Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title, remains a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. In this analysis, the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces results that are nothing short of extraordinary. The data shows this pairing achieves the top rank among 3001 tested combos for this game, evidence of the sheer processing power on offer. The measured frame rates are consistently high, even at 4K resolution with maximum settings, making this an elite configuration for anyone seeking the definitive Hitman 2 experience. This analysis will break down the CPU's role, answer common questions, and provide a detailed look at how this system performs across different resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and can boost up to 5.50 GHz, providing substantial processing headroom. In the context of Hitman 2, a game that relies heavily on CPU performance for its complex AI, physics, and world simulation, this processor is a critical component. The game’s engine benefits significantly from high single-thread performance, and the 265K’s 5.50 GHz boost clock is a key factor in achieving the high frame rates observed in the data. While the game may not fully utilize all 20 threads, the processor's strong multi-core capabilities ensure that any background tasks or engine overhead do not become a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential.

The benchmark results for the 265K reinforce its position as a top-tier gaming CPU. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35850 and single-core score of 2020 indicate a balanced performance profile. The Geekbench single-core score of 2713 and multi-core score of 23085 further confirm its strength. The processor holds a 94th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs, placing it in the upper echelon of available processors. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a near-tie at the top. It is a mere 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon 6511P and 0.7% behind the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 in average benchmark score. Conversely, it is 1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F. This indicates that the 265K is not just a capable gaming CPU; it is a leader in its class, with performance that rivals even enterprise-grade server processors.

For a game like Hitman 2, which is known to be sensitive to CPU performance, this processor provides the ideal foundation. The 20 cores and 20 threads, combined with the high boost clock, ensure that the game's simulation and logic threads are handled with ease. The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache also helps to reduce memory latency, which can be beneficial for the game's complex data structures. The data suggest that the CPU is more than capable of feeding the RTX 5090 D with enough data to maintain high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less of a limiting factor. Even at 1080p, where CPU load is typically highest, the combination achieves exceptional performance, indicating a well-balanced system with no significant CPU bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K a good match for the RTX 5090 D in Hitman 2?

A: Yes, the data strongly supports this pairing. This specific combination is ranked first out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. The CPU's high single-core performance and the GPU's immense power result in consistently high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, showing an excellent balance with no obvious bottleneck.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use for this system?

A: Based on the measured frame rates, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 4K, it achieves an average of 71 FPS, which is highly playable. While the Ultra preset provides higher visual fidelity, it drops the average to 52 FPS at 4K. The High preset delivers a smooth experience while still offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium or Low.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The performance drop is substantial and indicates a transition from a CPU-bound to a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 207 FPS at 1080p to 132 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 71 FPS at 4K. This represents a 65.7% decrease in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, showing that the game becomes increasingly demanding on the GPU at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D perform well in other benchmarks compared to its rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 77712, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, has a score of 76904, which is 1.1% lower. It also outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT and NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants, which have scores of 78940 and 79396 respectively, meaning the 5090 D is 1.6% and 2.1% behind them, respectively. This shows it is a very high-performing GPU, though some specialized or mobile parts can match its raw compute score.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum frame rates for the Medium preset?

A: The data includes min and max FPS only for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the average is 274 FPS, with a minimum of 233 FPS and a maximum of 315 FPS. At 1440p, the average is 175 FPS, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS. At 4K, the average is 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. These figures show consistent frame times with no major stutters.

Q: Is this a current generation processor and GPU?

A: Yes, according to the data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is from the Core Ultra Series 2, was released on 2024-10-23, and is part of the Arrow Lake architecture. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is from the GeForce 50-series, was released on 2025-01-29, and is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. Both are active, current-generation products.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance scaling as resolution increases. This is a classic demonstration of how a powerful CPU-GPU combination shifts from being CPU-limited at lower resolutions to GPU-limited at higher ones. At 1080p, the system is able to produce incredibly high frame rates, with an average of 365 FPS on Low settings and 207 FPS on High. These numbers are so high that they are likely constrained by the CPU's ability to process the game's simulation and issue draw calls, rather than the GPU's rendering capabilities. The CPU is the primary limiter at this resolution.

Moving to 1440p, the average frame rates remain exceptionally high, but the scaling is more moderate. For instance, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 207 at 1080p to 132 at 1440p, a 36.2% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is starting to take on a more significant role, but the CPU is still keeping pace. The system is still heavily leveraging its CPU strength, and the experience remains very smooth. The data shows that the RTX 5090 D is powerful enough to handle the increased pixel count at 1440p without a dramatic loss in performance.

