Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 produces a distinct performance profile in Hitman 2, characterized by a steep dependency on resolution and a clear ceiling imposed by the graphics card. The measured data shows a system that is highly capable at 1080p but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, particularly at higher settings presets.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals the RTX 5050 as the primary limiting component in this configuration. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 86 FPS to 55 FPS, a reduction of 36%. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at High settings yields only 29 FPS, representing a 66% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep degradation curve is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload grows exponentially with pixel count.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 152 FPS at 1080p to 97 FPS at 1440p, then to 52 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings (97 to 52 FPS) is a 46% reduction, while the 1080p to 1440p drop (152 to 97 FPS) is 36%. This suggests that even at the lowest graphical fidelity, the GPU is still the bottleneck, as the frame rate does not scale in proportion to the pixel count reduction.

At Medium settings, the measured data includes minimum and maximum frame rates, providing additional insight. At 1080p, the average is 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and maximum of 131 FPS. At 1440p, the average drops to 73 FPS with a range of 62 to 84 FPS. At 4K, the average is 39 FPS with a range of 33 to 45 FPS. The consistency of the frame time variance, even as the average drops, indicates that the GPU is consistently saturated at all resolutions rather than encountering intermittent spikes.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling failure. The 1080p result of 64 FPS falls to 41 FPS at 1440p, and then to 22 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, representing a 66% drop from the 1080p Ultra score. This demonstrates that the RTX 5050’s 8 GB memory buffer and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of 4K Ultra rendering in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 contributes a strong foundation for Hitman 2’s CPU demands, though the game’s performance is ultimately constrained by the GPU. This processor features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The architecture is Arrow Lake-S, built on a 3 nm process node from TSMC, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Benchmark results for the CPU show a balanced profile. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 14769 and the single-core score is 2085. The single-core performance is particularly relevant for Hitman 2, which typically relies on a few heavily threaded tasks. The Passmark single-thread score of 4516 and multithread score of 37816 further indicate strong per-core capability. The data compression score of 390711 and floating-point math score of 117951 suggest the processor can handle the game’s simulation and physics workloads without introducing frame pacing issues.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 89 against all CPUs places it in the upper tier of processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 with an average score of 46030 and a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Core i9-13900HX with an average score of 46098 and a delta of -0.1%. This indicates the Ultra 5 235 performs nearly identically to these high-end mobile and desktop parts, meaning the CPU is unlikely to be a limiting factor at any resolution tested.

However, the data suggests that even this capable CPU cannot compensate for the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent across all settings, which would not occur if the CPU were the bottleneck. In a CPU-limited scenario, the frame rate would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the rendering workload would not affect the processor’s ability to submit draw calls. The fact that frame rates halve or worse at 4K confirms the RTX 5050 is the constraining component.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 1837 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 39% of all possible pairings, which is a lower position than the individual components’ rankings might suggest. The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 66th percentile among all GPUs, yet their combined performance in this specific game falls short of the median.

This discrepancy highlights the GPU’s dominant role in determining Hitman 2 performance. The combo rank of 1837 out of 3001 means that 1164 tested combinations perform worse, while 1836 perform better. Given the CPU’s high percentile ranking, the relatively low combo rank must be attributed to the GPU’s 66th percentile standing. The RTX 5050’s nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark database include the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT with an average score of 20713 and a delta of 1.6%, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile with an average score of 21379 and a delta of -1.6%. These comparisons show the 5050 is competitive with mid-range previous-generation parts, but not with higher-tier current hardware.

The combo rank also reflects the game’s release date from 2018. Hitman 2 is a title from that era, and its rendering engine may not fully utilize the newer architectural features of the RTX 5050. The game’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support is present, but the workload appears to favor raw pixel throughput over advanced features like ray tracing or Tensor Core acceleration. The GPU’s 13.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 205.8 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p but insufficient for 4K in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured frame rate data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows:

At 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 22 FPS. The High preset improves to 29 FPS. The Medium preset yields 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and maximum of 45 FPS. The Low preset provides the best 4K result at 52 FPS. None of these 4K results reach the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and only the Low preset approaches playability.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. The High preset averages 55 FPS. The Medium preset averages 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS and maximum of 84 FPS. The Low preset averages 97 FPS. This resolution offers a viable experience at Medium and Low settings, with the Medium preset maintaining a minimum above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080 resolution, the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS. The High preset averages 86 FPS. The Medium preset averages 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and maximum of 131 FPS. The Low preset averages 152 FPS. At 1080p, all presets except Ultra exceed 60 FPS, and the Medium and Low presets provide high refresh rate experiences.

