Hitman 2

This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B370 integrated GPU in Hitman 2. The data presents a clear picture of a system constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU’s high-end capabilities largely untapped at most settings. The following sections break down the performance metrics, scaling behavior, and component roles based strictly on the provided measurements.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a steep performance drop as resolution increases, which is the primary indicator that the Intel Arc B370 integrated graphics unit is the limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 73 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low preset, the average falls to 46 FPS, a reduction of 27 FPS. At 4K with Low settings, the average further plummets to 25 FPS, representing a 48 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For the High preset, the averages are 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset shows 54 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. Even the Ultra preset, which starts at a low 30 FPS at 1080p, drops to 19 FPS at 1440p and 10 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the pixel throughput requirement is overwhelming the Arc B370. The GPU’s pixel rate is listed at 48.00 GPixel/s, and its FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS. These figures are modest compared to what Hitman 2 demands at higher resolutions. The frame rate reduction from 1080p to 1440p is roughly a 37% decrease for Low settings (73 to 46 FPS), and the reduction from 1440p to 4K is another 46% decrease (46 to 25 FPS). This non-linear scaling suggests that memory bandwidth and fill rate constraints become progressively more severe as the pixel count grows.

The fact that even at 1080p Low the system only reaches 73 FPS indicates that the graphics processor is saturated even at the lowest workload tested. A CPU-bound scenario would typically show a flatter FPS curve across resolutions, with the frame rate remaining high until the GPU becomes the bottleneck. Here, the continuous and substantial FPS drops at every resolution step point to the Arc B370 as the definitive limiting component. The system is not able to leverage the CPU’s power in this game, as the GPU cannot feed frames fast enough to utilize the processor’s capacity.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2768 out of 3001 combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations, a position that reflects the severe graphics bottleneck.

The CPU itself is a high performer in synthetic benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 84003 and a percentile ranking of 96 against all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (with a delta of 0.2%) and the AMD EPYC 4584PX (with a delta of 1.1%). This indicates the processor is in the top tier of available hardware. However, the combo’s rank in this game is dominated by the GPU, which has an average benchmark score of just 1184 and sits at the 5th percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (delta of -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (delta of -0.5%), which are legacy parts from a different era.

The juxtaposition is stark. The CPU is among the best available, but the GPU is among the worst. In Hitman 2, the game’s performance is tied to the GPU’s output, dragging the entire combo’s rank down to 2768. This demonstrates that a high-end processor cannot compensate for a weak graphics solution in a GPU-intensive title. The data shows that the measured FPS results are entirely consistent with a system where the graphics adapter is the sole performance arbiter. This rank is a direct consequence of the Arc B370’s integrated nature, which is designed for low power consumption rather than high-end gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average frame rate is 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU’s synthetic benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K’s score of 83807.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 73 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p High and 4K High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p High is 41 FPS, while at 4K High it is 14 FPS, a difference of 27 FPS.

Q: Where does this combo rank among all tested combinations for Hitman 2?

A: It ranks 2768 out of 3001 total tested combos.

Q: What is the GPU’s boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a boost clock of 2400 MHz.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the user’s target resolution and frame rate preference. For a playable experience, the Low preset is the only viable option at 4K, yielding an average of 25 FPS. This is below the standard 30 FPS threshold for smoothness but is the only setting that breaks the 20 FPS barrier at that resolution. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 19 FPS, and High falls to 14 FPS, making them less suitable for action-oriented gameplay.

At 1440p, the Low preset delivers a more acceptable 46 FPS average. The Medium preset offers a 35 FPS average, which is a compromise between visual fidelity and smoothness, with a minimum of 30 FPS. The High preset at 1440p drops to 26 FPS, which is borderline. The Ultra preset at 1440p is too demanding, with an average of only 19 FPS.

