Hitman 2

# Hitman 2 with AMD Ryzen 5 7600X + AMD Radeon RX 570

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 570 in Hitman 2 produces a combination that is severely constrained by the graphics card at nearly every resolution and settings level. The measured frame rates show a system that can handle the game's CPU demands with ease, but the aging Polaris GPU struggles to translate that processing headroom into playable output. This combo ranks 3544th out of 3711 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations benchmarked for this title, a position that reflects the GPU's limitations rather than any deficiency in the CPU.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 70 FPS, but at 3840x2160 with the same Low settings, that figure falls to 24 FPS — a reduction of approximately 66% when pixel count increases by a factor of four. This steep decline indicates that the RX 570's rendering pipeline is saturated well before the resolution reaches 4K, and the GPU becomes the sole limiting factor.

Moving through the intermediate resolution of 2560x1440, the pattern holds. At Medium settings, the average FPS at 1440p is 33, compared to 52 at 1080p, a drop of 19 FPS or roughly 37%. At High settings, the 1440p result is 25 FPS versus 39 at 1080p, again a 14 FPS reduction. These proportional decreases suggest that the RX 570's fill rate and memory bandwidth — 224.0 GB/s from its 256-bit GDDR5 interface — are the determining factors, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at all tested resolutions.

The 4K results are uniformly poor across every settings preset. High averages 13 FPS, Medium averages 18 FPS, Low averages 24 FPS, and Ultra falls to 10 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is only 14 FPS, which is notably smaller than the 41 FPS gap at 1080p between those same settings. This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario: when the pixel workload is enormous, the impact of quality presets diminishes because the card is already at its absolute limit.

What the resolution scaling data reveals is that this combo is fundamentally a 1080p configuration, and even that target requires careful settings management. The 1440p results are borderline playable at Low settings with 45 FPS, but anything above that preset dips below 33 FPS. At 4K, no settings combination approaches acceptable frame rates, with the best case being 24 FPS at Low — a figure that falls below the minimum threshold for smooth gameplay in a stealth-action title like Hitman 2.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X brings substantial processing power to this pairing, and benchmark data confirms it is not the limiting factor in Hitman 2. This CPU features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, built on the Zen 4 architecture with a 5 nm process. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15,236 and single-core score of 1,965 indicate strong performance across both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

In the context of Hitman 2, which is a game that scales reasonably with multi-core CPUs but also depends on single-thread performance for game logic and AI, the 7600X's capabilities are more than sufficient. The CPU's 3DMark scores further illustrate this: 1,060 in the single-thread test and 6,879 in the 16-thread test. These numbers place the CPU in the 79th percentile against all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 27,636. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X at 27,578 (0.2% delta), the Intel Core i5-12600K at 27,578 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 at 27,535 (0.4% delta), showing that the 7600X sits comfortably in a competitive performance tier.

The evidence that the CPU is not the bottleneck comes from the measured FPS behavior across settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 70 FPS, but dropping to 1080p Medium yields 52 FPS, and High produces 39 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, these settings changes would have minimal impact on frame rates. Instead, the consistent decline with each quality increase points squarely at GPU limitations. The CPU is capable of driving far higher frame rates, but the RX 570 cannot keep up with its output.

Furthermore, the CPU's memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth provides sufficient data throughput for game assets. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache, combined with 1 MB L2 per core and 64 KB L1 per core, ensures that frequently accessed game data stays close to the cores. The PassMark multi-thread score of 28,390 and single-thread score of 4,135 reinforce that this processor has no trouble handling the computational demands of Hitman 2's simulation and rendering tasks.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only resolution where playable frame rates are consistently achieved. At 1080p, the combo ranges from 29 FPS at Ultra to 70 FPS at Low, whereas 1440p peaks at 45 FPS only at Low settings, and 4K never exceeds 24 FPS.

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so sharply between 1080p and 4K?

A: The RX 570's GPU resources are exhausted by the pixel workload at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low the average is 70 FPS, but at 4K Low it falls to 24 FPS, a 66% reduction. This indicates the GPU's 224.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot sustain high resolution rendering.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 7600X holding back the RX 570?

A: No. The CPU benchmarks show it performs in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15,236 and single-core score of 1,965. The FPS pattern across settings at any given resolution shows CPU headroom remains, as frame rates scale inversely with graphics load.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 3544th out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom percentile. This ranking reflects the GPU's age and performance class rather than any CPU deficiency, as the 7600X is a modern high-performance processor.

Q: What settings preset delivers the highest frame rate at 1080p?

A: Low settings produce the highest average at 70 FPS, followed by Medium at 52 FPS, High at 39 FPS, and Ultra at 29 FPS. The Medium preset with its 44 FPS minimum offers a more balanced experience than Low while still maintaining playability.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming in Hitman 2?

A: Only at Low settings, which yields an average of 45 FPS. Medium drops to 33 FPS, High to 25 FPS, and Ultra to 19 FPS. For consistent smoothness, 1440p is only viable with the lowest quality preset, and even then the margin is slim.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 7600X and RX 570 achieves a rank of 3544 out of 3711 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom 4.5% of all configurations. This is a remarkably low position for a system built around a 2022-era CPU, but the explanation lies entirely in the GPU's performance class. The RX 570, released in 2017, is an end-of-life product with a 74th percentile ranking against all GPUs, yet its absolute performance is simply inadequate for a modern stealth title at higher resolutions.

