Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. The data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU begins to show its influence. The measured FPS across the three resolutions and four settings presets provides a complete picture of this combo's capabilities, ranging from a highly playable 91 FPS at 1080p Ultra to a demanding 31 FPS at 4K Ultra. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the ranking, and offers specific settings recommendations based solely on the provided data.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K highlights a classic GPU bottleneck. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 123 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 79 FPS, a 36% reduction. Pushing to 4K High results in 42 FPS, a further 47% drop from 1440p. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the rendering load is overwhelming the GPU at higher pixel counts.

The story is similar across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system achieves 217 FPS at 1080p, 139 FPS at 1440p, and 74 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is 47%. At Ultra settings, the FPS goes from 91 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p (a 36% drop) and then to 31 at 4K (a 47% drop). The consistency of these percentage drops across different presets is a strong signal that resolution scaling is the dominant factor, independent of the visual complexity.

This pattern indicates that the limiting component at 1440p and 4K is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated by the increased pixel count and texture data. The performance degradation is not linear but exponential, which is typical for a GPU that is working at its maximum capacity. The fact that the CPU has 16 cores and 22 threads, with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, is not enough to compensate for the GPU's workload at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the system is less constrained by the GPU, and the CPU's role becomes more apparent. The 217 FPS at Low settings suggests that the processor can feed frames at a very high rate. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p (217 to 91 FPS) is a 58% drop, which is more significant than the resolution scaling at any given preset. This suggests that at 1080p, the game's draw calls and physics calculations, which can be CPU-intensive, are starting to become a larger portion of the total frame time. However, even at 1080p Ultra, the 91 FPS result is still very high, indicating that the Core Ultra 7 155H is more than capable of handling Hitman 2's CPU demands. The bottleneck only truly manifests when the resolution is cranked up, where the sheer volume of pixel work overwhelms the GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for the highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 217, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is followed by 163 FPS at 1080p Medium and 139 FPS at 1440p Low.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High, the average FPS is 42, and at 4K Medium it is 55. These are playable but not high-refresh-rate numbers. The 4K Ultra preset yields 31 FPS, which is on the edge of playability.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has 16 cores and 22 threads. The data shows that it is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. However, at 1080p Low, the 217 FPS result suggests the CPU is capable of high frame throughput, and its performance is sufficient to avoid limiting the GPU in this scenario.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 58 FPS. This is a 21 FPS difference, or a 27% performance drop for the higher visual fidelity.

Q: According to the data, what is the minimum FPS recorded for the 4K Medium preset?

A: The measured minimum FPS for 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 47. The maximum recorded for that same configuration is 64 FPS.

Q: How does this combo's performance rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This specific configuration of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile ranks 1232 out of 3711 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top third of all tested systems.

How This Combo Ranks

The performance of this Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile combination is ranked 1232 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places the system in the 67th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating it delivers above-average performance for this specific game. The ranking is a composite measure of the FPS across all tested resolutions and settings, showing that while it is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, it is significantly more capable than the majority of systems tested.

The GPU's individual benchmark scores provide context for this rank. The RTX 4080 Mobile scores 24,926 in Passmark G3D, placing it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, which has a nearly identical average score with a -0.4% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which is 1.3% slower. This suggests the mobile 4080 is a very strong GPU, but not the absolute fastest. The CPU, with an average benchmark score of 32,697, sits in the 83rd percentile, with its closest rival being the Intel Core i5-14600T with a delta of 0%. This combination of a high-percentile CPU and a high-percentile GPU results in a strong overall rank for the game.

The 1232 rank is a direct result of the system's ability to maintain high frame rates. While it may not hit the extreme 300+ FPS numbers that some lower-resolution, higher-end combos might achieve, its consistent performance across the board is what solidifies its position. The combo's ranking indicates it is a well-balanced pairing for Hitman 2, where the CPU can support the GPU's output without creating a significant bottleneck. The data shows that this setup is more than capable of providing a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K being a possible but more demanding option.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 217 FPS. Medium settings average 163 FPS, with a minimum of 138 and a maximum of 187. High settings average 123 FPS. Ultra settings average 91 FPS. This shows a clear and consistent drop as visual fidelity increases.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but predictably lower. Low settings average 139 FPS. Medium settings average 104 FPS, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 120. High settings average 79 FPS. Ultra settings average 58 FPS. The 1440p results demonstrate a system that can easily handle high-refresh-rate gaming at medium to high settings, and remains playable even at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings average 74 FPS. Medium settings average 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 64. High settings average 42 FPS. Ultra settings average 31 FPS. The 4K results are the most demanding, with the system struggling to maintain high frame rates at the highest presets. The 31 FPS at Ultra is the only measured result below the 40 FPS threshold, indicating a challenging scenario for the hardware.