The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent performance penalty. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 38 FPS (152 to 114), from Medium to High costs 28 FPS (114 to 86), and from High to Ultra costs 22 FPS (86 to 64). At 4K, the same progression costs 13 FPS (52 to 39), 10 FPS (39 to 29), and 7 FPS (29 to 22), respectively. The diminishing absolute cost at higher resolutions reflects the GPU being increasingly overwhelmed, where additional settings have less relative impact on already low frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: The 1920x1080 resolution is the most suitable. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS, while the High preset averages 86 FPS. This is the only resolution where multiple presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: No, not at playable frame rates. The best 4K result is 52 FPS at Low settings, and the Ultra preset drops to 22 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K manages 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS, which falls below the standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 with a score of 46030 and a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Core i9-13900HX with a score of 46098 and a delta of -0.1%. This places the Ultra 5 235 statistically tied with these parts.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT with a score of 20713 and a delta of 1.6%, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile with a score of 21379 and a delta of -1.6%. The 5050 sits within a few percent of these parts.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 1837 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the lower half of all combinations, despite the CPU’s high individual percentile ranking of 89.

Q: What is the frame rate range at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the range is 97 to 131 FPS with an average of 114 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 62 to 84 FPS with an average of 73 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 33 to 45 FPS with an average of 39 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data indicates that the Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides the best balance of performance and visual fidelity for this combo. The average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS ensures consistent smoothness, while the Medium settings still offer a substantial visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 1080p, averaging 86 FPS, is also viable for users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate headroom.

For users with 1440p displays, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. The average of 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 FPS stays above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a playable experience. The High preset at 1440p, averaging 55 FPS, is borderline and may result in noticeable stutter during busy scenes. The Ultra preset at 1440p, at 41 FPS, is not recommended.

At 4K, no preset delivers a fully satisfactory experience. The Low preset’s 52 FPS average is the only option that approaches playability, but it does so at a significant visual cost. Users with 4K displays should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p or 1080p to achieve smoother gameplay. The Ultra preset at any resolution below 1080p is not tested, but the 64 FPS result at 1080p Ultra suggests that this preset is only marginally playable even at the lowest resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the determining factor in this combo’s Hitman 2 performance. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2317 MHz with a boost clock of 2572 MHz. The architecture is Blackwell 2.0 on a 5 nm process node from TSMC, with 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

The GPU’s benchmark scores indicate a mid-range positioning. The Passmark G3D score is 17326, and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2502. The Geekbench OpenCL score is 90334, and the Vulkan score is 89381. These results place the GPU in the 66th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL with an average score of 21153 and a delta of -0.6%, and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M with an average score of 21237 and a delta of -1%.

The 8 GB memory capacity is a critical limitation for Hitman 2 at higher resolutions. The game’s texture requirements at 4K Ultra likely exceed this buffer, causing the GPU to rely on slower memory transfers. The 320.0 GB/s bandwidth is also modest by current standards, which explains the steep frame rate drops at 4K. The pixel rate of 82.30 GPixel/s and texture rate of 205.8 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1080p rendering but become bottlenecks at higher pixel counts.

The RTX 5050’s 13.17 TFLOPS FP32 performance is a mid-range figure. In Hitman 2, which is a 2018 title, this level of compute power is adequate for 1080p and 1440p at medium settings. The game does not appear to leverage the GPU’s RT cores or Tensor Cores heavily, as the performance scaling follows a traditional rasterization pattern. The data shows that the GPU’s memory subsystem and bandwidth are the primary constraints at 4K, rather than its compute throughput.