Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics presents a specific performance envelope in Hitman 2, defined by the iGPU’s computational limits rather than the CPU’s capabilities. The measured data shows a component combination that is heavily skewed toward CPU headroom, with the Radeon 890M acting as the primary bottleneck across most resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS rows to determine the optimal configuration, the role of each component, and how this pairing ranks against other tested combos.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data for this configuration in Hitman 2 indicates that the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers the only consistently playable experience, with an average of 71 FPS. This is the sole setting/resolution combination that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, making it the clear recommendation for smooth gameplay. While the Medium preset at 1080p yields 53 FPS on average, the drop below 60 FPS introduces noticeable stutter in a stealth title where precise timing matters. The High preset at 1080p falls further to 40 FPS, which is borderline for action sequences but acceptable for slower stealth sections.

For users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p provides a balanced compromise with a minimum FPS of 45 and a maximum of 62, indicating that the frame pacing is relatively stable. However, the data suggests that pushing to High or Ultra at any resolution is counterproductive, as the average FPS drops to 40 and 30 respectively at 1080p, and falls below 20 FPS at 1440p and 4K. The Low preset at 1440p offers 46 FPS, which is a viable alternative for users with higher-resolution displays who can tolerate a lower visual quality setting.

Given the steep performance cliff between Low and Medium settings, the recommendation is to stick with Low at 1080p for competitive or fast-paced play, or Medium at 1080p for a more visually rich experience if the user can accept a sub-60 FPS average. The Ultra preset is effectively unusable, with the 4K Ultra configuration yielding just 10 FPS, which is below the threshold for even cinematic playback. The measured data clearly shows that this iGPU configuration is not designed for high-fidelity gaming, and the settings should be adjusted accordingly to prioritize frame rate over graphical enhancements.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M serves as the system's graphics processor, operating with a base clock of 400 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it draws from the main system memory pool, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This shared memory architecture is a critical factor in Hitman 2’s performance, as the game’s texture streaming and draw calls must compete with CPU memory access patterns. The GPU’s 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output pipelines are the core processing elements, but their effectiveness is constrained by the 15 W TDP and the system-dependent memory bandwidth.

The benchmark results for the Radeon 890M show a Passmark G3D score of 8076, placing it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs. This positions it as a mid-range integrated solution, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon Vega 8 (deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (deltaPct -0.7). In practical terms for Hitman 2, the GPU’s raw compute capability of 5.939 TFLOPS is sufficient for the game’s DirectX 12 rendering, but the memory bandwidth bottleneck becomes evident at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data shows a dramatic decline as resolution increases: at 1080p Low the average is 71 FPS, but at 1440p Low it drops to 46 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 24 FPS. This 66% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K at the same settings is a direct consequence of the iGPU's reliance on shared system memory, which cannot sustain the bandwidth required for 4K frame buffers.

The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) allows for modern rendering features, but Hitman 2’s optimization for lower-end hardware is evident in the playable frame rates at 1080p Low. The Passmark DirectX 12 score of 37 is notably low, reflecting the GPU’s limited ability to handle complex draw calls, which explains why the High and Ultra presets see such severe frame rate drops. The 890M’s performance is comparable to a discrete GTX 960 in synthetic benchmarks, but in real-world Hitman 2 testing, the shared memory architecture creates additional latency that a dedicated VRAM solution would not experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H provides a substantial processing foundation with 16 cores and 22 threads, running at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This Meteor Lake architecture chip has a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 and a single-core score of 1810.5, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (deltaPct -0.1) and the Intel Core 7 250H (deltaPct -0.2), indicating that it is a top-tier mobile processor.

In Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, AI pathfinding, and physics calculations. The game is known to be moderately CPU-intensive, but the Ultra 9 185H’s 22 threads provide ample headroom. The measured FPS data shows that even at the lowest settings and resolution, the frame rate is constrained by the GPU, not the CPU. For example, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 71, which is below the CPU’s potential to drive higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful GPU. The CPU’s single-thread performance of 1810.5 in Cinebench R23 is strong, but Hitman 2’s engine benefits from multiple cores, and the 185H’s multicore throughput ensures that there are no CPU-driven stutters or frame time spikes.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s is a limiting factor when paired with the iGPU, as both components share the same DDR5 pool. This dual-channel configuration is sufficient for CPU tasks but creates contention when the GPU is simultaneously accessing memory for frame buffers and textures. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this configuration; the FPS differences between settings are entirely attributable to GPU workload. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low (71 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) is a 58% reduction, which is consistent with GPU-bound scaling rather than CPU limitations. The Ultra 9 185H’s 45 W TDP and 5.10 GHz boost clock ensure that it can maintain high utilization without throttling, providing a stable platform for the iGPU’s output.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and AMD Radeon 890M ranks 3502 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom 5.6% of all configurations. This low ranking is a direct result of the iGPU’s performance ceiling, despite the CPU being in the top 15% of all processors. The combo’s ranking reflects the overall gaming experience, where the GPU bottleneck severely limits the achievable frame rates.

