Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, presents an interesting benchmark scenario for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination. The measured data reveals a system that is decisively GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of exceptional frame rates at 1080p. The overall combo ranking places this pairing at 830 out of 1795 tested configurations, indicating a mid-to-upper tier standing for this specific game. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics, settings scaling, and hardware role based strictly on the provided data.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and clearly illustrates the shifting bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 194.8 FPS, but this collapses to 65.9 FPS at 4K. This represents a reduction to roughly one-third of the 1080p frame rate, a scaling pattern typical of a GPU that is being pushed to its absolute limits at higher pixel counts.

The data indicates a clear transition from a CPU-limited scenario at lower resolutions to a GPU-limited one at 4K. At 1080p, the Ryzen 7 5700X’s strong multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its 3DMark scores of 6858 for 16 threads and 6850 for max threads, is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 3070, allowing frame rates to soar. The high FPS at 1080p, particularly the 194.8 FPS on Low, suggests the CPU is the primary driver of performance at this resolution. However, as resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then 3840x2160, the pixel fill rate and shading demands on the GPU become the dominant factor.

This is most evident when comparing the scaling from 1440p to 4K at the High preset. The average FPS drops from 73.7 to 36, a performance hit of over 50%. This steep decline is a classic sign that the RTX 3070’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are being saturated. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a capable figure, but the data suggests it is not enough to maintain fluid frame rates at 4K with High settings. The frame rate drop is less dramatic on Low settings, going from 125.1 FPS at 1440p to 65.9 FPS at 4K, but the trend is the same: the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data offers clear guidance on the optimal settings presets, balancing visual quality with playable frame rates. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the choices are straightforward. At 1920x1080, even the Ultra preset, which averages 79.6 FPS, is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This means users can max out the game’s settings at this resolution without concern for performance.

At 2560x1440, the High preset, with an average of 73.7 FPS, is the sweet spot for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Medium preset also comfortably exceeds 60 FPS with an average of 91.7 FPS, but High offers a better visual experience for the performance cost. The Ultra preset at 1440p, averaging 52.9 FPS, dips below the 60 FPS line and should be avoided for competitive or fast-paced play, though it remains a viable option for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate.

The 4K resolution is where compromises are necessary. The data shows that only the Low preset, with an average of 65.9 FPS, can maintain a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 53.1 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a smooth experience. High and Ultra at 4K are effectively unplayable for a 60 FPS target, with averages of 36 and 27.6 FPS respectively. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only recommended option to achieve a consistent frame rate, while Medium could be considered if 30-50 FPS is acceptable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration at higher resolutions. Its 8 GB of VRAM is a significant factor, as the frame rate drops from 65.9 FPS at 4K Low to 36 FPS at 4K High. This suggests that as texture quality and memory usage increase, the GPU’s capacity is strained, leading to a disproportionate performance penalty.

The GPU’s clock speeds also play a role. With a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz, the RTX 3070 has a solid performance ceiling. The data shows that its computational power, rated at 20.31 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. However, at 4K, this computational throughput is not enough to maintain high frame rates on higher settings. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 22214 and its 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs place it as a strong mid-range performer, but the 4K results show its limitations.

The RTX 3070’s position relative to its rivals underscores its mid-range status. It performs within 1% of the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, based on average benchmark scores. This indicates that while it is a capable card, it is not in the same league as higher-tier GPUs, which is consistent with the significant frame rate drops observed at 4K. The GPU is the primary driver of performance differences between settings at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU’s role becomes more prominent at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for every resolution and settings combination in the data.

1920x1080:

• Low: 194.8 FPS
• Medium: 146 FPS
• High: 112.7 FPS
• Ultra: 79.6 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 125.1 FPS
• Medium: 91.7 FPS
• High: 73.7 FPS
• Ultra: 52.9 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 65.9 FPS
• Medium: 53.1 FPS
• High: 36 FPS
• Ultra: 27.6 FPS

The 1080p results show a wide spread, with a 115.2 FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings. This demonstrates that the CPU and GPU combination has significant headroom at this resolution, allowing for a broad range of settings. At 1440p, the spread narrows to 72.2 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the spread is 38.3 FPS, with all but the Low preset failing to reach 60 FPS. This data clearly shows that the 1080p resolution is the only one where all settings presets are fully playable without compromise.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The data shows the Low preset at 4K averages 65.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 53.1 FPS, which is playable, but High and Ultra presets drop to 36 and 27.6 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 1440p monitor?

A: For 1440p, the High preset is the best balance, averaging 73.7 FPS. While Medium averages 91.7 FPS, High provides better visuals while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 52.9 FPS, is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at 1080p. The system achieves 194.8 FPS on Low and 112.7 FPS on High at this resolution, indicating the CPU has enough performance to feed the RTX 3070 effectively.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to its closest rivals in this game's context?

A: Based on the provided average benchmark scores, the RTX 3070 is statistically tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, having a deltaPct of just 0.9%. It also performs within 1% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti. This indicates that in raw compute power, these cards are closely matched.

Q: Why is the frame rate drop so significant when moving from 1440p to 4K?

A: The steep drop indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. For example, on the High preset, the FPS drops from 73.7 at 1440p to 36 at 4K. This is because the RTX 3070’s 8 GB of VRAM and compute resources are overwhelmed by the increased pixel count and texture detail.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo for Hitman 2?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks at 830 out of 1795 tested combos for this game. This places it in the upper half of all tested configurations, reflecting its ability to handle the game well at 1080p and 1440p.