compute and memory bandwidth are the dominant factors.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 202.7 at 1920x1080 with Low settings, demonstrating the CPU’s strong single-thread performance at lower resolutions.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti’s VRAM affect 4K performance?

A: With 8 GB of GDDR6X memory, the GPU delivers 30.5 FPS at 4K Ultra and 38.9 FPS at 4K High, indicating that memory capacity and bandwidth are significant bottlenecks at this resolution.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the combo produces 156.2 FPS at 1080p and 56.1 FPS at 4K, a drop of 100.1 FPS, which shows the GPU’s rendering load scaling with pixel count.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 Ti in Hitman 2?

A: No, benchmark results indicate the CPU is not a limiting factor, as it achieves a 96th percentile ranking and its nearest rival, the Core i7-14700KF, is statistically identical with a 0% delta in aggregate scores.

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

A: The combo ranks 713th out of 1,795 tested combinations, placing it in the top 40% of all configs, which is respectable given the GPU’s mid-range position.

Q: What settings produce the most balanced frame rate at 1440p?

A: At 1440p High, the combo averages 74 FPS, while Medium achieves 100.9 FPS, and Low reaches 133.5 FPS, suggesting that High is the optimal balance for visual quality and smoothness on this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ranks 713th out of 1,795 tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the 60th percentile of all configs. This is a strong result for a GPU that sits in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, as the CPU’s 96th percentile ranking compensates for the GPU’s mid-tier position. The ranking indicates that, while the RTX 3070 Ti is not a top-tier card, the 14700K’s high single-thread performance boosts the overall experience, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the CPU can push frame rates to 202.7 and 133.5 FPS at Low settings, respectively. Compared to other combos, this configuration outperforms many systems with higher-end GPUs but weaker CPUs, as Hitman 2 benefits from the 14700K’s rapid core clocks and large cache. The rank of 713 out of 1,795 suggests that there is headroom for improvement—likely by pairing the CPU with a more powerful GPU, such as one with more VRAM or higher compute throughput. However, for a 1440p gaming setup, the data shows that this combo delivers 74 FPS at High settings and 100.9 FPS at Medium, which are solid results for a stealth title. The 4K Ultra performance of 30.5 FPS is the weakest point, and the 8 GB VRAM is the probable cause, as the frame rate drops sharply from 56.1 FPS at Medium to 30.5 FPS at Ultra. Overall, the combo ranks as a capable mid-to-high-end solution, with the CPU providing excellent headroom and the GPU being the primary constraint at higher resolutions and settings.