Hitman 2

The benchmark data for Hitman 2, pairing the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 with the AMD Radeon RX 580, reveals a configuration where the graphics card is the primary constraint. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings depict a classic bottleneck scenario, with the CPU’s substantial headroom remaining untapped as the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher loads.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, confirming that the RX 580 is the limiting component in this configuration. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 (77.3 avg FPS) to 2560x1440 (52.5 avg FPS) represents a 32% reduction, while moving further to 3840x2160 (29.1 avg FPS) cuts the frame rate by an additional 45% from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload, where the rendering resolution directly dictates the pixel fill rate demand.

The trend becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At Ultra settings, the frame rate plummets from 34.8 avg FPS at 1080p to 19.1 avg FPS at 1440p (a 45% drop), and then to 12.2 avg FPS at 4K (a 36% drop from 1440p). The data indicates that the RX 580’s 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are insufficient to maintain consistent throughput as the pixel count increases. Notably, the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 16.9 FPS (from 29.1 to 12.2), whereas at 1080p the same preset gap is 42.5 FPS (from 77.3 to 34.8). This narrowing delta at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU’s raw shading capacity, not memory bandwidth, becomes the absolute ceiling.

The Ryzen 7 7700’s capabilities—8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.30 GHz boost clock—are effectively idle in this scenario. The data shows no evidence of CPU limitation, as frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. For users targeting 4K, the measured results are unequivocally unplayable across all presets, with the highest recorded average being 29.1 FPS at Low. The 1440p results are marginal, with only the Low preset exceeding 60 FPS, while 1080p remains the only viable resolution for a smooth experience, provided settings are managed appropriately.

Settings Recommendations

Analyzing the measured rows, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance is achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, yielding 60.2 avg FPS. This is the only preset at 1080p that delivers a frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining a moderate level of graphical detail. The High preset at 1080p drops to 42.1 avg FPS, which is a 30% reduction from Medium, while the visual improvement may not justify the performance cost for competitive or fast-paced play.

For users who prioritize smoothness over visuals, the Low preset at 1080p provides 77.3 avg FPS, which offers a significant 28% headroom over the Medium preset. This headroom could be beneficial for maintaining frame time consistency, though the data does not include min or max FPS values to confirm stability. At 2560x1440, the Low preset (52.5 avg FPS) is the only setting that approaches playability, but it falls short of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 1440p (37.7 avg FPS) and High preset (26.1 avg FPS) are best avoided for action-heavy sequences.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution. At 1080p, it delivers 34.8 avg FPS, which is 42% slower than Medium. At 1440p and 4K, the Ultra results (19.1 and 12.2 avg FPS respectively) are firmly in slideshow territory. If visual quality is paramount, the High preset at 1080p (42.1 avg FPS) represents the highest fidelity setting that remains within a playable range, though it requires a tolerance for sub-60 FPS performance. The data clearly indicates that the RX 580’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is not the limiting factor; rather, the GPU’s compute throughput caps the experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + AMD Radeon RX 580 combination ranks 1655 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 8th percentile of all configurations. This is a low ranking, reflecting the GPU’s age and performance class. The RX 580’s individual benchmark percentile is 53, meaning it sits near the median of all GPUs, but its performance in this specific title is hampered by the demanding nature of Hitman 2’s rendering engine.

The CPU is not the cause of this low ranking. The Ryzen 7 7700 holds a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40468. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13905H (40712, -0.6% delta), indicating that the processor is competitive with high-end mobile and desktop parts. In contrast, the RX 580’s nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (13564, 0% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 (13549, 0.1% delta), which are significantly older architectures. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range, end-of-life GPU creates a mismatch that the combo rank accurately reflects.

The data suggests that swapping the RX 580 for a more capable GPU would dramatically improve the combo’s standing, as the CPU has ample headroom to drive higher frame rates. The current rank is entirely attributable to GPU-bound performance, and the measured FPS values corroborate this, as no setting at 4K and only the Low preset at 1440p approach acceptable frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low 77.3, Medium 60.2, High 42.1, and Ultra 34.8. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 55% performance loss, which is a steep penalty for the highest preset. The step from Medium to High is a 30% drop (18.1 FPS), while the step from High to Ultra is a 17% drop (7.3 FPS). This indicates diminishing returns for the Ultra preset, which likely enables expensive effects that the Polaris 20 chip cannot handle efficiently.

At 2560x1440, the results are: Low 52.5, Medium 37.7, High 26.1, and Ultra 19.1. The delta between Low and Medium is 14.8 FPS (28% drop), and between Medium and High is 11.6 FPS (31% drop). The Ultra preset at 19.1 FPS is 64% slower than Low, showing that 1440p Ultra is not viable. Compared to 1080p, the 1440p Low setting retains 68% of the frame rate, while 1440p Ultra retains only 55% of the 1080p Ultra figure.

At 3840x2160, the results are: Low 29.1, Medium 22.1, High 14.8, and Ultra 12.2. The 4K Low preset is the only one that exceeds 20 FPS, and it is 62% slower than the 1080p Low result. The gap between 4K Medium (22.1) and 4K High (14.8) is a 33% drop, while the step to Ultra (12.2) is a further 18% reduction. The overall performance at 4K is so low that even the Low preset fails to provide a stable experience, with the data suggesting that this resolution should be avoided entirely with this GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this hardware?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings provides 60.2 avg FPS, which is the only preset at any resolution that meets the 60 FPS target while retaining moderate detail. The Low preset at 1080p offers 77.3 avg FPS for higher frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the GPU in terms of benchmark percentile?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 has a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the AMD Radeon RX 580 has a 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs. This indicates a significant performance disparity between the two components.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this combination?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest measured average is 29.1 FPS on Low settings, with Ultra dropping to 12.2 FPS. These frame rates are not playable for a stealth action title.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the RX 580 in benchmark scores?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 has an average score of 13564 with a 0% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has a score of 13549 with a 0.1% delta. The AMD Radeon Pro 455 is also close at 13416 with a 1.1% delta.

Q: How much headroom does the CPU have over the GPU?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700’s average benchmark score is 40468, while the RX 580’s is 13559. The CPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, scores 40431 with a 0.1% delta, showing the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo.

Q: Does the Ultra preset offer any benefit at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Ultra delivers 34.8 avg FPS, which is 25.4 FPS slower than Medium. The performance penalty is substantial, and the visual upgrade is not quantified in the data, making Medium the more practical choice.