Hitman 2

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a smooth Hitman 2 experience at 1080p and 1440p, but 4K Ultra demands significant compromises. The data indicates a system capable of high refresh rates at lower resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 143 FPS at 1080p to 92 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 51 FPS. Moving to 4K High further reduces the average to 49 FPS, which is a 94 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load increases substantially with pixel count, and the RTX 5070's capabilities are being taxed heavily at the highest resolution.

The scaling pattern across all presets shows a consistent trend. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 253 FPS at 1080p to 162 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 86 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset follows a similar trajectory, dropping from 189 FPS at 1080p to 121 FPS at 1440p and 65 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with averages of 105 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, and a playable but lower 36 FPS at 4K.

The percentage drops between resolutions are informative. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings results in a 35.7% reduction in average FPS. The jump from 1440p to 4K at the same preset is more severe, with a 46.7% reduction. This suggests that the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the performance penalty scales almost linearly with the increase in pixel count. The Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its strong multi-core performance and high boost clock, is likely not the bottleneck here; the data points to the RTX 5070's 12 GB of VRAM and memory bandwidth being the constraining factors at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 253 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This indicates the CPU and GPU combination can push very high frame rates when graphical demands are minimized.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra preset perform compared to 1080p Medium?

A: The 4K Ultra preset yields an average of 36 FPS, while 1080p Medium achieves 189 FPS. This represents a significant performance gap, with the lower resolution and medium settings providing over five times the average frame rate. The 4K Ultra preset also has a minimum FPS of 55, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the RTX 5070's memory sufficient for 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: The RTX 5070 features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory. Benchmark results indicate that at 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 49, which is playable but not ideal. The significant drop from 65 FPS at Medium to 49 FPS at High suggests that memory bandwidth and capacity are being stressed at this resolution, making 4K a challenging target for this GPU.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with High settings delivers an average of 92 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This offers a substantial improvement over 4K while maintaining high visual fidelity. The 1440p Medium preset also performs well at 121 FPS average, with a minimum of 103 FPS.

Q: How does the combo's rank in Hitman 2 compare to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 604th out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top 20.1% of all tested configurations, indicating strong overall performance for this game.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 92 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 67 FPS. This is a 25 FPS difference, representing a 27.2% reduction in performance when moving to the highest settings preset.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 plays a pivotal role in determining the playability of Hitman 2 at various settings and resolutions. The GPU's specifications, including its 12 GB GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus with 672.0 GB/s bandwidth, are directly reflected in the measured frame rates. The data shows that as resolution increases, the GPU's memory subsystem and processing power become the limiting factor, rather than the CPU.

At 1080p, the GPU is able to deliver very high frame rates, with the Low preset hitting 253 FPS average. This suggests that the RTX 5070 has ample compute power for this game at lower resolutions. However, the drop to 143 FPS at High and 105 FPS at Ultra at the same resolution indicates that the graphical load increases significantly with settings. The GPU's boost clock of 2512 MHz and its 6144 shading units are clearly able to handle the workload at this resolution.

The situation changes dramatically at 4K. The average FPS at High settings drops to 49, and at Ultra it falls to 36. This severe performance degradation is a clear sign that the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count. The 12 GB of memory may also be a factor, as higher resolutions and settings require more VRAM for textures and buffers. The measured data, with a 65 FPS average at 4K Medium and 49 FPS at 4K High, shows a steep curve that points to the RTX 5070's memory bandwidth and capacity being insufficient for a consistently smooth 4K experience in this title.

The GPU's architecture, Blackwell 2.0, and its performance percentile of 82% against all GPUs, indicate it is a capable mid-to-high-range part. However, for Hitman 2, the data suggests that the RTX 5070 is best utilized at 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates with good visual settings. The 1440p High preset, with an average of 92 FPS, shows the GPU operating in its optimal range where it can leverage its clock speeds and memory bandwidth effectively without being bottlenecked by resolution demands.

How This Combo Ranks

In the specific context of Hitman 2, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 achieves a rank of 604 out of 3001 tested combos. This places it in the 80th percentile of all configurations tested for this game, indicating a strong performance level. The rank reflects the combined capabilities of the CPU and GPU working together to produce the measured frame rates.

The CPU, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, has an average benchmark score of 84003 and ranks in the 96th percentile against all CPUs. This suggests it is a very powerful processor, unlikely to bottleneck the GPU in most scenarios. The GPU, on the other hand, has an average benchmark score of 40377 and ranks in the 82nd percentile against all GPUs. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a solidly performing GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for gaming, but the overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

The measured FPS data shows that the combo is capable of excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p. The 604th rank out of 3001 indicates that many other combos, likely with more powerful GPUs, are able to achieve higher frame rates, particularly at 4K. The CPU's performance is not in question, as its benchmark scores and percentile ranking are very high. The data suggests that the RTX 5070 is the component that limits the combo's overall rank in Hitman 2, especially when considering the demanding 4K resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players prioritizing smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay at 1080p, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 143 FPS. This is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of many monitors and provides a highly responsive experience. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 105 FPS, is also a viable option for those wanting maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

At 1440p, the High preset offers the best balance. With an average of 92 FPS, it provides a fluid experience that is suitable for most gamers. The Medium preset, with an average of 121 FPS and a minimum of 103 FPS, is a strong alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates over visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 67 FPS, is still playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action, as it hovers near the 60 FPS threshold.

For 4K gaming, the data indicates that compromises are necessary. The Medium preset, with an average of 65 FPS and a minimum of 55 FPS, is the only preset that comes close to achieving a consistent 60 FPS experience. However, the minimum FPS of 55 suggests there may be occasional dips below the target. The High preset at 4K, with an average of 49 FPS, is playable but will not feel as smooth. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 36 FPS, is not recommended for a good experience. Therefore, for 4K, Medium settings are the highest recommended preset, with the understanding that some stutter may occur.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination:

1920x1080:

• Low: 253 FPS average
• Medium: 189 FPS average (minimum 161 FPS, maximum 218 FPS)
• High: 143 FPS average
• Ultra: 105 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 162 FPS average
• Medium: 121 FPS average (minimum 103 FPS, maximum 139 FPS)
• High: 92 FPS average
• Ultra: 67 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 86 FPS average
• Medium: 65 FPS average (minimum 55 FPS, maximum 74 FPS)
• High: 49 FPS average
• Ultra: 36 FPS average

The data clearly shows a consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase. The only rows with recorded minimum and maximum FPS are the Medium presets, which show that the minimum FPS is always significantly lower than the average, indicating frame time variance. For example, at 1080p Medium, the average is 189 FPS but the minimum is 161 FPS, a difference of 28 FPS. This variance is more pronounced at higher resolutions, with the 4K Medium preset showing a 10 FPS difference between average and minimum FPS.

These numbers provide a complete picture of the combo's capabilities. The system excels at 1080p and 1440p, providing high average frame rates across all settings. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, with only the Low and Medium presets achieving average frame rates above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 36 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.