Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its distinguishing feature is the large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is particularly beneficial in simulation-heavy and stealth titles where scene complexity and AI routines demand rapid data access. For Hitman 2, this configuration ensures that the CPU can feed the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 efficiently, especially at lower resolutions where the graphics card is not the primary bottleneck. The processor’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22366 and a single-core score of 3157, indicate strong headroom for handling game logic and physics, though the GPU will dominate at higher settings.

The RTX 4090, with 16384 shading units and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, is an extreme performer, but the measured FPS data shows that even this combination faces limits in Hitman 2 at maximum settings. At 1080p, the CPU’s role becomes more evident; the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 125.8 FPS, suggesting that while the CPU can push very high frame rates at low settings, the Ultra preset introduces GPU-bound effects that cap performance. The 5700X3D’s 8 cores are fully utilized by Hitman 2’s engine, which scales well with multi-threaded workloads, but the real constraint is the graphics card’s ability to render the game’s detailed environments at higher presets.

FAQ

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

A: The measured average FPS is 192.2 at 1920x1080 with High settings, indicating a very smooth experience that far exceeds standard 60 Hz displays, and is close to the 144 Hz mark for high-refresh monitors.

Q: How does the CPU’s multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D has an average benchmark score of 24673, which is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1360P and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, making the differences negligible in practical terms. It also trails the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 by 0.6%.

Q: What is the frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS falls from 138.8 at 1920x1080 to 46.6 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, a reduction of 92.2 FPS. This translates to a 66.4% performance loss, clearly showing the GPU’s workload scaling with pixel count.

Q: Which resolution provides the highest absolute FPS, and what is the value?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 264.6 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This marks the ceiling for the combo in this game, where the CPU’s cache and the GPU’s raw power are least challenged by graphical fidelity.

Q: Does the RTX 4090’s performance in this game align with its overall benchmark standing?

A: The GPU has a percentile ranking of 91 among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 66473, which is 0.4% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla T4 and 0.5% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P40. In-game, the measured FPS at 4K High (63.3) shows it is capable of near-4K60, but not at Ultra.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 161.9, which is 54 FPS higher than at 4K Medium (89.1) but 74 FPS lower than at 1080p Medium (235.9). This pattern indicates the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases, since the CPU’s performance headroom is not fully taxed at this preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 79th out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the top 4.4% of all configurations. This high percentile reflects the synergy between a strong 8-core CPU with a large cache and the flagship GPU. The ranking suggests that while there are faster combos, this pairing is exceptional for this title. The data indicates that the combo’s performance is not limited by the CPU’s single-thread speed, as the 3dmark single-thread score of 804 is modest, but rather by the GPU’s ability to handle the game’s rendering load at high settings.

The gap between this combo and the top-ranked ones is likely due to the CPU’s clock speed, which is lower than some newer rivals, but the 96 MB L3 cache compensates in Hitman 2’s level design. The combo’s rank of 79 out of 1795 means that 1716 other combinations are slower, which confirms the balanced nature of the pairing. For comparison, the CPU’s nearest rivals (Intel Core i7-1360P, AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D) have similar average scores, but the RTX 4090’s exclusive position as an end-of-life flagship ensures that this combo remains a top-tier choice for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS scales from 264.6 (Low) to 235.9 (Medium), 192.2 (High), and 138.8 (Ultra). The step from High to Ultra is the steepest, a drop of 53.4 FPS, which signals that the Ultra preset introduces heavy ambient occlusion and shadow effects that stress the GPU. At 2560x1440, the averages are 215.6 (Low), 161.9 (Medium), 124.1 (High), and 91.8 (Ultra). The transition from Low to Medium at this resolution costs 53.7 FPS, showing that even mid-tier settings begin to tax the RTX 4090 significantly.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 116 (Low), 89.1 (Medium), 63.3 (High), and 46.6 (Ultra). The 4K Low result is notable, as it still delivers a playable frame rate, but the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay. The data reveals a consistent pattern: each resolution increase halves the FPS gap between Low and Ultra, with 1080p having a 125.8 FPS spread, 1440p having a 123.8 FPS spread, and 4K having a 69.4 FPS spread. This narrowing indicates that at 4K, the GPU is the sole bottleneck, while at 1080p, the CPU can still push higher frame rates when the graphical load is light.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is most pronounced at Low settings, where the average falls from 264.6 to 116, a 148.6 FPS reduction (56.2% loss). This is counterintuitive, as one might expect Low settings to be more CPU-bound, but the data shows the GPU’s pixel throughput is still the limit. At Medium settings, the drop is from 235.9 to 89.1, a 146.8 FPS loss (62.2% loss), while at High settings, it drops from 192.2 to 63.3, a 128.9 FPS loss (67.1% loss). At Ultra settings, the drop is from 138.8 to 46.6, a 92.2 FPS loss (66.4% loss).

These percentages reveal that the RTX 4090’s performance degrades more steeply as resolution rises at higher settings, but the absolute FPS at 4K Low (116) is still higher than 1080p Ultra (138.8). This suggests that the CPU’s cache and core count are sufficient to maintain a high frame rate floor, but the GPU’s memory bandwidth (1.01 TB/s) becomes a constraint when rendering 8.3 million pixels. The 5700X3D’s 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is not the issue, as the data shows the FPS scaling is purely a function of GPU resolution load, with no sudden CPU-induced plateaus.

Settings Recommendations

For a balance of visual fidelity and performance, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the optimal choice, delivering an average of 124.1 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a significant improvement over Medium’s 161.9 FPS in graphical quality, while still maintaining a high refresh rate. At 3840x2160, the High preset (63.3 FPS) is the only option that stays above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K displays, as Medium (89.1) is also viable but with reduced visual details.

For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset (264.6 FPS) offers the highest possible frame rate, which is ideal for fast-paced reactions, though it sacrifices shadows and textures. The Medium preset (235.9 FPS) is a better compromise for most users, as it retains more detail while still exceeding 200 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it yields only 138.8 FPS at 1080p and 46.6 FPS at 4K, making it the worst performance-per-visual investment. The data indicates that the RTX 4090 is powerful enough to run Hitman 2 at High settings across all resolutions, but the CPU’s cache advantage is most evident at 1080p Low, where it enables frame rates that rival those of more expensive CPUs.