Hitman 2

# Hitman 2 with AMD Ryzen 7 9700F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers a wide performance envelope in Hitman 2, ranging from a highly playable 126 FPS average at 1080p Ultra to a demanding 43 FPS average at 4K Ultra. This combination ranks 225th out of 3001 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 7.5% of all tested systems. The data indicates a system that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strong single-thread performance keeps frame rates exceptionally high at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent and substantial performance drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 171 FPS at 1920x1080 to 109 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 62 FPS (approximately 36%). Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings, the average drops further from 109 FPS to 58 FPS, a decline of 51 FPS (approximately 47%). The cumulative scaling from 1080p High to 4K High shows a 113 FPS reduction, meaning 4K delivers only about 34% of the 1080p frame rate.

This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the limiting component at higher resolutions is the GPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, is being tasked progressively harder as pixel count increases. At 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU sufficiently, evidenced by the 301 FPS average at Low settings, which is near the practical ceiling for many displays. At 4K, the GPU's workload becomes the dominant factor, and the frame rates reflect this shift.

The Ultra settings row provides further evidence of GPU-bound behavior. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 43, which is a 66% reduction from the 126 FPS average at 1080p Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution: at 1080p, the difference is 175 FPS (301 vs 126), while at 4K, the difference narrows to 60 FPS (103 vs 43). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions is typical of a system where GPU compute and memory bandwidth become the bottleneck, as the additional pixel workload consumes the GPU's available resources regardless of settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, manufactured on a 4 nm process. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, and it features a 32 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU's single-thread performance is highlighted by a Passmark single-thread score of 4691, and its multithread score is 36470. In Hitman 2, a game that relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and AI, this CPU demonstrates strong capabilities.

The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 301 FPS average, which is an extremely high frame rate that suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. This is corroborated by the fact that the Ryzen 7 9700F's nearest rivals, which include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% higher average score) and Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% lower average score), are all within 1% of its average benchmark score. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing part.

The processor's 65W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth) contribute to its efficiency, but the benchmark data suggests that in this game, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain high minimum frame rates and avoid bottlenecks at lower resolutions. At 1440p Low, the system still achieves 192 FPS, showing that the CPU can sustain high throughput even as GPU load increases. The Ryzen 7 9700F's 16 threads are more than sufficient for Hitman 2's threading model, as evidenced by the smooth scaling from Low to Medium settings at each resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, using the AD103 chip on a 5 nm process. It features 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2550 MHz. The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its FP32 performance is rated at 52.22 TFLOPS. This GPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 86th percentile among all GPUs.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role becomes increasingly critical as resolution and settings increase. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system drops to 43 FPS average, which is below the smooth-playability threshold of 60 FPS. The GPU's 16 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for this game, but the compute load at 4K Ultra is substantial. The RTX 4080 SUPER's nearest rivals include the RTX 4080 (0.1% lower average score) and AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (1.1% lower), indicating that this GPU performs within a narrow band of its immediate competitors.

The transition from Medium to High settings at each resolution provides insight into the GPU's scaling. At 4K, Medium settings yield 77 FPS average (with a minimum of 65 FPS), while High settings drop to 58 FPS. This 19 FPS difference (approximately 25%) shows that the GPU is sensitive to settings increases at this resolution. At 1080p, the same settings transition (Medium to High) results in a 55 FPS drop (226 to 171), which is a larger absolute difference but a smaller percentage change, indicating that at lower resolutions, the GPU has more headroom.

