Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 pairing in Hitman 2 shows a system that is heavily influenced by graphics settings and resolution, with the CPU providing a strong foundation for high frame rates at lower resolutions. The data indicates a clear performance hierarchy across the tested configurations.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and is built on a 5 nm process node. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This CPU features a 32 MB shared L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, alongside 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The processor supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. It has a TDP of 65 watts and includes integrated Radeon Graphics.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's performance is a critical factor, especially at 1080p where the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. The benchmark results for the processor show a single-thread score of 1049 in 3dmark, which is crucial for a game like Hitman 2 that relies on consistent frame pacing. The multi-threaded capability is also strong, with a 3dmark max threads score of 8479 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29302. The CPU's percentile ranking versus all CPUs is 91, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 7700 shows a nearly identical average score to the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, with a delta of 0.1%. It is also 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 1.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T. The only rival it trails is the Intel Core i9-13905H, which is 0.6% faster. This positioning means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 7700 will deliver performance that is essentially on par with these other high-end chips, ensuring that the graphics card is not starved of data. The 5.30 GHz boost clock is particularly relevant for Hitman 2, as it helps maintain high frame rates in scenes with many AI characters or complex calculations.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and the Navi 48 chip, built on a 4 nm process. It comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1330 MHz, a game clock of 2070 MHz, and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. It features 3584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units. The card supports PCIe 5.0 x16 and has a TDP of 220 W.

For Hitman 2, the GPU's role becomes more dominant as resolution and settings increase. The 16 GB of VRAM is ample for the game's textures, even at 4K Ultra, preventing any potential memory-related stutters. The high memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s is also a benefit, as it allows for quick streaming of texture data. The GPU's raw compute power, measured at 36.13 TFLOPS FP32, is what drives the frame rates at higher settings.

The RX 9070's benchmark scores show a passmark G3D score of 25381 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 165532. Its percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 79. The nearest rival comparisons show a mixed bag: it is 0.2% slower than the NVIDIA A2, but 0.3% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro GV100. It also leads the AMD Radeon HD 7970 by 0.7% and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 by 0.8%. These deltas are very small, indicating that the RX 9070 sits in a competitive performance tier. However, the game's performance data shows that the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops significantly.

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

Analyzing the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 125.4 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The Ultra preset at 1080p still provides a very playable 90.8 FPS, but the jump to Medium offers a substantial increase to 164.6 FPS. For competitive play or maximum smoothness, the Low preset at 222.4 FPS is the clear winner, but it comes with a significant visual downgrade.

At 1440p, the High preset averages 83.3 FPS, which is ideal for a 75Hz or 144Hz monitor if you are willing to accept slightly lower frame rates. The Medium preset provides a more comfortable 104.5 FPS, making it the sweet spot for 1440p gaming. The Ultra preset at 57.4 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. At 4K, the High preset at 45.9 FPS is borderline, while the Medium preset at 56.6 FPS is a more stable option. The Ultra preset at 4K is the least desirable, averaging only 30.3 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience.

The data suggests that the High preset is the optimal choice for most users, providing a good balance across all resolutions. The Medium preset is a strong alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates. The Ultra preset should be reserved for those who prioritize image quality over frame rate, and only at 1080p or 1440p. The Low preset is only recommended for maximizing FPS at 1080p, as it yields a massive 222.4 FPS average.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 achieves a rank of 628 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the upper third of all tested systems, indicating a solidly performing setup. The rank is a composite measure that takes into account performance across all resolutions and settings. Given that the CPU is a high-end part with a 91st percentile ranking and the GPU is in the 79th percentile, the overall combo rank of 628 suggests that the pairing is well-balanced but not at the very top of the charts. The GPU's percentile is lower than the CPU's, which hints that the graphics card may be the limiting factor in pushing the combo to a higher rank. This is consistent with the FPS data, where the GPU's performance ceiling is reached at higher settings and resolutions. The combo rank indicates that while this system is capable of excellent performance, there are 627 other combinations that achieve higher average frame rates in this specific game.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's bottlenecks. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 125.4 at 1080p to 83.3 at 1440p, a reduction of 33.6%. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the FPS further drops to 45.9, a 44.9% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU has enough headroom to handle the increased pixel count, but the GPU's rendering capacity is exhausted.

This is further confirmed by looking at the Low settings. At 1080p Low, the FPS is 222.4, but at 1440p Low, it drops to 140.4, a 36.9% decrease. At 4K Low, it falls to 74.3, a 47.1% reduction from 1440p. The percentage drop is slightly larger at Low settings, which suggests that even when the GPU load is lower, the GPU is still the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p, as the CPU workload remains relatively constant. The data strongly points to the Radeon RX 9070 as the primary constraint on performance as resolution increases.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the average FPS values are: Low 222.4, Medium 164.6, High 125.4, and Ultra 90.8. This resolution showcases the CPU's strength, with all settings providing playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are: Low 140.4, Medium 104.5, High 83.3, and Ultra 57.4. The step from High to Ultra at this resolution is a significant 31.1% drop, indicating the GPU is struggling with the extra rendering work.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are: Low 74.3, Medium 56.6, High 45.9, and Ultra 30.3. At 4K, the GPU is heavily taxed, and the difference between Low and Medium is 23.8%. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only configuration that falls below 31 FPS, making it the most demanding scenario. The data shows a consistent pattern where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as both resolution and settings increase. The CPU maintains its performance, but the RX 9070's frame output is what ultimately determines the gaming experience.