Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 produces a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Hitman 2, but the data reveals a sharp performance cliff at 4K Ultra. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to isolate the roles of the CPU and GPU, clarify bottlenecks, and provide actionable settings guidance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases, with the most dramatic shifts occurring at the highest settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 223 FPS, which drops to 143 FPS at 1440p Low and further to 76 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 47% drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings. The scaling at Low settings indicates that even at lower graphical loads, the 4K resolution imposes a substantial burden on the rendering pipeline.

Moving to High settings, the pattern shifts. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 126, which drops to 81 FPS at 1440p High and then to 43 FPS at 4K High. The percentage drops here are steeper: a 36% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 47% reduction from 1440p to 4K. This consistency with the Low settings scaling suggests that the resolution itself is the primary driver of performance loss, rather than the specific preset.

The Ultra settings reveal the most extreme scaling behavior. 1080p Ultra runs at 93 FPS, 1440p Ultra at 60 FPS, and 4K Ultra at 32 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35%, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is a severe 47%. At 4K Ultra, the 32 FPS average is the lowest figure recorded in the entire dataset, indicating that this configuration is simply not viable for smooth gameplay at that resolution and preset combination.

The data strongly suggests that the limiting component shifts with resolution. At 1080p, the high FPS figures (93-223 FPS depending on settings) indicate that the CPU is likely keeping pace with the GPU, allowing the graphics card to stretch its legs. However, the steep drop to 4K, particularly at Ultra, points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck. The RX 9070, despite its 16 GB of VRAM and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth, appears to be overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K Ultra in this title. The 32 FPS result at 4K Ultra is below the 43 FPS at 4K High, showing that the Ultra preset adds enough rendering complexity to push the GPU past its comfort zone.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. Its memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s is substantial, yet the 4K Ultra results suggest that raw bandwidth alone does not guarantee playable frame rates in Hitman 2. The GPU's boost clock of 2520 MHz and game clock of 2070 MHz provide the computational throughput, but the measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the card can only manage 32 FPS.

The VRAM capacity of 16 GB is ample for Hitman 2, a game released in 2018. The data does not indicate any VRAM-related stuttering or texture pop-in, as the minimum FPS values at Medium settings (48 FPS at 4K, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 142 FPS at 1080p) are respectable and show a consistent relationship with average FPS. The GPU's 128 ROPs and 224 TMUs are tasked with pixel and texture processing, and the scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent degradation: at 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 130 FPS; at 1440p, it is 83 FPS; at 4K, it is 44 FPS. This diminishing absolute delta at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is becoming saturated.

The GPU's benchmark results provide context. Its Passmark G3D score of 25381 places it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (avg score 24170) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800S (avg score 24063). The RX 9070 leads these rivals by roughly 5-6% in synthetic benchmarks, yet the measured gaming data shows it struggling at 4K Ultra. This discrepancy underscores that synthetic scores do not perfectly predict real-world gaming performance, particularly at extreme settings. The GPU's DirectX 12 Passmark score of 74 is notably low, which may hint at driver-level or architecture-specific inefficiencies in certain workloads, though Hitman 2's engine appears to favor the card's strengths at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the playable frame rate at 1080p Ultra with this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 93 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and indicates that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution.

Q: Can this setup handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: At 4K High, the average FPS is 43, which is borderline playable but may feel sluggish. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 32 FPS, which is below the standard for acceptable smoothness. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, the data suggests that Low or Medium settings would be required, as Medium averages 57 FPS and Low averages 76 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 9070 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877, which is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (23736), 1.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile (23628), and 1.2% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6800S (24063). These deltas are minimal, indicating the RX 9070 sits in a tightly contested performance tier.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The high FPS figures at 1080p (ranging from 93 FPS at Ultra to 223 FPS at Low) suggest that neither component is severely bottlenecked, but the GPU is likely the primary limiter at Ultra settings. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at these frame rates, as evidenced by the large headroom between Low and Ultra results.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the dataset?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 48 FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. The next lowest minimum is 91 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. These minimums indicate that the Medium preset provides the most stable frame pacing at higher resolutions, as the spread between average and minimum FPS is relatively tight.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 883rd out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the top 29% of all configurations. This is a solid mid-to-upper tier ranking, though it is not in the top echelon, reflecting the balanced but not flagship nature of this CPU-GPU pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 93 FPS, which is excellent for most gaming scenarios. However, the High preset at 126 FPS may be preferable for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays, offering a 35% performance boost over Ultra with only a visual quality reduction. The Medium preset at 167 FPS is also viable, but the jump from High to Medium (41 FPS) is substantial and may not be worth the visual trade-off for most users.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers exactly 60 FPS, which is the standard for console-quality smoothness. This is the recommended choice for users with 144Hz monitors who prioritize visual fidelity, as it hits the 60 FPS target precisely. The High preset at 81 FPS offers additional headroom for VRR displays, but the 21 FPS gain over Ultra may not justify the reduced graphical detail. The Medium preset at 107 FPS is the best choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, providing a significant FPS boost while maintaining acceptable visual quality.

