Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 produces a combination that ranks near the bottom of the database for Hitman 2, landing at position 2876 out of 3001 tested combos. This places the pairing in the bottom 5% of all configurations, a result that strongly suggests the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU, by contrast, is a high-end desktop part that sits in the 93rd percentile among all processors, indicating that its compute potential is largely untapped in this specific pairing. The data implies a stark imbalance: a top-tier processor throttled by a graphics card from an older generation.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2876 out of 3001 is a decisive indicator of poor overall performance for Hitman 2. This ranking is not a reflection of the CPU's capability—the Core Ultra 7 265 sits in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs tested—but rather a direct consequence of the RX 570's limitations. With a GPU percentile rank of 74, the graphics card is a mid-pack performer at best, but in this particular game, its age and memory configuration prove to be severe handicaps. The delta between the CPU's high standing and the combo's low ranking tells a clear story: the graphics subsystem is the bottleneck, dragging down the entire experience.

Benchmark results from the database confirm the CPU's strength. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 42,216 points in multi-core and 5,960 in single-core tests. These figures place it in the upper echelon of desktop processors, competitive with server-class chips like the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is only 0.3% faster on average, and the AMD EPYC 9124, which is 0.7% slower. The Core Ultra 7 265 even edges out its own sibling, the 265F, by a 0.3% margin. For a stealth game like Hitman 2, which relies on CPU logic for AI and crowd simulation, this processor has ample headroom. The measured FPS data, however, shows that this headroom is wasted because the GPU cannot deliver frames fast enough to utilize it.

The overall picture is one of severe underutilization. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 70 FPS, but this is the only playable result. Every other configuration falls below 60 FPS, with 4K Ultra dipping to a slideshow-like 10 FPS. The rank of 2876 reflects how poorly this GPU handles the game's rendering demands, regardless of the CPU's potential. In a database of 3,001 combos, this pairing is firmly in the bottom tier, and the data suggests that upgrading the GPU alone would yield a dramatic improvement in rank.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the clear limiting factor in this configuration. Its specifications, while respectable for its 2017 release, are woefully inadequate for Hitman 2's demands at higher resolutions. The GPU features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 1750 MHz, which translates to 7 Gbps effective. These numbers are modest by modern standards, and the 4 GB capacity is particularly problematic for a game that scales textures and geometry with resolution.

The core clocks are equally modest: a base of 1168 MHz and a boost of 1244 MHz. The GPU's compute capability is rated at 5.095 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, which aligns with its GCN 4.0 architecture. With 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, the RX 570 is a mid-range part from the Polaris generation. Its pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s are the theoretical ceilings, but Hitman 2's engine appears to tax these limits heavily.

The measured FPS data shows a direct correlation between resolution and performance collapse. At 1080p Low, the card manages 70 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 24 FPS—a 66% loss. This scaling indicates that the GPU is running out of memory bandwidth and fill rate as pixel count rises. The 4 GB VRAM is likely exhausted at 1440p and beyond, causing texture thrashing and severe frame rate drops. The GPU's percentile rank of 74 places it near rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (0.4% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX 470 (0.8% slower), but those comparisons are based on synthetic benchmarks, not real-world gaming. In Hitman 2, the RX 570's age shows, and the data suggests that even the Low preset is a struggle at 1440p.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 70, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2876 out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 5% of all pairings in the database for Hitman 2.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU bottleneck this system?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 93rd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 74th. The FPS drops across resolutions are consistent with GPU limitations, not CPU constraints.

Q: Is the RX 570's 4 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: No. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages only 10 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it averages 18 FPS. These results suggest the VRAM capacity and bandwidth are insufficient for high-resolution textures.

Q: What is the playable resolution for this combo?

A: Only 1920x1080 with Low settings provides a consistently playable experience at 70 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 52 FPS, which is borderline, and High settings yield 39 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265 scores 5,960 in Cinebench R23 single-core. This is competitive with its nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 4464P, which is 0.3% faster in average score, and the AMD EPYC 9124, which is 0.7% slower.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the resolution most likely to be used with this GPU, the data shows a clear gradient. Low settings deliver 70 FPS average, which is smooth and responsive. Medium settings drop to 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60, indicating some stutter but generally playable. High settings fall to 39 FPS, which is borderline for a stealth game where timing matters. Ultra settings plummet to 29 FPS, a level that compromises the experience. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 59% drop in frame rate, highlighting the GPU's inability to handle increased graphical fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation deteriorates further. Low settings average 45 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings average 33 FPS, with a range of 28 to 38, suggesting inconsistent frame pacing. High settings drop to 25 FPS, and Ultra falls to 19 FPS. At this resolution, even the Low preset struggles to maintain 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset is effectively unplayable. The 4 GB VRAM is likely a major factor, as the higher pixel count demands more texture memory.

