Hitman 2

The pairing of AMD’s six-core Ryzen 5 3600 with NVIDIA’s flagship RTX 5090 is an exercise in extremes. The CPU is a 2019 mainstream part, while the GPU is a 2025 top-tier card, and Hitman 2’s benchmark results show exactly what happens when these two generations meet. The data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, but one where the older CPU still holds its own at 1080p, delivering frame rates that many modern systems would struggle to match.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 brings 6 cores and 12 threads to the table, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. This is a Zen 2 architecture part, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, and it features a 32 MB shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15045 and a single-core score of 2124. Its PassMark single-thread score is 2562, and its multi-thread score is 17700. These numbers place the chip in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, making it a solid but not exceptional performer by today’s standards.

Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database show how tight the competition is at this level. The Intel Core i5-11400 scores an average of 18150, which is a mere 0.1% ahead of the Ryzen 5 3600’s average benchmark score of 18129. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS is 0.2% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is 0.2% ahead. Even the AMD EPYC 9274F, a server part, is only 0.3% faster in this aggregate metric. This tells a clear story: the Ryzen 5 3600 is not a slow chip, and for a game like Hitman 2, its processing power is more than adequate.

In the context of the game’s results, the CPU’s role becomes clear when looking at the 1920x1080 Low settings score. Here, the system achieves 228.2 FPS. That is a very high frame rate, and it indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain a fluid experience. The single-core performance, as evidenced by the Cinebench R23 score of 2124, is sufficient for Hitman 2’s game logic and physics. The 12 threads also help with background tasks and the game’s AI, ensuring that the CPU does not become a bottleneck even in crowded scenes. The CPU’s 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes are also relevant; they provide ample bandwidth for the RTX 5090’s PCIe 5.0 interface, ensuring the connection is not a limiting factor.

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

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 3600 a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in Hitman 2?

A: At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 228.2 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at that resolution and settings level. However, the CPU’s synthetic benchmark scores, such as its 76th percentile ranking, indicate it is a mid-range part, so in more CPU-intensive scenarios, it could limit performance.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rivals in raw performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600’s average benchmark score is 18129. The Intel Core i5-11400 is 0.1% faster with a score of 18150, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS is 0.2% slower with a score of 18101. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is 0.2% faster, and the AMD EPYC 9274F is 0.3% faster.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high frame rates?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system averages 124.2 FPS. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average drops to 69.9 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and high frame rate, 1440p is a strong choice.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average FPS is 148. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 47.1. This is a drop of approximately 68% in average frame rate.

Q: Does the GPU’s performance justify its pairing with this CPU?

A: The RTX 5090 has an average benchmark score of 84306 and sits in the 94th percentile of all GPUs. Its PassMark G3D score is 39650. The measured FPS in Hitman 2 show it is capable of over 200 FPS at 1080p, so the GPU is clearly not the limiting factor at lower resolutions.

Q: What is the rank of this specific CPU and GPU combination when tested in Hitman 2?

A: This combo ranks 106th out of 1795 tested combinations in the database. This places it in the top 6% of all tested systems for this game.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions is a textbook demonstration of how GPU load increases with pixel count. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces 183.2 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average falls to 124.2 FPS, a reduction of about 32%. At 3840x2160, the average drops to 69.9 FPS, which is a 62% reduction from the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the RTX 5090 is doing the heavy lifting at higher resolutions, and the CPU’s influence diminishes as the GPU becomes the primary constraint.

The data shows an interesting anomaly when comparing Low and Ultra settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 228.2 FPS, while at 1080p Ultra, it manages 148 FPS. The 80 FPS difference is entirely due to the increased GPU workload from higher graphical fidelity. However, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows as resolution increases. At 1440p, the difference between Low (197.7 FPS) and Ultra (94 FPS) is 103.7 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 74.9 FPS, from 122 FPS at Low to 47.1 FPS at Ultra. This narrowing gap suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so heavily taxed that even the jump from Low to Medium settings (which yields 89 FPS) has a significant impact, while the CPU is no longer a factor.

