Hitman 2

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4nm TSMC process. It runs at a 3.80 GHz base clock and boosts up to 5.50 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The CPU sits on the AMD Socket AM5 platform with dual-channel DDR5 memory support and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip is part of the Ryzen 7 9000 series, released in September 2025, and carries a launch MSRP of $289.

In the context of Hitman 2, the CPU's performance profile is critical because the game's AI, crowd simulations, and level scripting place substantial demands on multi-threaded throughput. The PassMark multithread score of 36,470 and single-thread score of 4,691 indicate a processor that excels at both lightly-threaded game logic and heavily-threaded background tasks. The CPU's percentile ranking of 94 among all CPUs means it outperforms 94% of tested processors, placing it in the top tier for gaming workloads.

The nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark scores show how tightly packed this segment is. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875, which is 0.2% above the 9700F's average of 69,996. The Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70,163, putting it 0.2% below the 9700F. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X trails by 0.7% at 69,515, and the Intel Core i7-14700K is 0.9% behind at 69,355. These delta percentages are negligible in real-world gaming, meaning the 9700F is effectively equivalent to these high-end rivals in overall CPU throughput. For Hitman 2, this means the CPU is unlikely to be a bottleneck at any resolution, as the game's engine can leverage the 8-core/16-thread configuration effectively.

The measured FPS data confirms this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 159 FPS average, which is high enough that CPU overhead becomes a factor only in the most demanding scenes. The boost clock of 5.50 GHz provides strong single-thread performance for the game's main simulation thread, while the 16 threads handle the ancillary systems. The L3 cache of 32 MB shared across 8 cores is ample for the game's level data and character states, reducing memory latency penalties.

# FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its nearest CPU rivals in raw compute performance?

A: The benchmark data shows the 9700F has an average score of 69,996. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70,163 (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69,515 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i7-14700K scores 69,355 (0.9% lower). All five processors are within 1% of each other, indicating performance parity.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking, and what does it mean for Hitman 2?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs tested. This means it outperforms 94% of processors, placing it well above the median for gaming workloads. For Hitman 2, this high relative standing suggests the CPU will not be the limiting component in most scenarios.

Q: How does the CPU's thread count affect the game's performance at lower resolutions?

A: With 8 cores and 16 threads, the CPU provides ample parallel processing capability. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 159 FPS average, which is the highest measured value across all settings. This indicates the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently even when graphical load is minimized.

Q: What are the CPU's memory specifications and how do they relate to game performance?

A: The CPU supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. These specifications support the game's need for rapid data access, particularly for level geometry and AI state information, contributing to the smooth frame times observed at Medium settings.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700F a recently released processor?

A: The CPU has a production status of "Active" and a release date of September 2025. It is part of the AMD 9000 series, which represents the latest generation of desktop processors from the manufacturer. The launch MSRP is $289.

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hitman 2 with this combo reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 159. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 102 FPS, a reduction of 35.8%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 54 FPS, which is 47.1% lower than the 1440p figure and 66.0% lower than the 1080p figure.

This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores allow it to maintain frame delivery even as pixel count increases, but the Radeon RX 9060's rendering capabilities are stretched progressively thinner. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p but becomes constrained at 4K, particularly with higher quality settings.

The pattern is consistent across all quality presets. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 119 at 1080p to 76 at 1440p (a 36.1% reduction) and then to 41 at 4K (a 46.1% reduction from 1440p). At High settings, the progression is 90 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p (35.6% lower), and 31 FPS at 4K (46.6% lower). At Ultra, the values are 66 FPS at 1080p, 43 FPS at 1440p (34.8% lower), and 23 FPS at 4K (46.5% lower).

The near-consistent percentage drops between 1080p and 1440p (approximately 35-36%) and between 1440p and 4K (approximately 46-47%) across all settings point to a uniform scaling factor tied to pixel count. A 1440p display has 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The observed FPS reductions are somewhat less than these pixel multipliers, suggesting the GPU memory bandwidth and shading throughput are the primary constraints rather than any CPU-side limitation.

The conclusion from this data is that the Ryzen 7 9700F provides more than enough processing headroom for Hitman 2. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking and competitive benchmark scores against high-end rivals mean that resolution scaling is governed almost entirely by the GPU. Players seeking higher frame rates at 4K would need to reduce settings, as the GPU's performance at that resolution caps out at 54 FPS on Low settings.

# Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four quality settings, providing a comprehensive view of performance characteristics.

At 1920x1080, the lowest measured average is 66 FPS on Ultra settings. The Medium preset achieves 119 FPS average, with minimum and maximum frame rates of 101 and 137 respectively. The High preset delivers 90 FPS average, while the Low preset reaches 159 FPS average. The spread from Low to Ultra is 93 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution even with demanding settings.

The 2560x1440 resolution shows a tighter performance envelope. Ultra settings produce 43 FPS average, which is the lowest at this resolution. High settings yield 58 FPS average, Medium produces 76 FPS average with minimum and maximum of 65 and 88, and Low achieves 102 FPS average. The delta between Low and Ultra is 59 FPS, showing that the GPU is beginning to feel the increased pixel load but still maintains playable frame rates at most settings.

At 3840x2160, performance drops considerably. Ultra settings average 23 FPS, which is below typical playability thresholds. High settings average 31 FPS, Medium averages 41 FPS with minimum and maximum of 35 and 47, and Low averages 54 FPS. The range from Low to Ultra is 31 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU is heavily constrained at this resolution. No settings preset achieves a 60 FPS average at 4K.

The Medium preset at each resolution provides the most complete data, as it includes minimum and maximum frame rate values. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 101 FPS and maximum of 137 FPS show a 36 FPS variance, which is acceptable for smooth gameplay. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 65 FPS and maximum is 88 FPS, a 23 FPS variance. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 35 FPS and maximum is 47 FPS, a 12 FPS variance. The narrowing variance at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is consistently saturated, reducing frame time spikes.

# How This Combo Ranks

The combo of AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1,739 out of 3,001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested combinations, meaning 42% of combos perform better and 58% perform worse. This mid-pack ranking is notable given the CPU's high individual percentile of 94 and the GPU's lower individual percentile of 59.

The disconnect between the CPU's strong standalone performance and the combo's middling rank is explained by the GPU's relative weakness. The Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16,014, and its nearest rivals show it is competitive with mid-range graphics cards. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16,129 (0.7% higher), the AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15,862 (1.0% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 7700 scores 15,852 (1.0% lower), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scores 15,679 (2.1% lower).

The combo rank of 1,739 out of 3,001 represents a balanced pairing where the CPU is overqualified relative to the GPU. In Hitman 2, which is not particularly GPU-intensive compared to modern AAA titles, this combination still only achieves mid-pack results because the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus limit its ability to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The combo performs best at 1080p Low, where the 159 FPS average would place it in a higher percentile, but the overall rank is dragged down by the 4K Ultra result of 23 FPS.

Benchmark results indicate that this combo is optimized for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates across all settings. At 1440p, it remains viable for competitive play at Low and Medium settings. At 4K, it is only suitable for Low settings if playable frame rates are the priority.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset for this combo depends on the target resolution and performance goals.

For 1920x1080, all settings presets deliver playable frame rates. The Low preset at 159 FPS average is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset at 119 FPS average with a minimum of 101 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, ensuring no drops below 100 FPS. The High preset at 90 FPS average is suitable for gamers prioritizing visual fidelity while maintaining smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 66 FPS average is still playable but offers diminishing returns over High. The recommended preset at this resolution is Medium, as it provides the best combination of frame rate stability (101 FPS minimum) and enhanced visuals over Low.

For 2560x1440, the Low preset at 102 FPS average is the only option that comfortably exceeds 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 76 FPS average with a minimum of 65 FPS is the recommended choice for most users, as it maintains frame rates above 60 FPS while providing better visual quality. The High preset at 58 FPS average is borderline playable, with potential dips below 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 43 FPS average is not recommended for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset offers the best experience at this resolution, balancing performance and quality.

For 3840x2160, no preset achieves 60 FPS average. The Low preset at 54 FPS average is the highest performing option, but it falls short of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 41 FPS average with a minimum of 35 FPS is playable for slower-paced stealth gameplay but may feel sluggish in action sequences. The High preset at 31 FPS and Ultra at 23 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience. At this resolution, the Low preset is the only viable option, and players should be prepared for frame rates below 60 FPS.

The overall recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p for the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 4K, Low settings are the only reasonable choice, and even then, the experience will not be as smooth as at lower resolutions.

# GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 44 chip, fabricated on a 4nm TSMC process. It features 1,792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, along with 28 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1700 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2990 MHz. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU's individual benchmark scores show a mixed profile. In PassMark G3D, it scores 17,631, placing it in the 59th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in aggregate score are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti at 16,129 (0.7% higher), the AMD Radeon R9 370X at 15,862 (1.0% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 7700 at 15,852 (1.0% lower), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 at 15,679 (2.1% lower). The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3,322, and the Geekbench OpenCL score is 88,183.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is decisive in determining overall performance. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU becomes the bottleneck at resolutions above 1080p. At 4K Ultra, the combo achieves only 23 FPS average, while at 1080p Low, it reaches 159 FPS. This 136 FPS spread is entirely attributable to GPU rendering load, as the CPU's performance headroom is sufficient to feed the GPU at all settings.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at 4K with high-resolution textures. The 128-bit memory bus and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's requirements at lower resolutions but constrain performance at higher pixel counts. The boost clock of 2990 MHz provides solid compute throughput, as evidenced by the FP32 performance of 21.43 TFLOPS.

The pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s indicate the GPU's fill rate capabilities. These specifications support the observed performance scaling: the GPU can handle 1080p rendering with ease but struggles to maintain frame rates at 4K, particularly with higher quality settings. The GPU's 132W TDP and suggested 300W PSU indicate it is a power-efficient mid-range card, consistent with its 59th percentile ranking.