Hitman 2

Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B370 form a pairing that is heavily skewed toward the processor’s strengths in Hitman 2, with the discrete-class integrated GPU acting as the primary constraint across all tested resolutions. The data shows a 20-core, 28-thread CPU with a 3.40 GHz base clock and 5.60 GHz boost clock, built on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture. The Arc B370, by contrast, is a 3 nm integrated part with a 300 MHz base and 2400 MHz boost clock, 1280 shading units, and system-shared memory. Benchmark results indicate that while the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile against all processors, the GPU sits in the 5th percentile against all GPUs, a disparity that defines every frame rate in the measured results.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700KF’s specifications suggest it is far more capable than what Hitman 2’s measured frame rates demonstrate, which points to the GPU as the bottleneck. With 20 cores, 28 threads, and a 5.60 GHz boost clock, the CPU delivers strong synthetic scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 21462 and single-core score of 2578. In Passmark tests, the multithread score reaches 52425, and the single-thread score is 4480. These numbers place the CPU at a 0.2% delta from the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, while trailing the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%. For a stealth game like Hitman 2, which relies on consistent frame pacing for smooth traversal and AI behavior, the CPU’s high single-core performance should theoretically ensure that NPC logic and game simulation never stutter. However, the measured FPS at 1080p Low is 73, which is the highest average across all settings, and even that figure is modest relative to the CPU’s capabilities. The 33 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample headroom for the game’s level data, but the results indicate the CPU is never the limiting factor; the frame rates are consistently low enough that the GPU is the clear constraint. The CPU’s 125 W TDP and active production status suggest a modern part that should handle the game’s CPU-bound scenes without issue, yet the data shows that even at 1080p Low, the average FPS does not exceed 73, which is well below what the CPU’s synthetic scores would predict if it were the bottleneck. The architecture’s Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm process, with DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, further reinforces that the CPU is not the weak link in this combo.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is the definitive performance limiter in this pairing, as evidenced by its 5th percentile ranking against all GPUs and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. Its nearest rivals in the database are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% faster), with the AMD FirePro M2000 trailing by 1.4%. This places the Arc B370 in the company of legacy discrete GPUs from over a decade ago, which explains the low frame rates in Hitman 2. The GPU’s system-shared memory means there is no dedicated VRAM pool, and memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which in practice ties performance to the CPU’s memory subsystem. The 2400 MHz boost clock and 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance are modest figures, and the 20 ROPs and 40 TMUs further cap the pixel and texture throughput at 48.00 GPixel/s and 96.00 GTexel/s, respectively. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so it is feature-complete for modern APIs, but the raw compute is insufficient for Hitman 2’s rendering demands. The 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate this is an integrated solution, and the results show it struggles even at 1080p: the highest average FPS across all settings is 73 at Low, dropping to 41 at High and 30 at Ultra. At 4K, the GPU’s limitations become severe, with averages of 25 at Low, 14 at High, and 10 at Ultra. The data suggests that the Arc B370’s system-shared memory and low shading unit count (1280) are the primary reasons for these results, as the CPU is clearly capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than it can render.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data reveals a pattern consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 73; at 1440p Low, it drops to 46; and at 4K Low, it falls to 25. This represents a 37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 46% drop from 1440p to 4K, which are substantial reductions that track with the increase in pixel count. For High settings, the averages are 41 at 1080p, 26 at 1440p, and 14 at 4K, showing a more severe relative decline of 37% and 46% respectively. Medium settings yield 54 at 1080p, 35 at 1440p, and 19 at 4K, with min FPS values of 46, 30, and 16, and max FPS of 63, 40, and 21. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with 30 at 1080p, 19 at 1440p, and 10 at 4K. The consistent pattern—where each resolution step up results in roughly a 40-50% reduction in FPS—indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, because a CPU bottleneck would show smaller FPS differences as resolution increases, since the CPU would be the constant constraint. Instead, the frame rates scale inversely with pixel count, which is the hallmark of a GPU with limited fill rate and memory bandwidth. The Arc B370’s 20 ROPs and system-shared memory are likely the culprits, as higher resolutions demand more pixel output and bandwidth, which the GPU cannot provide. The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions: at 1080p, the difference is 43 FPS (73 vs 30), while at 4K, it narrows to 15 FPS (25 vs 10). This narrowing suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so saturated that even lowering settings yields diminishing returns, further confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck across all tested configurations.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations for Hitman 2, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2768 out of 3001 combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations. This low rank is unsurprising given the GPU’s 5th percentile standing, but it is worth remembering the CPU’s 94th percentile ranking does little to boost the combo’s position. The rank indicates that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher frame rates in Hitman 2, which is a direct consequence of the Arc B370’s limited compute and memory resources. The combo’s position at 2768 out of 3001 means it outperforms only 233 other tested combinations, and those are likely to feature even older or more integrated GPUs. The data suggests that pairing this high-end CPU with such a low-end GPU creates a significant imbalance, where the CPU’s potential is wasted because the GPU cannot render frames quickly enough. In practical terms, this rank means that users with this combo will experience frame rates far below what the CPU alone would suggest, and the experience will be closer to that of a budget integrated graphics solution than a discrete gaming PC. The rank also implies that for Hitman 2 specifically, the combo is unsuitable for competitive or smooth play at any resolution above 1080p Low, based on the measured FPS data.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 73 at Low to 30 at Ultra, with Medium at 54 (min 46, max 63) and High at 41. These figures indicate that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo approaches playable frame rates, and only at Low settings does it exceed 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages drop to 46 at Low, 35 at Medium (min 30, max 40), 26 at High, and 19 at Ultra. None of these reach 60 FPS, and even Low settings fall below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that 1440p is not viable for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, the averages are 25 at Low, 19 at Medium (min 16, max 21), 14 at High, and 10 at Ultra. These are all well below playable thresholds, indicating that 4K is only suitable for static scenes or screenshots. The data also shows that the min FPS values at Medium settings provide insight into frame pacing: at 1080p, the min is 46 and max is 63, which is a 17 FPS spread; at 1440p, the min is 30 and max is 40, a 10 FPS spread; and at 4K, the min is 16 and max is 21, a 5 FPS spread. The narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is consistently saturated, with less variance because it is always at its limit. The lack of min/max data for Low, High, and Ultra settings means only the averages are available, but the Medium data suggests that frame times are relatively stable, which is positive for a stealth game where sudden stutters can be jarring. Overall, the breakdown shows that the combo is only marginally playable at 1080p Low, and the experience degrades rapidly with higher settings and resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where average FPS exceeds 60, and only at Low settings (73 FPS). At 1440p and 4K, all settings produce averages below 46 FPS, so 1080p is the recommended resolution for any level of playability.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in average benchmark score, while trailing the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%.

