Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end combination that delivers very strong results in Hitman 2, though its performance profile reveals distinct bottlenecks depending on resolution and settings. This combo ranks in the 93rd percentile of all tested configurations, placing it firmly in the upper echelon for this title, but the data suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor at lower resolutions while the GPU takes over at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 3,711 tested combos for Hitman 2, this specific pairing of the Core Ultra 5 245 and RTX 4080 achieves a rank of 255. That places it in the top 6.9% of all systems tested, which is an excellent result for a modern desktop configuration. The ranking reflects the synergy between a strong 14-core CPU and a flagship-tier GPU from the Ada Lovelace generation.

The CPU itself sits at the 90th percentile when compared against all processors in the database. Its average benchmark score of 48,995 puts it in close company with several strong rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49,196, a delta of -0.4%, meaning the Intel part is essentially tied with it. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49,228, a -0.5% delta, again showing near-identical synthetic performance. On the other side, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.6% slower, and the Intel Core i5-14600K is 0.8% slower. This indicates that the Core Ultra 5 245 is a well-balanced processor whose multi-threaded capabilities are competitive with much more expensive options.

The GPU, meanwhile, sits at the 86th percentile among all graphics cards. Its average benchmark score of 54,247 is nearly identical to the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54,209 with a delta of just 0.1%. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% faster, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% faster, respectively, in synthetic benchmarks. This is a peculiar result, as the RTX 4080 is generally considered a top-tier card, but the synthetic scores show it is closely matched with these rivals in raw compute tests. In real gaming, the architectural advantages of the 4080 typically shine, which is reflected in the high combo rank.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which preset to use for the best experience. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 172 FPS average, while Ultra drops to 126 FPS. The Medium preset offers 227 FPS, but High is the sweet spot for visual fidelity without sacrificing frame rate. The data shows that the jump from High to Ultra costs 46 FPS (a 26.7% drop), which is substantial for a visual gain that is often subtle in a stealth game like Hitman 2.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 110 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra drops to 81 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that rewards precision. The Medium preset offers 145 FPS, but High provides a better balance. For 1440p users, High is the recommended preset, as it maintains high frame rates while preserving the graphical features that matter in a game with detailed environments.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. The High preset averages 58 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. Ultra drops to 43 FPS, which is too low for comfortable play. Medium offers 77 FPS, which is the best choice for 4K. The data shows that the Medium preset at 4K provides a playable experience with a 77 FPS average, while High and Ultra push the GPU too hard. For 4K users, Medium is the recommended preset, as it maintains a playable frame rate without the visual compromise of Low, which hits 103 FPS but likely sacrifices too much detail.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic CPU-bound to GPU-bound transition. At 1080p High, the combo produces 172 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 110 FPS, a 36% reduction. Moving to 4K High drops it further to 58 FPS, a 66.3% reduction from 1080p. This pattern indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases.

At 1080p Low, the combo produces 302 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate that suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at this resolution. The Core Ultra 5 245, with its 14 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock, is able to feed the GPU well, but even it has a ceiling. At 1440p Low, the FPS drops to 193, a 36.1% reduction, and at 4K Low it drops to 103, a 65.9% reduction. This consistent scaling pattern across settings indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU is the bottleneck at 1080p.

The data shows that the CPU's single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,648, is strong enough to push high frame rates at 1080p. However, the GPU's raw power, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth, is what determines performance at higher resolutions. The 4K High result of 58 FPS is a clear indication that the RTX 4080, while powerful, is pushed to its limits with this game's rendering demands at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers outstanding performance across all settings. Low averages 302 FPS, Medium averages 227 FPS with a minimum of 193 and maximum of 261, High averages 172 FPS, and Ultra averages 126 FPS. These results show that the combo can easily handle high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, with even Ultra surpassing the 120 FPS mark. The frame time consistency, as indicated by the Medium preset's min/max range, is solid.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. Low averages 193 FPS, Medium averages 145 FPS with a minimum of 123 and maximum of 167, High averages 110 FPS, and Ultra averages 81 FPS. The 1440p results show that the combo is well-suited for this resolution, with High providing a smooth 110 FPS experience. The Medium preset's minimum of 123 FPS suggests that even in heavy scenes, the frame rate stays well above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Low averages 103 FPS, Medium averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 66 and maximum of 89, High averages 58 FPS, and Ultra averages 43 FPS. The 4K results show that the combo is capable of 4K gaming, but the user must be selective with settings. Medium is the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS. High and Ultra fall below the 60 FPS threshold, which may cause noticeable stuttering in a game that relies on precise timing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 plays a critical role in this combo, particularly at higher resolutions. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which is essential for handling the detailed textures and complex scenes in Hitman 2 at 4K. The GPU's boost clock of 2505 MHz allows it to maintain high throughput, and its 9,728 shading units provide the raw compute power needed for the game's lighting and shadow effects.

The GPU's memory capacity is a key factor in the 4K results. At 4K High, the combo averages 58 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target but not quite there. The GPU's 16 GB of memory is sufficient for this game, but the rendering load at 4K pushes the board to its limits. The GPU's synthetic benchmark scores, such as its Passmark G3D score of 34,457, show that it is a top-tier performer, but the 4K data reveals that even this card has limits.

The GPU's 320 W TDP and triple-slot design indicate that it is a power-hungry component, but the data does not show any thermal throttling issues. The GPU's 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores are not heavily utilized in this game, as Hitman 2 does not feature ray tracing or DLSS prominently in its default settings. The GPU's performance is driven primarily by its traditional rasterization capabilities, which are excellent, as evidenced by the 4K Medium result of 77 FPS.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Hitman 2?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Medium, the combo averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS, which is playable. At 4K High, it drops to 58 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 43 FPS. The Medium preset is the only 4K setting that consistently maintains frame rates above 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gameplay?

A: The High preset is the best choice at 2560x1440, delivering an average of 110 FPS. This provides a smooth experience without the visual compromises of Medium (145 FPS) or the performance hit of Ultra (81 FPS). The High preset balances visual quality and frame rate effectively.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48,995. It is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49,196, -0.4% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49,228, -0.5% delta). It is 0.6% faster than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.8% faster than the Intel Core i5-14600K.

Q: What is the limiting factor at 1080p resolution?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at 1920x1080. At Low settings, the combo produces 302 FPS, which is extremely high but still limited by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU. The GPU is not fully utilized at this resolution, as evidenced by the fact that higher settings do not scale proportionally.

Q: Is the RTX 4080's memory capacity sufficient for this game?

A: Yes, the 16 GB of GDDR6X memory is more than sufficient for Hitman 2. The game does not appear to exceed this capacity at any resolution or setting, as the performance drops at 4K are consistent with GPU compute limitations rather than memory capacity issues.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the RTX 4080 SUPER in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209. This is a delta of 0.1%, meaning the RTX 4080 is essentially identical in synthetic performance to its SUPER variant. In real-world gaming, the difference is negligible.