Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F pairs an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 design with a 3.80 GHz base clock and a 5.50 GHz boost clock, all within a 65 W TDP. This processor sits in the 94th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 69,996. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance are the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (0.9% ahead). These margins are razor-thin, meaning the 9700F is effectively a peer of those high-end parts in general compute, though Hitman 2’s engine will dictate how those traits translate to frame rates.

The CPU’s single-thread score of 4,691 and multithread score of 36,470 on PassMark are strong indicators for a stealth game that often tracks many AI agents simultaneously. Hitman 2 is a game where crowds and NPC routines can create sudden CPU load spikes, so the 9700F’s 8 physical cores provide a solid foundation. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth) further help feed the GPU quickly. However, the benchmark data from this specific combo reveals that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is not the limiting factor; instead, the GPU takes over. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 171, which is exceptionally high and suggests the CPU has ample headroom. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 72, a 58% reduction, indicating the graphics load is the primary constraint even at the lowest resolution tested.

The 9700F’s performance relative to its rivals, such as being within 1% of the Core i7-14700K, suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, this combo would behave nearly identically to those other pairings. Yet, the data here shows a consistent pattern: the FPS scales more with resolution and settings than with any CPU-specific trait. For a game released in 2018, the 9700F is over-provisioned; its 16 threads are likely underutilized in many scenes, but they provide a safety margin for complex sandbox levels. The key takeaway is that this processor is not a bottleneck in Hitman 2 at any of the measured settings, as the GPU is always the component that dictates the final frame rate.

FAQ

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its closest rival, the Ryzen 9 7940HX, in overall CPU benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69,996 on average, while the Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875. This puts the 9700F just 0.2% ahead, making them statistically equivalent in aggregate performance. In Hitman 2, this means either CPU would produce nearly identical results when paired with the same GPU, as the game’s frame rates are largely GPU-bound.

Q: Is the 9700F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 at 1080p?

A: Benchmark results indicate no. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 171 FPS, and at 1080p High it reaches 97 FPS. These high numbers suggest the CPU is feeding the GPU well. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see diminishing returns when lowering resolution further, but the FPS jumps significantly from 1440p to 1080p, confirming the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this CPU, and does it matter for Hitman 2?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. For a stealth game like Hitman 2, which streams large level data and tracks NPC states, this bandwidth is more than sufficient. The data shows no memory-related performance drop, as FPS scales predictably with resolution and settings rather than showing erratic frame times.

Q: How does the 9700F’s single-thread performance influence the game’s low-settings results?

A: The CPU’s PassMark single-thread score is 4,691, which is strong. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 171 FPS, indicating that the CPU’s per-core speed is adequate for the game’s logic. If single-thread performance were weak, the FPS at low settings would be capped at a lower value, but the measured 171 FPS shows no such cap.

Q: Does the 9700F’s 65W TDP suggest it runs cool enough for long sessions?

A: The 65W TDP is a power envelope, not a temperature reading. The data does not include thermal measurements, but the fact that the CPU can sustain high FPS across all settings without degrading in the measured rows implies stable operation. The 4nm process node helps with efficiency, but no specific cooler requirement is stated in the data.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Ryzen 7 9700F?

A: The launch MSRP is $289. This is a factual data point from the spec sheet, and it does not reflect current market pricing. The benchmark page does not assess whether this price is justified; it only records the processor’s specifications and measured performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, demonstrating that the RTX 4060 is the dominant performance limiter in this combo. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 97. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 62 FPS, a 36% decrease. Going further to 4K High yields just 33 FPS, a 66% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is being overwhelmed by pixel count, not a CPU that is struggling to keep up.

The pattern is even more pronounced at Low settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 171 FPS, which is a remarkably high number. At 1440p Low, it falls to 110 FPS, and at 4K Low, it drops to 58 FPS. The fact that the 1080p Low result is nearly three times the 4K High result (171 vs. 33) underscores that the GPU’s rendering pipeline is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect the FPS to plateau at lower resolutions, but instead it climbs steadily, indicating the GPU has more headroom at lower pixel counts.

The scaling between Medium and High settings also tells a story. At 1440p, the difference between Medium (82 FPS) and High (62 FPS) is 20 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is only 11 FPS (44 to 33). This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that additional settings changes yield smaller absolute gains. The data implies that for 4K gaming, this combo is only suitable for Low settings (58 FPS) or Medium (44 FPS) if you tolerate lower frame rates. For 1440p, High settings are playable at 62 FPS, but Medium offers a smoother 82 FPS. At 1080p, even Ultra is viable at 72 FPS, showing that this is the resolution where the combo shines.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The full dataset provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s capabilities across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 171 FPS, Medium yields 129 FPS (with a minimum of 109 and maximum of 148), High yields 97 FPS, and Ultra yields 72 FPS. These numbers show a clear hierarchy, with each step up in settings costing roughly 25-30% performance. The Medium preset’s frame time variance (109-148) is tighter than the average might suggest, indicating stable performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop significantly: Low is 110 FPS, Medium is 82 FPS (70-95 range), High is 62 FPS, and Ultra is 46 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 30-35% across all settings, which aligns with the increased pixel count of 1440p being about 78% of 4K but more than 1080p. The Medium preset at 1440p remains the most comfortable for high refresh rate monitors, as the 82 FPS average is above the 60 FPS baseline. Ultra at 1440p is borderline at 46 FPS, which might be acceptable for slower stealth gameplay but not for action sequences.

