Hitman 2

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a formidable, though resolution-dependent, experience in Hitman 2. The data shows this combination excels at 1080p and 1440p, providing high refresh rate performance, while 4K Ultra settings remain a challenge. This analysis breaks down the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, the measured frame rates, and how this pairing ranks among the 1,795 tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combination produces an average of 98.3 FPS. This indicates a highly playable experience, though it is the most demanding preset at this resolution.

Q: How does the i9-14900K compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF?

A: The benchmark data shows the Core i9-14900K has an average score of 79,824, while the Core i9-14900KF scores 79,245. This puts the i9-14900K 0.7% ahead of its KF counterpart in the aggregate benchmark.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 237.9 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This demonstrates the CPU's immense capability to push frames in less GPU-bound scenarios.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 more powerful than the RTX 4080 Mobile GPU?

A: Yes, according to the benchmark scores. The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37,283, while the RTX 4080 Mobile has a score of 38,135. The data indicates the RTX 4070 is 2.2% ahead of the mobile part in this comparison.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 4070 have, and what type is it?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. This memory is accessed via a 192-bit bus, providing a total bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the performance delta between the i9-14900K and the AMD EPYC 7413?

A: The AMD EPYC 7413 has an average benchmark score of 80,041, which is 0.3% higher than the i9-14900K's score of 79,824. This makes them statistically very close in overall CPU performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the primary driver for visual fidelity and raw pixel throughput in this configuration. Its role becomes more pronounced as resolution and graphical settings increase. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, provides ample storage for textures and geometry at 1440p, but the data suggests it becomes a limiting factor at 4K Ultra.

The Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process, contains 5,888 shading units and 64 ROPs. The core clocks are set to a base of 1920 MHz, with a boost clock of 2475 MHz. This clock speed is critical for maintaining the high frame rates seen in the 1080p and 1440p benchmarks. The transition from Low to Ultra settings at 1440p shows a stark performance cost, with frame rates dropping from 150.5 FPS to 64.7 FPS, highlighting the GPU's workload scaling.

At 4K, the GPU's limitations are clear. The average frame rate falls to 32.9 FPS at Ultra settings, which is below the smooth-playability threshold. Even at High settings, the 47.5 FPS average is not ideal for a fast-paced stealth action game. The data indicates that while the RTX 4070 is a capable 1440p performer, its 192-bit memory bus and 12 GB capacity are insufficient for maximum settings at 3840x2160 in Hitman 2. The GPU's 81st percentile rank among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37,283, further contextualizes its position as a high-mid-range part, being 2.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5300M.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K acts as the computational backbone, ensuring the GPU is fed with data to maintain high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions. With 24 cores and 32 threads based on the Raptor Lake architecture, the CPU's multi-threaded prowess is substantial. The boost clock of 6.00 GHz is a key factor in the exceptional single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,040.

The CPU's influence is most apparent at 1080p, where the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. The jump from 136.5 FPS at High settings to 237.9 FPS at Low settings demonstrates the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls at a very high rate. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce memory latency, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a game with complex AI and simulation systems.

The i9-14900K's 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79,824, places it near the top of the performance stack. It is 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and 0.7% behind the Intel Core i9-14900KF. This data suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this pairing, as its performance headroom is significant even in the most demanding scenarios tested. The processor's 125 W TDP and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide flexibility, but the focus here is on the measured game results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates reveal a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally fast. The average FPS ranges from 237.9 on Low to 98.3 on Ultra. The Medium preset delivers 179.1 FPS, while High produces 136.5 FPS. This shows a performance drop of roughly 58.7% from Low to Ultra, highlighting the GPU's increasing workload.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show the expected decline. Low settings yield an average of 150.5 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. Medium settings reduce this to 114.8 FPS, and High settings bring it down to 84.9 FPS. At Ultra, the average FPS drops to 64.7. The data shows that 1440p Ultra is the first point where the system begins to approach the 60 FPS threshold, making it a viable but more demanding option.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4070 starts to struggle. The average frame rate at Low settings is 83.9 FPS, which is playable. However, the performance degrades significantly with each settings increase. Medium settings produce 59.7 FPS, High settings drop to 47.5 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 32.9 FPS. The data clearly indicates that 4K gaming with this combo requires a compromise on graphical fidelity to maintain a smooth experience, as the Ultra preset is not suitable for consistent gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 rank 440th out of 1,795 combos for Hitman 2. This places the pairing in the top 24.5% of all tested systems for this specific game. This rank is a reflection of the high CPU performance combined with the solid, but not top-tier, GPU performance.

The ranking indicates that while the i9-14900K is a top-tier processor, the RTX 4070's mid-range positioning prevents this combo from reaching the very top of the charts. The benchmark results suggest that the overall experience is heavily weighted toward the GPU's capabilities, particularly at higher resolutions. The CPU's 97th percentile ranking is effectively neutralized by the GPU's 81st percentile ranking when combined.

This specific configuration is best suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data supports that the CPU provides enough headroom to maximize the GPU's potential at these resolutions. The 440th rank out of 1,795 combos reflects a system that is significantly above average, offering a strong balance of CPU and GPU power, but it is not optimized for 4K Ultra settings, where the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck.