Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from late 2018, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, based on measured FPS data. The combination ranks 2936 out of 3711 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower half of the database. The data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics card, particularly at higher resolutions and settings, while the processor demonstrates substantial headroom.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. Its 30 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support provide a robust foundation for gaming workloads. In the broader benchmark landscape, the CPU holds a 93rd percentile ranking, with an average benchmark score of 64640. This places it in a tight cluster with its nearest rivals; it is 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343 but 0.7% slower than the AMD EPYC 9124, showing it is a high-performance part in synthetic tests.

However, Hitman 2’s measured frame rates do not reflect this CPU’s strength. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 132 FPS, but the CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 suggests it is capable of far more. The game’s engine, while not brand new, is not heavily multi-threaded to the point of utilizing all 20 threads effectively. The data indicates that the Core Ultra 7 265 is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The CPU’s PassMark single-thread score of 4689 and Cinebench R15 single-core score of 600 are more relevant to gaming, yet even these are not the bottleneck. The FPS drops observed when moving from Low to High settings at any resolution are far more substantial than what a CPU limitation would cause; they are the signature of a GPU bottleneck. In essence, the processor is idle-waiting for the graphics card to deliver frames, making its raw power largely irrelevant to the final FPS numbers in this specific configuration.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 1920 shading units, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores. It operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its 12 nm process node and 160 W TDP are dated by modern standards. The GPU holds a 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, has a deltaPct of 0, indicating identical average performance in these aggregated benchmarks, while the AMD Radeon 680M is just 0.1% ahead.

In Hitman 2, the RTX 2060’s limitations are clear. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a critical constraint at higher resolutions. The measured data shows that at 4K, the Ultra preset yields only 19 FPS, which is unplayable. This is not just a raw compute issue; the game likely exceeds the 6 GB VRAM buffer, causing stutters and severe frame drops. The GPU’s performance is the primary determinant of the FPS in all measured scenarios. The delta between Low and Ultra settings is enormous—for instance, at 1080p, it’s a jump from 132 FPS to 55 FPS, a 58% reduction. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is being overwhelmed by the increased shading, texture, and lighting demands. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 14111 and DirectX 12 score of 53 reflect its age, and the game’s results confirm that it is the clear bottleneck in this system, especially when aiming for 60 FPS at 1440p or 4K.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS achieved is 45 on Low settings. On Medium, it drops to 34 FPS, and on Ultra, it falls to a mere 19 FPS. The RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM and compute power are insufficient for a smooth 4K experience, even on the lowest preset.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured rows, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can reliably exceed 60 FPS. At 1080p, it achieves 75 FPS on High and 99 FPS on Medium, while 1440p High only reaches 48 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset offers a good balance at 99 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU’s benchmark performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640. It is 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 4464P (avg score 64823) and 0.7% slower than the AMD EPYC 9124 (avg score 65104). It is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F (avg score 64438) and 0.7% faster than the AMD EPYC 7343 (avg score 64202).

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than its nearest rival, the GTX 580?

A: No. The benchmark data shows that the RTX 2060 and the GTX 580 have identical average scores (15290 vs 15283, a deltaPct of 0). In Hitman 2, the RTX 2060's performance is indicative of its age, and its 6 GB VRAM is a limiting factor that the older card also struggles with.

Q: What is the FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 84 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields only 35 FPS. This is a 58% reduction in performance, highlighting the massive load the Ultra preset places on the GPU.

Q: Does increasing resolution have a bigger impact on performance than increasing settings?

A: The data suggests the impact is similar, but resolution scaling is more punishing. For example, moving from 1080p High to 1440p High drops FPS from 75 to 48 (a 36% decrease). Moving from 1440p High to 4K High drops FPS from 48 to 25 (a 48% decrease). In contrast, changing settings at a fixed resolution, like from 1080p Medium to 1080p Ultra, drops FPS from 99 to 55 (a 44% decrease).

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset achieves an average of 132 FPS. Medium delivers 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. High settings yield 75 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 55 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors, though the Ultra preset will push it below the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the strain on the GPU becomes evident. The Low preset still manages a solid 84 FPS. Medium produces 63 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 54 and 73 FPS, respectively. The High preset falls to 48 FPS, which is not ideal for smooth gameplay, and the Ultra preset drops to 35 FPS, making it a challenging experience. The 1440p results indicate that the RTX 2060 is reaching its limits, and users must sacrifice visual quality to maintain playable frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly out of its depth. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 45 FPS. Medium drops to 34 FPS (min 29, max 39), High falls to 25 FPS, and Ultra is effectively a slideshow at 19 FPS. The 4K data confirms that this is a 1080p/1440p card, and the 6 GB VRAM is insufficient for the demands of 4K textures and rendering in Hitman 2.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario. When comparing the High preset, the average FPS drops from 75 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p, and further to 25 at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 48% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, but it is consistently steep. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat when increasing resolution, as the CPU workload is largely resolution-independent. Instead, the FPS plummets, indicating that the GPU’s rendering workload is the primary constraint.

This pattern is consistent across all settings. For instance, on Low, the FPS goes from 132 at 1080p to 84 at 1440p and 45 at 4K. The consistent drop-off across all presets reinforces that the RTX 2060’s compute units and memory bandwidth are being saturated. The 4K results, particularly the 19 FPS on Ultra, show a catastrophic failure to keep up, suggesting that the GPU is not only compute-limited but also likely hitting the 6 GB VRAM ceiling, which can cause severe frame time spikes. The data strongly indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has ample headroom, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration.

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

Analyzing the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the user’s target resolution and frame rate preference. For 1080p, the Medium preset is the clear winner. It delivers an average of 99 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience on most displays. The High preset at 75 FPS is also viable, but Medium offers a significant FPS boost with a relatively minor visual trade-off. The Ultra preset at 55 FPS is borderline, and the Low preset at 132 FPS is unnecessary unless the player is using a very high refresh rate monitor and prioritizes frame rate over all else.

For 1440p, the situation is more restrictive. The Low preset is the only one that guarantees a comfortable experience, providing an average of 84 FPS. The Medium preset at 63 FPS is playable, but the minimum of 54 FPS may result in occasional stutters. The High preset at 48 FPS is below the 60 FPS target and is not recommended for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 35 FPS is not recommended for action-oriented gameplay.

At 4K, no preset provides a truly smooth experience. The Low preset at 45 FPS is the highest achievable, but it will still feel less fluid. The Medium preset at 34 FPS and High at 25 FPS are only suitable for slow, methodical play or taking screenshots. The Ultra preset at 19 FPS is not a viable option for any gameplay. In summary, the best experience is found at 1080p on Medium settings, which offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for this hardware combination. For a 60 FPS target, 1440p Low is the maximum resolution that can consistently hit it, while 4K should be avoided for serious play.