Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a 2018 stealth title, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by both resolution and graphical preset, with performance scaling that clearly delineates the strengths and bottlenecks of each component. The benchmark results indicate that this is a system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but it encounters significant challenges when pushed to 4K with maximum settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how different settings presets impact performance at each resolution. For 1080p gaming, the data shows that the Ultra preset, with an average of 95 FPS, is fully playable and likely the best choice for visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p delivers 128 FPS, offering a smoother experience, but the step down to Medium yields 170 FPS, which is a substantial jump. The Low preset reaches 227 FPS, which is extraordinarily high. Given that the game is a stealth title where reaction times matter but not to the extreme of competitive shooters, the High preset at 128 FPS provides an excellent balance of visual quality and smoothness, while the Ultra preset remains viable for those prioritizing visuals. The Medium preset's 170 FPS is impressive, but the visual downgrade from High may not be worth it for most users.

At 1440p, the performance dynamic shifts. The Ultra preset drops to 61 FPS, which is still playable but begins to show the strain on the system. The High preset, at 82 FPS, provides a very good gaming experience, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset achieves 109 FPS, which is excellent for a higher resolution. The Low preset reaches 145 FPS, but at this resolution, the visual compromises are more noticeable. The recommendation here is the High preset, as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium while maintaining a frame rate that is smooth and responsive. The 82 FPS average is sufficient for a great experience, and the jump from 61 to 82 FPS by moving from Ultra to High is a worthwhile trade-off for most players.

The 4K resolution is where the configuration struggles most. The Ultra preset produces an average of 32 FPS, which is below the standard for comfortable playability. The High preset at 44 FPS is an improvement but still not ideal. The Medium preset achieves 58 FPS, which is closer to a playable level, though it may not be consistently smooth. The Low preset delivers 77 FPS, making it the only preset at 4K that provides a fully smooth experience. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 58 FPS is the best compromise, offering a decent balance between visual quality and playability. However, players who prioritize frame rate above all else would need to use the Low preset. The data clearly shows that the Ultra preset at 4K is not a viable option for this combination, and even High is marginal.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. This is a high-core-count desktop processor, and its benchmark scores reflect its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 51731 in multi-core and 7303 in single-core tests. Its PassMark multithread score is 60860, and its single-thread score is 4823. It ranks in the 96th percentile against all CPUs, indicating it is one of the more powerful processors available.

In the context of Hitman 2, a game from 2018, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with enough data to keep it busy. The game is not known for being exceptionally CPU-intensive in a way that would stress a 24-core processor. The data suggests that at 1080p with the Low preset, the system achieves 227 FPS. This very high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of handling the game's physics, AI, and game logic without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The single-core performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 score of 7303, is crucial for this, as Hitman 2's core game logic likely runs on a few threads. The high boost clock of 5.80 GHz helps ensure that these threads are processed quickly.

However, the CPU's performance is also relevant at higher resolutions. The fact that the 4K Ultra preset produces only 32 FPS suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor there, not the CPU. The CPU is likely able to maintain a high frame rate, but the GPU cannot render the frames fast enough. The data implies that the CPU has significant headroom in this game, especially when compared to the GPU's workload. The processor's 24 cores may be underutilized in Hitman 2, but its strong single-threaded performance and high clock speeds ensure that it does not hold the system back. The PassMark data compression score of 698346 and floating point math score of 214760 further illustrate the CPU's raw power, which is more than sufficient for a game of this era. The CPU's performance is not a limiting factor in any of the measured scenarios; it is the GPU that dictates the final frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the graphics card in this configuration. It is based on the Ampere architecture and features 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. Its base clock is 1440 MHz with a boost clock of 1710 MHz. The GPU has 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores. It scores 25086 in PassMark's G3D benchmark and ranks in the 68th percentile against all GPUs. This indicates it is a capable card, but it is not at the top of the performance hierarchy.

The GPU's role in Hitman 2 is, unsurprisingly, dominant. The frame rates scale dramatically with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p, the GPU is able to produce very high frame rates, from 95 FPS on Ultra to 227 FPS on Low. This shows that at lower resolutions, the GPU has enough headroom to render frames quickly. As the resolution increases to 1440p, the frame rates drop, and at 4K, they plummet further. The 4K results are particularly telling. The Ultra preset at 4K yields 32 FPS, a severe drop from the 95 FPS at 1080p. This indicates that the GPU is struggling with the pixel count and the high graphical demands of the Ultra preset.