To contextualize this ranking, the CPU’s nearest rivals (AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and Intel Core 7 250H) would likely achieve similar in-game performance when paired with the same 890M GPU, as the GPU is the limiting factor. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Radeon Vega 8 and GTX 960, are comparable in synthetic benchmarks, but in Hitman 2, the 890M’s shared memory design may give it a slight edge or disadvantage depending on the system’s RAM configuration. The combo rank is not a reflection of the CPU’s capabilities; rather, it highlights the mismatch between a high-end processor and a mid-range integrated GPU. For users considering this combo, the data suggests that it is suitable for esports titles or older games, but for Hitman 2, the experience is limited to 1080p Low settings for acceptable frame rates.

The ranking percentile (3502nd out of 3711) indicates that the vast majority of tested combinations, which likely include discrete GPUs, outperform this setup. Even the lowest-tier discrete GPUs would provide a significant improvement in Hitman 2’s frame rates, as the game’s engine is not particularly demanding on CPU resources. The data confirms that this combo is a CPU-first configuration where the GPU is the weak link, and the overall ranking reflects that imbalance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides clear evidence of the GPU’s bottleneck behavior. At the Low preset, the average FPS scales from 71 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p (a 35% reduction) and further to 24 at 4K (a 48% reduction from 1440p). This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU that is hitting memory bandwidth limits, as the frame buffer size increases significantly with resolution. At 1080p, the 1920x1080 buffer requires less memory traffic, allowing the iGPU to achieve playable frame rates. At 4K, the 3840x2160 buffer quadruples the pixel count, and the shared memory system cannot keep up, resulting in a 66% overall drop from 1080p to 4K.

At the Medium preset, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute values: 53 FPS at 1080p, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. The minimum FPS values for Medium (45 at 1080p, 29 at 1440p, and 15 at 4K) show that frame pacing degrades as resolution increases, leading to more pronounced stutters. The High preset exhibits an even steeper decline, with 40 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. This indicates that the GPU is not just bandwidth-limited but also compute-limited at higher settings, as the increased shading and texture work overwhelms the 1024 shading units.

The Ultra preset is the most revealing: 30 FPS at 1080p, 19 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K. The 1080p Ultra score of 30 FPS is barely playable, while 4K Ultra at 10 FPS is effectively a slideshow. The resolution scaling data shows that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not change with resolution. Instead, the steep FPS drops confirm that the Radeon 890M is saturated at all settings above Low, and its performance degrades predictably as pixel count rises.

For users with 1080p displays, the data suggests that Low is the only setting for consistent 60+ FPS, while Medium offers a compromise at 53 FPS. For 1440p displays, Low (46 FPS) is the only viable option, and for 4K displays, none of the settings provide acceptable frame rates, with the best case being Low at 24 FPS. This scaling analysis underscores that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at low-to-medium settings, and any attempt to use higher resolutions will result in a subpar experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The Low preset at 1920x1080 yields an average of 71 FPS, which is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS. Medium at 1080p is a secondary option with 53 FPS average and a minimum of 45 FPS.

Q: Why is the performance so low at 4K resolution?

A: The AMD Radeon 890M uses System Shared memory, and the 4K frame buffer (3840x2160) demands significantly more memory bandwidth. At Low settings, 4K achieves 24 FPS, while Ultra drops to 10 FPS, indicating the GPU is severely bandwidth-limited.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 places it in the 85th percentile, and the FPS scaling across resolutions is consistent with GPU limitations. The CPU has ample headroom, as evidenced by the 71 FPS at 1080p Low.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 3502 out of 3711 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 5.6%. This low rank is due to the iGPU’s performance ceiling, not the CPU, which is a top-tier mobile processor.

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

A: At 1080p, Low averages 71 FPS while Ultra averages 30 FPS, a 58% reduction. The Ultra preset’s increased shading and texture detail overwhelm the GPU’s 1024 shading units, leading to significant performance loss.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming?

A: Only at Low settings, which averages 46 FPS. Medium at 1440p drops to 34 FPS, and High falls to 26 FPS, making 1440p gaming a marginal experience limited to the lowest preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists all measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H + AMD Radeon 890M in Hitman 2:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 14 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 24 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 18 | 15 | 21 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 10 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 26 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 46 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 34 | 29 | 39 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 19 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 40 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 71 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 53 | 45 | 62 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 30 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the only playable configuration, with 1440p Low being a marginal alternative. The Medium preset provides the most consistent frame pacing, with a 17 FPS spread between min and max at 1080p. The Ultra preset is uniformly poor across all resolutions, with the 4K Ultra configuration delivering a single-digit average FPS of 10. The absence of min/max FPS data for High and Ultra presets indicates that only the average was captured, but the averages alone are sufficient to demonstrate the performance limitations. For any user seeking a stable experience, the recommendation is to prioritize Low settings at 1080p, as higher settings or resolutions result in frame rates below 60 FPS, which detracts from the stealth gameplay mechanics that require precise timing and smooth camera movement.