Hitman 2

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2133 out of 3001 tested combinations for Hitman 2. That places this combo in the 29th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly seven out of every ten combinations tested deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title. The ranking reflects a mid-pack positioning that leans toward the lower end, which aligns with the hardware mix: a modern 10-core CPU paired with a GPU that launched in 2019 and is now end-of-life.

This rank is not a condemnation of either component individually, but rather a statement about the pairing’s suitability for Hitman 2 at the resolutions and settings measured. The data shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution climbs, while the CPU has enough headroom to push high frame rates at lower settings. Within the context of all measured combos, this system sits in the lower third, so expectations should be calibrated accordingly — it is a capable 1080p setup, but not one that will dominate at 4K.

GPU Role

The RTX 2060 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture with a TU106 chip manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC. It carries 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU clocks at 1470 MHz base and 1650 MHz boost, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). These specifications position the card with 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. It also includes 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores, though Hitman 2 does not meaningfully leverage ray tracing or DLSS in the measured scenarios.

The GPU’s benchmark profile shows a PassMark G3D score of 16462, placing it at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile at a delta of -0.4%, the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at -0.5%, and the AMD Radeon RX 460 at -1.5%. The Intel Arc A770M is also close at -1.6%. This clustering indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER performs within a tight band of similarly positioned graphics cards, with no single rival offering a decisive edge in raw compute.

In Hitman 2 specifically, the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient at 1080p and 1440p, but the measured frame rates show a steep drop when moving to 4K. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS falls to 28, which is below the threshold for smooth play. The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s helps at lower resolutions, but at 4K the sheer pixel throughput demand overwhelms the card. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is best utilized at 1080p, where it delivers playable to excellent frame rates depending on the preset.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 delivers the highest average frame rates across all settings, with Low hitting 145 FPS, Medium at 109 FPS, High at 82 FPS, and Ultra at 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages drop to 93 FPS (Low), 69 FPS (Medium), 52 FPS (High), and 39 FPS (Ultra). At 3840x2160, even Low only averages 49 FPS, so 1080p is the clear sweet spot.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: In average benchmark scores, the RTX 2060 SUPER sits at 18093. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile is virtually identical at 18159, a -0.4% delta. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189 (-0.5%), the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373 (-1.5%), and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383 (-1.6%). This means the card is statistically on par with these alternatives in synthetic tests.

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

A: The measured data indicates 4K is not viable for smooth play. At 3840x2160, Medium settings average 37 FPS with a minimum of 31 FPS, while High averages 28 FPS and Ultra averages 21 FPS. Even Low settings only reach 49 FPS, which is borderline but not consistently fluid. The 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K demands in this title.

Q: What is the CPU’s performance tier relative to other processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 achieves an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it at the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (-0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at 37093 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i9-12900T at 37112 (-0.5%). This shows the CPU is competitive with mid-range and older high-end processors.

Q: Does the combo meet 60 FPS at 1080p on Ultra?

A: Yes, exactly. The measured average at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 60 FPS. This meets the standard for smooth gameplay, though there is no minimum FPS data for that specific row, so frame pacing consistency is not confirmed. At High settings, the average rises to 82 FPS, providing more headroom.

Q: What is the CPU’s single-thread performance in Hitman 2?

A: The CPU’s PassMark single-thread score is 4412, which is strong for older game engines that rely on a few cores. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 3655, and in R20 it is 891. These numbers indicate the Ultra 5 225 has ample single-core capability for Hitman 2’s AI and physics calculations, which is reflected in the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 145 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and well beyond the refresh rate of most standard monitors. Medium settings average 109 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. High settings drop to 82 FPS average, still comfortable for fast-paced stealth gameplay. Ultra settings hit exactly 60 FPS average, which is the baseline for many players, though the lack of minimum FPS data means stutter potential is unknown.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to show strain. Low settings average 93 FPS, which remains playable and smooth. Medium settings average 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS, so the experience stays above the critical 60 FPS threshold most of the time. High settings average 52 FPS, which is below 60 and may result in noticeable dips during crowded scenes. Ultra settings average 39 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a stealth game requiring precision.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 SUPER is out of its depth. Low settings average 49 FPS, which is borderline playable but not consistently smooth. Medium settings average 37 FPS with a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 43 FPS, so frame times will vary significantly. High settings average 28 FPS, and Ultra settings average 21 FPS. Neither is recommended for actual gameplay, as the low frame rates undermine the stealth mechanics that require responsive controls.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: the GPU’s performance degrades predictably as pixel count increases. The 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck at 4K, where the card cannot sustain the fill rate needed for Hitman 2’s detailed environments. At 1080p, the GPU has enough resources to maintain high averages, and the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures no bottleneck from the processor side.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 with dual-channel configuration, providing 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The chip uses Intel Socket 1851 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

In benchmark terms, the Ultra 5 225 scores 25891 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 3655 in single-core. Its PassMark multithread score is 30459, and single-thread is 4412. The average benchmark score of 36938 places it at the 85th percentile, meaning it outperforms the majority of CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores essentially identically, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, which is only 0.2% behind. This indicates the CPU is well-matched with other mid-range processors.

For Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is significant because the game’s engine is sensitive to single-thread performance for AI and simulation. The 4.90 GHz boost clock and 3655 Cinebench R23 single-core score ensure that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU at 1080p, where frame rates reach 145 FPS on Low settings. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, so the CPU’s excess capacity is unused. The 10 cores and 10 threads are more than sufficient for this game, which typically scales well across a few cores but does not demand the full thread count.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is adequate for DDR5 dual-channel, and the 20 MB L3 cache helps with game asset streaming. The measured frame rates show no signs of CPU-induced stuttering, even at the maximum 145 FPS average. This suggests the Ultra 5 225 is a solid pairing for the RTX 2060 SUPER, offering enough headroom to avoid limiting the GPU at the resolutions where the card performs best.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This preset delivers an average of 109 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay with no dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The visual quality at Medium is sufficient for Hitman 2’s stealth mechanics, where situational awareness is more important than graphical fidelity. For players with high-refresh-rate monitors, Medium at 1080p is the best balance of speed and appearance.

If visual quality is a priority, High settings at 1920x1080 are a viable alternative. The average of 82 FPS remains above 60, though the lack of minimum FPS data introduces some uncertainty about frame consistency. Ultra at 1080p locks in at exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes. The data suggests that Ultra is only worth using if the player values the highest preset over a safety margin.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings are the only option that consistently stays near 60 FPS, with an average of 69 FPS and a minimum of 59 FPS. Low settings provide a higher average of 93 FPS, but the visual downgrade may not be worth the extra speed. High and Ultra at 1440p fall below 60 FPS, making them less desirable for a game that requires precise timing. For 1440p users, Medium is the recommended preset.

At 3840x2160, no preset is truly recommended. Low settings average 49 FPS, which is below the standard smoothness threshold, and Medium drops to 37 FPS. The data clearly indicates that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming in Hitman 2. Players with 4K displays should either reduce the resolution to 1440p or accept a compromised experience. The best overall experience across all measured rows is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, offering the highest minimum FPS and a comfortable average.