Hitman 2

Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER deliver a formidable pairing in Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title that remains demanding at high resolutions. The measured frame rates show a system capable of high-refresh 1080p play and solid 1440p performance, with 4K requiring settings adjustments to maintain fluidity. This analysis examines the CPU and GPU contributions, optimal settings, and scaling behavior based strictly on the measured data.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread Arrow Lake-S processor with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. It carries 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 192 KB of L1 per core. The CPU’s 90th percentile ranking against all tested CPUs indicates strong overall compute capability, but its synthetic benchmark scores reveal the nature of its performance. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 32,924 multi-core and 4,648 single-core; in R20, it scores 13,828 multi-core and 1,952 single-core. These numbers place it in the upper tier of desktop processors, though not at the absolute top.

In the context of Hitman 2, the game’s engine relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic, AI, and draw call submission. The Ultra 5 245’s single-core score of 4,648 in Cinebench R23 is robust, and its Passmark single-thread score of 4,394 supports this. The processor’s boost clock of 5.10 GHz is the key driver here, as Hitman 2’s frame pacing in CPU-bound scenarios scales with peak frequency. The 14 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s multithreaded rendering tasks, but the architecture’s strength lies in its high-frequency cores rather than brute thread count.

Relative to nearest rivals, the Ultra 5 245’s average benchmark score of 48,995 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49,196, delta -0.4%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49,228, delta -0.5%). It edges out the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48,698, delta +0.6%) and the Intel Core i5-14600K (48,618, delta +0.8%). This means the CPU is not a bottleneck in Hitman 2 at any measured resolution, as even the 4K Ultra preset, which produces the lowest average FPS of 37, is still primarily GPU-limited. The data shows no scenario where the CPU’s thread count or clock speed would prevent the GPU from reaching its full potential.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the AD104 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 7,168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with memory clocked at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for Hitman 2’s texture-heavy environments at 4K. The GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking against all GPUs reflects its position as a high-end but not flagship part.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is dominant across all measured settings. The RTX 4070 SUPER delivers 263 FPS average at 1080p Low, which drops to 110 FPS at 1080p Ultra. At 1440p, the spread is from 168 FPS Low to 70 FPS Ultra. At 4K, the range narrows significantly: 90 FPS Low, 67 FPS Medium, 51 FPS High, and 37 FPS Ultra. The GPU’s 35.48 TFLOPS FP32 compute and 554.4 GTexel/s texture rate handle the game’s lighting and shadow calculations efficiently, but the 4K Ultra preset’s 37 FPS average shows the limits of this GPU when maximum quality is applied.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4070 SUPER’s average benchmark score of 43,223 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43,262, delta -0.1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (43,268, delta -0.1%). It trails the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 (43,301, delta -0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (43,667, delta -1%) by minimal margins. These sub-1% deltas indicate that the RTX 4070 SUPER sits in a tight performance cluster, but in Hitman 2 specifically, its 12 GB VRAM and Ada Lovelace feature set provide a clear advantage in higher presets, as evidenced by the 4K Medium result of 67 FPS average with a 57 FPS minimum.

FAQ

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

A: The 2560x1440 resolution with High settings offers the best balance, delivering 95 FPS average. This is above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining visual quality, and it is only 54 FPS lower than the 1080p High result of 149 FPS, indicating headroom for demanding scenes.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 90, which is playable. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS, which is still acceptable. However, 4K High (51 FPS) and 4K Ultra (37 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest competitor in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48,995 on average, which is 0.4% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49,196) and 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49,228). It is 0.6% higher than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48,698) and 0.8% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600K (48,618).

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Hitman 2?

A: Yes. The 12 GB GDDR6X memory with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is more than adequate for the game’s largest textures. The 4K Ultra preset runs without memory-related stuttering, as evidenced by the 37 FPS average being a consistent frame rate rather than a crash or severe drop.