The 10 GB VRAM is a key factor. At 4K with Ultra settings, the game is likely consuming a significant amount of memory. While the data does not list VRAM usage, the significant frame rate drop suggests that the GPU is also hitting memory bandwidth or capacity limits. The memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s is high, but at 4K Ultra, the demands are immense. The RTX 3080's performance in this game is solid at 1080p and 1440p, but it is clearly insufficient for a smooth 4K Ultra experience. The data shows that even at 4K Medium, the average is only 58 FPS, which is borderline. The GPU is the primary bottleneck in this configuration for Hitman 2, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The card's 68th percentile ranking against all GPUs suggests it is a mid-to-high-tier card, but the demands of 4K gaming push it to its limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 840th out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the top 28% of all configurations. This is a respectable ranking, but it is not exceptional. The ranking is likely influenced by the GPU's performance, which is a bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU is a top-tier processor, but its strengths are not fully utilized in this game.

The GPU's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the NVIDIA P106-100, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M. These are all significantly less powerful cards, and the RTX 3080 is only 0.3% to 0.4% faster than them in average benchmark scores. This is a strange grouping, as these cards are not in the same performance class as the RTX 3080 in real-world gaming. It is possible that the average benchmark scores are skewed by specific workloads. However, the data shows that the RTX 3080's overall benchmark score is 23172, which is comparable to these other cards. This suggests that the RTX 3080's performance in general compute tasks is not as dominant as its gaming performance might suggest.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the AMD EPYC 4584PX, and the AMD EPYC 9135. The Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the 285K, 1.1% higher than the EPYC 4584PX, and 1.2% higher than the EPYC 9135. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is actually 1.3% faster. These are all high-end server or desktop processors, and the differences in average scores are minimal. This indicates that the Ultra 9 290K Plus is a very strong processor, but its lead over its closest rivals is not significant. In the context of this combo's ranking, the CPU's performance is not a differentiator; it is the GPU's performance that determines the rank. The combination of a very fast CPU with a mid-to-high-tier GPU results in a system that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming but falls short at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and consistent drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K for every settings preset. For the High preset, the average FPS goes from 128 at 1080p, to 82 at 1440p, and finally to 44 at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar trend: 170 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K. This is a 36% drop and a 47% drop, respectively. The Low preset follows the same pattern: 227 FPS at 1080p, 145 FPS at 1440p, and 77 FPS at 4K, with drops of 36% and 47%. The Ultra preset drops from 95 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 1440p (a 36% drop) and then to 32 FPS at 4K (a 48% drop).

This scaling is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The percentage drop in FPS is very consistent across all settings, which indicates that the limiting factor is the number of pixels the GPU must render. The CPU is able to maintain a high frame rate, but the GPU's rendering throughput decreases as the resolution increases. The fact that the drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper than the drop from 1080p to 1440p is also expected, as 4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p, while 1440p has 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p. This scaling behavior confirms that the RTX 3080 is the primary bottleneck in this system for Hitman 2. The CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid becoming a limiting factor at any resolution, but the GPU's pixel processing capabilities are what ultimately determine the frame rate. The data implies that to achieve higher frame rates at 4K, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the current configuration is clearly constrained by the graphics card.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: The High preset at 1440p delivers an average of 82 FPS, which provides a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. The Ultra preset drops to 61 FPS, while the Medium preset offers 109 FPS. The High preset is the recommended choice for most players.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K with a smooth frame rate?

A: The data shows that the Ultra preset at 4K only achieves an average of 32 FPS, which is not smooth. The Medium preset provides 58 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Low preset reaches 77 FPS. For a consistently smooth experience at 4K, the Low preset is required.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high single-core performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 score of 7303, is sufficient to keep up with the game's demands.

Q: How does the frame rate at 1080p Ultra compare to 1440p Ultra?

A: The average frame rate at 1080p Ultra is 95 FPS, while at 1440p Ultra it is 61 FPS. This is a 36% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 227 FPS, which was achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations in Hitman 2?

A: This combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 840th out of 3001 tested combos, placing it in the top 28% of all configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in Hitman 2.

At 1920x1080 resolution, the Ultra settings preset achieved an average of 95 FPS. The High settings preset achieved an average of 128 FPS. The Medium settings preset achieved an average of 170 FPS, with a minimum of 144 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS. The Low settings preset achieved an average of 227 FPS.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the Ultra settings preset achieved an average of 61 FPS. The High settings preset achieved an average of 82 FPS. The Medium settings preset achieved an average of 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS. The Low settings preset achieved an average of 145 FPS.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra settings preset achieved an average of 32 FPS. The High settings preset achieved an average of 44 FPS. The Medium settings preset achieved an average of 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS. The Low settings preset achieved an average of 77 FPS.

This data shows that the RTX 3080 can deliver high frame rates at 1080p and playable frame rates at 1440p with most presets. However, at 4K, the performance drops significantly, and only the Low preset provides a consistently smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 4K is not a viable option for serious gameplay, as the 32 FPS average is below the threshold for a responsive experience. The data also highlights the GPU's role as the primary performance bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions.