Hitman 2

# Hitman 2 with Intel Core Ultra 9 185H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile delivers a distinctly playable Hitman 2 experience, though the data reveals a system that is far better suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming than to 4K. With a combo rank of 2018 out of 3711 tested combinations, this pairing sits in the middle of the pack — respectable, but not a top-tier performer. The measured frame rates across twelve resolution/settings combinations tell a story of a mobile platform that can handle the game's stealth mechanics smoothly at lower resolutions, but struggles to maintain fluidity when pushed to 4K with higher visual fidelity. This analysis dissects exactly how the CPU and GPU contribute to these results, what the numbers imply about system bottlenecks, and which settings offer the most balanced experience.

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 based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz can boost up to 5.10 GHz, and it carries 24 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 112 KB of L1 cache per core. This is a high-end mobile CPU, reflected in its 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 35670. In synthetic tests, it scores 17984.5 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1810.5 in single-core, with Geekbench results of 11657 multicore and 1794 single-core. These numbers indicate a processor with substantial multi-threaded headroom, though Hitman 2 — a 2018 stealth title — does not typically stress all 22 threads equally.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is remarkably tight. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 scores 35719, just 0.1% ahead, while the Intel Core 7 250H at 35728 is 0.2% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 at 35802 is 0.4% ahead. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X leads this group at 35909, a 0.7% advantage. These sub-1% deltas mean that in CPU-bound scenarios, the Core Ultra 9 185H is effectively interchangeable with its closest competitors — any frame rate differences in Hitman 2 would be attributable to other system components or settings, not CPU compute power.

For Hitman 2 specifically, the CPU's role is primarily about maintaining consistent frame pacing in crowded environments — the game's levels feature numerous NPCs, complex AI routines, and physics interactions that can spike CPU load. The 3.90 GHz base clock ensures sustained performance under load, while the 5.10 GHz boost clock provides bursts of speed for single-threaded tasks like game logic and pathfinding. The 24 MB L3 cache is generous for a mobile chip, which helps with the game's data streaming needs as players move through large, detailed maps like Sapienza or Miami. However, at higher resolutions and settings, the data shows the GPU becomes the limiting factor, meaning the CPU's ample headroom goes underutilized in many of the measured scenarios.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process, with the AD106 chip containing 22,900 million transistors on a 188 mm² die. It features 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, 48 raster output units, 36 ray tracing cores, and 144 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1395 MHz with a boost clock of 1695 MHz, and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory runs at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) across a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. This is a mid-range mobile GPU, sitting at the 73rd percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 27435.

In benchmark comparisons, the RTX 4070 Mobile's nearest rivals show how closely matched this tier of GPU is. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT scores 27425, essentially identical with 0% delta. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 scores 27565, just 0.5% ahead, while the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell trails at 27135, 1.1% behind, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 is 1.5% behind at 27839. These tight margins indicate that the RTX 4070 Mobile delivers desktop-class performance in a mobile form factor, but its 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus could become constraints in VRAM-heavy titles. Hitman 2, however, was released in 2018 and is not particularly VRAM-hungry, so the 8 GB allocation is sufficient — the data confirms the GPU can push high frame rates at 1080p.

The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility mean it can fully leverage modern rendering paths in Hitman 2, which offers both DirectX 12 and Vulkan options. The 15.62 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 244.1 GTexel/s texture rate provide ample fill rate for the game's detailed environments. However, the 1695 MHz boost clock is modest for a 40-series part, and the 115 W TDP caps sustained performance in a laptop chassis. The pixel rate of 81.36 GPixel/s becomes increasingly strained at 4K resolution, which aligns with the measured FPS drop at 3840x2160.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core Ultra 9 185H compare to its closest CPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 9 185H scores 35670 on average, placing it within 0.7% of all four nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X leads at 35909 (0.7% ahead), while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (35719), Intel Core 7 250H (35728), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35802) are all within 0.4% of the Intel chip.

Q: What is the RTX 4070 Mobile's benchmark position relative to desktop GPUs?

A: The GPU's average score of 27435 places it at the 73rd percentile. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, scores 27425 — a 0% delta — while the RTX 3090 is only 0.5% ahead at 27565. This indicates the mobile part performs near desktop mid-range levels.

Q: At which resolution does this combo deliver the highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 171 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. Even at High settings, 1080p yields 97 FPS, showing the combo is well-suited for 1080p gaming across all preset levels.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset produces only 24 FPS average, and High settings yield 33 FPS — both below smooth playability thresholds. The Medium preset at 44 FPS is borderline, while Low at 58 FPS is the only 4K option that approaches acceptable performance.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems for Hitman 2?

A: This combination ranks 2018 out of 3711 tested combos, placing it in the 54th percentile. This suggests it outperforms a slight majority of systems but sits firmly in the mid-range tier for this specific game.

