Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, shows how a modern mid-range GPU and an older high-core-count CPU interact under varying loads. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, provides a strong foundation for the game’s AI and simulation routines, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 handles the visual rendering. The measured data across three resolutions and four quality presets reveals a system that is capable but requires careful settings management to hit smooth frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which allows it to handle both single-threaded tasks and heavily threaded workloads. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. This configuration is well-suited for Hitman 2, a game that simulates complex AI routines and physics interactions in its sandbox levels, which typically benefit from multiple available threads.

The CPU's benchmark scores give context to its performance. In Cinebench R15, it scores 2092 in multicore and 204 in singlecore. The Geekbench scores are 8899 multicore and 1593 singlecore. PassMark results show a multithread score of 22458 and a single thread score of 2656. The 3700X also has a strong PassMark physics score of 1181, which is relevant for game physics calculations. These numbers indicate that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most gaming scenarios, as its single-thread performance is adequate for the game’s main logic loop, and its multicore power is more than sufficient for background tasks.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings where the GPU has less work to do. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 152 FPS, which suggests that the CPU can feed frames to the GPU at a high rate. However, as resolution and settings increase, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU’s influence on the final frame rate diminishes. The 3700X’s 65 W TDP and AM4 socket compatibility make it a practical choice, and its benchmark percentile of 84 indicates it outperforms the majority of all tested CPUs. The data shows a balanced platform where the CPU provides a stable base, but the GPU dictates the ultimate performance ceiling in this title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is ranked 2291 out of 3711 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places the system in the lower-middle portion of the database, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it is far from the bottom. This ranking is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range standing rather than the CPU's, as the RTX 5050’s individual benchmark percentile is 66, while the 3700X sits at 84. The combo rank suggests that for this specific game, many other hardware pairings deliver higher average frame rates.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 34222, a negligible 0.1% difference, and the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220, also a 0.1% delta. The Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333, which is 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H scores 34083, 0.5% lower. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the 3700X’s compute performance is effectively on par with these other processors. This indicates that swapping among these CPUs would likely yield nearly identical frame rates in Hitman 2, reinforcing that the GPU is the primary differentiator in this combo's ranking.

For the GPU, the RTX 5050’s average benchmark score is 21035. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL with a score of 21153 (a -0.6% delta) and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M with 21237 (a -1% delta). The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713, which is 1.6% lower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, 1.6% higher. The close margins between these GPUs suggest that the RTX 5050 performs in a tight band with these older or mobile parts, and the overall combo ranking would shift only slightly if one of these GPUs were paired with the same CPU. The data shows that the combo’s rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s mid-pack standing in the benchmark hierarchy.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo achieves in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 152 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The next highest is 114 FPS at the same resolution with Medium settings.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: At 3840x2160, the system only achieves a playable average frame rate on Low settings, hitting 52 FPS. On Medium, it drops to 39 FPS, on High it falls to 29 FPS, and on Ultra it is 22 FPS. Therefore, 4K gaming is only feasible with the lowest quality preset.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multicore performance relative to rivals?

A: The CPU's Cinebench R15 singlecore score is 204, and its multicore score is 2092. The Geekbench singlecore score is 1593, and the multicore score is 8899. While the CPU is ranked in the 84th percentile overall, its performance is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with delta percentages ranging from -0.2% to 0.5% in average score.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 97 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces only 41 FPS. This represents a drop of 56 FPS, or approximately 58%, when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Is there a significant performance gap between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 86. At 2560x1440 with High settings, it drops to 55 FPS. This is a decrease of 31 FPS, indicating that the GPU is being stressed considerably more by the increased pixel count.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth and how might it affect performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is adequate for the game's textures at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the combination of lower bandwidth and 8 GB capacity likely contributes to the significant frame rate drops seen in the measured data.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the system performs across different configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: with Low settings, the average frame rate is 152 FPS. Moving to Medium, it drops to 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. High settings yield an average of 86 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 64 FPS. This shows a clear linear scaling, where each step up in quality costs roughly 20-30 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance curve shifts downward. The Low preset averages 97 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 55 FPS, while Ultra settings fall to 41 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is significant, highlighting the GPU's struggle with higher pixel counts and more demanding visual effects.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly pushed to its limits. The Low preset is the only one that remains above 50 FPS, averaging 52 FPS. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. High settings average 29 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 22 FPS. None of the settings above Low provide a consistently smooth experience at 4K, as the frame rates fall below the 60 FPS threshold and into a range where stutter and input lag become noticeable. The data shows a consistent pattern: the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while even the most demanding settings at 1080p remain playable.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 2317 MHz, with a boost clock of 2572 MHz. The GPU’s compute capabilities include a FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 205.8 GTexel/s. These specifications place it in the mid-range segment, and its benchmark percentile of 66 confirms that it outperforms a majority of GPUs but is not a high-end part.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is dominant at higher settings and resolutions. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p, the GPU can easily handle Low and Medium settings, but performance drops off significantly at Ultra. At 1440p, the GPU begins to show strain, with Ultra settings producing just 41 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is overwhelmed, with even High settings yielding only 29 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely a factor at 4K, where texture data can exceed this limit, causing performance to degrade.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, which has a score of 21153 (a 0.6% difference), and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M with a score of 21237 (a 1% difference). These are older or mobile parts, yet they perform at a similar level to the RTX 5050 in synthetic benchmarks. However, in real-world gaming, the RTX 5050’s modern architecture and driver support may provide a slight edge. The data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this combo for Hitman 2, as the CPU’s performance headroom is not fully utilized at higher settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's resolution and performance target. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1080p is the only resolution where this is consistently achievable. At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 86 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 64 FPS, which is also playable, but the marginal visual improvement over High may not justify the 22 FPS drop.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset offers an average of 73 FPS, which is the best option for maintaining a high refresh rate experience. The High preset at 1440p averages 55 FPS, which is below 60 FPS and may be noticeable to sensitive users. The Ultra preset at 1440p is not recommended, as the 41 FPS average would result in a choppy experience. For those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate at 1440p, the High preset is the highest acceptable setting, but Medium is the sweet spot for a fluid experience.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 52 FPS. The Medium preset at 39 FPS is playable for slower-paced stealth sections, but the frequent dips below 40 FPS could hinder gameplay in action-heavy moments. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended, as the frame rates are too low for a satisfying experience. The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p High or 1440p Medium to get the best combination of visuals and performance from this hardware.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear trend of performance degradation as pixel count increases. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 152 at 1080p to 97 at 1440p, a reduction of 55 FPS or approximately 36%. Moving from 1440p to 4K Low, the average FPS drops from 97 to 52, a further reduction of 45 FPS or approximately 46%. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient to handle the frame generation at lower resolutions.

At High settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The average FPS drops from 86 at 1080p to 55 at 1440p, a 36% decrease. From 1440p to 4K, it drops from 55 to 29, a 47% decrease. This steeper decline at higher resolutions and settings confirms that the GPU is being pushed harder as the workload increases. The CPU’s influence on performance is minimal in these scenarios, as the frame rates are dictated by the GPU’s ability to render the increased number of pixels.

The scaling pattern across all settings shows that the RTX 5050’s performance is heavily dependent on resolution. The 8 GB VRAM and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and even 1440p, but they become bottlenecks at 4K. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a viable option if settings are lowered. The 4K resolution is only playable at the lowest settings, and the system is clearly not designed for high-fidelity 4K gaming in Hitman 2. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom to support higher frame rates if the GPU could render them.