Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth classic from 2018, still serves as a demanding benchmark for modern hardware. This analysis examines the performance data of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, focusing on how this combination handles the game across various resolutions and settings. The data reveals a system with immense headroom, where the GPU becomes the primary scaling factor as resolution increases, while the CPU provides a rock-solid foundation that rarely becomes a bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern: performance degrades as resolution increases, but the rate of that degradation is telling. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 178 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops this to 114 FPS, a reduction of 36%. The jump to 4K at High settings results in 61 FPS, which is a further 46% drop from the 1440p figure and a 66% drop from the 1080p baseline.

This steep decline indicates that the system is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The RTX 5080, with its 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth, is working progressively harder to fill the increasing number of pixels. The data implies that at 1080p, the GPU is so powerful that it's likely being held back by other factors, possibly CPU frame pacing or game engine limitations, allowing it to deliver over 300 FPS on Low settings (314 FPS). At 4K, the GPU's raw compute power becomes the deciding factor, and the frame rate drops to a level where the visual fidelity of High settings (61 FPS) is a more realistic target than the demanding Ultra preset (45 FPS).

The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the difference between Low (314 FPS) and Ultra (131 FPS) is a massive 183 FPS, or about 58% performance loss. At 1440p, the spread narrows slightly, with Low at 201 FPS and Ultra at 84 FPS, a 117 FPS difference. At 4K, the gap is 107 FPS (Low) versus 45 FPS (Ultra), a 62 FPS difference. This trend shows that as resolution climbs, the absolute frame rate ceiling imposed by the GPU lowers, compressing the range of possible performance and making the choice of settings more critical for maintaining a playable frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its performance data, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, places it in the top tier of CPUs, with a percentile rank of 96 versus all CPUs. This immense processing power is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 5080 in Hitman 2, a game that is generally not considered CPU-intensive by modern standards, given its 2018 release date.

The benchmark results suggest that the CPU is rarely the limiting component in this pairing. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves 178 FPS. While this is high, it's below the Low setting result of 314 FPS, which suggests that even at lower resolutions, the game's engine or the CPU's frame generation isn't the sole bottleneck. The data points to a system where the CPU provides a vast reservoir of headroom. The 24 cores and 24 threads are likely underutilized by a game of this era, but the high single-thread performance, evidenced by the 7303 score in Cinebench R23, is crucial for maintaining high frame rates. The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth ensure that data can be fed to the cores quickly, preventing stutters or hitches that could impact the minimum FPS, as seen in the 4K Medium setting which reports a 68 FPS minimum.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, this specific pairing of the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and RTX 5080 achieves a combo rank of 179 out of 3001 tested combos. This places it in the top 6% of all systems tested for this game. This is a very strong showing, indicating that this combination is among the more capable setups for running Hitman 2. The rank reflects the combined strengths of both components.

While the CPU's general benchmark percentile is 96, its nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (with a deltaPct of 0.2) and the AMD EPYC 4584PX (1.1). This indicates that the 290K Plus is marginally faster than the 285K but nearly identical in overall processing power. The GPU, with a percentile of 87, sits slightly lower in its own field, but its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (with a deltaPct of -2.2), are close in average score. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a high-end GPU yields a result that is better than the individual percentiles might suggest, highlighting how a powerful CPU can support a strong GPU in a gaming scenario.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K with High settings smoothly?

A: Yes. The data shows an average of 61 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings. This is right at the edge of what is generally considered smooth for many players, but it is playable. For a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS, dropping to Medium settings at 4K yields an average of 80 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at if I have a high refresh rate monitor?

A: At 1440p, the system is capable of very high frame rates. With High settings, it averages 114 FPS, and with Medium settings, it averages 150 FPS. This makes 1440p an excellent target for monitors with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rates, as the system can deliver frame rates that fully utilize such displays.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from High to Ultra settings?

A: The performance cost of Ultra settings is significant. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 178 on High to 131 on Ultra, a 26% decrease. At 1440p, it drops from 114 to 84, a 26% decrease. At 4K, it drops from 61 to 45, a 26% decrease. The relative cost is consistent, but the absolute frame rate loss is more impactful at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus a bottleneck for the RTX 5080 in this game?

A: The data suggests it is not a significant bottleneck. The high frame rates at 1080p, particularly the 314 FPS on Low settings, indicate the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve very high performance. The 24 cores and high boost clock of 5.80 GHz provide ample headroom for a game like Hitman 2.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: With Medium settings at 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 235 FPS, with a minimum of 200 FPS and a maximum of 270 FPS. This is an excellent result for competitive or high-refresh-rate gaming, providing immense smoothness.

Q: How does this combo compare to systems with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: According to the CPU benchmark data, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average score that is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. This indicates that the 290K Plus is marginally faster in general processing tasks, and in a game like Hitman 2, the performance difference would likely be negligible.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the driving force behind the visual performance in this setup. Built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and a 5 nm process, it features 10752 shading units and 112 ROPs. Its memory subsystem is a key strength, with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This is crucial for high-resolution textures and demanding graphical effects.

The GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as the resolution scales up. The benchmark results show that the RTX 5080 is the primary factor determining frame rates at 1440p and 4K. For instance, at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 45, a demanding load that showcases the limits of the card's raw compute power. The card's FP32 performance of 56.28 TFLOPS is substantial, but the data shows that the most demanding presets at 4K can still bring it to its knees. The performance at 4K Medium (80 FPS) versus 4K High (61 FPS) shows a 19 FPS difference, indicating that each settings tier has a meaningful impact on the GPU's workload. The GPU's 87th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 56083 place it as a high-end part, but its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE, are close in average score, suggesting that in some scenarios, the performance gap to other top-tier cards might be small.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K gaming, the High preset is the most balanced choice. It delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is playable, and offers a significant visual improvement over Medium (80 FPS) and Low (107 FPS) settings. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it averages 45 FPS.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate displays, delivering an average of 150 FPS. The High preset at 114 FPS is also a strong option for those who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rate. The Ultra preset at 84 FPS provides a good balance for 60Hz displays but is not ideal for 120Hz+ monitors.

At 1080p, the system has enough power to run the Ultra preset at 131 FPS, which is a very smooth experience. However, for e-sports or maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 314 FPS or Medium at 235 FPS are available. The High preset at 178 FPS is a great all-rounder, offering both high visual quality and a very high frame rate. The best experience will vary, but the data shows that the High preset is the most consistent performer across all resolutions, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the exact measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination in Hitman 2.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 107 FPS
• Medium: Average 80 FPS (Min 68 FPS, Max 92 FPS)
• High: Average 61 FPS
• Ultra: Average 45 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 201 FPS
• Medium: Average 150 FPS (Min 128 FPS, Max 173 FPS)
• High: Average 114 FPS
• Ultra: Average 84 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 314 FPS
• Medium: Average 235 FPS (Min 200 FPS, Max 270 FPS)
• High: Average 178 FPS
• Ultra: Average 131 FPS

This data illustrates a clear hierarchy of performance. The system is capable of exceptional frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, with the 4K resolution being the only setting that challenges it to maintain high refresh rates on more demanding presets. The minimum FPS values for the Medium settings at each resolution also suggest good frame pacing, with minimums staying well above the average of lower quality presets.