Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 pairing in Hitman 2 presents a fascinating study in system balance. The data reveals a configuration where the CPU’s older architecture and the GPU’s high-end capability create distinct performance boundaries depending on resolution and settings. This analysis examines the measured frames to understand where each component’s influence is strongest and what that means for the overall experience.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 brings six cores and twelve threads to the table, operating at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. This processor, based on the Zen architecture and fabricated on a 12 nm process, is a veteran of the AMD 2000 series. Its benchmark scores provide context for its standing: it achieves a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 1248 and a single-core score of 157.3. In Geekbench, it records 5648 multicore and 1154 single-core. The processor’s average benchmark score is 21484, which places it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs.

Comparing the Ryzen 5 2600 to its nearest rivals clarifies its position. It sits a mere 0.2% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V, which has an average score of 21440, making them effectively identical in aggregate performance. It is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900H (avg score 21367) and 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9454 (avg score 21223). Interestingly, it trails the Intel Xeon D-1746TER by -0.7%, which scores 21635. These margins are razor-thin, suggesting that in CPU-bound scenarios, the Ryzen 5 2600 performs on par with a broad range of modern and enterprise processors.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU’s influence is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames quickly. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 194 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to sustain very high output. However, the data also suggests a ceiling. When comparing the 1080p Low result to the 1440p Low result of 124 FPS, the drop is significant, but the CPU is still not the primary bottleneck at these settings. The CPU’s role becomes more complex at Ultra settings, where the workload shifts, but the overall frame rates across all resolutions at Ultra are the lowest in the set, pointing to a combined system strain rather than a single component limit.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the clear performance heavyweight in this pairing. Built on the Ampere architecture with an 8 nm process, it features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its core clocks are rated at 1500 MHz base and 1725 MHz boost. The GPU’s raw compute capabilities are substantial, with 5888 shading units and a FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS. Its benchmark scores reinforce its high-end status: it achieves a Passmark G3D score of 22214 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 112821.

The RTX 3070’s nearest rivals show it has a comfortable lead. It outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT by 0.7% (avg score 17083), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 by 1% (avg score 17037), and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M by 1.1% (avg score 17019). It also leads the NVIDIA Tesla K40c by -1.5% (avg score 17468). These deltas, while small, confirm that the RTX 3070 is positioned at the upper echelon of the tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208 and a percentile ranking of 61.

The GPU’s dominance is evident in the measured FPS data. At 4K resolution, the RTX 3070 is the deciding factor. The system manages 66 FPS at Low, 50 FPS at Medium, and 38 FPS at High. These numbers show the GPU scaling with the increasing graphical load. However, the most telling detail is the 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS. This is the lowest average FPS in the entire dataset, and it suggests that the combination of the 4K resolution and Ultra settings creates a workload so heavy that even the RTX 3070's 8 GB of VRAM and high compute throughput cannot maintain a fluid experience. The data implies that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the CPU’s relative performance gap becomes less relevant when the GPU is struggling to process the sheer number of pixels.

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

The measured data offers a clear hierarchy of performance across the four settings presets, and the ideal choice depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the system is highly capable across the board. The Low preset yields an average of 194 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for competitive or high-refresh-rate play. The Medium preset still provides a very high 146 FPS, while High drops to 110 FPS. The Ultra preset, while the most visually demanding, still produces a respectable 81 FPS. For a balance of visual fidelity and performance at 1080p, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot, offering a 110 FPS average that is well above the 60 FPS threshold while delivering significantly better visuals than Low or Medium.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates become more moderate. The Low preset delivers 124 FPS, which is excellent. Medium provides 93 FPS, and High drops to 70 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 52 FPS, which is below the ideal for a smooth experience on many displays. At this resolution, the Medium preset offers the best compromise, with a 93 FPS average that remains fluid while allowing for a substantial visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 70 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize image quality over maximum smoothness.

