Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is a demanding title, but the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER proves exceptionally capable. The data shows a system that dominates at 1080p and 1440p, delivering playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra. The primary constraint shifts from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU at 4K, making this a balanced yet GPU-bound pairing for this stealth classic.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, pinpointing the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher settings. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 171 FPS at 1920x1080 to 109 FPS at 2560x1440, a significant 36% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160 yields only 58 FPS, which is a 47% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, a classic sign of GPU limitation.

The scaling is even more pronounced on the Ultra preset. The system achieves 126 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 80 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 43 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration in the entire dataset that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, highlighting the immense pressure placed on the graphics card by the combination of maximum image quality and 4K resolution.

Comparing the Low preset across resolutions reinforces this analysis. At 1080p Low, the system reaches an extraordinary 301 FPS, which drops to 192 FPS at 1440p and 103 FPS at 4K. Even at the lowest settings, the 4K resolution still demands significant GPU resources. The fact that the frame rate at 1080p Low is nearly three times the 4K Low figure shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER's architecture, with its 16 GB of VRAM and 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, is being saturated by the sheer pixel throughput required at 4K.

The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately, as frame rates scale primarily with resolution. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the definitive limiting factor. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with its high boost clock of 5.50 GHz and 24 threads, has enough headroom to keep up with the GPU's demands at 1080p, where the 301 FPS Low result indicates a CPU that is not the bottleneck. In contrast, the 4K results, particularly the 43 FPS at Ultra, demonstrate that the GPU is working at its absolute limit, unable to maintain high frame rates despite the CPU's capability.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus plays a crucial role in ensuring the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. With 24 cores and 24 threads, this processor provides substantial parallel processing capability. This is reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a Passmark multithread score of 68574, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. For a game like Hitman 2, which can utilize multiple cores for AI, physics, and world simulation, this level of multi-threaded performance ensures that the CPU does not become a bottleneck.

The processor's single-thread performance is equally important for hitman 2's core game loop. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2439 and a Passmark single-thread score of 5068 demonstrate strong per-core efficiency. This is vital because even in a multi-threaded engine, a single main thread often dictates the minimum frame time. The high boost clock of 5.50 GHz helps the CPU deliver snappy responses to game logic, which is essential for maintaining high average frame rates.

The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is more than capable of supporting the GPU. In the 1080p Low setting, the system achieves 301 FPS, a figure that is almost certainly CPU-bound. This suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus can process game data fast enough to feed the RTX 4080 SUPER at its maximum output at that resolution. The CPU's performance is a strong foundation; its average benchmark score of 93785 puts it nearly on par with the Intel Xeon 6520P, which has a score of 93786 and a deltaPct of 0. It is only slightly behind the AMD EPYC 4564P, which has a deltaPct of -1.5.

In practical terms, the CPU's role is to ensure that frame rates remain high and consistent. The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU-induced stuttering, as the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium (123 FPS) and 1080p Medium (192 FPS) are still very high. The processor's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache likely help keep frequently accessed game data close at hand, reducing latency. While the GPU is the star at 4K, the CPU is the unsung hero that enables the triple-digit frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the defining component for visual fidelity and high-resolution performance in Hitman 2. The data clearly shows that its performance scales with the game's settings, and it is the primary determinant of frame rates at 4K. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, is sufficient for the game's textures and assets at all tested settings, as no VRAM-related issues are apparent in the data.

The GPU's architecture, based on Ada Lovelace with 10240 shading units, delivers raw compute power that translates directly into frame rates. At 1440p High, it achieves 109 FPS, and at 4K High, it manages 58 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings is 47%, which is a significant performance cost for the extra pixels. This is expected, as the GPU's pixel rate of 285.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 816.0 GTexel/s are being pushed harder at higher resolutions.

Comparing the RTX 4080 SUPER to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database provides context for its performance. Its average benchmark score of 54209 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which scores 54247 with a deltaPct of -0.1. It is also ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, which has a deltaPct of -1.1. This indicates that within the top tier of GPUs, the 4080 SUPER is a strong performer, and its 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms its high-end status.

The GPU's clock speeds also play a role. The boost clock of 2550 MHz ensures that the card operates at high frequencies under load, maximizing its compute potential. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only sub-60 FPS result, showing that even a GPU of this caliber is challenged by the most demanding settings. However, the 4K Medium result of 77 FPS shows that with a modest reduction in settings, the GPU can easily handle 4K at a smooth frame rate. The GPU's role is clear: it is the component that determines the ceiling for visual quality, and while it is powerful, it requires a settings adjustment to achieve 60 FPS at 4K in this title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 60+ FPS experience at 4K, the Medium preset is the clear choice. The data shows an average of 77 FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 65 FPS ensuring that the experience remains smooth. The High preset at 4K, averaging 58 FPS, is borderline and may not provide a consistently smooth experience, making Medium the better option for 4K gaming.

For 1440p, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance. It achieves an average of 109 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target and provides a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset. The Ultra preset at 1440p, averaging 80 FPS, is also viable for users who prioritize maximum visual fidelity and have a high-refresh-rate monitor, as 80 FPS is still very playable. The Low preset at 1440p, at 192 FPS, is unnecessary given the performance headroom.

At 1080p, all presets are playable, but the Ultra preset is the recommended choice to take full advantage of the system's power. It averages 126 FPS, providing a high-refresh-rate experience with maximum visual quality. The High preset, at 171 FPS, is also excellent, but the Ultra preset offers more visual detail for only a 45 FPS cost. The Low preset at 301 FPS is only relevant for competitive play or benchmarking, as the visual quality reduction is significant.

In summary, the data suggests a simple settings strategy: Ultra for 1080p, High for 1440p, and Medium for 4K. This approach ensures that the system is always delivering a frame rate that is either above 60 FPS or, in the case of 1080p and 1440p, far above it. The measured data does not include ray tracing results, so these recommendations are based solely on the standard rasterization performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this system in Hitman 2?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 offers the best balance. At High settings, it achieves 109 FPS, and even at Ultra, it maintains 80 FPS. This provides a smooth, high-fidelity experience that 4K cannot match, as 4K Ultra drops to 43 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 77 FPS, which is above 60. However, the High preset yields 58 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields 43 FPS, so a settings reduction is required for a consistent 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus compare to its closest rival?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 93785, which is virtually identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P's score of 93786, resulting in a deltaPct of 0. It is slightly behind the AMD EPYC 4564P, which has a deltaPct of -1.5, meaning the 270K Plus is about 1.5% slower in average benchmarks.

Q: Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER significantly faster than the RTX 4080?

A: The benchmark data shows they are nearly equal. The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average score of 54209, while the RTX 4080 has a score of 54247, giving the RTX 4080 SUPER a deltaPct of -0.1. This indicates a negligible performance difference in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the impact of switching from Low to Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The data shows a significant performance cost. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 192 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 80 FPS. This represents a 58% reduction in frame rate for the maximum visual quality increase.

Q: Does the system show any signs of being CPU-bound in the measured data?

A: Yes, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 301 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate that suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at that point. At higher resolutions, the frame rate drops, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination in Hitman 2.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 43 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 58 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 77 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 103 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 80 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 109 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 144 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 192 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 126 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 171 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 226 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 301 |

The data for the Medium preset also includes minimum and maximum frame rates: at 4K, the range is 65-88 FPS; at 1440p, it is 123-166 FPS; and at 1080p, it is 192-260 FPS. The system's overall rank in this game is 225 out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the top 8% of all hardware pairings for Hitman 2.