At 3840x2160, the numbers become more restrictive: Low averages 58 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS (37-50 range), High averages 33 FPS, and Ultra averages 24 FPS. The 4K Medium result is notable because it is the only 4K preset with a recorded minimum (37 FPS), showing that frame pacing can dip below 40 FPS in busy scenes. The 4K Low result of 58 FPS is the only 4K setting that approaches a smooth 60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset at 24 FPS is effectively unplayable for most users, confirming that this combo is not intended for maxed-out 4K gaming. The data clearly shows that 1080p is the sweet spot, with 1440p being acceptable for medium-to-high settings, and 4K reserved for low settings only.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 9700F and RTX 4060 ranks 1606 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the 53.5th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the database’s entries. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the CPU’s high percentile (94th) and the GPU’s decent standing (61st percentile). The ranking suggests that while individual components are strong, their pairing does not produce exceptional results in this specific game.

The ranking implies that many other combos in the database achieve higher frame rates, likely those with more powerful GPUs. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are modest for 4K, which explains the low FPS at that resolution. The CPU’s high performance does not compensate for the GPU’s limitations in a game that scales heavily with resolution. The 1606th rank also indicates that there are roughly 1,395 combos that perform worse, which includes older or weaker hardware, but also that 1,605 combos perform better, many of which likely feature higher-tier GPUs.

Comparing to the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 7940HX and Core i7-14700KF, does not change the ranking because those CPUs are not paired with the same GPU in this dataset. However, the data suggests that if the 9700F were swapped for a weaker CPU, the ranking might drop slightly, but the GPU would still be the primary determinant. The combo’s mid-pack status is a direct result of the RTX 4060’s performance ceiling, which is evident in the 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS. For users targeting 1080p, this combo would rank much higher, as the FPS there is competitive with more expensive setups.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 97 FPS average. This is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience for a stealth game where precision matters. Ultra at 1080p offers 72 FPS, which is still playable but not necessary, as the visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal in Hitman 2. Low at 1080p (171 FPS) is only recommended for competitive play or if you have a 165Hz+ monitor and prioritize frame rate over everything else.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the top recommendation, yielding 82 FPS average with a minimum of 70 FPS. This ensures no noticeable stutter during crowded scenes. High at 1440p (62 FPS) is playable but pushes closer to the 60 FPS threshold, and any dips could be noticeable. Ultra at 1440p (46 FPS) is not recommended for a game that requires quick reactions, as the lower frame rate can impair aiming and stealth mechanics. Low at 1440p (110 FPS) is an option for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, but the graphical sacrifice is significant.

For 4K, the only viable setting is Low, which averages 58 FPS. This is just below the 60 FPS target but generally playable for a slow-paced stealth game. Medium at 4K (44 FPS) is a compromise, but the 37 FPS minimum recorded suggests it will drop below 40 FPS in demanding areas, which can be jarring. High and Ultra at 4K (33 and 24 FPS) are not recommended for actual gameplay. The data strongly suggests that this combo is best used at 1080p with High settings, or 1440p with Medium settings, to achieve the best experience per the measured rows.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the primary performance driver in this combo, and its specifications explain the FPS distribution across resolutions. The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2460 MHz, and it features 3,072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. These specs are modest for 4K gaming, which is why the 4K Ultra result is only 24 FPS. The GPU’s 61st percentile ranking against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17,639, places it in the mid-range tier.

The RTX 4060’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (0.2% behind), AMD Radeon 780M (0.3% ahead), and AMD Radeon Pro 560 (0.5% ahead). These are not modern competitors, indicating that the RTX 4060’s performance is closer to older or integrated solutions than to high-end discrete cards. This explains why the combo ranks mid-pack; the GPU is simply not powerful enough for high-resolution gaming. The 8 GB VRAM is also a limiting factor at 4K, as modern games can exceed this capacity, leading to texture swapping and stutter.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the 97 FPS at 1080p High and 62 FPS at 1440p High. However, the 4K results show the GPU hitting its compute ceiling. The data indicates that the RTX 4060 is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates, or 1440p with medium settings. For 4K, the GPU is overmatched, and users should expect to play at low settings or reduce the resolution. The GPU’s end-of-life production status and 115W TDP suggest it is a power-efficient but not high-performance part, and the benchmark results in Hitman 2 confirm this assessment.