Q: What is the performance penalty of moving from Medium to Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 126 FPS average, while Ultra delivers 70 FPS. This is a 56 FPS drop, or a 44% reduction, indicating that Ultra settings impose a significant GPU workload that may not be worth the visual gain for competitive play.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 499th out of 3,001 tested combinations, placing it in the top 16.6% of all systems tested for this game, which is a strong showing given the game’s age and the hardware’s mid-high tier positioning.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data indicates that the optimal preset for this combo is 2560x1440 with High settings, delivering 95 FPS average. This provides a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS target while maintaining a visual quality level that takes advantage of the GPU’s capabilities. At 1080p, High settings yield 149 FPS average, which is ideal for high-refresh monitors, but the jump to Ultra only increases visual fidelity while dropping to 110 FPS, so High is the smarter choice for responsiveness.

For 4K users, the Medium preset is the recommended setting, as it produces 67 FPS average with a 57 FPS minimum, staying within playable territory. The 4K High preset at 51 FPS average is borderline, and 4K Ultra at 37 FPS is not advisable for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at any resolution provides excessive frame rates (263 FPS at 1080p, 168 FPS at 1440p, 90 FPS at 4K) but sacrifices visual quality that the RTX 4070 SUPER can clearly handle, so Low is only recommended for extreme competitive scenarios where frame rate is paramount.

The best experience per the measured rows is achieved by selecting High settings at 1440p, as it balances the 95 FPS average with the GPU’s ability to render detailed environments. The Medium preset at 1440p (126 FPS) offers a higher frame rate but with reduced visual fidelity, and the 56 FPS difference between Medium and High at this resolution suggests that High is the sweet spot for most users.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 499th out of 3,001 tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the 83.4th percentile of all systems tested. This ranking is impressive given the game’s 2018 release date, as newer hardware often dominates such titles. The rank reflects the balanced nature of the pairing: the CPU’s high single-core performance prevents bottlenecking, while the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM and 2475 MHz boost clock handle the game’s rendering demands.

Compared to the CPU’s 90th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking, the combo’s 499th place in-game suggests that Hitman 2 is slightly more GPU-intensive than the synthetic benchmarks indicate. The sub-1% delta between the RTX 4070 SUPER and its nearest rivals (such as the RTX 4090 Mobile at -1%) means that real-world game performance can vary, and the 499th rank reflects a system that outperforms the vast majority of combinations but not the top-tier 4K beasts. The data shows that this combo is in the upper quartile of all tested systems, making it a reliable choice for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are: Low 263, Medium 197, High 149, and Ultra 110. The Medium preset includes a minimum FPS of 168 and a maximum of 227, providing a clear range for frame time variability. The 153 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p highlights the significant GPU workload increase when moving through presets.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are: Low 168, Medium 126, High 95, and Ultra 70. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS, indicating a tighter frame pacing than the 1080p Medium result. The 98 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p demonstrates that resolution scaling impacts the GPU more than the CPU, as the CPU’s performance remains constant.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are: Low 90, Medium 67, High 51, and Ultra 37. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, showing 57 FPS minimum and 77 FPS maximum. The 53 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is smaller than at lower resolutions, indicating that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck and the settings presets have diminishing returns.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 263 at 1080p to 90 at 4K, a 65.8% reduction. At Medium settings, it drops from 197 to 67, a 66% reduction. At High settings, it falls from 149 to 51, a 65.8% reduction. At Ultra settings, it declines from 110 to 37, a 66.4% reduction. This consistent ~66% drop across all settings indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance is unaffected by resolution.

The scaling pattern reveals that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are the determining factors at 4K. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient, but the pixel throughput and texture rate struggle with the 8.3 million pixels at 4K compared to the 2.1 million at 1080p. The fact that the FPS drop is nearly uniform across presets suggests that the GPU’s compute units are saturated at 4K regardless of quality settings, while at 1080p and 1440p, the settings presets have more influence on the frame rate.

This resolution scaling behavior confirms that the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is not a bottleneck at any resolution. The CPU’s 5.10 GHz boost clock and 24 MB L3 cache provide consistent frame delivery, as evidenced by the 4K Medium minimum FPS of 57 being only 10 FPS below the average of 67. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, and users seeking higher 4K performance would need a more powerful graphics card, while those at 1080p or 1440p can fully utilize the CPU’s capabilities.