The 4K Low result of 122 FPS is particularly telling. For a game from 2018, this is an extremely high frame rate at 4K, and it highlights the raw power of the RTX 5090. The fact that the system can nearly double its frame rate at 1080p Low (228.2 FPS) compared to 4K Low (122 FPS) shows that the GPU is still the scaling factor, but the CPU is not holding things back at the lower resolution. If the CPU were a severe bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller FPS difference between 1080p and 4K, as the CPU would cap the maximum frame rate regardless of resolution.

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

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across all combinations of resolution and settings.

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 122 FPS, Medium settings produce 89 FPS, High settings produce 69.9 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 47.1 FPS. This shows a clear and steep decline in performance as graphical fidelity increases. The jump from Low to Medium is a 33 FPS drop, while the jump from High to Ultra is a 22.8 FPS drop. The Ultra setting is the only one that struggles to maintain a smooth 60 FPS, which is a key data point for users with 4K displays.

At 2560x1440, the system performs much better. Low settings yield an average of 197.7 FPS, Medium settings yield 164.4 FPS, High settings yield 124.2 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 94 FPS. Every setting here is above 90 FPS, meaning that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combination. The difference between Low and Ultra is 103.7 FPS, which is substantial, but even the most demanding setting provides a playable experience.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high. Low settings average 228.2 FPS, Medium settings average 201.2 FPS, High settings average 183.2 FPS, and Ultra settings average 148 FPS. All settings are above 144 FPS, indicating that this combo is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p. The difference between Low and Ultra is 80.2 FPS, which is smaller than at 1440p, suggesting that the CPU is beginning to limit the maximum frame rate at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 106th out of 1795 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This is a strong ranking, placing the system in the top 5.9% of all tested configurations. This rank is impressive given the age of the CPU, and it is a direct result of the RTX 5090’s immense power.

To contextualize this rank, consider that the database includes many combinations with newer, higher-end CPUs. The fact that this 2019 CPU paired with a 2025 GPU outranks over 1689 other combinations speaks to the game’s engine and its ability to scale with GPU compute. The RTX 5090’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth are likely contributing factors, as they eliminate any memory-related bottlenecks. The GPU’s 94th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 84306, which is 1.3% higher than the AMD Radeon PRO W6600, show that it is a top-tier part.

The rank also reflects the balance of the system. While the CPU is not top-tier by modern standards, it is sufficient to avoid crippling the GPU. The 106th rank out of 1795 suggests that the system is well-matched for this specific game, where the GPU is the dominant factor. It is not in the top 10, which would likely be reserved for combinations with newer flagship CPUs, but it is far from the bottom. The rank indicates that this is a capable gaming system for Hitman 2, even if the CPU is a generation or two old.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best settings depend heavily on the user’s display resolution and refresh rate.

For 1920x1080 users with a 144 Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is the clear choice. The average FPS of 148 is above the 144 Hz refresh rate, ensuring a smooth and visually rich experience. If the monitor is 240 Hz, then High settings at 183.2 FPS would be the better option, as it stays above 180 FPS. The Low and Medium presets offer even higher frame rates, but the visual fidelity trade-off is not worth it when the game can already run at such high speeds on High or Ultra.

For 2560x1440 users, the High preset is the optimal recommendation. At 124.2 FPS, it provides an excellent balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset, at 94 FPS, is still very playable, but the drop to below 100 FPS might be noticeable on a 144 Hz display. The Medium preset at 164.4 FPS would be ideal for a 165 Hz monitor, offering a high refresh rate experience, but the visual downgrade from High is significant. For most users, High is the sweet spot.

For 3840x2160 users, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset at 69.9 FPS is the best choice if a 60 Hz display is the target, as it stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 89 FPS is a better option for a 90 Hz or 120 Hz display, providing a smoother experience at the cost of some visual detail. The Ultra preset at 47.1 FPS is below 60 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 122 FPS is viable for competitive play, but it sacrifices the visual richness that makes Hitman 2’s locations so detailed. For 4K, the data suggests that Medium or High provide the best balance, depending on whether you prioritize frame rate or visual fidelity.