Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a highly capable Hitman 2 experience, with the data indicating a strong balance between the 20-core processor and the 12 GB Ampere graphics card. The CPU’s configuration of 20 cores and 28 threads, boosting to 5.60 GHz, provides substantial headroom for the game’s simulation and AI logic, while the GPU’s 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 compute handles the rendering load. Benchmark results show that the combination is well-suited for high-refresh-rate play at 1440p, though 4K Ultra settings push the system to its limits. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, scaling behavior, and overall ranking to provide a precise picture of what this combo offers.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a desktop processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture, featuring 20 cores and 28 threads. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz, combined with a 33 MB shared L3 cache, give it substantial single-thread and multi-thread capability. In general compute benchmarks, the chip scores 44,534 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,287 in single-core, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs tested. This high percentile suggests it is unlikely to be a bottleneck in Hitman 2, a stealth title that typically relies on a few heavily threaded tasks for enemy AI and world simulation.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 237.9 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that indicates the CPU can keep up with the GPU even at lower resolutions where the rendering load is lighter. The i7-14700K’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core i7-14700KF (with a deltaPct of 0) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (with a deltaPct of -0.5), meaning the i7-14700K is essentially on par with these high-end parts. For Hitman 2, this means the CPU is not a limiting factor; the data strongly suggests that the GPU dictates performance in most scenarios, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

The CPU’s 125 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory are relevant for system integration, but the key takeaway is its ability to sustain high minimum frame rates. While the measured FPS data lacks min FPS values, the high averages at 1080p (100 FPS on Ultra) imply that the CPU provides a stable foundation. The processor’s 28 threads are more than sufficient for Hitman 2’s engine, which is not known for extreme multi-threading, so the i7-14700K’s single-core performance is likely the more critical asset. With a single-core score of 4,472 in Passmark, it outperforms many older parts, ensuring that the game’s primary thread is not starved.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 88.4 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, which is a smooth and playable frame rate for a stealth game.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 70,074, which is virtually identical to the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70,104, deltaPct 0) and slightly higher than the AMD EPYC 9115 (69,887, deltaPct 0.3). The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores slightly higher at 70,420 (deltaPct -0.5).

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti’s performance close to any other GPU in the database?

A: Yes, the GPU’s average benchmark score of 41,224 is very close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, which scores 41,441 (deltaPct -0.5), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 at 41,610 (deltaPct -0.9). The RTX 3080 Ti also trails the RTX 5070 by only 1.1%.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 100 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo exceeds 100 FPS on all tested settings, with an average of 133 FPS on High and 100 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, it only exceeds 100 FPS on Low (152.4 FPS) and Medium (114.3 FPS) settings.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 438th out of 1,795 total combos tested in Hitman 2, which places it in the top 25% of all systems, indicating strong overall performance.

Q: Does the CPU show any signs of bottlenecking at 1080p?

A: The jump from 1440p Low (152.4 FPS) to 1080p Low (237.9 FPS) is significant, suggesting that the GPU is still the primary limiter at 1080p, but the CPU’s high single-thread performance (4,472 Passmark score) ensures it can handle the frame rates without becoming a major constraint.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the combo scales across resolutions, with the GPU becoming increasingly dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the system is highly capable, with the Low preset achieving 237.9 FPS and the Ultra preset hitting 100 FPS. Scaling down from 1440p to 1080p, the performance gains are substantial: at High settings, FPS increases from 88.4 to 133, a jump of 50.5%. This indicates that at 1080p, the GPU is still the main driver, but the CPU provides enough headroom to allow for these higher frame rates.

Moving from 1440p to 4K, the performance drops are more pronounced, highlighting the rendering load. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 88.4 at 1440p to 45.6 at 4K, a reduction of 48.4%. This is a typical pattern for a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 3080 Ti’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 912.4 GB/s bandwidth are pushed harder. The 4K Ultra setting is the most demanding, yielding only 36.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the limiting component at 4K is clearly the GPU, as the CPU’s performance headroom is not the issue.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings further confirms this: FPS drops from 237.9 to 79, a 66.8% decrease. This is a larger relative drop than at High settings (45.6 to 133, a 65.7% decrease), which suggests that at Low settings, the game relies more heavily on the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth. Overall, the analysis indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high refresh rates, while 4K is only viable at Medium settings (61.4 FPS) or lower.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the ideal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset provides an average of 100 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience, and the High preset offers 133 FPS for even higher refresh rates. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo can handle Ultra without dipping below 100 FPS, making it the recommended choice for this resolution if visual fidelity is a priority.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 88.4 FPS, which is close to the 90 FPS mark and provides a good balance between visuals and performance. The Medium preset increases this to 114.3 FPS, which is a significant jump and may be preferable for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 66.2 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for fast action. Given that Hitman 2 is a stealth game with slower pacing, the High preset at 1440p is a solid recommendation, as it maintains high visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

For 4K, the options are more constrained. The Medium preset yields 61.4 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold and is the best choice for a playable experience at this resolution. The High preset (45.6 FPS) and Ultra preset (36.8 FPS) are below 60 FPS and may result in noticeable stutter. The Low preset at 4K (79 FPS) is an option for those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but the Medium preset is the recommended sweet spot, offering a balance of 61.4 FPS with improved graphical details. The data indicates that for the best overall experience, 1440p High is the most balanced choice, providing 88.4 FPS with high settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 438th out of 1,795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the top 24.4% of all systems. This ranking reflects the strong synergy between the CPU and GPU, with both components performing well above average in their respective categories. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs contribute to a system that is well above the median for gaming performance.

When compared to other high-end combos, this pairing is competitive but not top-tier. The CPU’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, has an average benchmark score that is nearly identical (deltaPct 0), suggesting that the non-K variant offers no performance penalty. The GPU’s closest competitor, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, has a slightly higher average score (41,441 vs 41,224), which could translate to a few extra FPS in some scenarios, but the 3080 Ti’s lower power draw and similar performance make it a strong choice.

The ranking of 438 out of 1,795 indicates that there are many faster combos, likely featuring more recent GPUs or higher-end CPUs. However, for Hitman 2 specifically, the measured FPS data shows that this combo can deliver 100 FPS at 1080p Ultra and 88.4 FPS at 1440p High, which are excellent results for the game’s release era. The combo’s performance is consistent with its component scores, and the data suggests it is a well-balanced system that offers a high-quality experience without being at the absolute top of the benchmark charts.