At 4K, the system’s limitations become pronounced. Only the Low preset manages to stay above 60 FPS, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 50 FPS, and High falls to 38 FPS. The Ultra preset is essentially unplayable, with an average of 28 FPS. For 4K gaming, the data strongly suggests that the Low preset is the only playable option for a consistent experience. The Medium preset might be tolerable for slower-paced stealth sections, but the 50 FPS average is a compromise. The data indicates that this combo is not suited for high-settings 4K play, as the GPU is overburdened.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for Hitman 2, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 holds a rank of 1601 out of 3711 total combos. This places the system in the 43rd percentile of all tested configurations. This ranking is a holistic measure that considers performance across all resolutions and settings, and it reveals that while the GPU is powerful, the overall system is not in the top tier.

The rank suggests that the Ryzen 5 2600 is holding the RTX 3070 back from achieving a higher standing. The CPU’s performance, while competitive with its direct rivals, is not sufficient to push this combo into the upper echelons of the ranking chart. The 43rd percentile indicates that there are 2110 other combinations that outperform it in this game. This is a significant number, and it points to the CPU as the limiting factor in the system’s overall rank. The data implies that pairing this GPU with a more modern, higher-performing CPU would yield a substantially better rank, as the RTX 3070 has the headroom to deliver more frames if the CPU can keep up. The rank reflects the GPU’s strength, but it is also a clear indicator of the CPU’s age and its impact on the system’s overall capability.

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

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS at 1080p is achieved with the Low preset, which reaches 194 FPS. The Medium preset follows at 146 FPS, High at 110 FPS, and Ultra at 81 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an average benchmark score of 21484, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V’s score of 21440. This makes their overall performance nearly identical.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra preset playable with this hardware?

A: No, the data shows an average FPS of 28 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is below the threshold for a smooth, playable experience and is the lowest frame rate recorded for this combo.

Q: What is the GPU’s measured FPS at 1440p High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 70. The Medium preset provides a higher 93 FPS average.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested systems in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 1601 out of 3711 tested combinations. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all systems tested in the database.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system records a minimum FPS of 124 and a maximum FPS of 168, with an average of 146 FPS.

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

The complete set of measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system’s behavior.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS 194.
• Medium: Average FPS 146, with a minimum of 124 and a maximum of 168.
• High: Average FPS 110.
• Ultra: Average FPS 81.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS 124.
• Medium: Average FPS 93, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 107.
• High: Average FPS 70.
• Ultra: Average FPS 52.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS 66.
• Medium: Average FPS 50, with a minimum of 42 and a maximum of 57.
• High: Average FPS 38.
• Ultra: Average FPS 28.

This data shows a consistent and expected pattern of decreasing performance as resolution and settings increase. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is massive, particularly at 4K, where the frame rate drops from 66 to 28, a reduction of 38 FPS. At 1080p, the same settings gap is 113 FPS (from 194 to 81), demonstrating that the system has ample headroom at lower resolutions but is heavily taxed at higher ones.

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

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals critical information about the system’s bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 194 at 1080p to 124 at 1440p, and then to 66 at 4K. This is a 66% reduction in FPS from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the frame rates are 146, 93, and 50 respectively, a 66% drop as well. High settings show 110, 70, and 38, a 65% reduction. Ultra settings show 81, 52, and 28, a 65% drop.

The consistency of this scaling pattern—a roughly 65% reduction across all settings—is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at these higher resolutions. The workload scales with pixel count, and the RTX 3070 is being tasked with rendering more and more pixels. The CPU’s workload does not scale as dramatically with resolution, so its relative impact diminishes as resolution increases.

The data from the 1080p results, however, suggests the CPU is not entirely without influence. The large gap between 1080p Low (194 FPS) and 1080p Medium (146 FPS) is a 48 FPS difference. This drop is more than can be explained by GPU load alone, as the GPU is not fully saturated at 1080p Low. This implies the CPU is helping to achieve that very high frame rate, and as the settings increase, the CPU’s contribution becomes less significant. The scaling analysis points to a system that is CPU-limited at 1080p Low, but becomes increasingly GPU-limited as resolution and settings rise. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is the clearest evidence of the GPU being overwhelmed, as no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for the sheer rendering load.