The 1080p resolution provides the best overall experience. The Low preset achieves 73 FPS, which is the highest measured average for this combo. For a balance of visuals and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is a strong recommendation, providing 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS. This is the highest preset that consistently maintains an average above 50 FPS. The High preset at 1080p yields 41 FPS, which is playable but shows a significant drop from Medium. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with its 30 FPS average, is only advisable for users who prioritize visual quality over smoothness and are willing to accept a lower frame rate.

The data suggests that the Medium preset at 1080p is the "sweet spot" for this system, offering a playable frame rate while still providing a moderate level of graphical detail. Pushing to High or Ultra causes disproportionate performance losses, reinforcing that the GPU is overburdened. The Low preset is the best choice for maximizing frame rate at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows. At 3840x2160 (4K), the Low preset averages 25 FPS. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. The High preset averages 14 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 10 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Low preset averages 46 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. The High preset averages 26 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 19 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Low preset averages 73 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS.

The pattern is consistent across every settings preset. The delta between Low and Medium is approximately 19 FPS at 1080p (73 to 54), 11 FPS at 1440p (46 to 35), and 6 FPS at 4K (25 to 19). The delta between Medium and High is 13 FPS at 1080p (54 to 41), 9 FPS at 1440p (35 to 26), and 5 FPS at 4K (19 to 14). The delta between High and Ultra is 11 FPS at 1080p (41 to 30), 7 FPS at 1440p (26 to 19), and 4 FPS at 4K (14 to 10). These absolute differences shrink as resolution increases, but the relative cost of each settings tier remains substantial.

The data also shows that the minimum FPS values, where available, are close to the average. For example, at 1080p Medium, the minimum is 46 FPS against an average of 54 FPS, indicating a relatively stable frame pacing. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 30 FPS against an average of 35 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 16 FPS against an average of 19 FPS. This consistency suggests that the performance ceiling is hard, and the system does not experience large frame time spikes, but rather operates at a consistently low level.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. This is a high-end desktop part with a 125 W TDP.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates exceptional multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. It scores 51731 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7303 in single-core. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 60860, and its single-thread score is 4823. These figures place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

However, in Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is diminished. The measured FPS data shows that the system is heavily GPU-bound. The CPU is capable of far higher frame rates than the Arc B370 can deliver. The game’s engine, being a stealth title, may not heavily utilize all 24 cores, but the single-thread performance is more than sufficient for the game’s logic. The bottleneck is not in processing game logic or draw calls; it is in the rasterization and pixel shading stages, which are handled by the GPU.

The high boost clock of 5.80 GHz ensures that any single-threaded tasks in the game are handled with minimal latency. The large L3 cache also helps with data locality. However, none of this matters when the GPU is only producing 73 FPS at the lowest settings. The CPU is effectively idle, waiting for the GPU to complete its work. The data suggests that this processor would not be a limiting factor even at 1080p with a much faster discrete GPU. The CPU’s role in this combo is to provide a stable platform, but it is not the performance determinant for this game.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units. Its FP32 performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS, and it has a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s. The memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is system-dependent.

The GPU’s benchmark data is very weak. It has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are old parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770. This is a clear indication that the Arc B370 is not designed for gaming at the level Hitman 2 requires.

The measured FPS data confirms this. The GPU is the sole reason for the low frame rates. At 1080p Low, the 73 FPS average is likely near the peak capability of this integrated solution. The steep drop-off at higher resolutions is a direct result of the GPU’s limited fill rate and memory bandwidth. The system-shared memory means the GPU must compete with the CPU for bandwidth, which can exacerbate performance issues.

The 25 W TDP of the GPU is a key indicator of its intended purpose: low-power, portable devices. It is not meant to handle heavy 3D workloads. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is respectable for an iGPU, but the low number of execution units (1280 shading units) and the narrow memory interface (system dependent) cap its performance. In Hitman 2, the GPU consistently fails to deliver playable frame rates at higher settings, and the data shows that no amount of CPU power can overcome this limitation. The GPU is the bottleneck, and its performance characteristics entirely dictate the results seen in this benchmark.