At 4K, the scaling shows the most significant drop, confirming that the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. On High settings, the average FPS falls to 71, a 46.2% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 65.7% reduction from 1080p. This is expected, as rendering at 3840x2160 requires the GPU to process four times as many pixels as 1080p. The immense power of the RTX 5090 D is still sufficient to deliver a highly playable experience, but the performance ceiling is now clearly set by the graphics card. This resolution scaling analysis shows that the system is well-balanced: powerful enough to be CPU-bound at 1080p, but with enough GPU horsepower to still provide excellent 4K performance.

Settings Recommendations

For this configuration, the optimal settings preset is clearly the High preset. This is determined by analyzing the measured average FPS at each resolution. At 4K, the High preset delivers an average of 71 FPS, which is a solid, playable frame rate for a stealth game that doesn't require lightning-fast reaction times. The Ultra preset, while visually superior, reduces the average to 52 FPS, which is still playable but begins to approach the lower bounds of what is considered smooth. The difference between High and Ultra is a 26.7% performance penalty, which may not be worth the visual gains for all users.

At 1440p and 1080p, the High preset offers even more headroom. At 1440p, it achieves an average of 132 FPS, and at 1080p, it hits 207 FPS. These are excellent results that would be perfect for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset is also a viable option, providing a substantial boost in performance with averages of 93 FPS at 4K, 175 FPS at 1440p, and 274 FPS at 1080p. However, the visual quality reduction from High to Medium is significant, and given the system's capability, it is unnecessary to compromise on visuals.

The Low preset is not recommended for this system, as it offers no real advantage. At 4K, it achieves 124 FPS, and at 1080p it reaches 365 FPS, but these numbers are beyond the refresh rate of most monitors and the visual quality is severely diminished. The data indicates that the High preset is the sweet spot for this combination. It provides a high level of visual fidelity while maintaining excellent performance across all resolutions, making it the best choice for an optimal gaming experience. The Ultra preset can be considered for 1080p and 1440p, where the average FPS of 153 and 98 respectively are still very high, but for 4K, High is the recommended choice.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is ranked first out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This is a definitive statement about its performance. It is the absolute best-performing configuration that has been measured for this specific game. This top ranking is a result of both components being at the top of their respective fields. The CPU's high single-thread performance is ideal for the game's engine, and the GPU's massive compute power ensures that even at 4K, the rendering workload is handled with ease.

This rank is not a marginal victory; it places this combo at the very pinnacle of the benchmark database for this title. It outperforms every other combination of CPU and GPU that has been tested. When considering the nearest rivals for each component, the CPU is within 1.3% of its closest competitor, and the GPU is within 2.4% of its closest rival. However, the combination of these two specific parts yields the best overall result. The synergy between the 265K and the 5090 D is clearly effective, as no other pairing has been able to match its performance in Hitman 2.

The implications of this are significant for anyone building a high-end gaming PC. This data confirms that to get the absolute best performance in Hitman 2, this is the combination to choose. It sets the standard against which all other systems are measured. While other combinations may come close, the data shows that none are able to surpass it. This ranking is a key indicator of the system's overall capability and its status as the ultimate choice for playing this game at the highest possible frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for every resolution and setting combination.

1920x1080

• Low: The average frame rate is 365 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 274 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS is 233, and the maximum is 315.
• High: The average frame rate is 207 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 153 FPS.

2560x1440

• Low: The average frame rate is 234 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 175 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS is 149, and the maximum is 201.
• High: The average frame rate is 132 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 98 FPS.

3840x2160

• Low: The average frame rate is 124 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 93 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS is 79, and the maximum is 107.
• High: The average frame rate is 71 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 52 FPS.

This data shows a consistent progression of performance. The 1080p results are extremely high, demonstrating the CPU's strength. The 1440p results are also very strong, indicating a well-balanced system. The 4K results are still excellent, with even the Ultra preset achieving a playable 52 FPS. The High preset at 4K, with its 71 FPS average, is the recommended configuration for the best experience. The complete dataset confirms that this is an exceptionally powerful combination for Hitman 2, capable of delivering high frame rates at any resolution. The minimum and maximum FPS data for the Medium preset also show good frame pacing, with the spread between min and max being relatively tight, indicating a stable experience without major frame time spikes.