Hitman 2

This combo ranking places the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B580 at position 2262 out of 3001 tested combinations for Hitman 2. That puts it in the bottom quarter of all tested combos, which is a clear signal that this pairing is not optimized for this specific title. The data indicates a significant bottleneck imbalance, where the CPU's capabilities far outweigh what the GPU can deliver in this game. While the processor is a top-tier part, the graphics card holds the overall experience back, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

At rank 2262 out of 3001 combos, this system sits in the 25th percentile or lower for Hitman 2 performance. This is a poor result for a combination featuring a flagship-class CPU, and benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The ranking reflects the average FPS across all tested settings and resolutions, and the data shows a clear pattern: the Arc B580 struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, and even at 1440p, the performance is inconsistent.

The CPU itself is exceptional, scoring in the 96th percentile against all other processors. Its average benchmark score of 84003 places it slightly ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83807, deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD EPYC 4584PX (83090, deltaPct 1.1). However, this raw processing power does not translate into Hitman 2 frame rates because the game's engine is far more dependent on the GPU at the settings tested. The combo rank suggests that in the context of this game, the CPU's strength is largely wasted, as the Arc B580 becomes the ceiling for performance.

For context, the GPU's average benchmark score of 23021 is nearly identical to that of the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, deltaPct -0.2) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, deltaPct 0.6). This places the Arc B580 in a strange middle ground—it's not a low-end card, but its performance profile is more aligned with older mid-range parts than modern high-end ones. In Hitman 2, this translates to a system that can handle 1080p well but falls apart at 4K, dragging the overall combo ranking down.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the decisive component in this combo's Hitman 2 performance. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, with 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. These specs are moderate for a modern GPU, and the benchmark results confirm that it operates in a mid-range tier.

In Hitman 2, the memory configuration is particularly telling. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for most scenarios, but the 192-bit bus and 456.0 GB/s bandwidth become a constraint at higher resolutions. At 4K, the game demands more memory throughput, and the data shows a steep drop-off: the average FPS at 4K High is 27, while at 1080p High it is 79. This scaling suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth is a bottleneck when the pixel count increases.

The GPU's compute performance is also relevant. It delivers 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and a pixel rate of 213.6 GPixel/s. These figures are capable for 1080p gaming but insufficient for maintaining high frame rates at 4K in a game like Hitman 2, which has complex lighting and shadow calculations. The 4K Ultra preset, which likely stresses the GPU's shading and ROP throughput, yields an average of just 20 FPS, confirming that the card is overmatched at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 105 FPS with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 121. This is the sweet spot where the game remains fluid and responsive without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. The Low preset at 1080p pushes the average to 140 FPS, but the visual quality drop is significant, and the Medium preset offers a better balance.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset provides an average of 67 FPS (minimum 57, maximum 77), which is playable but not ideal for a fast-paced stealth game. The High preset at 1440p drops to 51 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. For the best experience at this resolution, Medium is the recommended choice, as it maintains a framerate that is consistently above 60 FPS in most scenes.

The 4K resolution is not recommended for this combo. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is only 48, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are unplayable, with averages of 27 and 20 FPS respectively. If you have a 4K display, the data suggests you should either lower the resolution or accept a significant compromise in visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings.

At 3840x2160, the results are poor across the board. The Low preset yields an average of 48 FPS, which is the highest at this resolution. Medium drops to 36 FPS (with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 41), High falls to 27 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 20 FPS. This is a clear indication that the GPU is not capable of handling 4K in Hitman 2, even at the lowest settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance is more usable but still inconsistent. The Low preset achieves an average of 89 FPS, which is good. Medium delivers 67 FPS (minimum 57, maximum 77), which is acceptable for most players. High drops to 51 FPS, and Ultra falls to 37 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 22 FPS drop, which is significant, but Medium is still playable. The drop from Medium to High is another 16 FPS, which makes High a less attractive option.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs well. Low delivers 140 FPS, Medium delivers 105 FPS (minimum 89, maximum 121), High delivers 79 FPS, and Ultra delivers 58 FPS. This is the only resolution where all presets are at least playable, with Ultra being the minimum acceptable at just below 60 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 82 FPS drop, which is expected as the GPU is pushed harder.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 48 at Low settings to 20 at Ultra settings. Even the lowest preset fails to reach a consistent 60 FPS, so 4K gaming is not viable with this GPU in this game.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the best resolution. At Medium settings, the average FPS is 105, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 121, which provides a smooth experience. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is playable at 67 FPS, but it is less consistent.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 23021 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, deltaPct -0.2) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, deltaPct 0.6). This suggests that in Hitman 2, the Arc B580 would perform similarly to these older cards, which is a limitation for modern titles.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus the bottleneck in this combo?

A: No. The CPU is ranked in the 96th percentile against all processors, with an average benchmark score of 84003. It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83807, deltaPct 0.2). The bottleneck is the GPU, which is ranked in the 68th percentile and cannot keep up with the CPU's capabilities in this game.

Q: What settings should I use for a competitive advantage?

A: For a balance of visual quality and performance, use Medium settings at 1920x1080. This yields an average of 105 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. If you prioritize frame rate over visuals, Low at 1080p gives 140 FPS, but the image quality is noticeably reduced.

Q: Does the GPU's memory bandwidth affect performance?

A: Yes. The Arc B580 has 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth on a 192-bit bus. The measured FPS drops significantly at higher resolutions, indicating that the memory bandwidth is a limiting factor. For example, the average FPS at 1080p High is 79, but at 4K High it is 27, a 52 FPS drop that correlates with increased memory pressure.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. It has a 36 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. This is a high-end CPU, and its benchmark scores reflect that: it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. The data shows that this CPU is more than capable of doing so, as it does not appear to be the limiting factor at any resolution. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 140, which is likely near the game's engine limit. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is severely stressed, the CPU is not causing frame drops below the GPU's output.

The CPU's performance is consistent with its rivals. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4584PX in average benchmark score. However, in Hitman 2, this CPU's advantage is theoretical, as the GPU cannot utilize it fully. The 24 cores and 24 threads are more than sufficient for a game that is typically GPU-bound at the settings tested, meaning the CPU's high multithreading scores are not directly reflected in higher frame rates.

The processor's cache hierarchy, with 3 MB L2 per core and 36 MB L3 shared, helps reduce memory latency, but this benefit is minimal in a game where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. Ultimately that this CPU is overkill for Hitman 2 when paired with the Arc B580. The combo ranking of 2262 out of 3001 is a direct result of the GPU's limitations, not the CPU's, and any attempt to improve performance should focus on the graphics card rather than the processor.