Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 pairing delivers a surprisingly playable Hitman 2 experience across most resolutions, but the data reveals a clear ceiling. At 4K, the combination struggles to maintain fluid frame rates on higher presets, while dropping to 1080p unlocks the full potential of the CPU. The benchmark results indicate a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, but the processor’s strength ensures that lower resolutions yield exceptional performance. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain exactly where this pairing excels and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hitman 2 shows a steep performance curve as resolution increases, a classic sign of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 171 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops performance to 110 FPS, a reduction of approximately 36%. The jump to 4K at Low settings yields 58 FPS, which is nearly half of the 1440p result and roughly one-third of the 1080p figure. This dramatic scaling from 1080p to 4K indicates that the RTX 4060’s rendering pipeline is the limiting factor as pixel count rises.

The pattern persists across all quality presets. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 129 at 1080p, to 82 at 1440p, and finally to 44 at 4K. The High preset shows a similar trajectory: 97 FPS at 1080p, 62 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with figures of 72 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and just 24 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistently significant, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing, suggesting that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and fill rate are overwhelmed at the highest resolution.

The scaling behavior points to a system that is well-balanced for 1080p gaming but becomes progressively more GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are likely contributing factors to the steep decline at 4K. The fact that even the Low preset at 4K cannot break the 60 FPS threshold confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. In contrast, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at 1080p, where frame rates exceed 170 FPS, indicating that the processor can feed the GPU efficiently without becoming a limiting factor at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, is the dominant component in this pairing for Hitman 2. The GPU’s specifications—3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs—are reflected in its performance metrics. The benchmark results show a Passmark G3D score of 19545, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and the AMD Radeon 780M, with deltaPct values of -0.2% and 0.3%, respectively, indicating the RTX 4060 sits in a tightly contested performance tier.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is most evident in the scaling from 1080p to 4K. The card’s boost clock of 2460 MHz and base clock of 1830 MHz provide the raw compute power, but the memory subsystem is a limiting factor. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. At 4K, this bandwidth is insufficient to maintain high frame rates, as evidenced by the 24 FPS average on the Ultra preset. The Medium preset at 4K, which shows a minimum FPS of 37 and maximum of 50, demonstrates that the GPU can handle moderate loads but struggles with the increased memory pressure of higher resolutions.

The RTX 4060’s FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS is adequate for Hitman 2’s DirectX 12 workload, but the game’s visual complexity at Ultra settings overwhelms the GPU. The data shows that the card’s performance is consistent with its 61st percentile ranking, meaning it offers mid-range capability. The fact that the GPU is marked as "End-of-life" in production status suggests it is at the tail end of its lifecycle, but the benchmark results show it can still deliver playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p for this title. The High preset at 1440p, averaging 62 FPS, is the sweet spot for this GPU, balancing visual fidelity with smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 plays a supporting role in Hitman 2, but its capabilities are crucial for achieving high frame rates at lower resolutions. This processor features 20 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample data storage for game logic. The CPU’s Passmark multithread score of 49682 and single-thread score of 4689 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 7 265’s nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 4464P, with a deltaPct of -0.3%, meaning the Intel chip is nearly identical in average score. Other rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F (deltaPct 0.3%) and the AMD EPYC 7343 (deltaPct 0.7%). This positioning shows the CPU is a high-end desktop part, though the EPYC rivals are server-class chips, suggesting the Intel part offers comparable compute throughput in a desktop form factor.

For Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is most apparent at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed. At Low settings, the 1080p average of 171 FPS indicates the CPU can process the game’s simulation and AI routines quickly enough to feed the GPU. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42216 and single-core score of 5960 demonstrate the CPU’s ability to handle both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, which is essential for a stealth game like Hitman 2 that relies on complex AI interactions. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and 3 nm process node from TSMC make it an efficient part, but the benchmark results show it is not a bottleneck in this title, even at high frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this CPU and GPU combo in Hitman 2?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 171, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 171 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 72 FPS, representing a significant drop of approximately 58%.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 58 FPS, but higher presets struggle. The Medium preset averages 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 24 FPS, making 4K playable only on lower settings.

Q: How does the CPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is -0.3% compared to the AMD EPYC 4464P's score of 64823.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The minimum FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 70 FPS, with a maximum of 95 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset offers an excellent balance, averaging 97 FPS. This provides a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS standard, while maintaining better visual quality than the Medium preset, which averages 129 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 72 FPS, is also viable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate, as it remains above the 60 FPS threshold.

For 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, averaging 62 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that consistently hits the 60 FPS mark, as the Medium preset averages 82 FPS but the Ultra preset falls to 46 FPS. The Low preset at 1440p, averaging 110 FPS, is suitable for competitive play or for users who prefer maximum frame rates, but it sacrifices significant visual detail.

At 4K, the options are limited. The Low preset, averaging 58 FPS, is the only setting that approaches playability, but it falls just short of 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 44 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, while the High and Ultra presets, at 33 FPS and 24 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a smooth experience. For 4K, users should either accept the Low preset or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for Hitman 2 with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is as follows:

At 1920x1080 resolution:

• Low settings: Average 171 FPS
• Medium settings: Average 129 FPS, with a minimum of 109 FPS and maximum of 148 FPS
• High settings: Average 97 FPS
• Ultra settings: Average 72 FPS

At 2560x1440 resolution:

• Low settings: Average 110 FPS
• Medium settings: Average 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and maximum of 95 FPS
• High settings: Average 62 FPS
• Ultra settings: Average 46 FPS

At 3840x2160 resolution:

• Low settings: Average 58 FPS
• Medium settings: Average 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and maximum of 50 FPS
• High settings: Average 33 FPS
• Ultra settings: Average 24 FPS

The data shows a clear progression: the system excels at 1080p, delivering playable frame rates even on the most demanding preset. At 1440p, the High preset is the best balance of quality and performance. At 4K, the system is only suitable for the Low preset, and even then, it barely misses the 60 FPS target. The combo rank in game is 1606 out of 3001 possible combinations, indicating this is a mid-tier pairing for Hitman 2, capable of solid performance at mainstream resolutions but not designed for 4K gaming.