Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Hitman 2, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling emerging at 4K Ultra. This combination, ranking 225th out of 3001 tested combos for this title, shows strong headroom in lower resolutions where the CPU’s 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 architecture can stretch its legs, while the GPU’s 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 52.22 TFLOPS FP32 throughput become the primary constraint at higher fidelity settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a predictable, yet steep, decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces an average of 301 FPS. Moving to Medium drops that to 226 FPS, a 24.9% reduction in average frame rate. High settings at 1080p yield 171 FPS, and Ultra drops further to 126 FPS. This scaling pattern indicates that at 1080p, the combination of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and RTX 4080 SUPER is heavily CPU-limited in the Low and Medium presets, as the GPU has ample headroom to render frames quickly.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the averages fall across the board. Low settings produce 192 FPS, a 36.2% drop from the 1080p Low figure. Medium at 1440p averages 144 FPS, with a minimum of 123 FPS and maximum of 166 FPS recorded. High settings at 1440p hit 109 FPS, while Ultra averages 80 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent 35-40% performance penalty across all settings, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario, but the absolute numbers remain high enough for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens considerably. Low settings average 103 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium drops to 77 FPS (min 65, max 88). High settings at 4K produce just 58 FPS, and Ultra falls to 43 FPS. The scaling from 1440p High (109 FPS) to 4K High (58 FPS) represents a 46.8% reduction, indicating that the RTX 4080 SUPER is now the limiting component. The data suggests that 4K Ultra (43 FPS) pushes the GPU beyond its comfort zone for this title, while 4K Low (103 FPS) shows the GPU can still deliver high frame rates if graphical fidelity is sacrificed.

The delta between 1080p Low (301 FPS) and 4K Low (103 FPS) is 65.8%, highlighting how resolution scaling impacts even the lightest preset. Conversely, the gap between 1080p Ultra (126 FPS) and 4K Ultra (43 FPS) is 65.9%, showing a nearly identical relative drop. This consistency suggests that the rendering workload scales linearly with pixel count, and the GPU’s 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth and 816.0 GTexel/s texture rate are the key factors determining these outcomes. For gamers targeting 4K, the data shows that Medium settings (77 FPS) are the practical ceiling for maintaining 60+ FPS averages, while 1440p Ultra (80 FPS) remains a viable option.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame places this pairing at 225 out of 3001 tested combinations, putting it in the top 7.5% of all systems evaluated for Hitman 2. This is a strong result, reflecting the high-end nature of both components. The RTX 4080 SUPER alone holds an 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs tested, while the Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits at the 92nd percentile among CPUs. When combined, these parts produce a system that outperforms the vast majority of configurations in this stealth title.

Breaking down the CPU’s nearest rivals provides context for its contribution. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average benchmark score of 58386. Its closest competitor, the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, scores 58323, a delta of just 0.1% in favor of the AMD chip. The Intel Xeon w5-2545 scores 58504, putting it 0.2% ahead of the Ryzen. The Intel Core i9-14900 trails by 0.5% with a score of 58115, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 leads by 0.7% with 58826. These tight margins indicate that the 9850X3D is essentially tied with several high-end server and desktop CPUs in synthetic benchmarks, but in Hitman 2, its 96 MB of shared L3 cache and 5.60 GHz boost clock likely provide an edge in the game’s CPU-bound scenes.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080 SUPER’s average benchmark score is 54209, placing it just 0.1% behind the standard RTX 4080 (score 54247). The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, which is 1.1% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55698) and AMD Radeon 8060S (55757) lead by 2.7% and 2.8% respectively. These rival comparisons are based on aggregate benchmark scores, not Hitman 2-specific results, so the in-game ranking of 225th reflects real-world performance where the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 16 GB VRAM and Ada Lovelace architecture prove well-suited to Hitman 2’s engine.

The ranking percentile (top 7.5%) suggests that users with this combo will rarely encounter performance bottlenecks in normal gameplay. However, the 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS shows that even top-tier hardware must make concessions at maximum settings in this title. The data indicates that the combo’s ranking is driven more by its 1080p and 1440p performance, where it excels, than by 4K Ultra, where it merely matches other high-end configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the workhorse for this combo, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, the card delivers 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This is ample for Hitman 2’s textures, even at 4K, as evidenced by the 103 FPS average at 4K Low. The card’s boost clock of 2550 MHz and base clock of 2295 MHz, combined with 10240 shading units, produce 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. This raw throughput drives the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

At 1080p, the GPU’s role is somewhat diminished because the CPU can feed frames faster than the GPU can render them. The 301 FPS average at Low settings shows the GPU is not the bottleneck there. However, as resolution increases, the GPU’s pixel rate (285.6 GPixel/s) and texture rate (816.0 GTexel/s) become more critical. The RTX 4080 SUPER’s 112 ROPs handle final pixel output, and at 4K Ultra, the 43 FPS average suggests the card is reaching its limits with the game’s most demanding effects.

