Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, shows a clear performance hierarchy when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060. The benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while at 1080p, the CPU's capabilities come to the forefront. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, contextualizes the combo's standing among 3,711 tested configurations, and provides actionable settings guidance based strictly on the provided data.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a dramatic and predictable impact on frame rates, indicative of a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 183 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings yields 117 FPS, a reduction of 66 FPS (or roughly 36%). At 4K, the average drops further to 62 FPS, which is a 54% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 66% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline with each resolution jump is the classic signature of a GPU that is saturated with pixel work.

The scaling pattern holds across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 104 at 1080p, to 66 at 1440p, and finally to 35 at 4K. Similarly, with Ultra settings, the averages are 76, 49, and 26 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively. The consistent halving or near-halving of performance from 1080p to 4K strongly suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is not the limiting factor in this title. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat regardless of resolution, as the CPU's workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) does not scale with pixel count.

Instead, the data indicates that the RTX 5060, with its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus, is the component determining the performance ceiling. The 4K Ultra result of 26 FPS is particularly telling; it represents a situation where the GPU is fully engaged, processing over four times the pixels of 1080p while also handling the most demanding visual effects. The performance drop from 76 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 26 FPS at 4K Ultra is a 65.8% decline, which is nearly proportional to the increase in pixel count. This shows that the system's scaling is almost perfectly linear with GPU load, confirming that the GeForce RTX 5060 is the limiting component in this configuration for Hitman 2.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 183 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain a playable frame rate at 4K resolution with Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is only 26 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth, consistent gameplay.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p High compare to 1080p High?

A: At 1440p High, the average frame rate is 66 FPS, which is 38 FPS lower than the 104 FPS average observed at 1080p High. This represents a 36.5% performance drop when moving up one resolution tier.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values recorded for the Medium settings preset?

A: The data shows minimum FPS values for Medium settings at all three resolutions: 117 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 40 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does this specific CPU+GPU combo rank among all tested configurations in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 1669th out of 3711 tested combinations, placing it in the 55th percentile of all systems tested for this game.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the performance bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is still the primary limit. While the CPU is powerful, the frame rate still drops significantly from 183 FPS at 1080p Low to 117 FPS at 1440p Low, indicating the GPU's workload is the main constraint even at the lower resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In Hitman 2, a title from 2018, the game's threading model does not fully utilize the massive parallel processing capabilities of this CPU. The benchmark results demonstrate this; the frame rates are highly sensitive to resolution changes, which is a characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios.

The CPU's high boost clock of 5.30 GHz is beneficial for the single-threaded aspects of game logic, but the data does not show the CPU acting as a bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 183. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar frame rates at higher resolutions, as the CPU's work would remain constant. Instead, the FPS drops to 117 at 1440p and 62 at 4K, proving that the GPU is the component that is maxed out. The CPU is delivering frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower resolutions, but the GPU's rendering limit is reached well before the CPU's processing limit.

The Core Ultra 7 265's performance in synthetic benchmarks shows it is a top-tier processor. It scores 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,960 in single-core, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, including the AMD EPYC 4464P and EPYC 7343, are within a 0.7% performance delta, confirming its high standing. However, this raw compute power is not the primary driver of Hitman 2's frame rate. The game's engine is more dependent on the graphics card. The CPU ensures there is no frame pacing or logic bottleneck, but it is the RTX 5060 that determines the final FPS numbers. In this specific test, the CPU's role is to provide a stable and high-performance foundation, freeing the GPU to be the sole determinant of graphical throughput.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset produces an average of 183 FPS, while Medium averages 137 FPS with a minimum of 117 and maximum of 158. High settings yield 104 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset still manages a solid 76 FPS. This range shows that at Full HD, the RTX 5060 has ample headroom for high refresh rate monitors on all but the most demanding preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but the GPU load becomes more apparent. The Low preset drops to 117 FPS, and Medium falls to 88 FPS (with a min/max of 75/101). High settings average 66 FPS, which is a comfortable level for most players. Ultra settings at 1440p produce an average of 49 FPS, dipping into a range where some users may prefer to lower settings for a smoother experience.

The 3840x2160 results show the limits of this configuration. Low settings are playable at 62 FPS, and Medium averages 47 FPS (min 40, max 54). High settings drop to 35 FPS, which is marginal for a stealth game that benefits from smooth camera movement. Ultra settings at 4K are not viable for enjoyable gameplay, with an average of only 26 FPS. The data clearly shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being reserved for lower graphical presets.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 configuration holds a rank of 1669 out of 3711 combos. This places it in the 55th percentile of all systems, meaning it outperforms the majority of tested setups but is not in the top tier. This ranking is a direct result of the GPU's performance class. While the CPU is exceptionally fast, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and mid-range positioning limit its ability to compete with higher-end cards that are present in many other tested combos.

The GPU's own benchmark data contextualizes this further. The RTX 5060 has a percentile rank of 72 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26,331. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, with performance deltas of -0.3% and 1.2% respectively. This places it in a competitive but not dominant segment. The CPU, in contrast, has a percentile rank of 93, showing it is much closer to the top of its field. The combo's overall rank of 1669 is therefore dragged down by the GPU's mid-pack performance in this specific game, which is more sensitive to graphics hardware than processing power. The ranking indicates that for Hitman 2, a system with a more powerful GPU and a slower CPU would likely achieve a higher frame rate and a better rank.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and performance preference. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as it maintains an average of 76 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. If a user has a 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitor, the High preset at 104 FPS or the Medium preset at 137 FPS would be more suitable to leverage the display's capabilities.

At 2560x1440, the High preset provides the best balance, with an average of 66 FPS. This ensures a fluid experience while retaining significant graphical quality. The Medium preset at 88 FPS is an excellent fallback for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, while the Ultra preset at 49 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Low preset at 117 FPS is recommended only for competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount.

For 3840x2160, the options are constrained. The Medium preset, with an average of 47 FPS, is the highest quality setting that approaches playability. The Low preset at 62 FPS is the only setting that consistently delivers a smooth 60 FPS experience. The High and Ultra presets, at 35 and 26 FPS respectively, should be avoided for standard gameplay. The data suggests that for 4K, users should either settle for Medium settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to unlock higher quality presets. The sweet spot for this combo is 1080p Ultra or 1440p High.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the definitive performance limiter for this combo in Hitman 2. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. It operates at a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The benchmark data shows that this configuration is consistently unable to maintain high frame rates at 4K, with averages ranging from 26 FPS on Ultra to 62 FPS on Low. This indicates that the GPU's processing power and memory bandwidth are saturated by the game's demands at higher resolutions.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor. At 4K resolution with High or Ultra settings, the texture and geometry data likely approach or exceed this limit, which can lead to performance degradation. The steep drop from 62 FPS at 4K Low to 35 FPS at 4K High suggests that the increase in visual fidelity comes at a significant cost to the GPU's ability to render frames. The GPU's performance in synthetic tests, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3,628 and a Passmark G3D score of 20,891, confirms its mid-range standing. Its 72nd percentile rank among all GPUs is reflected in its gaming performance here.

The RTX 5060's nearest rivals, including the Radeon RX 6750 XT with a 1.2% higher average score, are all in a similar performance tier. This explains why the combo ranks in the middle of the pack for Hitman 2. The GPU is powerful enough for excellent 1080p and good 1440p gaming, but it lacks the raw throughput and memory capacity to deliver a high-end 4K experience. The data indicates that the GPU's role is to provide solid performance at mainstream resolutions, while the CPU ensures that the system is never held back by processing power. The frame rate caps seen at 4K are entirely a consequence of the RTX 5060's rendering limits.