Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 pairing represents a fascinating study in asymmetry within the Hitman 2 benchmark database. This mobile-class processor, built on the Meteor Lake architecture with a 7 nm process node, drives a desktop-class flagship GPU, creating a bottleneck dynamic that is clearly visible in the frame rate data. The CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, provide substantial processing power. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support, yielding a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, are sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 in most scenarios, but the data suggests that at lower resolutions, the processor's limits become the primary constraint on performance.

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

The Core Ultra 9 185H is a high-end mobile processor, evidenced by its 85th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the database. Its synthetic benchmark scores paint a picture of a chip that is far from a weak link. For instance, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17984.5 and a single-core score of 1810.5. In Geekbench, it scores 11657 multicore and 1794 single-core. These numbers indicate that the CPU has ample headroom for gaming workloads, which typically rely more heavily on single-core performance.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, AI, and draw calls. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 238 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of keeping up with the GPU's output. However, the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is telling. The average FPS drops from 238 to 99, a reduction of over 58%. This indicates that while the CPU can push high frame rates, the increased graphical load at Ultra settings begins to shift the bottleneck towards other components, though the CPU's single-core performance remains a factor.

The processor's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 with a delta of -0.1% and the Intel Core 7 250H with a delta of -0.2%. This places the 185H in a very tight performance cluster, with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X trailing slightly at a -0.7% delta. These minuscule differences in synthetic benchmarks, however, do not fully translate to gaming performance, as the measured FPS in Hitman 2 will show. The 185H’s boost clock of 5.10 GHz is critical for maintaining high frame rates in a game like Hitman 2, which is sensitive to single-threaded performance. The data confirms that at 1080p, the CPU is not the primary limiter, as evidenced by the 238 FPS average at Low settings, but its influence becomes more pronounced as resolution increases and the GPU load becomes the dominant factor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a behemoth, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node. It comes equipped with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. Its 16384 shading units and boost clock of 2520 MHz allow it to process geometry and textures at an extraordinary rate. The GPU's synthetic performance is equally impressive, with a Passmark G3D score of 38194 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9223. Its 88th percentile ranking against all GPUs confirms its status as a top-tier performer.

In Hitman 2, the RTX 4090's role is to render the game's detailed environments and character models. The measured FPS data reveals the GPU's raw power. At 4K with High settings, the combo averages 46 FPS. While this seems low for such a powerful card, it is a direct result of the CPU bottleneck. When the resolution is lowered to 1080p at High settings, the average FPS jumps to 135, demonstrating that the GPU is capable of much higher output when the CPU can feed it more frames. The GPU's memory bandwidth and 24 GB of VRAM are more than sufficient for Hitman 2, even at 4K Ultra, meaning that memory capacity is never a limiting factor in these results.

The GPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, are the Intel Arc Pro A60 with a 0% delta and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 with a 0.3% delta. Interestingly, the RTX 4090 is also compared to the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, which has a -2.5% delta, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710, which has a 2.9% delta. These comparisons highlight that while the 4090 is a consumer flagship, its average benchmark score places it near professional workstation cards in this particular database. In gaming, however, its true strength is in its ability to handle massive resolutions and detail settings, which is only partially realized here due to the CPU pairing.

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

The resolution scaling data is the most revealing aspect of this combo's performance profile. The FPS drops are not uniform across settings, which helps identify the bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 238 at 1080p to 81 at 4K, a reduction of 66%. This steep decline indicates that even at Low settings, the GPU is becoming the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU is already providing a high frame rate ceiling.

At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 178 at 1080p to 61 at 4K, a 66% reduction as well. The picture changes slightly at High settings, where the average FPS drops from 135 at 1080p to 46 at 4K, a 66% reduction. This consistent pattern across Low, Medium, and High settings suggests a GPU-bound scenario at 4K. The CPU is able to maintain a high enough frame rate to keep the GPU saturated, but the GPU's rendering workload at 4K is simply too heavy.

The Ultra settings tell a different story. The average FPS drops from 99 at 1080p to 34 at 4K, a 66% reduction. While the percentage drop is similar, the absolute numbers are lower. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages just 34 FPS, which is not ideal for a stealth game that requires precise timing. This suggests that the combination of high resolution and maximum detail settings overwhelms the system, with the CPU's limitations becoming more apparent. The fact that the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p to 4K is not linear but rather proportional across all settings indicates that the GPU is the primary scaling factor. The CPU provides a base level of performance, but the GPU's rendering capabilities dictate how the frame rate scales with resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 652nd out of 3001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places it in the top 22% of all tested systems. Given the raw power of the RTX 4090, this ranking might seem surprisingly low. However, the ranking is a holistic measure of performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions and the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra drag down the overall score.

The data shows that this combo is not the top performer, despite featuring one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available. The ranking suggests that many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs achieve higher overall performance in Hitman 2. This is likely due to the fact that the mobile 185H, while powerful, does not have the same sustained performance characteristics as a high-end desktop CPU. The 652nd rank indicates that there are 651 other combos that deliver a better average experience across the board. This is a significant finding for potential users, as it highlights that pairing a mobile CPU with a desktop GPU does not always yield the best results.

The combo's rank relative to its components' individual percentiles (85th for CPU, 88th for GPU) shows a slight degradation. The whole is less than the sum of its parts. This is a classic sign of a bottleneck. The CPU cannot keep up with the GPU's potential, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is waiting for instructions. This ranking serves as a warning that simply combining powerful components does not guarantee top-tier performance without a balanced platform.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the user's target resolution and tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. The data provides clear guidance for each resolution tier.

At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 135 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset offers a higher 178 FPS average, but the High preset provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Low preset achieves 238 FPS, but the visual quality is likely too compromised for a game that relies on environmental detail. The Ultra preset, at 99 FPS, is also playable, but the drop from High to Ultra is significant, and the visual gains may not justify the performance cost. Therefore, the High preset is the recommended choice for 1080p, as it provides a high frame rate with good visual quality.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers an average of 86 FPS, which is excellent for a 1440p monitor. The Medium preset offers 114 FPS, but again, the High preset offers a better visual experience. The Ultra preset drops to 64 FPS, which is still playable but sits closer to the 60 FPS minimum. The Low preset at 152 FPS is unnecessary for most users. The High preset is the sweet spot here, providing a smooth experience without sacrificing too much detail.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. The High preset averages just 46 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, which is right at the threshold, but it includes a minimum FPS of 52, indicating occasional stutters. The Low preset averages 81 FPS, which is playable but looks poor. The Ultra preset averages just 34 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best choice, as it is the only one that consistently stays near or above 60 FPS. Users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate might opt for High, but they should expect a less smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS for this combo at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 135 at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 34 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS experience at 1440p?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 86 FPS, which is well above 60 FPS, making it the best choice.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the FPS drops are consistent with increased rendering load.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 652nd out of 3001 tested combinations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded is 52 at 3840x2160 with Medium settings.