Hitman 2

# CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor built on Intel's 3 nm Panther Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a processor with a 25 W TDP, which places it in the mobile segment, yet its benchmark scores indicate it performs well above what that power envelope might suggest.

Looking at the CPU's synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra X9 388H delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 and a single-core score of 2200.5. In Cinebench R20, it scores 13101 multi-core and 1849 single-core. The Passmark multi-thread score is 36811, with a single-thread score of 4280. These figures position the chip at the 88th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44466. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra X9 388H is essentially neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D (deltaPct -0.2), meaning the AMD chip scores 0.2% higher on average. It is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13950HX, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i5-13600. These are all extremely tight margins, so in terms of raw CPU compute, this processor is in a very competitive tier.

For Hitman 2, a stealth game from 2018, the CPU's role is primarily about maintaining consistent frame pacing and ensuring that the game logic, AI, and physics calculations do not bottleneck the GPU. The game is not known for being exceptionally CPU-heavy, but the X9 388H's strong single-thread performance (2200.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is beneficial for the game's main simulation thread. The 16 cores and 16 threads provide ample parallel processing headroom, even though Hitman 2 likely doesn't utilize all of them. The boost clock of 5.10 GHz is also a positive factor, as higher clocks can reduce latency in frame generation.

The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 217 FPS average. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data quickly enough to avoid a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 31, which indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and graphical presets. The CPU's performance is sufficient to keep up with the RTX 4080 in most scenarios, but the data reveals that the GPU is the primary constraint when pushing higher resolutions and settings.

# FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573, which is 0.2% higher than the Core Ultra X9 388H's 44466. This is a negligible difference, placing the two processors in the same performance tier.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p High settings for this combo?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the measured average FPS is 79. This represents a significant step up from the 4K High result of 42 FPS, showing that the resolution reduction yields a substantial performance uplift.

Q: Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 more or less powerful than the RTX 4080 SUPER based on average benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080's 54247. The deltaPct is +0.1% for the RTX 4080 (meaning the RTX 4080 is 0.1% lower than the SUPER), so the two GPUs are virtually identical in performance.

Q: At which resolution and settings does this combo achieve its highest average FPS?

A: The highest average FPS is 217, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is a very high frame rate, indicating that the CPU and GPU combination is not stressed at this configuration.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 956th out of 3001 tested combos. This places it in the top third of all tested configurations for this game, but it is not in the top tier.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 4K Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 47 and the maximum FPS is 64, with an average of 55 FPS. This shows that the frame rate can fluctuate by about 17 FPS, which is a notable variance.

# Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of how this combo scales and what component is the bottleneck. Starting at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 217. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 139 FPS, a reduction of 78 FPS or about 36%. At 4K Low, the average is 74 FPS, which is a further drop of 65 FPS from 1440p, or about 47%. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings shows a total reduction of 143 FPS (from 217 to 74), representing a 66% decrease in performance.

At High settings, the trend is similar but with lower absolute numbers. At 1080p High, the average is 123 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 79 FPS (a 44 FPS or 36% reduction). At 4K High, it drops to 42 FPS (a 37 FPS or 47% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 81 FPS, which is a 66% decrease.

The pattern at Medium settings is consistent. At 1080p Medium, the average is 163 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it is 104 FPS (a 59 FPS or 36% reduction). At 4K Medium, it is 55 FPS (a 49 FPS or 47% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings is 108 FPS, again a 66% decrease.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is slightly different. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 91 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 58 FPS (a 33 FPS or 36% reduction). At 4K Ultra, it drops to 31 FPS (a 27 FPS or 47% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 60 FPS, a 66% decrease.

These consistent percentage drops across all settings are telling. The fact that the FPS reduction from 1080p to 1440p is consistently about 36%, and from 1440p to 4K is consistently about 47%, indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU is able to maintain its performance across resolutions, but the GPU's workload increases significantly with resolution. The RTX 4080 is a powerful GPU, but at 4K, it is clearly stretched, especially at Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 31. The data suggests that for a smooth experience at 4K, lower settings are necessary, while at 1080p, the combo can deliver very high frame rates even at Ultra settings.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 956th out of 3001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places it in the 68th percentile of all tested combos, meaning that roughly 68% of tested configurations perform better than this one. While this rank might seem low, it is important to consider the context. The database includes a wide range of hardware, from entry-level to enthusiast-grade. A rank of 956 out of 3001 means that this combo is in the top third, which is a respectable position.

