Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a performance profile in Hitman 2 that is heavily dictated by resolution and preset selection. The measured data reveals a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, but one that becomes increasingly GPU-bound and demanding as pixel count rises. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) data to interpret how these components interact within this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 has a profound impact on the average frame rate, illustrating a classic shift in system bottleneck. At 1080p with the High preset, the combo produces 145 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings yields 92 FPS, a drop of 53 FPS (approximately 36.6% reduction). Scaling further to 4K (3840x2160) at High results in just 49 FPS, a further 43 FPS reduction from the 1440p figure and a total drop of 96 FPS from the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the system averages 255 FPS at 1080p, declining to 163 FPS at 1440p, and then to 87 FPS at 4K. At Medium, the figures are 191 FPS at 1080p, 122 FPS at 1440p, and 65 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset follows suit, with 106 FPS at 1080p, 68 FPS at 1440p, and 36 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the performance penalty for moving from 1080p to 1440p is relatively consistent, while the jump to 4K imposes a significantly heavier load. For instance, at High settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 53 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 43 FPS. However, the percentage loss is more telling. The step from 1080p to 1440p represents a 36.6% reduction, while the step from 1440p to 4K represents a 46.7% reduction in average FPS.

This pattern strongly suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to hit very high frame rates. As resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload grows, and the RX 7900 XT becomes the primary limiting factor. The 4K results, particularly the 36 FPS at Ultra, show that this combination is not suited for maximum settings at that resolution, as the GPU is clearly struggling to maintain fluid frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong general-purpose performance. In PassMark testing, it achieves a single-thread score of 4691 and a multithread score of 36470.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions where the GPU is not saturated. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 255 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the Ryzen 7 9700F has ample headroom to process game logic and draw calls, allowing the GPU to operate at its maximum potential. The processor's high boost clock of 5.50 GHz is likely a key factor in achieving these high minimum frame rates, as Hitman 2 can be sensitive to single-core performance.

The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration. When comparing average scores, the Ryzen 7 9700F is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K. Its performance is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-14700KF, which sits 0.2% ahead. This parity means that the choice between these CPUs would not likely yield a significant difference in Hitman 2 performance, reinforcing the idea that the GPU is the determining factor for frame rates at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT achieves a combo rank of 577 out of 3001 tested combinations. This places it in the top 19.2% of all systems tested for Hitman 2.

This ranking is significant, but it also contextualizes the performance. While the system is capable of high frame rates, it is not at the absolute top tier. The 577th position out of 3001 combos suggests that there are 576 other combinations of CPUs and GPUs that deliver higher average performance in this game. This is likely due to the RX 7900 XT's specific performance characteristics and the fact that other, potentially more powerful GPUs exist that can push higher frame rates, especially at 4K resolution.

The combo's rank is a holistic measure that accounts for performance across all tested resolutions and settings. The data shows that this system is a strong performer, but it is not an extreme high-end contender. The combination of a high-end CPU and a high-end GPU yields a result that is solidly above average, yet it leaves room for more powerful pairings to achieve higher scores. The fact that the GPU's percentile ranking is 55th, while the CPU is in the 94th percentile, suggests that the overall combo rank is dragged down by the GPU's relative standing among all graphics cards.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combination for a high refresh rate experience?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, the system can achieve very high frame rates, with an average of 145 FPS on High settings and 255 FPS on Low. This makes 1080p the only resolution where the combo can consistently exceed 144 FPS at High settings, indicating it is the best choice for competitive or high-refresh-rate gaming.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct competitors?

A: Benchmark results show the Ryzen 7 9700F is very closely matched with its rivals. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K. It is only 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-14700KF, indicating a near-tie in processing power.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is substantial. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 92 to 49, a 46.7% reduction. This significant decline, coupled with the CPU's high percentile ranking, indicates the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, struggling to maintain high frame rates at this resolution.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the difference is 95 FPS. The system averages 163 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 68 FPS on Ultra. This large gap shows that the Ultra preset imposes a massive load on the GPU, nearly halving the frame rate compared to the lowest settings.

Q: Does the combination rank in the top tier of all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 577th out of 3001 tested combinations. While this places it in the top 19.2% of all systems, it is not at the very top. This indicates that while it is a high-performing setup, there are many other combinations that achieve higher average frame rates in Hitman 2.

Q: At which setting does the system provide the best balance for 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only one that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, averaging 87 FPS. The Medium preset averages 65 FPS, which is playable but closer to the 60 FPS threshold. High and Ultra presets drop to 49 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a high-end graphics card based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, featuring 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, providing 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is rated at 2394 MHz, with a game clock of 2025 MHz. The card has 5376 shading units and 192 ROPs, which contribute to its raw rendering capabilities.

The GPU's role in Hitman 2 becomes increasingly dominant as resolution increases. At 1080p, the card is not the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is able to maintain high frame rates. However, at 4K, the GPU's workload becomes immense. The data shows a clear correlation between the number of pixels and the frame rate, with the average FPS dropping by more than half from 1080p to 4K at every settings preset.

The RX 7900 XT's performance is also reflected in its benchmark scores. It achieves a PassMark G3D score of 29009 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5623. However, its percentile ranking among all GPUs is only 55th, which is surprisingly low for a high-end card. This is likely due to the inclusion of many professional and workstation cards in the database that have different performance characteristics. Its average benchmark score of 13745 places it in close competition with the AMD Radeon 660M and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, with delta percentages of -0.5% for both. This suggests that the RX 7900 XT's raw compute performance is comparable to these lower-tier cards, despite having a much higher memory bandwidth and capacity.

For Hitman 2, the 20 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient, as the game is unlikely to exceed even 8 GB at 4K with Ultra settings. The GPU's memory bandwidth is also a strength, but the data shows that it is the sheer processing power that limits performance at 4K, not memory capacity. The card's performance at 4K Ultra, averaging 36 FPS, illustrates that it does not have enough raw power for maximum settings at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice for a high-refresh-rate experience, delivering an average of 145 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Low settings while still maintaining a frame rate well above 144 FPS. The Ultra preset at 106 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over maximum frame rate, but High offers a better balance.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice for smooth gameplay, averaging 122 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, keeping the frame rate above the 100 FPS mark. The High preset at 92 FPS is also playable, but the drop below 100 FPS may be noticeable to some users. The Ultra preset at 68 FPS is playable but sacrifices the high refresh rate experience.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the most viable option, averaging 65 FPS. This is the only preset that provides a frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the best choice for a playable 4K experience. The Low preset at 87 FPS is also an option for those who prefer higher frame rates at the cost of visual quality. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for 4K, as they average 49 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively, which are not ideal for a smooth gaming experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured average frame rates for this combination in Hitman 2:

1920x1080

• Low: 255 FPS
• Medium: 191 FPS (min 162, max 220)
• High: 145 FPS
• Ultra: 106 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 163 FPS
• Medium: 122 FPS (min 104, max 141)
• High: 92 FPS
• Ultra: 68 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 87 FPS
• Medium: 65 FPS (min 55, max 75)
• High: 49 FPS
• Ultra: 36 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern of frame rate decline as resolution and settings increase. The Medium preset at each resolution has a recorded minimum and maximum FPS, providing a range of performance. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the frame rate fluctuates between 162 and 220 FPS, while at 4K Medium, it ranges from 55 to 75 FPS. This data confirms that the system's performance is highly scalable and predictable across different configurations.