Hitman 2

The Intel Core i9-14900K and Intel Arc B570 pairing in Hitman 2 produces a dataset defined by a stark contrast between the CPU’s top-tier processing power and the GPU’s mid-range rendering capacity. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings reveal a system where the graphics card, not the processor, dictates playability.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 70 frames per second.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This specific combo ranks 2986 out of 3711 total tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the lower percentile of all recorded configurations.

Q: Is the Arc B570's performance closer to a mobile GPU or a desktop GPU?

A: Benchmark results indicate the Arc B570's average score is 20556, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.1% lower than the Intel Arc A750, showing its performance aligns closely with a mobile-class part.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded in this data?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 123 frames per second, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the CPU have integrated graphics that could be used?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-14900K includes UHD Graphics 770, but all measured FPS data pertains to the discrete Intel Arc B570 graphics card.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the graphics card?

A: The launch MSRP for the Intel Arc B570 is 219 USD.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the primary determinant of frame rates in this dataset. Its specifications reveal a card built for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming. The GPU features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for the textures and assets in Hitman 2, but the card's raw compute capabilities are more telling.

With a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, the Arc B570 delivers 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. This raw throughput is what drives the rasterization workload. The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a mid-range standing. Its average benchmark score of 20556 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is just 0.1% faster, and the Intel Arc A750, which is 0.1% faster than the B570. This places the B570's absolute performance in a specific, measurable tier.

In the context of Hitman 2, this GPU performance translates to a noticeable ceiling. The game's rendering demands at higher resolutions and presets quickly overwhelm the card's capabilities. The data shows that as the graphical load increases, the FPS drops sharply, confirming that the Arc B570's compute and memory subsystems are the limiting factors. The card's 18 ray tracing cores are present, but the game's traditional rasterization pipeline is where the measured performance is determined.

Resolution Scaling

The relationship between resolution and FPS is a clear indicator of the GPU being the bottleneck. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160 shows a consistent, predictable decline in performance, which is characteristic of a system limited by the graphics processor.

At High settings, the progression is telling. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops from 70 to 45, a 35.7% decrease. Scaling up to 4K at High settings yields an average of 24 FPS, which is a 65.7% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This steep drop-off indicates that the Arc B570's fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for the increased pixel count at higher resolutions.

The same pattern is visible at other presets. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 123 at 1080p to 79 at 1440p, and further to 42 at 4K. The resolution scaling is not linear, but rather exponential in its impact. This behavior is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its massive 24-core and 32-thread configuration, is unlikely to be the constraint, as its processing power far exceeds what a game like Hitman 2 requires at these frame rates. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component is the GPU, as the percentage loss in performance with each resolution increase is far greater than what would be expected from a CPU limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset provides exact figures for four settings presets across three resolutions.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: The average FPS is 123, representing the peak performance of this combo.
• Medium: The average FPS is 93, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 106.
• High: The average FPS is 70.
• Ultra: The average FPS drops to 52.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: The average FPS is 79.
• Medium: The average FPS is 59, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68.
• High: The average FPS is 45.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 33.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: The average FPS is 42.
• Medium: The average FPS is 32, with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 36.
• High: The average FPS is 24.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 18, which is the lowest figure recorded in the entire dataset.

These numbers illustrate a clear hierarchy. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 71 FPS, demonstrating the significant cost of higher graphical fidelity. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra narrows to 24 FPS, but the absolute values are all below playable thresholds, with even the Low preset struggling to maintain a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the target resolution and desired smoothness.

For a 60 FPS target, the only viable option is 1080p with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 93 FPS, or Low settings, which achieves 123 FPS. High settings at 1080p fall just short at 70 FPS, which is still playable for many, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra at 1080p, at 52 FPS, is below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1440p, achieving a solid 60 FPS is not possible. The Medium preset comes closest with an average of 59 FPS, but this is right at the limit. For a more consistent frame rate, the Low preset at 79 FPS is the safer choice. High and Ultra presets at 1440p, at 45 and 33 FPS respectively, are not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, the data shows that this GPU is not suitable for playable frame rates. Even the Low preset only manages an average of 42 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets drop to 32, 24, and 18 FPS respectively, which are all below acceptable levels for a fast-paced stealth action game. The best experience per the measured rows is therefore 1080p with Medium settings, which provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and a significant visual upgrade over Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is an exceptionally powerful processor that has little influence on the measured FPS in Hitman 2. Its specifications are top-tier: 24 cores and 32 threads running at a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. It has 36 MB of shared L3 cache and a 125 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 39399.5 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2262.5 in single-core, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900KF, have an average score that is only 0.3% higher, showing that the 14900K is at the very top of the consumer processor hierarchy. However, this immense processing power is not the limiting factor in this gaming scenario. The FPS data shows a consistent pattern of decline with increasing resolution and settings, which is purely a GPU workload.

The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. Given its 24 cores and high clock speeds, it is more than capable of handling the demands of Hitman 2 at any of the tested settings. The data shows no indication of a CPU bottleneck, such as frame rate stalling or inconsistent scaling that would suggest the processor is maxed out. Instead, the smooth, predictable FPS declines across all presets point directly to the Arc B570 as the component that determines the final frame rate. The CPU's performance is effectively in reserve, ensuring that it will never be the cause of a performance ceiling in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2986 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places the system in the bottom 20% of all configurations tested, which is a surprising result given the CPU's high standing.

This low ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU's performance class. While the i9-14900K is in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, the Arc B570 is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. The pairing of an ultra-high-end processor with a mid-range graphics card creates a significant imbalance. The system's overall gaming capability is capped by the slower component, which is the GPU.

The data indicates that the combo's ranking is reflective of the GPU's absolute performance. The Arc B570's average benchmark score of 20556 is the key metric here, as it is nearly identical to the RTX 3070 Mobile and the Arc A750. This means that in Hitman 2, the combo's performance is characteristic of these mid-range GPUs, not the high-end CPU. The high CPU rank does not translate to a high gaming rank because the game is not CPU-bound. The result is a system that, despite having a flagship processor, performs like a mid-range machine in this specific title, as evidenced by its 2986th place finish out of 3711 total combinations.