At 3840x2160, the combo is essentially out of its depth. Low settings average 24 FPS, which is a slideshow. Medium settings average 18 FPS, with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20, showing severe frame drops. High settings average 13 FPS, and Ultra averages 10 FPS. These numbers are not indicative of a playable experience under any conditions. The data suggests that the RX 570 was never designed for 4K gaming, and Hitman 2's engine exposes this limitation brutally. The only configuration that approaches playability is 1080p Low, and even then, the margin is thin.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only sensible recommendation is to use 1920x1080 with Low settings. This configuration delivers 70 FPS average, which provides a smooth and responsive experience for a stealth game where timing and precision are critical. The 70 FPS figure is more than double the 33 FPS achieved at 1440p Medium, and it is the only setting that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

The Medium preset at 1080p, averaging 52 FPS, is a viable alternative if visual fidelity is prioritized over frame rate. The minimum of 44 FPS is acceptable, but the maximum of 60 FPS indicates that the GPU is often hitting its limit. For players who prefer smoother gameplay, Low is superior. For those who want better visuals, Medium is a compromise, but the data shows that High and Ultra presets at 1080p offer diminishing returns. High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS threshold and likely to cause noticeable stutter in busy scenes.

At higher resolutions, the recommendation is unambiguous: avoid them. The 1440p Low preset at 45 FPS is technically playable, but the 1080p Medium at 52 FPS is a better experience with similar visual quality. The 4K presets are all below 25 FPS, making them unplayable. The data supports a simple rule: stick to 1080p, and use Low or Medium settings. The GPU's 4 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for anything more demanding.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a formidable processor that is vastly underutilized in this configuration. With 20 cores and 20 threads, it offers substantial multi-threaded performance, scoring 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its single-thread score of 5,960 is equally impressive, placing it among the top desktop processors. The base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide a wide frequency range, allowing the CPU to handle both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads with ease.

In Hitman 2, a stealth game that simulates AI behavior and crowd dynamics, the CPU's role is significant. The 20 cores can handle multiple AI routines and physics calculations simultaneously, and the high boost clock ensures that single-threaded tasks, like game logic, are processed quickly. The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache is ample for game data, reducing memory latency. With a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s from dual-channel DDR5, the CPU can feed data to the GPU efficiently.

However, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU's power is not being translated into frame rate. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 70 FPS, but this is likely CPU-bound, as the GPU is not the limiting factor at such low graphical settings. As resolution and settings increase, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's utilization drops. The rank of 2876 out of 3001 is not a reflection of CPU weakness but rather of the GPU's inability to keep pace. The data implies that if the RX 570 were replaced with a more capable GPU, the combo's rank would improve dramatically, as the CPU has ample headroom to support higher frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and reveals the GPU as the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 70 at 1080p to 45 at 1440p, a 36% reduction, and then to 24 at 4K, a further 47% reduction from 1440p. This scaling is consistent with a GPU that is hitting its memory bandwidth and fill rate limits. The 4 GB VRAM is likely exhausted at 1440p, and at 4K, the card is simply overwhelmed.

At Medium settings, the drop is similar: 52 FPS at 1080p, 33 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 28, and at 4K Medium, it is 15, indicating severe frame time spikes. High settings show 39 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings are the most punishing: 29 FPS at 1080p, 19 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K.

The pattern is clear: the GPU's performance degrades roughly proportionally to the pixel count increase. From 1080p to 4K, there is a 4x increase in pixels, and the FPS drops by approximately 66-71% across all settings. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is compute-bound rather than CPU-bound. The CPU's performance, with its high single-thread score, does not change with resolution, so the FPS drop is entirely attributable to the GPU. The data indicates that the RX 570 is the sole limiting factor, and any attempt to play at higher resolutions will result in an unplayable experience. The only way to improve performance is to reduce resolution and settings, or to upgrade the GPU.