Hitman 2

# CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor built on Intel's 7 nm Meteor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, backed by a 24 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache. This hybrid configuration positions it as a high-end mobile part, sitting in the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 35,670.

In the context of Hitman 2, a stealth game that relies heavily on AI-driven NPC routines and physics interactions, the CPU's multi-threaded capacity matters more than raw single-core speed. The Core Ultra 9 185H posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17,984.5 and a single-core score of 1,810.5. The multi-core result is particularly relevant because Hitman 2's simulation of crowded public spaces and complex guard behaviors can spawn numerous threads. The CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 29,376 and integer math score of 98,302 further indicate strong parallel processing capability.

Comparing against its nearest rivals in the database, the Core Ultra 9 185H is essentially neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (deltaPct: -0.1) and Intel Core 7 250H (deltaPct: -0.2), while trailing the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X by just 0.7%. This clustering suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 185H will not be a differentiator — it performs at parity with these peers. The data shows that the CPU's 22 threads provide enough headroom for Hitman 2's AI workloads without becoming a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where GPU load dominates.

However, at 1080p with Low settings, where the game's frame rate jumps to 171 FPS, the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more consequential. The Geekbench single-core score of 1,794 and PassMark single-thread score of 3,697 indicate competent but not class-leading single-thread throughput. The 185H's boost clock of 5.10 GHz helps in these lighter scenes, but the benchmark results suggest that the CPU can sustain high frame rates without capping them prematurely.

# GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is a desktop-class GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It carries 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1920 MHz, boosting to 2475 MHz, with 5,888 shading units and 46 RT cores. Its memory clock runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective), and the card draws 200 W under load.

The RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 37,648. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (deltaPct: 0.1) and AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (deltaPct: 0.4), while it trails the RTX 4080 Mobile by 1.3%. This positioning indicates that the 4070 is a solid mid-to-high-end performer, but not a flagship.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings scale up. At 4K Ultra, the game drops to 24 FPS (average), which is a clear sign that the RTX 4070's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the game's most demanding configuration. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 26,927 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,854 reflect its raw compute capability, but the measured FPS data reveals that Hitman 2's 4K Ultra settings exceed what this card can handle smoothly.

The 12 GB VRAM capacity is likely a limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where high-resolution textures and extensive draw distances can consume memory rapidly. The GPU's 64 ROPs and 184 texture mapping units handle geometry and texture filtering well at lower settings, but the 4K Ultra result suggests that memory bandwidth or fill rate becomes the bottleneck. At 1440p and 1080p, the GPU has more headroom, as evidenced by the 62 and 97 FPS averages at High settings respectively, indicating that the 4070 is well-matched to this game at mainstream resolutions.

# Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 171 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 110 FPS; and at 4K Low, it falls to 58 FPS. This represents a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. For High settings, the progression is 97 FPS (1080p), 62 FPS (1440p), and 33 FPS (4K) — a 66% drop as well. Medium settings show 129 FPS, 82 FPS, and 44 FPS respectively, which is a 66% decline from 1080p to 4K. Ultra settings follow the same pattern: 72 FPS, 46 FPS, and 24 FPS, again a 66% reduction.

This consistent 66% decrease across all settings is revealing. It indicates that the limiting component shifts from CPU-bound at 1080p to GPU-bound at 4K, but the scaling ratio remains constant because the GPU's workload grows proportionally with pixel count. At 1080p Low, the 171 FPS result suggests that the CPU is doing most of the heavy lifting — the game is likely CPU-limited at this point, as the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can feed it. At 4K Ultra, the 24 FPS result is clearly GPU-limited, as the RTX 4070 struggles to process the higher pixel count and more complex shading.

The intermediate steps tell a nuanced story. At 1440p, the frame rates (46-110 FPS depending on settings) indicate a more balanced workload, where neither component is fully saturated. The 4K Medium result of 44 FPS with a minimum of 37 and maximum of 50 shows some variance, suggesting that the GPU is approaching its limits but not entirely maxed out. The 4K High result of 33 FPS further confirms that the GPU is the primary constraint at this resolution, as the CPU's workload does not increase significantly with resolution.

# FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate this combo can achieve in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 171 at 1080p with Low settings. The lowest is 24 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has an average benchmark score of 35,670, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (35,719, deltaPct: -0.1) and Intel Core 7 250H (35,728, deltaPct: -0.2). It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (35,909) by 0.7%.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all tested GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37,648. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37,628), which is 0.1% behind.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo achieve 60+ FPS?

A: The combo achieves over 60 FPS at 1080p across all settings (72-171 FPS) and at 1440p with Low (110 FPS), Medium (82 FPS), and High (62 FPS) settings. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 46 FPS.

Q: How much does the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 97 at 1080p to 62 at 1440p, and then to 33 at 4K. This represents a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

Q: What are the CPU and GPU launch MSRPs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has a launch MSRP of $640, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 has a launch MSRP of $599 USD.

# How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1606 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it slightly above the median of all tested configurations, which is a meaningful indicator of its overall performance balance. The rank reflects that while neither component is top-tier on its own — the CPU is in the 85th percentile and the GPU in the 81st — their pairing produces a result that is neither exceptional nor disappointing.

The rank of 1606 suggests that many other combos outperform this pairing, likely those with higher-end GPUs or stronger CPUs. However, the data shows that this combo delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p across most settings, with the 4K Ultra setting being the only configuration that falls below 30 FPS. The rank is a composite measure that accounts for all tested resolutions and settings, and the consistent 66% scaling pattern across resolutions indicates that the combo performs predictably without unexpected spikes or drops.

Given that the CPU and GPU are both mobile and desktop parts respectively (the 185H is a mobile processor, the RTX 4070 is a desktop GPU), the rank reflects a pairing that is likely found in high-end laptops with external GPU support or desktop systems using a mobile-derived CPU. The mid-pack rank is consistent with the benchmark scores: the CPU's average score of 35,670 is just 0.7% behind the Ryzen 7 7700X, and the GPU's average score of 37,648 is within 1.3% of the RTX 4080 Mobile. This suggests that the combo is well-balanced for most gaming scenarios, but not optimized for maximum performance in Hitman 2 specifically.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. All values are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 171 FPS average
• Medium: 129 FPS average (minimum 109, maximum 148)
• High: 97 FPS average
• Ultra: 72 FPS average

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 110 FPS average
• Medium: 82 FPS average (minimum 70, maximum 95)
• High: 62 FPS average
• Ultra: 46 FPS average

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 58 FPS average
• Medium: 44 FPS average (minimum 37, maximum 50)
• High: 33 FPS average
• Ultra: 24 FPS average

The data reveals several key patterns. First, the Medium settings at each resolution have the only recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, indicating that this preset exhibits the most frame-time variance. At 1080p Medium, the range is 109-148 FPS (a 39 FPS spread); at 1440p Medium, it is 70-95 FPS (a 25 FPS spread); and at 4K Medium, it is 37-50 FPS (a 13 FPS spread). This narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests that frame pacing becomes more consistent as the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

Second, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 99 FPS (171 vs 72). At 1440p, it is 64 FPS (110 vs 46). At 4K, it narrows to 34 FPS (58 vs 24). This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU can push higher frame rates when settings are reduced, but at 4K, even Low settings cannot exceed 58 FPS, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor.

Third, the step from High to Ultra at each resolution is significant: 25 FPS at 1080p (97 to 72), 16 FPS at 1440p (62 to 46), and 9 FPS at 4K (33 to 24). This suggests that Ultra settings impose a substantial rendering cost, likely from increased draw distances and shadow quality, which disproportionately impacts the GPU. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is below the 30 FPS threshold typically considered minimally playable, making this configuration the only one in the dataset that struggles to maintain acceptable performance.