Hitman 2

The benchmark data for Hitman 2 with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and Intel Arc B370 presents a clear picture of a system constrained by its graphics solution. Across all tested resolutions, the frame rates are consistently low, placing this combination near the bottom of the database rankings. The following analysis breaks down the performance metrics, focusing on resolution scaling, component roles, and measurable outcomes.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and indicative of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 41 FPS. Moving to 1440p High reduces this to 26 FPS, a 37% decrease. At 4K High, the average FPS falls to 14, which is a 66% reduction from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern shows that the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor; as the pixel count increases, the rendering load grows faster than the system can compensate.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. If the processor were the limit, we would expect to see a smaller FPS delta between resolutions, as the CPU's workload (physics, AI, draw calls) remains relatively constant regardless of output resolution. Instead, the FPS falls nearly linearly with the increase in pixel count, which is a classic symptom of a GPU that is saturated at even the lowest tested settings.

At 1080p Low, the system achieves 73 FPS. When the resolution is raised to 1440p Low, the average drops to 46 FPS. This is a 37% performance hit. Pushing further to 4K Low yields 25 FPS, a 46% drop from 1440p. Even at the lowest graphical preset, the 4K resolution proves too demanding for this GPU. The inability to maintain playable frame rates at 4K even on Low settings reinforces that this hardware is not intended for high-resolution gaming.

The scaling from Low to Ultra at a fixed resolution also reveals the GPU's limitations. At 1080p, the FPS ranges from 73 at Low to 30 at Ultra. The gap between Medium (54 FPS) and High (41 FPS) is 13 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra is an 11 FPS drop. This indicates that each increase in quality settings has a significant, measurable impact on performance, further confirming that the graphics hardware is the deciding factor in this system's gaming capability.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In the context of Hitman 2, these specifications are more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The benchmark results show that the CPU's performance is not the constraint, as the FPS is consistently low even at 1080p Low, where CPU load is typically highest relative to GPU load.

The CPU's benchmark scores place it in the 90th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48995. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and the Intel Core i5-14600K. The Core Ultra 5 245 trails the Ryzen 9 7900 by 0.5% and the Core i5-14600K by 0.8% in average score. This indicates that the processor is a high-performance part that should not bottleneck a discrete graphics card in most gaming scenarios.

However, in this specific combo, the CPU's capabilities are largely wasted. The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 245 is ready to deliver high frame rates, but it is being held back by the integrated graphics solution. The fact that we see only 41 FPS at 1080p High, a setting that a modern mid-range CPU can handle with ease, points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The processor is not the story here; it is the platform that is unable to utilize the CPU's full potential for gaming.

The 14 cores and 14 threads would normally provide ample headroom for background tasks and game logic. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support also contribute to a responsive system. Yet, the measured FPS in Hitman 2 does not reflect this underlying strength. The CPU's role in this combo is to wait for the GPU to finish its work, which it does at a very low pace.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of processor and graphics is ranked 2768 out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems in the database. The ranking is a direct reflection of the Arc B370's performance, which is an integrated GPU with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all older, low-end parts. For example, the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, which is a 0.5% difference from the Arc B370. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a 0.7% difference. This comparison shows that the Arc B370's raw compute performance is on par with integrated graphics from over a decade ago. In a game like Hitman 2, this level of performance is simply insufficient for smooth gameplay at modern resolutions.

The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's quality. The Core Ultra 5 245 is a top-tier processor, but the overall system performance is dragged down by the GPU. The data shows that the combination's rank is determined by the weakest link, which is unequivocally the graphics component. For a user to achieve a better rank in this game, a discrete GPU would be mandatory.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system delivers an average of 73 FPS on Low, 54 FPS on Medium, 41 FPS on High, and 30 FPS on Ultra. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS, indicating some variance. This is the only resolution where the system approaches playability, and only on the Low and Medium presets.

At 1440p, performance drops significantly. The average FPS is 46 on Low, 35 on Medium, 26 on High, and 19 on Ultra. The Medium setting has a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. These numbers are below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience, and even the Low preset would be considered borderline by most standards.

At 4K, the system is largely unplayable. The average FPS is 25 on Low, 19 on Medium, 14 on High, and 10 on Ultra. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. These frame rates are well below acceptable levels for a stealth action game that requires precise timing and reaction. The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combo under any settings.

The progression from Low to Ultra at any resolution shows a consistent loss of performance. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 43 FPS. At 1440p, the difference is 27 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 15 FPS. This suggests that the GPU's limitations are more pronounced at higher resolutions, where even the lowest settings cannot compensate for the sheer number of pixels being rendered.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. It has a boost clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 300 MHz. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. It also features 10 ray tracing cores. The memory for this GPU is system shared, meaning it uses a portion of the system's DDR5 RAM, and its bandwidth is system dependent.

The GPU's benchmark scores are exceptionally low. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all legacy parts, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD FirePro M2000. This data confirms that the Arc B370 is not designed for gaming performance; it is a basic graphics solution intended for general computing tasks.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is to render the game world, and it fails to do so at acceptable frame rates. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, the GPU is working near its maximum capacity. The system's frame rate is not limited by the CPU or memory bandwidth, but by the raw pixel throughput of the GPU. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply not enough to handle the game's rendering requirements at higher settings.

The fact that the GPU has no dedicated VRAM and relies on system shared memory further hampers performance. While the system memory bandwidth is listed at 102.4 GB/s, the latency and sharing of the memory bus with the CPU can introduce additional delays. The measured FPS data, however, suggests that the core compute performance is the primary bottleneck, not memory latency.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for settings adjustments. For a playable experience, users should target 1080p resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 73 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that provides a smooth, responsive experience. The Medium preset at 1080p also achieves an average of 54 FPS, which is acceptable for most players, though the minimum of 46 FPS indicates potential dips in demanding scenes.

At 1440p, the Low preset yields 46 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel less fluid. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 35 FPS, which is below the standard for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, users may experience some stutter.

For 4K, the data shows that no preset is viable. Even the Low preset only achieves 25 FPS, which is far below acceptable levels. Users with a 4K display should avoid this resolution entirely with this combo. The best experience, according to the data, is at 1080p with Low or Medium settings. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions, as even at 1080p, it only produces 30 FPS.

The data indicates that the game is more playable on lower settings, which aligns with the GPU's limited capabilities. The recommendation is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The difference between Low and Medium at 1080p is 19 FPS, which is a significant margin. For a stealth game where quick reactions are needed, the higher frame rate from the Low preset is preferable.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The maximum average FPS recorded is 73, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K resolution?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 25, which occurs on Low settings. This is below playable levels.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184. It is 0.2% slower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and 0.5% slower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Hitman 2?

A: This combo is ranked 2768 out of 3001 tested combinations.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU is in the 90th percentile, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. FPS drops significantly with resolution increases, which is a GPU-bound characteristic.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth experience?

A: The 1080p Low preset offers the best experience with an average FPS of 73. The 1080p Medium preset is also acceptable, with an average of 54 FPS.