Hitman 2

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 compare to its closest rivals in overall CPU benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 posts an average benchmark score of 36,938. This places it essentially level with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36,945, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37,018, -0.2%). It trails the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37,093, -0.4%) and the Intel Core i9-12900T (37,112, -0.5%) by very narrow margins, indicating the Ultra 5 225 sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs with performance virtually identical to its nearest rivals.

Q: What is the RTX 5060's standing relative to other GPUs based on its benchmark percentile?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 falls into the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 26,331 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon 860M (26,401, -0.3%) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26,421, -0.3%). It also sits just a hair behind the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (26,553, -0.8%) while slightly outpacing the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26,011, 1.2%).

Q: In Hitman 2, what is the best average FPS recorded at 1080p, and at which settings?

A: The highest average frame rate observed in the measured data is 183 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is significantly ahead of the Medium preset which delivers 137 FPS, and more than double the 76 FPS seen at Ultra settings.

Q: What are the clock speeds of the CPU and GPU, and what does the data suggest about their roles?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 has a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The substantial FPS gains when lowering resolution from 4K to 1080p suggest the GPU is the primary performance driver, with the CPU's strong single-threaded score of 4,412 in PassMark providing ample headroom.

Q: How does the combo's ranking in Hitman 2 compare to other tested combinations?

A: This specific configuration of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 5060 ranks 1,313 out of 3,001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the 56th percentile of all tested combos, indicating solid mid-pack performance. The ranking reflects a balance between the CPU's 85th percentile standing and the GPU's 72nd percentile, suggesting the combo is well-matched for this title.

Q: What is the memory configuration on the RTX 5060, and how does it relate to Hitman 2's performance?

A: The RTX 5060 comes with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed at 1750 MHz with an effective rate of 28 Gbps. Given the significant FPS drops at 4K Ultra (26 FPS) versus 1080p Ultra (76 FPS), the 8 GB capacity and bandwidth appear to become limiting factors at higher resolutions with maxed-out settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 achieves a rank of 1,313 out of 3,001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This mid-pack placement is particularly interesting given the individual component standings. The CPU sits in the 85th percentile of all processors, while the GPU occupies the 72nd percentile of all graphics cards. The combined ranking of roughly the 56th percentile suggests that the game's performance is not simply an average of the two components' standings but is instead dictated by the specific demands of Hitman 2's engine.

The delta between the combo's rank and the component percentiles implies that Hitman 2 may be more sensitive to one component over the other. The data shows the CPU has nearest rivals within 0.5% of its average score, making it a very consistent performer relative to its peers. The GPU, however, has a slightly wider spread of rivals, from -0.8% to +1.2%. This suggests that in Hitman 2, the GPU's performance variance could be a more significant factor in the overall combo ranking than the CPU's near-parity with its competitors.

When examining the measured FPS across different settings and resolutions, the ranking begins to make more sense. At 1080p, the combo delivers playable to excellent frame rates across all settings, from 76 FPS at Ultra to 183 FPS at Low. This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU and GPU are well-balanced, allowing for high frame rates. However, the ranking is likely pulled down by the 4K performance, where average FPS drops to between 26 and 62 depending on settings. This significant drop-off suggests that the combo's capabilities are stretched at 4K, which is consistent with a mid-pack overall ranking rather than a top-tier one.

The combo's position relative to the 3,001 total tested combinations also needs to be viewed through the lens of the component's release dates. The CPU launched in early 2025, and the GPU in mid-2025. This is a modern pairing, and its rank of 1,313 suggests that while it is competent, it is not at the forefront of gaming performance for this title. The percentile data for the GPU (72nd) and CPU (85th) supports this, showing both are above average but not elite. Hitman 2, being a 2018 title, may not fully utilize the newer architectural features of the Blackwell GPU or Arrow Lake CPU, potentially capping the combo's performance ceiling and contributing to its mid-pack rank.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior in Hitman 2 reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario, but with some interesting nuances. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K at the same settings shows a consistent and significant drop in average FPS. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 104 FPS at 1080p to 66 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of roughly 37%. Pushing further to 4K High yields just 35 FPS, which is a 66% drop from the 1080p figure. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, placing the burden squarely on the GPU.

The data suggests the RTX 5060 is the limiting component as resolution increases. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary resources being taxed. At 1080p, the 76 FPS at Ultra settings shows the card can handle the load when the pixel count is manageable. However, at 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 26 FPS. This pattern of diminishing returns with each resolution step-up is characteristic of a GPU that is being overwhelmed by the sheer number of pixels, rather than a CPU that is struggling to feed the graphics card.

The CPU's role in this scaling is less prominent. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225, with its 4.90 GHz boost clock and robust single-threaded PassMark score of 4,412, appears to have enough headroom to keep up with the GPU's demands. The fact that the FPS drops are so predictable and proportional to the resolution increase points to a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau or a less severe drop at higher resolutions where the GPU is waiting on the processor. Instead, the data shows a clear and consistent decline, reinforcing the idea that the RTX 5060 is the primary constraint in this setup.

