Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Hitman 2, with the data showing a clear transition from a CPU-bound state at 1080p to a GPU-bound state at 4K. The measured frame rates reveal that while the combo can exceed 170 FPS at lower settings, it drops below 30 FPS at maximum quality in 4K, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 demonstrates a steep performance curve that is characteristic of a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 171 FPS, but this falls to 110 FPS at 1440p and 58 FPS at 4K — a reduction of 35.7% and 66.1% respectively from the 1080p baseline. This pattern intensifies at higher quality presets: with Ultra settings, the drop from 1080p’s 72 FPS to 1440p’s 46 FPS represents a 36.1% loss, while the further decline to 24 FPS at 4K marks a 66.7% decrease from 1440p.

The data indicates that the scaling factor between 1440p and 4K is more severe than between 1080p and 1440p across all settings. For instance, at Medium settings, the transition from 1080p (129 FPS) to 1440p (82 FPS) loses 47 FPS, but the move from 1440p to 4K (44 FPS) loses 38 FPS — a smaller absolute drop but a larger percentage loss (53.7% vs 36.4%). This nonlinear behavior suggests that the RTX 4060’s 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus become increasingly stressed as resolution increases, with the 272.0 GB/s bandwidth struggling to feed the render pipeline at 4K.

At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 99 FPS, but at 4K this gap narrows to just 34 FPS. This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU saturation: the graphics card is working at near-maximum capacity regardless of quality preset, so reducing settings yields diminishing returns. Conversely, at 1080p, the large delta between presets indicates that the CPU has headroom to push more frames when the GPU is less burdened, making the Ryzen 5 9600X’s single-thread performance the enabling factor for the high FPS counts seen at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 9600X brings substantial processing power to this pairing, and its characteristics align well with Hitman 2’s demands at lower resolutions. With 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), the CPU operates at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz. This high boost clock is critical for gaming performance, and the benchmark data supports this: the CPU scores 1253 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2183.5 in cinebench_r23_singlecore, placing it in the 81st percentile against all CPUs.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are also robust, with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 7590 and a cinebench_r23_multicore result of 17528.5. These figures indicate that the processor can handle Hitman 2’s AI and simulation workloads without bottlenecking the GPU, particularly at 1080p where the measured 171 FPS at Low settings demonstrates the CPU’s ability to feed frames rapidly. The L3 cache of 32 MB (shared) and DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth further contribute to low-latency data access, which is beneficial for a stealth game that requires quick physics and NPC reactions.

When compared to its nearest rivals in average benchmark score, the 9600X sits within a tight cluster: it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H, and 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS. This proximity in synthetic scores suggests that real-world gaming differences will be minimal, and indeed the measured FPS at 1080p Medium (129 FPS) and High (97 FPS) show that the CPU is not the limiting factor at these settings — the GPU is. However, at 1080p Low, the 171 FPS result approaches the practical ceiling for many displays, and the CPU’s single-thread strength (4570 in passmark_single_thread) is what allows the GPU to run at such high frame rates without stalling.

The 65W TDP of the 9600X is notably efficient for the performance delivered, which means thermal throttling is unlikely to affect sustained gaming sessions. This is relevant because Hitman 2 levels can be large and complex, requiring consistent CPU performance over extended play. The CPU’s PCIe Gen 5 support with 24 lanes (CPU only) ensures that the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection, although the RTX 4060 uses PCIe 4.0 x8, which is sufficient for this workload.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the component that ultimately caps performance at higher resolutions in Hitman 2. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip, the GPU features 3072 shading units and 48 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2460 MHz. Its memory configuration — 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 272.0 GB/s bandwidth — is the defining constraint, as the data shows a dramatic FPS collapse at 4K Ultra (24 FPS) that points to VRAM capacity or bandwidth limitations.

The GPU’s raw compute capability is measured at 15.11 TFLOPS FP32, which places it in the 61st percentile against all GPUs. However, its nearest rivals in average benchmark score are notably older or lower-tier parts: the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (0.2% ahead), AMD Radeon 780M (0.3% behind), and AMD Radeon Pro 560 (0.5% behind). This comparison is misleading for gaming, as the RTX 4060’s modern architecture includes 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores that accelerate features like ray tracing and DLSS, which are not reflected in synthetic scores but matter in actual gameplay.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role becomes dominant at 1440p and above. At 1440p High, the combo produces 62 FPS, which is exactly half the 1080p Low result — a pattern that suggests the GPU is scaling almost linearly with pixel count. At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed: even at Low settings, the 58 FPS result is only 33.9% of the 1080p Low figure, and at Ultra, the 24 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The measured 4K Medium frame times (min 37, max 50) show significant variance, indicating that the GPU is struggling to maintain consistent output.

