Hitman 2

Hitman 2 places this specific combination—Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with AMD Radeon RX 580—in a challenging position. The benchmark data indicates that the RX 580 is the definitive bottleneck, with the powerful CPU unable to compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions and settings. The measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a system that is only viable for smooth play at 1080p with lower settings, while 4K performance is effectively unplayable.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and clearly demonstrates the GPU's limitations. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 77.1 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings drops the average to 53 FPS, a significant reduction. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls to just 23.5 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable play.

This scaling pattern points directly at the AMD Radeon RX 580 as the limiting component. The CPU's workload does not scale linearly with resolution; instead, the GPU's pixel throughput becomes the primary constraint. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS collapses to 9.2, confirming that the GPU's 42.88 GPixel/s pixel rate and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering in this title. The difference between 1080p Low (77.1 FPS) and 4K Low (23.5 FPS) represents a 69.5% reduction in performance, a clear indicator that the graphics card is overwhelmed as the pixel count increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this combination at rank 1680 out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This percentile ranking, which puts it in the bottom 6.4% of all tested systems, reflects a significant mismatch between the CPU and GPU. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a top-tier processor, holding a 96th percentile rank against all CPUs, while the AMD Radeon RX 580 sits at only the 53rd percentile against all GPUs.

This disparity explains the low combo rank. The system is essentially a high-end CPU paired with a mid-range, end-of-life GPU. The data suggests that this pairing is not balanced for this game. The CPU's potential is largely untapped, as the GPU fails to deliver the frames necessary to utilize the processor's capabilities. The combo's rank of 1680 is not a reflection of the CPU's power but rather a direct consequence of the GPU's inability to keep pace with the CPU's output, resulting in a system that performs far below what the CPU alone would suggest.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580's specifications directly explain its performance in Hitman 2. It features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1257 MHz with a boost clock of 1340 MHz. This memory configuration is a key factor; while 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p, it becomes a constraint at higher resolutions where larger textures and more complex scenes demand more memory bandwidth.

The GPU's 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 193.0 GTexel/s texture rate are modest by current standards. The benchmark results show that this hardware is simply outmatched by the demands of Hitman 2 at higher settings. For instance, at 1440p High, the average FPS is 27.8, and at 1440p Ultra, it drops to 22.3. These numbers are below the 30 FPS threshold often considered the minimum for playable action. The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 8813, puts it in a class with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and GTX 950, which are similarly outdated. The data shows that the RX 580 is the primary factor limiting the system's performance in this game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for settings optimization. For a playable experience, the 1080p resolution is the only viable option. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 77.1 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. Moving to Medium settings at 1080p yields 56.9 FPS, which is still acceptable for most players. High settings at 1080p produce 44.2 FPS, which is playable but may feel less fluid during intense scenes.

The data indicates that 1440p is not a suitable target for this combination. Even at Low settings, the system only manages 53 FPS, and at Medium, it drops to 36.8 FPS. High and Ultra settings at this resolution produce averages of 27.8 and 22.3 FPS, respectively, which are too low for smooth gameplay. The 4K resolution is entirely unplayable, with even Low settings producing only 23.5 FPS and Ultra dropping to a dismal 9.2 FPS. Therefore, the recommended preset is Low or Medium at 1080p. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 20.2 FPS (26.2% reduction) but likely provides a noticeable visual improvement, making Medium the best balance for visual quality and performance.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K resolution?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 4K, the system achieves only 23.5 FPS on Low settings and 9.2 FPS on Ultra, making the game unplayable at this resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this CPU-GPU combo?

A: The best experience is at 1080p with Medium settings, which yields an average of 56.9 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smooth performance. Low settings at 1080p offer higher FPS (77.1) but with reduced visual quality.

Q: How much better is 1080p performance compared to 1440p?

A: At Low settings, the system achieves 77.1 FPS at 1080p compared to 53 FPS at 1440p, which is a 45.5% performance increase in favor of 1080p. The gap widens further at higher settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The data shows the CPU is far more powerful than the GPU, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Radeon RX 580, which ranks in only the 53rd percentile of GPUs, is the clear performance bottleneck.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings achieve 77.1 FPS, while Medium settings achieve 56.9 FPS. This is a 20.2 FPS difference, representing a 26.2% performance drop for the increased visual quality of Medium settings.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13559. It is virtually tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and GTX 950, which have scores of 13564 and 13549, respectively, and is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 455.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It operates at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.60 GHz. This CPU is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44557 and a Passmark multi-thread score of 52425. Its 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs places it among the most powerful processors available.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and physics, while the GPU renders the graphics. Given that the system's overall combo rank is 1680 out of 1795, it's clear that the CPU's power is not being fully utilized. The CPU is more than capable of feeding frames to the GPU, but the RX 580 cannot render them fast enough. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing; the GPU's low performance is the sole reason for the system's poor showing in this game. The CPU's high clock speed and core count are effectively wasted in this configuration for Hitman 2, as the GPU bottle-necks the entire pipeline.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 77.1 FPS. Medium settings lower this to 56.9 FPS. High settings yield 44.2 FPS, while Ultra settings drop the average to 33.5 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 53 FPS. Medium settings produce 36.8 FPS. High settings drop to 27.8 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 22.3 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is not viable for gameplay. Low settings average only 23.5 FPS. Medium settings produce 17.5 FPS. High settings drop to 15 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 9.2 FPS.

This data confirms that the system is only suitable for 1080p gaming. The performance drop between 1080p Low (77.1 FPS) and 1440p Low (53 FPS) is 24.1 FPS, and the drop to 4K Low (23.5 FPS) is a further 29.5 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings shows a 69.5% reduction in frame rate, which is a direct result of the GPU's limited pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The numbers clearly show that the AMD Radeon RX 580 is the bottleneck, and the system's overall rank of 1680 out of 1795 is a direct consequence of this hardware mismatch.