Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, responds strongly to both CPU and GPU resources depending on the settings and resolution. The Intel Core i7-14700K, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, provides a high level of processing headroom. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensure that even the game's single-threaded simulation logic has access to rapid execution. This is critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing, especially when many AI agents are active. The processor's large 33 MB shared L3 cache also helps by keeping frequently accessed game data close at hand, reducing latency. In this pairing, the CPU is powerful enough to feed the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in most scenarios, but the data shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, as is typical for a high-refresh-rate setup.

The RTX 5080, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, is the dominant component in this system. With 10,752 shading units and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, it possesses immense raw compute power. The 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for Hitman 2's textures and geometry at any resolution. The GPU's performance is so high that it often outpaces the CPU's ability to prepare frames, particularly at 1080p. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU's role is to ensure the GPU is never starved of data, and the i7-14700K's high single-core performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6287, is well-suited for this task.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference between the Intel Core i7-14700K and its closest rival, the i7-14700KF?

A: The benchmark data shows that the i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 70074, while the i7-14700KF scores 70104. The deltaPct between them is 0, indicating their performance is effectively identical for this purpose.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to a high-end AMD option?

A: The i7-14700K's average benchmark score of 70074 is 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, which scores 70420. This places the two processors in the same performance tier, with the Intel chip being only marginally behind.

Q: Is the RTX 5080 a significant upgrade over the previous generation?

A: The fact pack indicates that the RTX 5080's predecessor is the GeForce 40 series. While exact performance numbers for the predecessor are not provided, the RTX 5080's high scores, such as 8637 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, place it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs, demonstrating its top-tier status.

Q: What kind of frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: According to the measured data, at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 114.4. This provides a smooth and highly responsive experience well above the standard 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor in most scenarios. For example, at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 322.2, which is exceptionally high. If the CPU were the bottleneck, this number would likely be lower, as the GPU would be waiting for CPU instructions. The GPU's workload becomes more demanding as resolution and settings increase, further solidifying its role as the primary performance determinant.

Q: How does the CPU compare to a professional-grade Xeon processor in overall benchmarks?

A: The i7-14700K's average benchmark score of 70074 is 1.4% higher than the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270's score of 71056, showing that the Core i7 processor holds its own against even enterprise-level silicon in these general benchmarks.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how different settings impact performance across resolutions. For players targeting a 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 62.2 FPS, making it the optimal choice for a balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The Ultra preset at the same resolution drops to 48.5 FPS, which is below the standard target and may not be ideal for fast-paced action. Moving down to Medium at 4K produces 84 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, while Low at 4K provides 110.3 FPS for maximum fluidity.

At 1440p, the High preset is a standout, delivering an average of 114.4 FPS. This is a sweet spot for many gamers with high-refresh-rate (120Hz+) monitors. The Medium preset pushes this to 153.8 FPS, and Low reaches 205.3 FPS, both of which are excellent for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 1440p still provides a very playable 87.1 FPS, offering a significant visual upgrade over High for those who prioritize graphics.

For 1080p gaming, the system is incredibly powerful across the board. The High preset achieves 182.7 FPS, which is more than enough for even the fastest 1080p displays. The Medium preset hits 241.4 FPS, and Low reaches 322.2 FPS, making the game exceptionally responsive. The Ultra preset at 135.9 FPS remains highly playable. Based on this analysis, the High preset offers the best overall experience at each resolution, providing a strong balance between image quality and frame rate. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors at 1440p, the Medium preset is an excellent choice to fully utilize the display's capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is a formidable pairing in the context of Hitman 2. The comboRankInGame data places this specific configuration at rank 69 out of a total of 1795 tested combos. This puts the system in the top 3.8% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a high-end setup that will deliver an exceptional gaming experience. This ranking confirms the strength of both components; the CPU's high single-core performance and the GPU's massive computational power work in tandem to achieve excellent frame rates.

This high rank is consistent with the measured frame rates. The system can comfortably handle 4K gaming at High settings and can push frame rates into the hundreds at lower resolutions, which is a performance tier that very few other combinations can achieve. The data shows that this is not a system that will struggle with this game; rather, it is one that is designed to provide a premium, high-fidelity experience. The specific rank suggests that while there are 68 other combinations that perform better, they are likely to be comprised of even more specialized or top-tier components. For the vast majority of users, this combo represents a peak level of performance for Hitman 2.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and expected trend when scaling resolution from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the system produces an average of 182.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops to 114.4, a reduction of approximately 37%. When scaling further to 4K, the average FPS falls to 62.2, which is another significant drop of about 46% from the 1440p figure. This pattern of decreasing frame rates with increasing resolution is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload.

The data strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component in this system. If the CPU were the primary bottleneck, the frame rates at 1080p would be much closer to those at 1440p, as the CPU's workload does not scale with resolution in the same way the GPU's does. The fact that the FPS drops so dramatically with resolution shows that the RTX 5080 is the component being stressed. The i7-14700K is powerful enough to maintain a high frame rate ceiling, but it is the GPU's rendering capabilities that dictate the final performance. This is a healthy balance, as it means the system is not wasting CPU potential at higher resolutions, where the GPU is fully utilized.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is a direct breakdown of the average FPS measured for the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination in Hitman 2.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: Average FPS of 48.5. This setting is demanding and pushes the system to its limits, resulting in a frame rate that is below the 60 FPS target.
• High: Average FPS of 62.2. This is the first setting to break the 60 FPS barrier at 4K, providing a smooth and playable experience.
• Medium: Average FPS of 84.0. This setting offers a significant performance boost over High, making it ideal for higher refresh rate 4K displays.
• Low: Average FPS of 110.3. This setting provides the highest frame rate at 4K, prioritizing performance above all else.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: Average FPS of 87.1. The system handles Ultra settings very well at 1440p, delivering a smooth experience.
• High: Average FPS of 114.4. This is a strong performance level, making it a great choice for 120Hz monitors.
• Medium: Average FPS of 153.8. This setting provides a substantial boost, ensuring very high frame rates.
• Low: Average FPS of 205.3. The system delivers an exceptionally high frame rate, well-suited for esports-level play.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: Average FPS of 135.9. Even at the highest settings, the system maintains a very high frame rate.
• High: Average FPS of 182.7. This setting is more than sufficient for any 1080p high-refresh-rate monitor.
• Medium: Average FPS of 241.4. The system scales exceptionally well, providing a massive performance headroom.
• Low: Average FPS of 322.2. This is the highest measured frame rate, demonstrating the immense power of the GPU at this resolution.