Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a compelling, if sometimes constrained, experience in Hitman 2. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but hits a firm wall when pushed to 4K with maximum detail. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the hardware's role, and provides clear guidance on how to get the most out of this pairing.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the primary architect of this system’s visual output, and its specifications directly explain the performance ceilings observed. The GPU is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture, codenamed "Strix Point," and features a boost clock of 2990 MHz with a game clock of 2400 MHz. This high frequency is the key driver behind the strong frame rates seen at lower resolutions, as the 1792 shading units are able to process the game’s geometry and effects with significant speed.

However, the GPU’s memory configuration is a defining constraint. The RX 9060 is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. In a game like Hitman 2, which features dense, sprawling environments with numerous NPCs and dynamic lighting, this memory footprint and bandwidth become critical. The data suggests that at 4K resolution, the demand for texture data and frame buffer space exceeds what the 8 GB allocation can comfortably provide, especially when settings are raised.

This is evident in the measured frame rates. At 4K with Low settings, the GPU manages an average of 54 FPS, indicating that with reduced texture quality and simplified effects, the memory pressure is manageable. Moving to Medium settings at 4K drops the average to 41 FPS, and High settings further reduce it to 31 FPS. The most demanding scenario, 4K Ultra, yields a playable-but-suboptimal average of just 23 FPS. This precipitous decline with each settings tier, despite the GPU’s high clocks, points squarely at the 8 GB VRAM capacity and the 128-bit bus as the bottleneck, rather than raw shader compute power.

At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU’s clock speed takes precedence. With less memory pressure, the RX 9060 can flex its 2990 MHz boost clock. The jump from 1080p High (90 FPS) to 1080p Low (159 FPS) shows a 77% increase in performance, demonstrating that the GPU has headroom to spare when the visual load is lightened. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 112 TMUs are sufficient to handle the pixel and texture throughput at these resolutions, making the high clock speeds the primary factor in delivering smooth gameplay.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic pattern of a GPU that is strong at lower settings but becomes the definitive limiting factor as resolution increases. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 119 at 1080p to 76 at 1440p, and then to 41 at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46% drop from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline is far more pronounced than would be seen from a purely compute-bound scenario, reinforcing the idea that the memory subsystem is struggling to feed the GPU at higher resolutions.

The same trend is visible at High settings, where the average FPS falls from 90 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p, and finally to 31 at 4K. The scaling factors are remarkably consistent: 1080p to 1440p yields a 36% reduction, and 1440p to 4K yields a 47% reduction. This consistency suggests that the limiting component is not a specific feature but the overall memory bandwidth and capacity, which are taxed proportionally as the pixel count and texture detail increase.

For the CPU, the scaling indicates that it is not the primary constraint. The Ryzen 5 8400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at these frame rates. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions, where the GPU is less strained. Instead, we see significant gains from 1440p to 1080p, such as the jump from 76 to 119 FPS at Medium settings. This 56% increase shows the GPU has ample headroom to work with when the CPU can keep up, which it does, given its 4.70 GHz boost clock. The system is clearly GPU-limited at all resolutions tested, with the severity of the limitation increasing with resolution.

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

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For a 4K display, the data suggests that High settings are not viable for competitive play, as the 31 FPS average falls below the threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay. Medium settings at 4K offer a more playable 41 FPS average, with a minimum of 35 FPS, which is acceptable for a stealth game where reaction times are less critical than in a fast-paced shooter. However, the 54 FPS average at Low settings is the only preset that approaches a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, making it the recommended choice for players prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the situation is much more favorable. High settings provide an excellent balance, with an average of 58 FPS that is close to the 60 FPS target. The data shows that this is a significant step up from 4K, and it allows for a much better visual experience. For gamers with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, Medium settings yield 76 FPS, which will feel noticeably smoother. Ultra settings at 1440p are not recommended, as the 43 FPS average is a substantial downgrade from High and does not justify the visual gains.

