Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. Its 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are typical for its generation. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a multi-threaded score of 16,429 in Cinebench R23 and a single-thread score of 2,319. Its average benchmark score of 20,875 places it in the 79th percentile among all CPUs. The closest rival in terms of aggregate performance is the Intel Core i5-12500, which scores 20,897, a negligible 0.1% difference. This puts the Ryzen 5 5500 in a performance tier where it trades blows with modern mid-range competitors, meaning its processing power is sufficient to feed a high-end graphics card in most scenarios, though it may not be the primary driver of extreme frame rates.

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

The Ryzen 5 5500's 6 cores and 12 threads are the foundation of its gaming performance. With a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, the processor can handle the single-threaded logic typical of game simulation, while the 12 threads provide headroom for background tasks and multi-threaded game engines. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 222 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of processing game logic quickly enough to avoid being a bottleneck at lower graphical loads. However, as the resolution increases, the CPU's role diminishes relative to the GPU. The processor's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16,429 demonstrates solid throughput for a 6-core part, but it is not a top-tier performer; it sits in the 79th percentile. Compared to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500, the performance difference is negligible at 0.1%, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios, the experience would be nearly identical. The Ryzen 5 5500 is a capable mid-range CPU that will not hold back the GPU in this game at higher resolutions, but its influence is most apparent in the high-FPS, low-resolution settings where frame rates exceed 200.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. Its boost clock reaches 2520 MHz, and it is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with 3,584 shading units. The GPU's substantial memory capacity is more than sufficient for Hitman 2, even at 4K resolution, ensuring that texture loading and memory-heavy scenes do not cause stuttering or frame drops. The GPU's raw compute power is reflected in its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,290 and its Passmark G3D score of 25,381, placing it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences across settings. For instance, at 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average frame rate from 222 FPS to 95.4 FPS, a drop of over 50%. This scaling shows that the GPU is being increasingly taxed as graphical fidelity rises. The RX 9070's nearest rival, the NVIDIA A2, scores 34,866, which is only 0.2% higher, making them effectively equal in aggregate benchmarks. This GPU provides ample power for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and playable frame rates at 4K, with the VRAM capacity ensuring no memory-related limitations in this title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 127.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 81.1 FPS, and at 4K, it further falls to 42.1 FPS. This represents a 67% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, which is a typical characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU has less impact on performance as the resolution climbs, because the number of pixels to render increases exponentially, while the game logic workload remains constant. At 1080p Low, the frame rate is 222 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suggests that the CPU is still managing to keep up with the GPU's output. However, the substantial drops at higher resolutions indicate that the RX 9070 is the limiting factor. The GPU's performance at 4K with Ultra settings is particularly telling, with an average of just 30 FPS, which is barely playable. This scaling data confirms that for this game, the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution; instead, the GPU's rendering capacity determines the final frame rate. The 16 GB VRAM does not appear to be a limiting factor, as the performance drops are consistent with compute and fill-rate limitations rather than memory capacity issues.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 599th out of 1,795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top third of all tested systems, indicating that it is a strong performer overall. The rank of 599 suggests that while this combo is capable of high frame rates, there are many other pairings that achieve better results, likely those with more powerful CPUs or GPUs. Given that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, the rank would be higher if paired with a faster processor, but the 6-core Ryzen 5 5500 is sufficient to avoid severely hampering the GPU. In the context of all combos, this pairing outperforms a significant majority of systems, but it does not reach the top tier. The data does not provide specific scores for the top-ranked combos, but the percentile placement of the individual components (both at 79%) suggests that this is a well-matched, upper-mid-range system. For a game like Hitman 2, which is not extremely demanding, this rank indicates a very playable experience at most settings, with the primary compromise being at 4K Ultra where frame rates dip below 30.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and frame rate preference. At 1080p, the "High" preset delivers an excellent average of 127.2 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors. The "Ultra" preset at 1080p still provides 95.4 FPS, which is also smooth, but the visual gain from Ultra over High may not justify the 25% performance hit. At 1440p, the "High" preset yields 81.1 FPS, which is solid for most displays, while "Medium" offers 108.9 FPS for those prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The "Ultra" preset at 1440p drops to 62.4 FPS, which is still playable but begins to show the GPU's limits. For 4K gaming, the "Low" preset is the only viable option for a smooth experience, averaging 74.1 FPS, but this comes at a significant visual compromise. The "High" preset at 4K averages 42.1 FPS, which is borderline for single-player games, while "Ultra" at 30 FPS is not recommended. The best overall balance is the "High" preset at 1440p, offering 81.1 FPS with good visual quality, or the "Medium" preset at 1080p, which provides 167.4 FPS for esports-level smoothness. For a more immersive experience at 4K, the "Low" preset is the only one that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

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

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination in Hitman 2:

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 222 FPS, which is the highest measured at any resolution or setting, indicating a CPU-bound scenario where the GPU has ample headroom.
• Medium: Average FPS drops to 167.4, showing a 25% reduction from Low as graphical effects are enabled.
• High: The average is 127.2 FPS, a further 24% decrease from Medium, balancing visual quality and performance.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 95.4, which is still smooth but represents a 57% drop from the Low preset.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 143 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU is still capable of high refresh rates at this resolution with minimal settings.
• Medium: Average FPS is 108.9, a 24% reduction from Low, showing consistent scaling.
• High: The average is 81.1 FPS, which is a 43% drop from Low and is the recommended setting for 1440p gaming.
• Ultra: Average FPS falls to 62.4, which is a 56% reduction from Low and approaches the limit for smooth gameplay.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average frame rate is 74.1 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that consistently provides a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average FPS is 59.5, a 20% drop from Low, which is borderline for playability.
• High: The average is 42.1 FPS, showing a 43% reduction from Low and indicating a GPU-bound scenario.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 30, which is the lowest measured and is not recommended for a playable experience.

The data shows a consistent pattern where each step up in settings reduces frame rate by roughly 20-25%, with the largest relative drops occurring at higher resolutions. This indicates that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, while the CPU maintains sufficient throughput to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The transition from 1080p to 4K at the same settings results in a 67-70% reduction in FPS, highlighting the significant rendering load increase.