The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM is likely a bottleneck at 4K Ultra, where texture and shadow detail can exceed this capacity, causing data to spill into slower system memory. The 128-bit memory bus compounds this issue, as the 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for 4K’s pixel throughput demands. Despite this, the GPU performs admirably at 1080p, where its 15.11 TFLOPS of compute power is more than adequate, and the 171 FPS Low result demonstrates that it can keep pace with the CPU’s output when resolution is low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are consistently playable: Low averages 171 FPS, Medium 129 FPS (with a range of 109-148), High 97 FPS, and Ultra 72 FPS. These numbers show that the combo can drive high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, with even the most demanding Ultra preset maintaining a solid 72 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS target for most displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable but the experience remains viable for most users. Low settings produce 110 FPS, which is still very smooth, while Medium delivers 82 FPS (min 70, max 95), High 62 FPS, and Ultra 46 FPS. The Ultra result at 1440p is borderline for fast-paced action, but for a stealth game like Hitman 2, 46 FPS is acceptable, especially given the slower gameplay pacing. The Medium preset shows good frame time consistency with a 25 FPS spread between min and max, suggesting stable performance.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings yield 58 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 44 FPS (min 37, max 50), High to 33 FPS, and Ultra to 24 FPS. The 4K Medium result is the only one with recorded min/max values, and the 13 FPS variance indicates noticeable stuttering during intense scenes. The 33 FPS at High and 24 FPS at Ultra fall below the 30 FPS minimum that many consider the threshold for playable, making these presets unsuitable for 4K gaming with this combo.

The data reveals an interesting pattern when comparing settings across resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 99 FPS (171 vs 72), but at 1440p this gap narrows to 64 FPS (110 vs 46), and at 4K it shrinks to 34 FPS (58 vs 24). This diminishing return on settings reduction at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck: lowering quality settings cannot compensate for the raw pixel count increase.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 2018 out of 3711 combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the 54.4th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions, despite the CPU’s strong performance. The rank suggests that while this combo is capable, there are many other pairings that deliver better results in this specific game.

The ranking is primarily dragged down by the 4K results, where the combo’s 24 FPS at Ultra is far below what higher-tier GPUs can achieve. However, at 1080p, the combo’s performance is competitive with much more expensive systems, as the 171 FPS Low result demonstrates that the CPU-GPU balance is well-matched for lower resolutions. The rank of 2018 out of 3711 indicates that approximately 54% of tested combos perform better, which is expected given the RTX 4060’s position as a mid-range GPU.

The CPU’s benchmark percentile (81st) is significantly higher than the GPU’s (61st), which means the 9600X has more headroom than the RTX 4060. This mismatch is reflected in the gaming results: the CPU could support higher frame rates if paired with a stronger GPU, but the RTX 4060 holds the combo back at 1440p and 4K. For users prioritizing 1080p gaming, this combo punches above its rank, but for 4K enthusiasts, the rank accurately reflects the suboptimal experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 72 FPS provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, as this frame rate is smooth for most players and the high settings showcase the game’s stealth-oriented detail. If a higher refresh rate is desired, the High preset at 97 FPS is an excellent choice, offering near-Ultra visuals with a 34.7% FPS increase. The Medium preset at 129 FPS is only recommended for competitive play or 144Hz+ displays, as the visual downgrade from High is noticeable but the frame rate gains are substantial.

At 1440p, the High preset at 62 FPS is the recommended starting point, as it provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. Users with adaptive sync displays can tolerate the 46 FPS Ultra preset, but the 34.8% FPS drop from High to Ultra is significant, and the visual improvements may not justify the performance cost. The Medium preset at 82 FPS is the safest choice for ensuring consistent frame times, especially during crowded scenes with many NPCs, as the min 70 FPS ensures no major hitches.

For 4K, the Low preset at 58 FPS is the only viable option for a smooth experience, as the Medium preset’s 44 FPS average with a 37 FPS minimum can cause noticeable stuttering. The High and Ultra presets (33 and 24 FPS) are not recommended for gameplay, as they fall below the 30 FPS playability threshold. Users who insist on 4K should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p and using High settings, which delivers 62 FPS — a 88% improvement over the 4K High result, with minimal visual difference on most displays.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p High, where the 62 FPS average represents a good compromise between the CPU’s capabilities and the GPU’s limitations. At this setting, the game is fully playable, and the visuals are sufficiently detailed for the stealth genre’s emphasis on observation and environment interaction. For the best overall experience, users should prioritize 1080p Ultra (72 FPS) if they value visual quality, or 1440p High (62 FPS) if they prefer higher resolution. The Medium presets at both 1080p and 1440p offer excellent frame rates with minor visual compromises, making them strong alternatives for users with high-refresh-rate monitors.