For 1080p, the system is in its element. High settings deliver an average of 90 FPS, which is excellent for most displays. Medium settings push this to 119 FPS, and Low settings reach 159 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz or 165Hz monitors. The data indicates that Ultra settings at 1080p, with a 66 FPS average, are a poor trade-off, sacrificing a significant amount of performance for marginal visual improvements. The clear recommendation is to use High settings at 1080p as the default, with Medium as an option for those seeking maximum refresh rates.

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

The following is the complete set of measured average frame rates for this hardware combination in Hitman 2.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the performance is as follows:

• Ultra settings: 23 FPS average.
• High settings: 31 FPS average.
• Medium settings: 41 FPS average, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS.
• Low settings: 54 FPS average.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance improves significantly:

• Ultra settings: 43 FPS average.
• High settings: 58 FPS average.
• Medium settings: 76 FPS average, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS.
• Low settings: 102 FPS average.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system delivers its best results:

• Ultra settings: 66 FPS average.
• High settings: 90 FPS average.
• Medium settings: 119 FPS average, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS.
• Low settings: 159 FPS average.

These numbers illustrate a clear hierarchy. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is a 31 FPS swing, while at 1080p it is a 93 FPS swing. This demonstrates that the GPU has far more performance to give at lower resolutions, where it is not as heavily constrained by its memory subsystem. The minimum FPS data points, available only for Medium settings, show that the game maintains a consistent frame time at 1440p, with a 65 FPS minimum, which is good for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand database of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1739 out of 3001 total combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the 58th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it outperforms a majority of configurations but is not at the top tier of performance. This is a respectable position, reflecting a balanced mid-range setup that can handle the game well at 1080p and 1440p but struggles at 4K.

To contextualize this ranking, it is helpful to look at the individual component standings. The CPU, the Ryzen 5 8400F, sits in the 77th percentile of all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25005. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, which is 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i7-11850H, which is 0.3% faster. This shows the 8400F is a strong, competitive processor for gaming, holding its own against other modern chips.

The GPU, the Radeon RX 9060, is ranked in the 59th percentile of all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16014. Its closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which is 0.7% faster. The AMD Radeon R9 370X and RX 7700 are both 1% slower, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 2.1% slower. This indicates that the RX 9060 is a solid mid-range card, but it does not have the raw power to compete with higher-tier GPUs, which is reflected in its 4K performance. The combo ranking of 1739 is a logical consequence of pairing a high-percentile CPU with a mid-percentile GPU, resulting in a system that is balanced but ultimately limited by its graphics card in demanding scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 90 FPS.

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

A: The data shows it is not ideal for 4K. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 23, and even at Low settings it only reaches 54 FPS. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1440p or 1080p is recommended.

Q: Which is the better performer: the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F or the Intel Core i7-13620H?

A: Based on the average benchmark score, the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i7-13620H.

Q: How does the Radeon RX 9060 compare to the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has a slightly higher average benchmark score, making it 0.7% faster than the Radeon RX 9060.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144Hz 1080p monitor?

A: To maximize frame rate, Low settings at 1080p provide an average of 159 FPS. For a balance of visuals and performance, Medium settings at 119 FPS would also be suitable.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 65 FPS, with a maximum of 88 FPS.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F serves as the system's foundation, providing the processing power needed to drive the game’s simulation and AI. This CPU is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed "Phoenix," and manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. For a game like Hitman 2, which is known for its complex sandbox levels with many interactive elements and NPCs, these specifications are more than adequate.

The CPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks confirms its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and single-core score of 2943 are strong indicators of its ability to handle both multi-threaded workloads and single-threaded game logic. The 16 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial for gaming, as it helps reduce latency when accessing frequently used data. The data shows that this CPU is not a bottleneck in this system, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling across resolutions.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 8400F holds its own. It is within 0.4% of the performance of the Intel Core i7-13620H and 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F. This places it squarely in the competitive mid-range segment. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs further reinforces its position as a powerful and reliable choice for gaming. In this specific game, the CPU's role is to keep the frame pipeline full, and it does so effectively, allowing the Radeon RX 9060 to be the sole determinant of performance at any given resolution and settings combination.