Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 pairing delivers a wide performance envelope in Hitman 2, ranging from highly playable frame rates at 1080p to a challenging experience at 4K Ultra. The data shows a system where the CPU provides ample headroom for the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck as resolution and visual fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the measured results to explain the role of each component and what the frame rate figures mean for gameplay.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, operating with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset for gaming workloads, as it helps reduce memory latency and improves data access efficiency. The processor’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794 and a single-core score of 3359, indicate substantial processing capability.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The data from this combo suggests the 5800XT is more than sufficient for this task. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 227 FPS, which is a frame rate that would be heavily dependent on CPU performance. The fact that the system reaches this high a number indicates that the Ryzen 7 5800XT is not a limiting factor at this resolution. The 16 threads ensure that background tasks and the game’s engine can run without contention, which is crucial for maintaining stable frame pacing.

The processor’s 3DMark 16-thread score of 7683 and max-thread score of 7680 show a near-linear scaling in synthetic tests, confirming that all cores are being utilized effectively. This is relevant because Hitman 2 can scale across multiple cores, and the 5800XT’s ability to maintain high multi-threaded throughput helps prevent frame drops in crowded areas or complex scenes. The CPU percentile rank of 81 (vs. all CPUs) places it in the upper tier of processors, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H with a deltaPct of 0, show that it is competitive with newer mobile parts in raw synthetic benchmarks.

However, the measured frame rates tell the more important story. The delta between 1080p Low (227 FPS) and 1080p High (128 FPS) is a 99 FPS drop, which is a direct result of increased GPU workload, not CPU limitation. The CPU is clearly capable of pushing well over 200 frames per second in this title, meaning that at any resolution where the average frame rate is lower, the bottleneck lies elsewhere. The data suggests that the 5800XT provides a stable foundation, allowing the RTX 3080 to perform to its full potential without being starved of data.

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

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 128 FPS at 1920x1080 to 82 FPS at 2560x1440, and further down to 44 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 84 FPS reduction from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Does the RTX 3080 run out of memory in Hitman 2 at any settings?

A: The GPU has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory. The data does not provide any indication of memory-related performance issues, such as severe frame drops or stutters at 4K Ultra, which is the most demanding configuration tested. The frame rates at 4K Ultra (32 FPS) are low, but the data does not suggest a memory capacity failure.

Q: How does the system perform at Medium settings compared to Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 109 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS. Moving to Ultra drops the average to 61 FPS. This is a 48 FPS difference, indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a significant additional load on the GPU.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K Low?

A: At 4K Low, the system achieves 77 FPS. Since the CPU can deliver 227 FPS at 1080p Low, and the resolution increase to 4K (which does not change CPU load) causes a massive frame drop, the GPU is clearly the limiting component at 4K. The CPU is not the bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: What is the best performance metric for the RTX 3080 in this game?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 227 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The most balanced high-refresh-rate result is likely the 1440p Medium result of 109 FPS, which maintains a high average while providing better visual quality than Low.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1078 out of 3711 tested combos, placing it in the upper third of all systems tested for this game.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 227 FPS at 1080p to 145 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 77 FPS at 4K. This represents a 66% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution, yet the frame rate drops dramatically, confirming that the RTX 3080 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

At High settings, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The frame rate drops from 128 FPS at 1080p to 82 FPS at 1440p (a 36% decrease) and then to 44 FPS at 4K (a further 46% decrease from 1440p). The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at High is 65.6%, which is nearly identical to the Low preset’s drop. This consistency indicates that the GPU’s rendering load is scaling almost linearly with the pixel count, and the CPU is not introducing a variable bottleneck.

The Medium and Ultra presets follow the same trend. At Medium, the system goes from 170 FPS at 1080p to 109 FPS at 1440p and 58 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, the numbers are 95 FPS, 61 FPS, and 32 FPS respectively. The 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is particularly telling; it shows that while the CPU has the headroom to process the game logic, the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum visual effects. The data strongly suggests that for this pairing, the RTX 3080’s raw compute and memory bandwidth (760.3 GB/s) are the primary determinants of performance at 1440p and above, while the Ryzen 7 5800XT’s capabilities are only fully exercised at 1080p.

