Hitman 2

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a benchmark profile in Hitman 2 that clearly separates the CPU’s abundant headroom from the GPU’s more modest capabilities. The processor is a 24-core, 32-thread part based on the Raptor Lake-R architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. These specifications place it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs tested, and its average benchmark score of 79824 sits within a fraction of a percent of its nearest rivals: it trails the AMD EPYC 7413 by 0.3% and leads both the Intel Core i9-14900KF and Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF by 0.7%. For a game like Hitman 2, which relies on single-threaded performance for game logic and AI, the i9-14900K’s high boost clock is the dominant factor; its 36 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support further reduce latency in crowded sandbox environments. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any settings, as even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset yields playable frame rates that would be impossible if the processor were limiting. The 125W TDP indicates a high-power part, but the benchmark results confirm that its computational throughput far exceeds what Hitman 2 requires at any resolution tested.

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

The i9-14900K’s 24 cores and 32 threads are far more than Hitman 2 can utilize, as the game’s engine scales primarily with clock speed rather than core count. The processor’s 6.00 GHz boost clock is the key metric here, and the benchmark results reflect this: at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 184.1 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all configurations. This indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU with frames faster than the graphics card can render them, even at the lowest settings where the GPU load is minimal. The single-core performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7040, is what drives Hitman 2’s simulation and physics updates. In contrast, the multi-core score of 49872 in the same test is largely irrelevant for this title, as the game rarely spawns more than a few threads for gameplay tasks. The processor’s 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outperforms the vast majority of alternatives, and its nearest rival, the EPYC 7413, is a server part that trades clock speed for core density—this results in a 0.3% lower average score, but in Hitman 2 specifically, the i9-14900K’s higher boost clock would confer a larger advantage than that aggregate delta suggests. The 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 caches per core, combined with the 36 MB shared L3, provide ample fast storage for the game’s level data, ensuring that cache misses do not stall the pipeline. Overall, the CPU role is to remain invisible—it must deliver frames without ever becoming the limiting factor, and the data confirms it does so across all resolutions and presets.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, featuring 3840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. Its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, with a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 30109 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, matches its performance exactly with a 0% delta. This parity is telling: the RTX 5060 is positioned as a mainstream card, and Hitman 2’s graphics load exposes its limits at higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but at 4K Ultra, the game’s texture pools and shadow maps can exceed this capacity, leading to the observed frame rate collapse. The GPU’s passmark G3D score of 20891 and DirectX 12 score of 77 indicate solid raw performance, yet the 128-bit memory bus is a constraint compared to wider-bus competitors. In this title, the RTX 5060 shows a clear pattern: it delivers excellent frame rates at 1080p, good performance at 1440p, and struggles at 4K, particularly on the Ultra preset where the average FPS drops to 23.9. The boost clock of 2497 MHz is not exceptionally high, but the architecture’s efficiency compensates, as seen in the 4K Low result of 65 FPS, which is more than double the Ultra result. The GPU’s 145W TDP and PCIe 5.0 x8 interface are adequate for this class, but the data indicates that Hitman 2’s rendering demands, such as ambient occlusion and reflections, are what push the card to its limits.

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

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling curve, with the CPU never emerging as the bottleneck. At 1080p High, the combo produces 101.4 FPS, which drops to 66.4 FPS at 1440p High—a 34.5% reduction—and then to 34.7 FPS at 4K High, a 47.7% further reduction. This steep decline is characteristic of a system where the GPU’s pixel throughput and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors as resolution increases. The 1080p Low result of 184.1 FPS versus 4K Low at 65 FPS shows a 64.7% drop, which is even more pronounced, indicating that at low settings, the GPU is almost solely responsible for frame delivery. Conversely, the CPU’s role is constant; if it were limiting, the frame rates would plateau rather than continue falling. The 1440p Ultra result of 48.6 FPS versus 1080p Ultra at 74 FPS shows a 34.3% drop, while 4K Ultra at 23.9 FPS represents a 50.8% drop from 1440p. This pattern—where each resolution step reduces FPS by roughly a third to a half—confirms that the RTX 5060’s 448.0 GB/s bandwidth and 8 GB VRAM are the primary constraints. The 4K Medium result of 48.1 FPS is notably higher than 4K Ultra, suggesting that the Ultra preset’s additional effects, such as higher-quality shadows and post-processing, impose a severe penalty that is not present at Medium. The data indicates that for 4K gaming, the user must sacrifice settings significantly, as even Medium yields only 48.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is non-linear, with the biggest percentage drops occurring at the highest preset, reinforcing that the GPU is the limiting component throughout.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 911th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 50.8th percentile of all systems. This mid-pack ranking is surprising given the CPU’s top-tier status, but it is a direct consequence of the GPU’s more modest performance. The i9-14900K alone sits in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the RTX 5060 sits in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs; the combo’s rank is dragged down by the graphics card. In the context of the database, this ranking means that over half of all tested systems outperform this combo in Hitman 2, typically those with faster GPUs paired with slower CPUs. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K with a 0.9% higher score, would not change the combo’s rank significantly if paired with the same GPU, as the game is not CPU-bound. Conversely, the GPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which matches its score exactly, would produce nearly identical results in this title. The 911th rank indicates that this system is a balanced mid-tier performer, capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but not competitive at 4K. The data shows that the combo’s position is entirely determined by the GPU, as the CPU’s headroom is never fully utilized. This ranking is consistent with the observed FPS, which are strong at lower resolutions but fall short of the top-tier combos that feature higher-end GPUs. The percentile gap between the CPU and GPU components highlights a mismatch in performance classes, but for Hitman 2 specifically, the result is a system that excels at 1080p and handles 1440p well, while 4K remains a challenge.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making it the best choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing responsiveness. The Medium preset at 135.3 FPS and High at 101.4 FPS are also excellent, but Ultra offers the most detailed graphics while still maintaining playable frame rates. For 1440p, the High preset at 66.4 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a good balance between image quality and performance; the Ultra preset drops to 48.6 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay but is below ideal for fast action. The Medium preset at 85.2 FPS is also viable, but High provides better visuals with only a 22% performance penalty. At 4K, the situation is more constrained: the High preset at 34.7 FPS is barely playable, while Medium at 48.1 FPS is the best option for those who prioritize smoothness over visuals. The Low preset at 65 FPS is the only 4K setting that exceeds 60 FPS, but it sacrifices significant graphical detail. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as 23.9 FPS is below the threshold for consistent playability. The data suggests that the best overall experience is achieved at 1440p High, which offers a 66.4 FPS average and retains most of the game’s visual features. For users with 1080p displays, Ultra is the clear winner, as it combines high fidelity with ample performance. The 4K Low preset is a fallback for those who prioritize resolution over quality, but the Medium preset provides a more balanced experience. The benchmark results indicate that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where the GPU can maintain high frame rates, and that 4K gaming requires significant settings reductions.