Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, presents an interesting stress test for modern hardware. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H mobile processor and the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 desktop GPU creates a significant platform imbalance. The benchmark data reveals that while the GPU is capable of immense graphical throughput, the overall experience is heavily modulated by the CPU's mobile-class characteristics and the game's engine scaling. This analysis explores the measured FPS data to understand what this pairing truly delivers across resolutions and settings.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a mobile processor built on the Meteor Lake architecture, featuring 16 cores and 22 threads. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a 28 W TDP that underscores its efficiency-focused design. This is not a desktop-class part; it is engineered for laptops, which impacts sustained performance in a demanding game like Hitman 2. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743, suggest it has solid computational power, but the data indicates this power is not the primary factor in the game's frame rate at higher resolutions.

In this specific configuration, the CPU's role appears to be a potential bottleneck only at lower resolutions and higher frame rates. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 238 FPS average. This high frame rate implies that the CPU is working at its limit to feed frames to the GPU. However, the game's engine is from 2018, and its thread utilization may not perfectly scale with the 22 threads available. While the CPU has a high multi-threaded score, the game may rely more on single-core performance, where the 155H's score of 1743 in Cinebench R23 is respectable but not exceptional for a high-refresh-rate scenario. The data suggests that as resolution increases, the load shifts from the CPU to the GPU, and the CPU's 16 cores are sufficient to keep up with the RTX 4090's output at 1440p and 4K, where frame rates drop to more manageable levels.

The cache hierarchy, with 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3, is ample for a game of this era. Hitman 2's levels are large but not so data-intensive as to cause significant cache misses that would cripple performance. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, via dual-channel DDR5, is adequate for the game's asset streaming. The measured data shows a clear pattern: at 4K, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the GPU becomes saturated. The FPS difference between 4K Low (81 FPS) and 4K Ultra (34 FPS) is substantial, indicating the GPU is doing the heavy lifting. The CPU's role is to maintain the minimum frame rates and avoid stutters, which the data suggests it does acceptably, as there are no reported minimum FPS values for most settings that would indicate severe dips.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data offers a clear progression of performance across the four settings presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium is 60 FPS (from 238 to 178), which is a significant drop. Moving from Medium to High results in a 43 FPS drop (from 178 to 135). The most substantial drop occurs from High to Ultra, which is 36 FPS (from 135 to 99). This indicates that the Ultra preset includes features that are particularly taxing on the system, even at 1080p.

Analyzing the 1440p data, the pattern is similar. Low yields 152 FPS, Medium drops to 114 FPS, High to 86 FPS, and Ultra to 64 FPS. At 4K, the scale of performance is more compressed: Low gives 81 FPS, Medium 61 FPS, High 46 FPS, and Ultra 34 FPS. The data suggests that the High preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for most users. At 1440p High, the system maintains 86 FPS, which is fluid for a stealth game. At 4K High, 46 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

For a 60 FPS target at 4K, the Medium preset is the highest setting that achieves it, with an average of 61 FPS. The minimum FPS on Medium at 4K is 52, which means there will be occasional dips below 60. For a more stable experience at 4K, the Low preset, with an average of 81 FPS, is the safest choice. At 1440p, the High preset is recommended for a smooth experience, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is viable for high-refresh-rate monitors, as it still delivers 99 FPS. However, the difference between High (135 FPS) and Ultra (99 FPS) suggests that the Ultra preset may include settings that are not visually significant enough to justify the 36 FPS performance cost.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals the classic transition from a CPU-bound to a GPU-bound workload. At High settings, the system produces 135 FPS at 1080p, 86 FPS at 1440p, and 46 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, suggesting that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed as pixel count increases.

The data for Low settings shows a similar trend but with higher absolute values: 238 FPS at 1080p, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 81 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, which is identical to the High settings' drop. This is interesting because it suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU might be the limiting factor, preventing the GPU from reaching even higher frame rates. However, the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is 47%, which is the same as at High settings. This indicates that the GPU's rendering load is the dominant factor in performance scaling.

At Medium settings, the FPS is 178 at 1080p, 114 at 1440p, and 61 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is 46%. The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings is telling. It implies that the resolution is the primary variable affecting performance, and the GPU is the component that is scaling with it. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p, as the CPU's load would remain constant while the GPU's load increased. The fact that the drops are consistent suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions, even at 1080p Low. The 238 FPS at 1080p Low is likely near the engine's or CPU's limit, but the scaling pattern points to the GPU being the primary determinant of frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 652nd out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top 22% of all systems tested. This is a surprisingly low rank for a system with an RTX 4090, which is the most powerful consumer GPU available. The rank suggests that the CPU is significantly holding back the system's potential in this game.

When we look at the CPU's nearest rivals, the performance delta is minimal. The Intel Core i5-14600T has an average score that is 0% different, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 is 0.1% faster, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is 0.2% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.4% slower. This indicates that the Core Ultra 7 155H is competitive with other mid-range CPUs in general benchmarks. However, the combo rank of 652 suggests that Hitman 2's specific workload does not favor this CPU.

The GPU's nearest rivals show a different story. The Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score that is 0% different, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% slower, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% slower. This comparison is misleading, as these GPUs are not in the same performance class as the RTX 4090. The fact that the RTX 4090's average benchmark score is 60347, which is significantly higher than its rivals, confirms that it is a top-tier GPU. The low combo rank must therefore be attributed to the CPU.

The 652nd rank out of 3001 combos implies that there are 651 other combinations that perform better in this specific game. This is a strong indicator that the mobile CPU is a poor match for the desktop GPU in Hitman 2. The CPU's 28 W TDP and mobile design likely limit its sustained performance, and the game's engine may not be able to utilize its 16 cores effectively enough to overcome this deficit. The data suggests that pairing the RTX 4090 with a more powerful desktop CPU would yield a significantly higher combo rank.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS is 238, which is achieved at 1080p with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 4K with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 61 FPS. However, the minimum FPS is 52, indicating some dips below 60. To maintain a more consistent 60+ FPS at 4K, the Low preset is required, which averages 81 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has a score of 32707, which is a 0% difference. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 is 0.1% faster, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is 0.2% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.4% slower.

Q: What is the performance impact of moving from High to Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the High preset yields an average of 86 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 64 FPS. This is a drop of 22 FPS, or approximately 26%.

Q: Does the combo rank indicate a balanced system?

A: No. The combo ranks 652nd out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. Given that the RTX 4090 is an extremely high-performing GPU, this rank suggests the CPU is a significant bottleneck for this game.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the system averages 178 FPS at 1080p and 61 FPS at 4K. This represents a drop of 117 FPS, or approximately 66%.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data provides a comprehensive grid of performance. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 238 FPS on Low, 178 FPS on Medium, 135 FPS on High, and 99 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has a reported minimum FPS of 152 and a maximum of 205. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is capable of high refresh rates, even on the Ultra preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages decrease to 152 FPS on Low, 114 FPS on Medium, 86 FPS on High, and 64 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. This data suggests that 1440p High is a solid target for a smooth experience, as it maintains an average above 60 FPS.

At the demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the system produces 81 FPS on Low, 61 FPS on Medium, 46 FPS on High, and 34 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one at 4K with a reported minimum FPS, which is 52. This means that even the Medium preset at 4K will have frame times that dip below the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows a clear hierarchy: Low is the only preset that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS at 4K.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a behemoth of a GPU, with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2235 MHz, boosting to 2520 MHz. This hardware is designed for extreme 4K gaming and is overkill for a 2018 title like Hitman 2 in terms of raw graphical power. The data confirms this, as the GPU is clearly the dominant component in the system, determining the frame rate at higher resolutions.

The GPU's VRAM allocation is not a concern for this game. Hitman 2's textures and assets are unlikely to exceed 8 GB, so the 24 GB available is more than ample. The GPU's memory bandwidth is also not a limiting factor. The performance differences between settings at 4K are more likely due to compute and shader complexity rather than memory bandwidth. The RTX 4090's high pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,290.2 GTexel/s ensure it can handle the game's rendering at high resolutions.

However, the GPU's role is constrained by the CPU. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully utilized, as the CPU cannot feed it enough data to reach its maximum potential. The 238 FPS at 1080p Low is a high number, but it may be a CPU limit. The GPU's true power is only visible at 4K, where it is fully saturated. The drop from 81 FPS at 4K Low to 34 FPS at 4K Ultra shows the GPU is doing substantial work. The RTX 4090's FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS is immense, but the game's engine may not be able to leverage it fully, resulting in sub-optimal scaling in certain presets. The data indicates that the GPU is capable of far more, but the system's overall performance is capped by the mobile CPU's capabilities.