Hitman 2

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor from the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. This configuration places it in the top tier of desktop CPUs, with a benchmark percentile of 94 against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 69355, which puts it nearly neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515 (a delta of -0.2%). It also edges out the AMD EPYC 9115 by a tiny 0.1% margin, with that chip scoring 69288. The i7-14700K’s multi-threaded performance is substantial, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33440.5, and while single-thread scores are lower (2160 in Cinebench R23), they are more than sufficient for gaming workloads.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data indicates that even at lower resolutions, the processor is rarely the primary constraint. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 342 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is handling the scene without creating a bottleneck that would cap performance well below the GPU’s potential. However, the game is not particularly demanding on high-core-count processors. The i7-14700K’s high boost clock of 5.60 GHz is likely more relevant for Hitman 2 than its 20 cores, as the game's engine often relies on fewer, faster threads for its simulation. The processor’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data locality, which can be beneficial in open-ended stealth levels where many NPCs and AI states are tracked. The performance gap between this CPU and its nearest rivals is minimal in synthetic benchmarks, but in game-specific scenarios, the high clock speed and strong single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core score of 2569) ensure that frame pacing remains consistent.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the primary driver of the FPS results in this configuration. It is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process node and features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock is 2407 MHz, and it has a massive 21760 shading units. The GPU's benchmark percentile is 92 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842. Interestingly, its nearest rivals in synthetic tests are not modern gaming cards; it sits 0.3% above the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (score 79605) and 1.1% above the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (score 78940). This suggests that while the RTX 5090 is a top-tier consumer card, its raw compute performance in these specific benchmarks places it in a unique segment.

For Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is dominant, especially at higher resolutions. The 32 GB VRAM is far more than the game requires, even at Ultra settings, meaning memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The high memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are delivered without stutter. The card’s 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is more than enough to handle the game’s lighting and shadow calculations. The data shows that the RTX 5090 scales predictably with settings; at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 49 FPS, which is a significant load on the GPU. This indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck at this extreme setting, as the CPU would not be struggling at these frame rates. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 342 FPS result is likely pushing the CPU’s limits, but the GPU still has headroom. The RTX 5090’s performance in this game is not uniformly ahead of its rivals, but it provides a stable platform for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance at High settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in Hitman 2?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K High, the combo achieves 66 FPS, which is a GPU-limited scenario. However, at 1080p Low, the 342 FPS result suggests the CPU is nearing its limit, as the GPU is likely capable of more in a lighter scene. The CPU’s high boost clock of 5.60 GHz helps avoid severe bottlenecks, but it does cap performance at very low settings.

Q: How does the RTX 5090’s 32 GB VRAM affect Hitman 2 performance?

A: The 32 GB VRAM is excessive for Hitman 2, which was released in 2018. The game does not require anywhere near that capacity, even at 4K Ultra. Therefore, VRAM is not a performance factor in this game. The card’s 1.79 TB/s bandwidth is more relevant, as it helps maintain smooth texture streaming in crowded levels.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1440p High provides a 124 FPS average, which is excellent for a smooth experience. 4K High yields 66 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. 1080p High produces 194 FPS, which is optimal for competitive play or high refresh rates. The choice depends on your display, but 1440p High offers a strong balance of visual quality and speed.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 194 at 1080p to 124 at 1440p, and then to 66 at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. This significant scaling indicates that the GPU is the limiting component as resolution increases.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 perform better than its nearest rival, the Tesla P100, in this game?

A: While the RTX 5090’s average benchmark score is 0.3% higher than the Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (79842 vs 79605), that synthetic comparison does not reflect gaming performance. The RTX 5090 is a gaming-focused card with features like DirectX 12 Ultimate and higher clock speeds, which are more relevant to Hitman 2. The data does not provide direct game FPS comparisons for these rivals, but the architectural differences are substantial.

Q: What is the meaning of the combo rank of 77 out of 3711?

A: This rank indicates that this specific CPU and GPU combination performs better than 96% of all tested combos in Hitman 2. It is a high-ranking configuration, reflecting the strength of both components working together, though it is not the absolute top combo, likely due to the CPU’s slight bottleneck at low resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the i7-14700K and RTX 5090 perform across different settings and resolutions. Starting at 1080p, the combo delivers exceptional frame rates. At Low settings, the average FPS is 342. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 257 FPS, with a minimum of 218 and a maximum of 295. High settings yield an average of 194 FPS. At Ultra, the average falls to 143 FPS. This scaling shows that the GPU is handling the increased load, but the CPU is still able to push high frame rates.

At 1440p, the performance is still strong but begins to show more GPU dependency. Low settings produce an average of 219 FPS. Medium settings average 164 FPS, with a range of 140 to 189 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 124 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 91 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is significant, from 219 to 91 FPS, which is a 58% reduction, indicating that the GPU is being taxed more heavily.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings average 117 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 and maximum of 101. High settings produce an average of 66 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of just 49 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is dramatic, dropping from 117 to 49 FPS, a 58% decrease. This data shows that the RTX 5090 can handle 4K at Medium to High settings comfortably, but Ultra is only suitable for less demanding scenes.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 194 FPS at 1080p to 124 FPS at 1440p, and then to 66 FPS at 4K. This is a clear pattern: the frame rate halves with each step up in resolution. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component. The CPU’s performance is relatively constant across these resolutions, as the same amount of game logic is processed, but the GPU must render more pixels.

The drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 36% reduction, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is a 47% reduction. The larger drop at higher resolutions is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become the constraints. At 1080p Low, the 342 FPS result is likely CPU-bound, as the GPU has spare capacity and the CPU is working hard to process the game’s simulation. As resolution increases, the GPU’s load increases, and the CPU becomes less of a factor. The data suggests that for 4K gaming, the RTX 5090 is the limiting component, and the i7-14700K provides enough headroom to avoid stuttering. The scaling is not perfectly linear, but the trend is clear: higher resolutions favor the GPU’s strengths and expose its limitations at Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on your target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K displays, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 66 FPS, which is smooth for most players, and it is a significant improvement over Ultra’s 49 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 87 FPS, is also a strong option if you prefer higher frame rates over maximum visual fidelity. The Low preset at 4K, at 117 FPS, is viable for competitive play, but it sacrifices visual quality.

For 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot, providing 124 FPS. This is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors (120Hz or 144Hz). If you have a 144Hz or higher display, the Medium preset at 164 FPS is also excellent, and it offers a 32% performance increase over High. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with 91 FPS, is playable but may not fully utilize a high-refresh-rate display. The Low preset at 219 FPS is overkill for most displays but ensures no frame drops.

For 1080p, the High preset at 194 FPS is excellent for competitive play on high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset at 257 FPS is even better if you have a 240Hz display. The Ultra preset at 143 FPS is the best visual option and still provides a smooth experience. The Low preset at 342 FPS is only useful for extreme refresh rates (360Hz+) or for players who prioritize frame consistency above all else. Overall, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions, making it the default recommendation for this hardware combination.