Interesting to note is the 4K Low setting, which yields 62 FPS. This is higher than the 4K High setting's 35 FPS, showing that the GPU has more headroom if the graphical fidelity is reduced. This indicates that while the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K, it is not an insurmountable one. Reducing settings allows the card to maintain a playable frame rate even at the highest resolution, suggesting that the memory bandwidth and capacity are sufficient for the game's needs when the texture and shading complexity is lowered.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 5060 combination shows strong performance across all presets. The Low preset delivers the highest average at 183 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset follows at 137 FPS, with a recorded min of 117 FPS and a max of 158 FPS, indicating a smooth experience with minimal frame dips. High settings reduce the average to 104 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 76 FPS. This shows a clear and predictable scaling, with each step up in quality costing a significant number of frames.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains respectable but shows the expected decline. Low settings yield an average of 117 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings provide 88 FPS, with a min of 75 and a max of 101, again showing good consistency. High settings drop the average to 66 FPS, which is adequate for most players. Ultra settings, however, bring the average down to 49 FPS, which is starting to approach the lower edge of what is considered smooth for fast-paced action, though Hitman 2 is a stealth game where this may be acceptable.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with the higher resolution. Low settings produce an average of 62 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings yield 47 FPS, with a min of 40 and a max of 54, indicating some noticeable frame drops during intense scenes. High settings bring the average down to 35 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 26 FPS. These numbers suggest that 4K gaming is only viable at Low or possibly Medium settings if a consistent frame rate is desired. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended based on the measured data.

The pattern across all resolutions shows that the Medium preset offers a good compromise between visual quality and performance. At 1080p, it provides 137 FPS, which is close to the High preset's 104 FPS but with a significantly higher frame rate. At 1440p, Medium delivers 88 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Even at 4K, Medium manages 47 FPS, which is more playable than the High or Ultra presets. The data indicates that Medium is the most versatile preset for this combo across different resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060's role in Hitman 2 is defined by its memory configuration and clock speeds. With 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, the card has a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, which translates to 28 Gbps effective. These specifications are directly relevant to the game's performance at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 26 FPS suggests that the 8 GB capacity may be insufficient for the highest quality textures at that resolution, or the bandwidth is not enough to feed the GPU cores efficiently.

The GPU's core clocks are set at 2280 MHz base and 2497 MHz boost. This boost clock is relatively high, indicating the card can push itself when under load. The shading units, 3,840 in total, along with 120 TMUs and 48 ROPs, determine the card's raw pixel and texture processing power. The pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s are key metrics for understanding how the card performs in a game like Hitman 2, which involves rendering detailed environments and character models.

The benchmark data shows the RTX 5060's passmark G3D score is 20,891, placing it in the 72nd percentile. This is a solid mid-range result. However, the game's performance at 4K suggests that the card is not designed for ultra-high-resolution gaming at maximum settings. The significant FPS drop from 1440p Ultra (49 FPS) to 4K Ultra (26 FPS) is a 47% reduction, which is a substantial penalty. This indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and capacity are the primary limiting factors at 4K.

The RTX 5060's performance in Hitman 2 also shows a clear relationship between settings and frame rate. At 1080p, the card can handle Ultra settings at 76 FPS, showing it has enough power for lower resolutions. The jump from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra costs 27 FPS, and the jump from 1440p to 4K costs another 23 FPS. This linear degradation with resolution is a hallmark of a GPU that is bandwidth-constrained. The 128-bit memory bus and 448 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p and 1440p but are not sufficient for the pixel throughput demanded by 4K at high quality settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset appears to be the most balanced choice for this combo across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 137 FPS, which is excellent and only 46 FPS behind Low but 61 FPS ahead of Ultra. This provides a smooth experience with better visual fidelity than Low. At 1440p, Medium yields 88 FPS, which is well within the range of high-refresh-rate monitors and provides a good balance between image quality and performance.

For players using a 1080p monitor, the High preset at 104 FPS is also a strong contender, offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium at a cost of 33 FPS. If a player prefers maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 183 FPS is the obvious choice, but it sacrifices most graphical features. For 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot, as High at 66 FPS is still playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 1440p (49 FPS) is borderline and not recommended for a consistent experience.

At 4K, the recommendations shift dramatically. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable at 26 FPS. High at 35 FPS is also not recommended for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 47 FPS is the best option at this resolution, offering a playable frame rate with moderate visual quality. Low at 62 FPS is the only preset that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS at 4K. For 4K gaming, players should prioritize frame rate and consider using the Low or Medium presets.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the most consistent experience across the board. It provides frame rates above 45 FPS at all resolutions, from 47 FPS at 4K to 137 FPS at 1080p. This makes it the most versatile choice for players who may switch between resolutions or who prioritize a stable frame rate over maximum visual fidelity. The High preset is a good alternative for 1080p and 1440p, but it lacks the headroom needed for 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz and its boost clock is 4.90 GHz. In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and physics, while the GPU renders the graphics. The benchmark scores show the CPU has strong single-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,655 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,412. This is crucial for a game like Hitman 2, which likely relies on a few primary threads for its core simulation.

The CPU's multi-threaded performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,891 and a PassMark multithread score of 30,459. The 10 cores and 10 threads are sufficient for modern games, though Hitman 2 is from 2018 and may not fully utilize all available threads. The PassMark physics score of 2,342 indicates that the CPU can handle the physics calculations required by the game. The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this combo, as evidenced by the FPS scaling with resolution.

The 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide a substantial amount of fast memory for the CPU to access frequently used data. This is important for maintaining high frame rates, as it reduces the latency for fetching data from system memory. The CPU's memory support for DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth ensures that the processor can keep up with the GPU's demands. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes allows for high-bandwidth communication with the RTX 5060.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 85th and its near-identical performance to rivals like the Ryzen 5 5600F suggest that it is a highly capable processor for gaming. In Hitman 2, the evidence points to the GPU being the primary limiter at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU is able to feed the GPU enough data to achieve 183 FPS at Low settings, indicating that the processor has significant headroom. The fact that the FPS drops so predictably with resolution increases indicates that the GPU, not the CPU, is running out of resources. The Ultra 5 225 appears to provide a stable and capable foundation for this combo, allowing the RTX 5060 to perform to its potential until it is constrained by its own memory bandwidth and capacity at 4K.