The data points show a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution or settings yields a significant and measurable decrease in average FPS. The min and max FPS data for the Medium presets at 1080p and 1440p show a variance that is typical for a game with dynamic scenes, but the averages remain stable. The system is clearly capable of delivering a smooth experience in most scenarios, with the exception of 4K Ultra where the average drops to a level that would be noticeable to most players.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache is a substantial pool for game data. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15,028 and a single-core score of 1,743, indicate strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3,468 further confirms its capability in tasks that rely on a few fast cores.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and draw calls. The data suggests that it is not the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the FPS drops are more attributable to GPU load. However, the 217 FPS result at 1080p Low indicates that the CPU can process frames at a very high rate. The 22 threads ensure that background tasks and the game's main thread have ample resources, which is crucial for maintaining stable frame times.

The CPU's performance is close to that of the Intel Core i5-14600T, with a 0% delta in average benchmark score. It also outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H by 0.4%. This places it in a competitive position among its peers. The high single-core performance is particularly important for a game like Hitman 2, which is not heavily multi-threaded. The data shows that the Core Ultra 7 155H provides more than enough processing power to keep up with the RTX 4080 Mobile at 1080p and 1440p, ensuring that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance at these resolutions. At 4K, the CPU is even less of a factor, as the GPU's fill rate is the clear bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 1080p display, the High preset at 123 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, well above the 60 FPS threshold. For gamers with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 163 FPS is a strong choice, sacrificing some visual fidelity for a significant boost in smoothness. The Ultra preset at 91 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize image quality, as it remains above 90 FPS.

At 1440p, the High preset at 79 FPS is the sweet spot, providing a great visual experience while staying comfortably above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 104 FPS is the best option for a high-refresh-rate experience, while the Ultra preset at 58 FPS is playable but will not fully utilize a 60Hz or higher display. For a more competitive edge, the Low preset at 139 FPS is available, but the visual compromise is significant.

At 4K, the data recommends the Medium preset, which averages 55 FPS. This is just below the 60 FPS target but is the highest playable option. The High preset at 42 FPS is playable for slower-paced stealth gameplay, but the Medium preset offers a better balance. The Low preset at 74 FPS is the only 4K option that clears the 60 FPS mark, but it sacrifices too much visual detail for a game that relies heavily on atmosphere and environmental storytelling. The Ultra preset at 31 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience, as it falls below the standard playability threshold. Therefore, the Medium preset at 4K is the recommended choice for this combo.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is the primary driver of performance in this configuration. It features 7,424 shading units, 232 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs, based on the AD104 chip and Ada Lovelace architecture. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it has a TDP of 110 W. Its Passmark G3D score of 24,926 places it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's role in Hitman 2 is to handle the rendering of geometry, textures, and visual effects. The data shows that it is the dominant factor in determining frame rate as resolution increases. The significant FPS drops from 1080p to 4K, as detailed in the Resolution Scaling section, are directly attributable to the GPU's workload. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game at all tested settings, as there are no signs of texture thrashing or memory-related stuttering in the min FPS data.

The RTX 4080 Mobile's performance is close to that of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which is 1.3% slower according to the benchmark data. This places the mobile 4080 as a high-end part, but not the absolute fastest in the 40-series mobile lineup. The GPU's 58 RT cores and 232 tensor cores are present for ray tracing and DLSS, but these features are not specifically measured in the provided Hitman 2 data. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the clear performance limiter at 4K, while at 1080p, the system is more balanced. Its high texture rate of 386.3 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 133.2 GPixel/s are the theoretical capabilities that support the measured FPS numbers.