Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title, responds dramatically to both resolution and preset changes when paired with the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. The measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p, but which becomes increasingly GPU-bound as pixel count rises. The data shows a predictable scaling pattern: average FPS drops by roughly 43% when moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the High preset, and then by another 46% when stepping up to 3840x2160. This indicates that the limiting component shifts from the CPU to the GPU as resolution increases, a common characteristic for a title of this era.

The transition from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo produces 95 FPS, but at 3840x2160 with the same preset, it falls to 51 FPS. This steep decline suggests that the game's rendering load at 4K is far more than the RTX 4070 SUPER can comfortably handle at high quality settings, pushing the experience below the 60 FPS threshold. The pattern is consistent across all settings: the gap between 1440p and 4K is always larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, underscoring the exponential cost of 4K rendering in this specific game. The data implies that for a smooth 4K experience, users would need to make significant compromises in graphical fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is the most telling metric in this dataset. At the Low preset, the system achieves 263 FPS at 1920x1080, which is exceptionally high. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that to 168 FPS, a 36% reduction. However, the next step, from 1440p to 4K, is more severe, cutting the frame rate to 90 FPS, a 46% reduction from the 1440p figure. This non-linear scaling is a classic sign of the GPU approaching its fill-rate and bandwidth limits. The RTX 4070 SUPER, with its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus, begins to struggle as the pixel count doubles, despite its otherwise strong performance in lower resolution benchmarks.

Looking at the Ultra preset, the trend is even more pronounced. At 1080p, the combo manages 110 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 70 FPS, and at 4K, it plummets to just 37 FPS. The 33 FPS gap between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the 33 FPS gap between 1440p and 4K represents a near-total collapse in playability. The data strongly suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU's high core count and clock speeds are unlikely to be the limiting factor at such a high resolution. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K (90 FPS vs 37 FPS) also highlights how much headroom is lost by enabling higher-quality effects that tax the GPU's shader units and memory system.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are formidable: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. In a game like Hitman 2, which is known for its complex AI and physics simulations, this CPU provides a substantial foundation. The data supports this, as the FPS at 1080p on Low settings reaches 263, a figure that would require a highly capable processor to avoid bottlenecking the GPU.

The CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system is likely CPU-bound, as the GPU has relatively little work to do. The 263 FPS result demonstrates that the i7-14700KF can feed frames fast enough to saturate even a high-refresh-rate monitor. However, the CPU's influence wanes as resolution increases. The consistent drop in FPS from 1080p to 4K, regardless of settings, indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The i7-14700KF's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, has an average benchmark score of 69515, which is 0.9% lower, suggesting that the Intel chip holds a slight edge in synthetic workloads that could translate to better frame pacing in CPU-intensive scenes.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture and features 7168 shading units, 56 RT cores, and 224 tensor cores. Its boost clock is 2475 MHz, and it has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 29995 in Passmark G3D and 4627 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that this GPU is the decisive factor in Hitman 2's performance at higher resolutions.

At 4K, the GPU's limits are clear. Even on the Medium preset, which yields an average of 67 FPS, the minimum FPS drops to 57, indicating occasional stutters. The Ultra preset at 4K is nearly unplayable at 37 FPS. This is not a reflection of the GPU's raw power but rather the demanding nature of Hitman 2's rendering at 4K. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile, score slightly higher in synthetic tests (43667 vs 43223), but the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER's performance in this game is constrained by its memory bandwidth and pixel rate. The 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate is simply not enough to maintain high FPS at 4K with Ultra settings, where the game's draw calls and post-processing effects become overwhelming.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 667th out of 3711 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top 18% of all systems, which is a strong result, though not at the very top tier. The rank reflects a balance between the CPU's high percentile (94th) and the GPU's slightly lower percentile (83rd). The data suggests that while the CPU is among the best available, the GPU holds the combo back from reaching higher positions in the rankings.

The combo's rank indicates that there are many other systems that achieve higher FPS in this game, likely those pairing the same GPU with even faster CPUs or those using more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4090 series. However, the 667th rank out of 3711 is still an impressive showing, suggesting that this combo is well-suited for Hitman 2 at 1080p and 1440p, where it can deliver high frame rates. The ranking also implies that the system is not overkill for this title; there is clear room for improvement if a user were to upgrade the GPU, but the current configuration provides a solid foundation for a smooth experience at moderate settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice, delivering 149 FPS on average. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a significant visual improvement over the Medium preset, which offers 197 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 110 FPS, which is still smooth, but the 26% reduction in FPS compared to High may not justify the marginal visual gains in a game like Hitman 2 where stealth and detail are important.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is again recommended, yielding 95 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, with the Medium preset providing 126 FPS for esports-style responsiveness, but at a noticeable cost to texture and shadow quality. The Ultra preset at 1440p, at 70 FPS, is playable but leaves little headroom for dips. At 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the highest playable option, averaging 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS. The High preset at 4K, at 51 FPS, is below the 60 FPS targetable threshold)Skip the Ultra preset entirely at 4K, as the 37 FPS average is not suitable for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 4K, at 90 FPS, is viable for competitive play but sacrifices too much visual detail for a stealth game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers a wide range of performance. Low settings produce an average of 263 FPS, Medium 197 FPS, High 149 FPS, and Ultra 110 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 168 FPS and a maximum of 227 FPS, indicating consistent frame times. High and Ultra do not have recorded minimums, but the averages suggest they are stable. The gap between Low and Medium is 66 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 48 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 39 FPS, showing diminishing returns as settings increase.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings average 168 FPS, Medium 126 FPS (with a minimum of 107 and maximum of 145), High 95 FPS, and Ultra 70 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all presets, averaging around 40%. At 3840x2160, the numbers become more restrictive. Low settings average 90 FPS, Medium 67 FPS (minimum 57, maximum 77), High 51 FPS, and Ultra 37 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimums, suggesting it is the most stable at this resolution. The data clearly shows that the 4K Ultra preset is not viable, and even 4K High is marginal.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 with High settings is the sweet spot, offering 95 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1080p, the system can achieve 149 FPS on High, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors picks.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: Yes, but only with compromises. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS, which is borderline but playable. The High preset at 4K drops to 51 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutter in action scenes.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70163, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and 0.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. It is 1% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, indicating it is a top-tier processor for this game.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck in this system?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is not the primary bottleneck, as the CPU can push high frame rates. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, with FPS dropping by up to 60% from 1440p to 4K on the same settings.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings average 168 FPS, while Ultra settings average 70 FPS. This is a 98 FPS difference, or a 58% reduction in performance, highlighting the significant cost of enabling maximum visual effects.

Q: Does the combo rank high among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 667th out of 3711 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the top 18% of systems. This is a strong result, though not the absolute top tier, due to the GPU's lower percentile compared to the CPU.