Q: What do the Cinebench R23 scores tell us about gaming performance?

A: The multicore score of 17984.5 and single-core score of 1810.5 indicate strong all-around CPU performance. For Hitman 2, the single-core score is more relevant since the game's engine tends to favor fewer, faster threads — the 5.10 GHz boost clock helps ensure smooth logic processing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates its strength. Low settings produce an average of 171 FPS, which is exceptionally fluid for stealth gameplay. Medium settings drop to 129 FPS, with a minimum of 109 FPS and maximum of 148 FPS, showing consistent frame delivery. High settings yield 97 FPS average, still comfortably above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS average is the most demanding 1080p option, yet remains playable with no stutter indicated.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance scales down predictably. Low settings maintain 110 FPS, which is strong for 1440p. Medium settings average 82 FPS, with a range of 70 to 95 FPS, indicating some variance but still smooth gameplay. High settings at 62 FPS are playable, though the margin above 60 FPS is thin. Ultra settings drop to 46 FPS, which falls below the smooth threshold and may feel less responsive during fast-paced sequences.

At 3840x2160, the limitations of this mobile combination become clear. Low settings produce 58 FPS, just shy of 60 FPS — acceptable but not ideal. Medium settings average 44 FPS, with minimums at 37 FPS and maximums at 50 FPS, showing noticeable frame dips. High settings drop to 33 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 24 FPS, both of which are too low for comfortable gameplay in a stealth title where precise timing matters. The data reveals a steep drop-off from 1440p to 4K, suggesting the GPU's 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 8 GB VRAM become bottlenecks at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

With a combo rank of 2018 out of 3711 tested combinations, this Intel Core Ultra 9 185H + RTX 4070 Mobile pairing sits just past the midpoint of all tested systems for Hitman 2. This ranking means roughly 54% of tested combos outperform it, while 46% are slower. Given that the CPU ranks at the 85th percentile and the GPU at the 73rd percentile, the combo's mid-pack ranking suggests Hitman 2's performance is more heavily weighted toward GPU capabilities than raw CPU power — the GPU's lower percentile drags the overall result down relative to the CPU's strong showing.

The rank implies that many systems with older or less powerful CPUs but stronger GPUs achieve better Hitman 2 resultschers. This is consistent with the game's 2018 release date, which predates the Core Ultra 9 185H's 2023 release; modern CPUs like this one are overkill for the game's CPU demandscars. The combination's strength lies in its balance — it can hit high frame rates at 1080p and playable rates at 1440p, but it doesn't compete with high-end desktop GPU pairings at 4K. The data suggests that in a game like Hitman 2, the GPU is the primary determinant of rank, and the RTX 4070 Mobile's mid-range positioning (73rd percentile) caps the combo's ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 97 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance — it maintains over 90 FPS while providing substantially better graphics than Low's 171 FPS or Medium's 129 FPS. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS is also viable for players who prioritize maximum quality, as it stays above 60 FPS. For competitive or speedrun play, Medium at 129 FPS provides a significant frame rate advantage with minimal visual compromise.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 62 FPS are the recommended choice for a 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 82 FPS offers smoother motion and is preferable if frame rate consistency matters more than visual detail. Low at 110 FPS is the choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the visual downgrade is substantial. Ultra at 46 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the playable threshold.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings at 58 FPS approach playability, and even that is marginal. Medium at 44 FPS is technically playable but will feel sluggish during action sequences. High (33 FPS) and Ultra (24 FPS) are not recommended for actual gameplay. For 4K, players should either accept Low settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a more fluid experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU bottleneck. At Low settings, performance drops from 171 FPS at 1920x1080 to 110 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 36% reduction) and further to 58 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 66% reduction from 1080p). The scaling is roughly proportional to pixel count — 1440p has 1.78x the pixels of 1080p, and the frame rate drops by 1.55x, while 4K has 4x the pixels and the frame rate drops by 2.95x. This indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as a CPU-bound system would show less dramatic scaling.

At High settings, the scaling is even steeper: 97 FPS at 1080p drops to 62 FPS at 1440p (36% reduction) and then to 33 FPS at 4K (66% reduction). The consistent percentage drops across different settings suggest the bottleneck is purely GPU throughput, not memory or CPU limitations. The 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus of the RTX 4070 Mobile are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K resolution's demands on texture bandwidth and fill rate expose the GPU's mid-range nature.

The data implies that players targeting 4K should not expect playable performance on this combo for Hitman 2 — the 58 FPS at Low settings is the best case, and it requires sacrificing nearly all visual quality. The system's sweet spot is clearly 1080p, where it can deliver high frame rates across all presets, or 1440p with Medium to High settings for a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. The CPU's strong performance does not compensate for the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, confirming that this is a GPU-bound scenario for Hitman 2.