At 4K, the recommendations become more constrained. The Ultra preset at 32 FPS is not recommended for any scenario, as it falls below the playable threshold. The High preset at 43 FPS is borderline, suitable for slower-paced stealth sections but likely to cause frustration in action sequences. The Medium preset at 57 FPS is the sweet spot for 4K, delivering near-60 FPS performance with a minimum FPS of 48, which provides a reasonably stable experience. The Low preset at 76 FPS is the best option for users who prioritize frame rate over all else, but the visual downgrade is significant. For most 4K users, the Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and fidelity, while 1080p and 1440p users can safely use Ultra or High depending on their refresh rate preferences.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F + AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination ranks 883rd out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 71st percentile of all configurations. This is a respectable position, indicating that the combo delivers above-average performance relative to the broader database. However, the ranking reveals that there are 2118 other combos that achieve higher frame rates in this game, suggesting that this pairing is not optimized for maximum Hitman 2 performance.

The ranking is likely influenced by the GPU's mid-tier positioning. The RX 9070 has a percentile of 69 among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the RTX 2080 SUPER and RX 6800S, which are previous-generation mid-to-high-tier cards. The CPU, on the other hand, has a percentile of 85 among all CPUs, showing that the processor is comparatively stronger relative to its peers. This asymmetry suggests that the GPU is the performance limiter in this combo, dragging down the overall ranking despite the CPU's solid showing.

The combo's rank of 883 is particularly notable given the game's age. Hitman 2's release in 2018 means it is not a modern graphics showcase, yet the RX 9070 still struggles to achieve high frame rates at 4K Ultra. This indicates that the game's engine may have certain rendering paths that are not well-optimized for RDNA 4.0 architecture, or that the game's visual effects scale aggressively with resolution. The data suggests that users seeking top-tier Hitman 2 performance should look for combos with stronger GPUs, as the 5600F is clearly capable of supporting higher frame rates than the 9070 can deliver in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. The Low preset averages 223 FPS, which is the highest figure in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 167 FPS, with a minimum of 142 and a maximum of 192, showing tight frame pacing. The High preset averages 126 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 93 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent 30-40% reduction at each step, indicating that the GPU is handling the increased load without catastrophic drops.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show strain. The Low preset averages 143 FPS, which is a 36% drop from 1080p Low. The Medium preset averages 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 and a maximum of 123. The High preset averages 81 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is the only data point below 40 FPS in the entire dataset, and it is 47% lower than the 1440p Ultra result, showing a severe performance cliff at the highest resolution and settings.

At 3840x2160, the combo's limitations are fully exposed. The Low preset averages 76 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant 47% drop from 1440p Low. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 66, making it the only 4K preset that approaches 60 FPS. The High preset averages 43 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. The minimum FPS data is only available for the Medium preset at all three resolutions, and the 4K Medium minimum of 48 FPS shows that frame drops are more pronounced at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are modest by modern standards, yet its Passmark single-thread score of 2872 and multithread score of 19236 indicate solid performance. The CPU's percentile of 85 among all CPUs places it well above the GPU's 69th percentile, confirming that the processor is not the primary bottleneck in this combo.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. At 1080p Low, the 223 FPS result shows that the CPU can handle extremely high frame rates without becoming a limiting factor. The 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for the game's engine, which likely does not scale beyond 6-8 threads effectively. The L3 cache of 32 MB shared across all cores provides ample fast memory for game data, reducing latency and improving frame consistency.

The CPU's benchmark results show it is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average score of 36938 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018 (-0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093 (-0.4% delta). These sub-1% differences mean that swapping the 5600F for any of these rivals would have no measurable impact on Hitman 2 performance. The CPU's 65W TDP and AM4 socket make it an efficient and compatible choice, but the data shows that its performance headroom is largely untapped in this game. The 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is purely GPU-limited; the CPU could easily support far higher frame rates if the GPU were more powerful. This is evidenced by the fact that at 1080p Ultra, the CPU is still able to drive 93 FPS, which is a demanding workload that requires strong single-thread performance.