Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination delivers a compelling performance profile in Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title. The measured data reveals a setup that excels at high refresh rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, while still handling 4K at playable frame rates. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, focusing on how the CPU and GPU interact across different settings and resolutions, and what the data implies about the system's capabilities.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a 144Hz+ experience in Hitman 2?*

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 150.1 FPS, and at Low settings, it reaches 265.9 FPS. Even at 2560x1440, High settings hit 94.2 FPS, but only the 1080p figures consistently surpass the 144Hz threshold.

Q: How much of a performance drop is seen when moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The measured FPS drops from 110.7 at 1920x1080 Ultra to 38.5 at 3840x2160 Ultra. This represents a reduction of 72.2 FPS, or a roughly 65% decrease in average frame rate, indicating a significant shift in the limiting factor.

Q: Which setting preset provides the most balanced experience at 2560x1440?

A: High settings offer a strong balance, with an average of 94.2 FPS. This is notably higher than the 71.7 FPS seen at Ultra, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over the 166.5 FPS achieved at Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU becomes a more significant factor at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rate scales dramatically with settings (from 110.7 at Ultra to 265.9 at Low), but the high FPS ceiling indicates the processor can push frames quickly, though the GPU is still doing most of the heavy lifting for visual quality.

Q: How does the combo's rank in this game compare to its overall position in the database?

A: The combo ranks 324th out of 1795 tested combinations for Hitman 2, placing it in the top 18% of all tested systems. This is a strong position, though it's not at the very top tier, suggesting there are faster combinations for this specific title.

Q: What are the core specifications of this CPU and GPU for gaming workloads?

A: The CPU is the Intel Core i7-14700K, featuring 20 cores and 28 threads with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The GPU is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and a boost clock of 2475 MHz.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of visual fidelity in Hitman 2. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory provides ample capacity for the game's textures and geometry at all tested settings. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz is a key factor in its ability to sustain high frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions where the processor can feed it data quickly.

The data shows a clear correlation between GPU workload and FPS. At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily utilized, with frame rates ranging from 38.5 FPS at Ultra to 92.1 FPS at Low. This 53.6 FPS spread demonstrates the GPU's sensitivity to graphical settings at 4K. The RTX 4070 SUPER's performance at this resolution is respectable but not for high-refresh gaming, as even the High preset only averages 49.6 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's capabilities become more apparent. The jump from Ultra (71.7 FPS) to High (94.2 FPS) is substantial, and the Low preset achieves 166.5 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is well-suited for 1440p gaming, with High settings offering a good balance of visual quality and performance. The 1920x1080 results further confirm the GPU's strength, with the card pushing past 150 FPS at High settings and reaching 265.9 FPS at Low, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is more than capable for 1080p esports-level frame rates in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds a solid position. The data places it at rank 324 out of 1795 total combos for Hitman 2. This percentile placement indicates that the system outperforms the vast majority of tested configurations, while still leaving room for higher-end builds to surpass it.

This ranking confirms the balance of the two components. The CPU's strong single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6287, and the GPU's substantial compute power work in tandem. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 29995 and its 84th percentile ranking among all GPUs show it is a high-performing part. However, the combo rank suggests that in Hitman 2, other pairings with more powerful GPUs or CPUs can achieve higher frame rates, particularly at the highest resolution and settings.

The ranking also implies that while this setup is excellent for mainstream high-end gaming, it is not in the absolute top tier reserved for flagship components. For a game like Hitman 2, which is not the most demanding title on the market, this combo provides an exceptional experience for most users, but enthusiasts seeking maximum performance at 4K Ultra may need to look at more powerful hardware.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 150.1 FPS, which is high enough for a smooth 144Hz experience, while the Ultra preset, at 110.7 FPS, offers diminishing returns in visual quality for the performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is also the best choice for a high-refresh experience, hitting 94.2 FPS. This provides a significant improvement over the 71.7 FPS of Ultra, which may not be smooth enough for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 124.3 FPS is a viable option for users who prefer even higher frame rates and are willing to sacrifice some visual fidelity, but High offers the best balance.

For 3840x2160, the situation is different. The High preset's 49.6 FPS is playable, but the Medium preset at 69.3 FPS is the sweet spot for a smoother experience. The Ultra preset's 38.5 FPS is the only option that may feel too sluggish for many players. The data indicates that for 4K, users should prioritize Medium or High settings to achieve a playable frame rate, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor at this resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The data presents a comprehensive look at the combo's performance across all common gaming resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 265.9 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates a CPU-bound scenario. The Medium preset drops to 199.8 FPS, while High sits at 150.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 110.7 FPS, is the only setting that dips below the 144Hz threshold, but it still provides a very playable experience.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. The Low preset averages 166.5 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings deliver 124.3 FPS, while High is at 94.2 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 71.7 FPS, is the first to show a noticeable dip in smoothness, though it remains within a playable range for most titles.

The 3840x2160 results show the most significant impact on performance. The Low preset is the only one to break the 60 FPS barrier, averaging 92.1 FPS. Medium settings drop to 69.3 FPS, and High falls to 49.6 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 38.5 FPS, is the most demanding scenario, highlighting the GPU's limitations at 4K with maximum settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a powerhouse processor, featuring 20 cores and 28 threads. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz are crucial for gaming performance, which often relies on single-threaded speed. The CPU's benchmarks reinforce this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6287 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2932, indicating excellent per-core performance.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the frame rate reaches 265.9 FPS. This high number suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with a massive amount of data, and the system is likely CPU-bound at this point. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs supports this, as it is one of the fastest processors available for gaming.

However, as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is working at its limit. The CPU's performance is still important, but its headroom is less relevant when the GPU is struggling to render the scene. The data shows a well-matched system where the CPU provides ample performance to avoid becoming a major limiting factor in most gaming scenarios.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear pattern in how performance scales with resolution. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS across all settings drops by roughly 35-40%. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate goes from 150.1 FPS to 94.2 FPS. This is a significant drop, but it's expected as the GPU has to render 78% more pixels.

The transition from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 is even more demanding. At High settings, the frame rate falls from 94.2 FPS to 49.6 FPS, a 47% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor at 4K. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s and 12 GB of VRAM are sufficient, but the sheer number of pixels at 4K overwhelms the shader and ROP throughput.

This scaling behavior has important implications. At 1080p and 1440p, the system is well-balanced, with the CPU providing enough headroom for the GPU to perform at its best. The high FPS at these resolutions suggests that the CPU is not a major constraint. However, at 4K, the GPU's limits are exposed. The data implies that to achieve higher frame rates at 4K, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the i7-14700K appears to have enough performance headroom to support a faster graphics card.