To contextualize this rank, it helps to compare the GPU's standing among its peers. The RX 570's average benchmark score is 28,766, with its nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 6800M at 28,874 (-0.4% delta), the AMD Radeon R9 M295X at 28,580 (0.7% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 470 at 28,996 (-0.8% delta). These small deltas indicate that the RX 570 sits in a cluster of similarly performing GPUs, none of which would be expected to deliver high frame rates in Hitman 2 at 1440p or 4K.

The CPU's rank among processors is far more favorable. With a 79th percentile placement and an average benchmark score of 27,636, the 7600X outperforms or matches several strong alternatives. Its nearest CPU rivals — the Ryzen 7 5700X, Core i5-12600K, and Ryzen 7 5800 — all fall within 0.4% of its average score. This contrast between CPU and GPU percentile rankings underscores the system imbalance: a top-tier processor paired with an entry-level graphics card from a previous generation.

The practical implication of this rank is that the combo is well-suited for 1080p gaming with reduced settings, but it cannot leverage the CPU's power to overcome GPU limitations. In Hitman 2 specifically, the combo's rank of 3544 reflects the fact that many other tested systems include more capable graphics cards, even if their CPUs are less powerful. The data suggests that any upgrade path for this system should prioritize GPU replacement to move up the rankings significantly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 70 FPS, which is the only result that approaches the upper range of smooth gameplay. Medium settings yield an average of 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 60 FPS, showing a playable range with occasional dips. High settings drop to an average of 39 FPS, while Ultra falls to 29 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p Medium is the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 50 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance degrades noticeably. Low settings produce an average of 45 FPS, which is marginally playable but below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings yield an average of 33 FPS, with a minimum of 28 FPS and a maximum of 38 FPS, making it borderline for consistent gameplay. High settings average 25 FPS, and Ultra drops to 19 FPS. The 1440p results show that only the Low preset approaches acceptable frame rates, and even that is marginal.

At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly poor. Low settings produce an average of 24 FPS, Medium averages 18 FPS with a minimum of 15 FPS and maximum of 20 FPS, High averages 13 FPS, and Ultra averages 10 FPS. None of these figures approach playable levels, and the data suggests that 4K is not a viable option for this combo under any circumstances. The minimum FPS values recorded only for Medium settings at each resolution — 44 at 1080p, 28 at 1440p, and 15 at 4K — highlight the increasing instability at higher resolutions.

Comparing settings across resolutions, the difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 41 FPS, at 1440p it is 26 FPS, and at 4K it is 14 FPS. This shrinking delta with increasing resolution confirms that the GPU is the primary constraint, as settings changes have diminishing impact when the pixel workload dominates. The data also shows that the combo's performance is consistent with a 4 GB GDDR5 memory configuration, which likely contributes to the steep falloff at higher resolutions where memory capacity and bandwidth become critical.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data suggests that the optimal experience for this combo in Hitman 2 is 1080p with Medium settings. This preset yields an average of 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS, which provides a reasonable balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Medium preset at 1080p is the highest settings level that maintains an average above 50 FPS, and the minimum of 44 FPS ensures that most scenes remain fluid enough for a stealth game where precise timing matters.

For players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, 1080p Low settings deliver the best performance at 70 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS threshold with substantial headroom, and it would be the recommended choice for competitive or fast-paced play. However, the visual compromise may be significant, and the Medium preset's additional detail could enhance the game's atmosphere and readability of environments.

At 1440p, the only viable option is Low settings with 45 FPS. This falls below the 60 FPS target but remains playable for a slower-paced stealth title. Players with 1440p monitors who are willing to accept lower visual quality could use this configuration, but the margin for error is slim, and scenes with heavy crowds or complex lighting may cause noticeable slowdowns. The Medium preset at 1440p, with its 33 FPS average and 28 FPS minimum, is not recommended for sustained gameplay.

At 4K, no settings preset is recommended. The highest average is 24 FPS at Low settings, which falls well below the minimum threshold for playable frame rates. The data indicates that this combo cannot handle 4K resolution in Hitman 2, and players should either lower their display resolution or upgrade the GPU if 4K is a requirement. The Ultra settings at 1080p, with a 29 FPS average, are also not recommended, as the visual gains over Medium do not justify the 23 FPS loss.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the decisive component in this combo's Hitman 2 performance, and its specifications explain the measured results. This GPU is built on the Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, with a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz. The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical constraint at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 28,766. Its nearest rivals include the RX 6800M at 28,874 (-0.4%), the R9 M295X at 28,580 (0.7%), and the RX 470 at 28,996 (-0.8%). These small deltas show that the RX 570 performs within a narrow band of similar GPUs, none of which are designed for high-resolution gaming in modern titles. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 880 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 42,752 further characterize its performance level.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is to render the game's detailed environments, which include crowds, lighting effects, and complex geometry. The measured FPS data shows that the RX 570's fill rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1080p at Medium settings but become overwhelmed at higher resolutions. The 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 compute performance is adequate for the game's shader work at lower settings but cannot maintain frame rates when quality presets increase the per-pixel workload.

The GPU's memory configuration is also a limiting factor. With only 4 GB of GDDR5, the card may struggle with texture data at higher settings, particularly at 1440p and 4K where texture sizes and memory pressure increase. The 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable for its era, is insufficient for the demands of a 2018 game at high resolutions. The GPU's TDP of 150 W and suggested PSU of 450 W indicate it draws moderate power, but its performance has not aged well relative to the CPU's capabilities.

The data conclusively shows that the RX 570 is the bottleneck in this system. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking and strong benchmark scores contrast sharply with the GPU's 74th percentile, but the absolute performance gap is what matters in practice. The GPU's end-of-life production status and 2017 release date further underscore that this is a legacy component paired with a modern processor, and any meaningful improvement in Hitman 2 frame rates would require a GPU upgrade.