Q: What is the GPU’s standing compared to other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile against all GPUs, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% faster).

Q: Why does the FPS drop so significantly from 1080p to 4K?

A: The data shows a roughly 40-50% reduction in FPS with each resolution step up, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The Arc B370’s system-shared memory and low pixel rate (48.00 GPixel/s) cannot handle the increased pixel count at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo?

A: The GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile. The FPS scales with resolution in a way that is characteristic of GPU-bound performance, not CPU-bound.

Q: What are the average FPS figures at Ultra settings for each resolution?

A: At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average is 30 FPS. At 2560x1440 Ultra, it drops to 19 FPS. At 3840x2160 Ultra, it falls to 10 FPS. These figures are below playable thresholds for most users.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the only configuration that delivers an average FPS above 60 is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces 73 FPS. This is the recommended preset for the best experience, as it is the only one that meets the standard for smooth gameplay in a stealth title where timing is critical. The Medium settings at 1080p yield 54 FPS, which is close to playable but with min FPS of 46, there is a risk of noticeable drops during busy scenes. High settings at 1080p drop to 41 FPS, and Ultra falls to 30 FPS, both of which are below the threshold for comfortable play. At 1440p, even Low settings only reach 46 FPS, and at 4K, the best average is 25 FPS at Low, so these resolutions are not recommended for active gameplay. The data suggests that for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, Medium at 1080p offers a balance with a 54 FPS average and a max of 63 FPS, but the min of 46 FPS may cause occasional stutters. For the most consistent experience, Low at 1080p is the clear choice, as it provides the highest average and likely the best frame pacing, though min/max data is not available for this setting. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as the averages of 30, 19, and 10 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively are all below playable thresholds. In summary, the combo’s performance in Hitman 2 is best suited to 1080p Low, with Medium as a secondary option for those willing to accept lower frame rates for improved visuals.