The GPU's 320W TDP and triple-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry component, but its performance in this game is consistent with its high-end positioning. The data suggests that for Hitman 2, the RTX 4080 SUPER is best utilized at 1440p or 1080p with high settings, where it provides excellent frame rates, while 4K Ultra is only viable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 301 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates a CPU-limited scenario where the GPU has significant headroom. Medium settings yield 226 FPS average, with a minimum of 192 FPS and a maximum of 260 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. High settings drop to 171 FPS average, while Ultra settings deliver 126 FPS average. All 1080p configurations are well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the GPU's increasing workload. Low settings average 192 FPS, Medium settings average 144 FPS (with a minimum of 123 FPS and maximum of 166 FPS), High settings average 109 FPS, and Ultra settings average 80 FPS. The 1440p Medium configuration maintains a minimum of 123 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Ultra settings at 1440p remain above 60 FPS, making this resolution a sweet spot for the combination.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 103 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant drop from 1440p. Medium settings average 77 FPS (with a minimum of 65 FPS), which is near the 60 FPS threshold. High settings drop to 58 FPS average, which is below 60 FPS but can be playable with adaptive sync. Ultra settings average 43 FPS, which is only suitable for slower-paced gameplay or when using upscaling technologies. The 4K Medium configuration, with its 65 FPS minimum, is the only 4K setting that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 225th out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the top 7.5% of all tested systems. This high ranking is consistent with the strong individual performance of both components. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate that this combo leverages two well-above-average parts.

The rank of 225 out of 3001 is notable because it demonstrates that while this is a high-performing combo, there are over 200 other combinations that perform better in this specific game. These superior combos likely feature even higher-end GPUs, such as the RTX 4090 or newer generations, or CPUs with higher single-thread performance. However, the data shows that this combo is within the top tier of tested systems, and its performance in Hitman 2 is strong across most settings and resolutions.

The CPU's proximity to its rivals in average benchmark score (within 1% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, Intel Core i7-14700KF, and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X) and the GPU's proximity to its rivals (within 3% of the RTX 4080, Radeon Pro W5700X, and Radeon RX 6750 GRE) suggest that this combo's ranking is driven more by the GPU's performance in this game than by the CPU. The data indicates that Hitman 2 is more sensitive to GPU performance at higher resolutions, and the RTX 4080 SUPER's strong showing at 1440p is a key factor in the combo's high rank.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For 1080p displays, all settings are viable, but Ultra settings at 126 FPS average provide the best balance of visual quality and high frame rate. Users with 1440p displays should consider Ultra settings, which deliver 80 FPS average, or High settings at 109 FPS for higher refresh rates. The 1440p Medium configuration, with 144 FPS average and a 123 FPS minimum, is ideal for competitive play on high-refresh monitors.

For 4K displays, the data suggests that Medium settings at 77 FPS average (with a 65 FPS minimum) offer the best playable experience, as they maintain frame rates above 60 FPS. High settings at 4K drop to 58 FPS average, which is borderline, and Ultra settings at 43 FPS are not recommended for smooth gameplay. Low settings at 4K (103 FPS average) are an option for users who prioritize frame rate over visual quality, but Medium settings provide a better balance.

The data shows a clear diminishing return at 4K Ultra, where the 43 FPS average is only 56% of the Medium settings' frame rate. For most users, the 4K Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a minimum of 65 FPS, ensuring consistent smoothness. At 1440p, the Ultra preset is recommended for its 80 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and offers the best visual quality without significant performance sacrifice.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Hitman 2?

A: The highest average FPS is 301 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is followed by 226 FPS at 1080p Medium and 192 FPS at 1440p Low.

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 4K with smooth frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, which deliver 77 FPS average with a 65 FPS minimum. High settings at 4K drop to 58 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 43 FPS average.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69996, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF, 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-14700K.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and how does it compare to the RTX 4080?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER ranks in the 86th percentile among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080's score of 54247.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 2560x1440, Ultra settings provide 80 FPS average, while High settings deliver 109 FPS and Medium settings achieve 144 FPS. For smooth gameplay with high visual quality, Ultra is recommended, but for higher refresh rates, High or Medium are better options.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The frame rate drops from 103 FPS at Low settings to 43 FPS at Ultra settings, showing that the GPU's workload scales significantly with settings at this resolution.