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

This section details the exact measured average frame rates for each configuration tested.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 227 FPS average.
• Medium: 170 FPS average, with a minimum of 144 FPS and a maximum of 195 FPS.
• High: 128 FPS average.
• Ultra: 95 FPS average.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 145 FPS average.
• Medium: 109 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS.
• High: 82 FPS average.
• Ultra: 61 FPS average.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 77 FPS average.
• Medium: 58 FPS average, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS.
• High: 44 FPS average.
• Ultra: 32 FPS average.

The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data points across all resolutions. At 1080p, the minimum of 144 FPS is still above the refresh rate of most standard monitors, indicating a smooth experience. At 1440p, the minimum of 92 FPS ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above the 90 FPS threshold. At 4K, the minimum of 49 FPS shows that the system can dip below the 60 FPS target, which could be noticeable in fast-paced gameplay. The Ultra preset results at 4K (32 FPS average) are below the threshold for comfortable play, while the Low preset at 4K (77 FPS average) provides a playable experience with reduced visual quality.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, featuring 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores. Its boost clock is rated at 1710 MHz. The card has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. This memory configuration is crucial for Hitman 2 at high resolutions, as the game’s detailed environments and textures require significant memory throughput.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA P106-100 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M, with deltaPct values of -0.3 and -0.4, respectively. This indicates that the RTX 3080’s compute performance is in a specific tier, but its gaming performance in this title is more nuanced.

The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 3080’s performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the card is not the bottleneck, as the CPU is likely pushing the frame rate. However, as the resolution increases, the GPU’s raw power becomes the key factor. The 4K results are particularly telling: at Low settings, the card manages 77 FPS, but at Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS. This suggests that the GPU’s compute capacity is sufficient for lower settings, but the increased shader and texture work at Ultra overwhelms it at 4K. The 10 GB of VRAM appears adequate for the tested settings, as there is no evidence of texture pop-in or severe stuttering in the data. The card’s 320W TDP and 700W suggested PSU are consistent with a high-performance part that draws significant power to achieve these results.

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

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s resolution and frame rate target.

For 1080p, the High preset at 128 FPS is the best choice for users with high refresh rate monitors (120Hz+). The Ultra preset at 95 FPS is also viable, but the 33 FPS drop from High to Ultra does not provide a proportional visual benefit for most players. For users with standard 60Hz monitors, the Ultra preset at 95 FPS is easily achievable and offers the best visual quality.

For 1440p, the Medium preset at 109 FPS provides an excellent balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. The High preset at 82 FPS is also very playable and offers better image quality, but it falls below the 90 FPS threshold that some users prefer for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 61 FPS is playable on a 60Hz display but will not take advantage of higher refresh rate panels.

For 4K, the situation is more complex. The Low preset at 77 FPS is the only configuration that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 58 FPS will experience drops below 60 FPS (as shown by the min of 49 FPS), which can be noticeable. The High preset at 44 FPS and Ultra at 32 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay. Therefore, for 4K, the Low preset is the only option that provides a consistently playable experience, sacrificing visual quality for performance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination has a combo rank of 1078 out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places the system in the 71st percentile of all tested combos, meaning it performs better than approximately 71% of the other CPU-GPU pairings tested for this game.

This ranking is notable given the hardware. The RTX 3080 is a high-end GPU, and the Ryzen 7 5800XT is a capable 8-core processor. The fact that they rank in the top 30% of all combos suggests that Hitman 2 is a title that favors this specific balance of CPU and GPU power. The ranking also implies that there are many other combos that can outperform this one, likely due to having more powerful GPUs (such as newer generation cards) or CPUs with higher single-thread performance. However, the data shows that this combo provides a solid gaming experience, particularly at 1080p and 1440p, and its 4K performance is limited primarily by the GPU’s capabilities.

The rank of 1078 out of 3711 is a strong result, but it is not at the very top tier. This is expected for a previous-generation GPU that is now end-of-life, paired with a newer CPU. The combo’s performance is sufficient to deliver high frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but it will struggle with the most demanding 4K Ultra settings. The data indicates that for users with a 1440p monitor, this combination offers a very good experience, with the Medium and High presets providing excellent frame rates.