Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D pairing delivers exceptional performance in Hitman 2, ranking in the top 1.4% of all tested combinations. The data shows that this processor and graphics card combination provides a wide range of playable settings at every resolution, from high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming to a stable 4K experience, though the GPU is clearly the dominant component in this title.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. The processor features a substantial 32 MB of shared L3 cache, which is often beneficial for game logic and asset streaming. Its 65 W TDP classifies it as an efficient desktop part, and it uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform with DDR4 memory support.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates balanced single and multi-threaded capabilities. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13184 and single-core score of 1499 provide a strong foundation for gaming workloads. The 3DMark results show a clear scaling pattern: a single-thread score of 921, double-thread score of 1821, quad-thread score of 3512, and octa-thread score of 5768. The near-linear scaling from one to eight threads indicates that the processor efficiently utilizes its physical cores, which is critical for Hitman 2's engine that can take advantage of multiple threads for AI, physics, and scene management.

The Ryzen 7 5700X ranks in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27578. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12600K, has an identical average score with a 0% delta, indicating performance parity. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 is nearly identical, trailing by just 0.2%, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X leads by 0.2%. This tight grouping shows that the 5700X is positioned at a competitive performance tier.

For Hitman 2, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. Across all measured resolution and settings combinations, the frame rates scale more dramatically with GPU workload than with CPU throughput. At 1080p Low settings, the combination achieves 299 FPS, which suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU effectively even at high frame rates. The processor's 16 threads provide ample headroom for the game's background tasks, ensuring that the GPU is not starved of data.

The 5700X's performance in the PassMark multi-thread test (26612) and its physics score (1337) indicate that it can handle the simulation aspects of Hitman 2 without becoming a bottleneck. The data shows that as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rates drop across all settings, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. This confirms that the Ryzen 7 5700X provides sufficient computational power to keep up with the RTX 5090 D in this specific game.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship graphics card built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, using the GB202 chip on a 5 nm process. It boasts 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a massive 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU operates with a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). Its 21760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 render output units provide enormous raw compute power.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5090 D achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 376915. Its PassMark G3D score of 44065 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. The card's average benchmark score of 77712 is notably higher than its nearest listed rivals, with the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT trailing by 1.6% and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB trailing by 2.4%. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT is only 1.1% behind, though these comparisons are based on aggregate scores rather than game-specific performance.

For Hitman 2, the RTX 5090 D's performance is nothing short of dominant. At 1080p Low settings, the combination hits 299 FPS, and even at 4K Ultra, it maintains 52 FPS. The GPU's 32 GB of VRAM is far more than this 2018 title requires, meaning memory capacity is never a limiting factor. The high memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and draw calls are handled with minimal latency.

The GPU's clock speeds and architecture allow it to scale efficiently with settings changes. The data shows that moving from Low to Ultra settings at 4K reduces average FPS from 124 to 52, a 58% decrease. This scaling pattern indicates that the RTX 5090 D has enough headroom to handle the game's most demanding configurations while still providing playable frame rates. The GPU's compute capabilities, including its 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 performance, are more than sufficient for the DX11-era rendering techniques used in Hitman 2.

FAQ

Q: What average frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 132 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This provides a smooth experience for most displays, and the lack of reported minimum or maximum frame rates suggests consistent performance.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D overkill for this game?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance. At 4K Ultra, the combination achieves 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold often sought by gamers. However, at 4K High, it reaches 71 FPS, so the card is not overkill if you want maximum visual fidelity at high resolutions.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance affect the game?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X has a 3DMark single-thread score of 921 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1499. These results indicate strong per-core performance, which is important for Hitman 2's main game loop. The high frame rates at 1080p Low (299 FPS) suggest that CPU single-thread speed is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the best resolution for competitive play?

A: If you prioritize high frame rates, 1080p with Medium settings delivers 269 FPS, while 1080p Low reaches 299 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and speed, 1440p High at 132 FPS is a strong choice.

Q: Does the GPU's VRAM matter for this game?

A: The RTX 5090 D has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory, which far exceeds the requirements of Hitman 2. The game does not appear to be memory-limited, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings without any signs of VRAM-related stuttering.

Q: How does this combination compare to other tested setups?

A: The combo ranks 41st out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1.4% of all configurations. This indicates that it outperforms the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in this game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience in Hitman 2, the measured data suggests that High settings provide the optimal balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 4K, High settings achieve 71 FPS, which is playable and visually impressive. Moving to Ultra reduces this to 52 FPS, which may be too low for some users who prefer smoother motion. At 1440p, High settings deliver 132 FPS, offering excellent responsiveness and detail. For 1080p, High settings reach 207 FPS, which exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors.

The Medium settings preset offers a viable alternative if you want higher frame rates. At 4K Medium, the average FPS rises to 93, with a minimum of 79 and maximum of 107, providing a more consistent experience. At 1440p Medium, the average jumps to 175 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it reaches 269 FPS. The measured minimum and maximum values for Medium settings show tight 1% lows, indicating stable performance without significant frame dips.

Low settings are only recommended for maximum frame rates. At 1080p Low, the combination hits 299 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. However, the visual compromise is significant. The data shows that the difference between Low and High at 1080p is 92 FPS (299 vs 207), while the difference between High and Ultra is 54 FPS (207 vs 153). This suggests that High settings offer the best value in terms of FPS per visual quality unit.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination ranks 41st out of 3001 tested configurations in Hitman 2. This places it in the top 1.4% of all combinations, a remarkable achievement given the age of the game. The high rank is primarily driven by the RTX 5090 D's raw performance, as the GPU's benchmark percentile (92nd) is significantly higher than the CPU's (79th).

This ranking indicates that the combination is well-suited for this title, but it also suggests that the CPU may not be the ideal match for the GPU. The data shows that the RTX 5090 D's performance is so high that it can compensate for a less powerful CPU, but a more recent processor might unlock even higher frame rates at lower resolutions. The 41st rank out of 3001 combos means that 40 other configurations achieve higher performance in this game, likely featuring newer, higher-end CPUs paired with the same or similar GPUs.

Despite not being the absolute top combination, the 5700X + 5090 D pairing delivers outstanding results. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking and the GPU's 92nd percentile ranking create a synergistic effect where the GPU's strengths mask the CPU's relative weaknesses. For Hitman 2, this combo is more than capable of providing a premium gaming experience at any resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the combination delivers exceptional frame rates across all settings. Low settings achieve an average of 299 FPS, while Medium settings produce 269 FPS with a minimum of 229 and maximum of 310. High settings reach 207 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 153 FPS. The data shows that 1080p is clearly CPU-limited at Low settings, as the 299 FPS figure approaches the practical limits of the game's engine.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the performance remains impressive. Low settings average 234 FPS, Medium settings produce 175 FPS with a range of 149 to 201, High settings reach 132 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 98 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 20-25% across settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. Low settings average 124 FPS, Medium settings produce 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 and maximum of 107, High settings reach 71 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 52 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 52 FPS is the only measured configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is too demanding for consistent high-refresh-rate play. The Medium settings at 4K provide a more stable experience with a minimum of 79 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K displays.