The GPU's percentile ranking is 86th among all GPUs, while the CPU's percentile is 88th among all CPUs. These are both high individual rankings, suggesting that the components are individually strong. However, the combo rank of 956 indicates that in Hitman 2, this specific pairing does not achieve the same level of performance as some other combinations. This could be due to the game's optimization patterns, which might favor certain CPU-GPU pairings over others.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the GPU, the RTX 4080 is 0.1% behind the RTX 4080 SUPER, 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, 2.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and 2.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon 8060S. These are all GPUs with similar average benchmark scores, and the differences are small. The CPU's nearest rivals, as mentioned earlier, are also within 0.5% of the X9 388H's average score.

The combo rank of 956 suggests that while the individual components are strong, the pairing might not be the most optimal for Hitman 2. The data shows that the FPS at 4K Ultra is only 31, which is a low number for a high-end GPU. This could indicate that the game's engine is not fully utilizing the RTX 4080's capabilities, or that the CPU is holding back the GPU in certain scenarios. However, the consistent FPS scaling across resolutions suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The rank of 956 is a data point that indicates this combo is good, but not exceptional, for this game.

# Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the resolution and the target frame rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable. The Low preset delivers an average of 217 FPS, which is extremely high and likely exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset yields 163 FPS, which is still very high. The High preset gives 123 FPS, and the Ultra preset gives 91 FPS. For most users at 1080p, the Ultra preset would be the best choice, as 91 FPS is still very smooth and offers the best visual quality. If a user has a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the High preset at 123 FPS might be preferable, but Ultra is just 2 FPS above the 90 FPS threshold, so it is a solid choice.

At 1440p, the situation is different. The Low preset delivers 139 FPS, which is very high. The Medium preset gives 104 FPS, which is also good. The High preset drops to 79 FPS, which is playable but not as smooth. The Ultra preset gives 58 FPS, which is borderline for a smooth experience. For a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset at 104 FPS offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 79 FPS is still acceptable, but the 25 FPS drop from Medium to High might be noticeable. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is the least desirable, as it approaches the lower limit of what is considered smooth.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The Low preset delivers 74 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset gives 55 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal. The High preset drops to 42 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. The Ultra preset gives 31 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. For 4K gaming, the Low preset at 74 FPS is the best option, as it provides a playable frame rate. The Medium preset at 55 FPS is a second choice if visual quality is prioritized over frame rate, but the 19 FPS drop from Low to Medium is significant. The High and Ultra presets at 42 and 31 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for this combo.

Overall, the best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p Ultra, which gives 91 FPS, or at 1440p Medium, which gives 104 FPS. At 4K, the Low preset is the only one that consistently delivers a smooth experience.

# Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average FPS of 217. The Medium preset gives an average of 163 FPS, with a minimum of 138 and a maximum of 187. The High preset yields an average of 123 FPS. The Ultra preset provides an average of 91 FPS. The data shows a clear progression: as settings increase, FPS decreases. The difference between Low and Medium is 54 FPS, between Medium and High is 40 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 32 FPS. This indicates that each step up in settings has a meaningful impact on performance.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average FPS of 139. The Medium preset gives an average of 104 FPS, with a minimum of 89 and a maximum of 120. The High preset yields an average of 79 FPS. The Ultra preset provides an average of 58 FPS. The step from Low to Medium results in a 35 FPS drop, from Medium to High a 25 FPS drop, and from High to Ultra a 21 FPS drop. The total range at 1440p is from 139 FPS at Low to 58 FPS at Ultra, a spread of 81 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers an average FPS of 74. The Medium preset gives an average of 55 FPS, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 64. The High preset yields an average of 42 FPS. The Ultra preset provides an average of 31 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 19 FPS drop, from Medium to High a 13 FPS drop, and from High to Ultra an 11 FPS drop. The total range at 4K is from 74 FPS at Low to 31 FPS at Ultra, a spread of 43 FPS.

The data also reveals how the settings scale with resolution. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 217 at 1080p to 139 at 1440p and then to 74 at 4K. At Medium settings, the FPS drops from 163 to 104 to 55. At High settings, it drops from 123 to 79 to 42. At Ultra settings, it drops from 91 to 58 to 31. These numbers show that the relative performance drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly consistent across all settings, with the FPS decreasing by approximately two-thirds. The minimum and maximum FPS data is only available for the Medium preset at each resolution, showing that at 1080p Medium, the frame rate ranges from 138 to 187, at 1440p Medium from 89 to 120, and at 4K Medium from 47 to 64. This suggests that the frame time variance is proportionally larger at lower resolutions, where the CPU is more involved.