The 16 GB VRAM capacity is generous for a 2018 title like Hitman 2, which has a game release date of 2018-11-12. This means texture streaming and asset loading are unlikely to cause stutter or pop-in, even at 4K Ultra. The GDDR6X memory type and 23 Gbps effective speed ensure that data transfer between the GPU and its framebuffer is not a limiting factor. The card’s 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are present but less relevant for Hitman 2, which does not heavily utilize ray tracing or DLSS in its standard benchmark runs.

Comparing the RTX 4080 SUPER to its nearest rival, the standard RTX 4080, the delta is only 0.1% in average benchmark scores. This suggests that in Hitman 2, the SUPER variant offers negligible real-world gains over the non-SUPER model, likely because the game is not sensitive to the slight clock and memory improvements. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 86th among all GPUs means it outperforms 86% of tested graphics cards, which aligns with the combo’s top-7.5% ranking in this specific game. For users with a 1440p 144Hz monitor or a 4K 60Hz display, the data shows this GPU can deliver playable frame rates with appropriate settings adjustments.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings (126 FPS average) are easily playable on any high-refresh-rate monitor, and even the most demanding users can enable every option without concern. The data shows that 1080p Ultra provides a 126 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. For competitive play, Low settings (301 FPS) maximize frame rate, but the visual sacrifice is substantial. Medium (226 FPS) and High (171 FPS) offer a balance, with High being the sweet spot for most users who want both quality and speed.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings (80 FPS) are borderline for 60Hz displays but insufficient for 144Hz monitors. The data suggests that High settings (109 FPS) provide the best experience for 1440p, offering a significant visual upgrade over Medium (144 FPS) while maintaining frame rates above 100. For users with 144Hz displays, Medium (144 FPS) is the recommended preset, as it exactly matches the refresh rate ceiling and includes a minimum FPS of 123, ensuring no drops below the refresh threshold. Low settings (192 FPS) are only recommended for esports-style play where frame rate is paramount over visuals.

At 3840x2160, the recommendations shift dramatically. Ultra (43 FPS) is not playable for most users, as it falls below the 60 FPS standard. High (58 FPS) is marginally below 60 FPS, which may cause noticeable judder on 60Hz displays. Medium (77 FPS) is the clear recommendation for 4K, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS. Low (103 FPS) is the best option for users with 4K 120Hz displays, though the visual quality reduction is severe. The data indicates that Medium settings at 4K offer the best compromise between fidelity and performance for this combo, delivering a 77 FPS average that is smooth on most displays.

For the overall best experience, the data points to 1440p High (109 FPS) as the optimal configuration. This setting provides a high frame rate that exceeds most display refresh rates, while the visual quality at High is nearly indistinguishable from Ultra in Hitman 2. The 1440p Medium (144 FPS) preset is a close second, offering a higher frame rate for competitive players. The 4K Medium (77 FPS) preset is recommended for those prioritizing resolution over frame rate, but users should be aware that 4K Ultra is not viable with this hardware configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across twelve distinct configurations. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo produces its highest frame rates. Low settings achieve an average of 301 FPS, which is the highest number in the entire dataset. Medium settings at 1080p average 226 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 192 FPS and maximum of 260 FPS. High settings at 1080p average 171 FPS, while Ultra settings average 126 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 175 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution and that the CPU is the primary driver of performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages are lower but still impressive. Low settings average 192 FPS, a 36.2% reduction from 1080p Low. Medium settings at 1440p 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 spread from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 112 FPS, showing a narrower range than at 1080p, which indicates the GPU is beginning to take on a larger role. The 1440p Medium configuration has the most detailed FPS data, with a 123 FPS minimum and 166 FPS maximum, suggesting that the frame pacing is consistent enough for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops are most pronounced. Low settings average 103 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS. Medium settings average 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and maximum of 88 FPS. High settings average 58 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold, and Ultra settings average 43 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 4K is 60 FPS, which is the smallest range of any resolution, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor here. The 4K Medium configuration shows a minimum of 65 FPS, which means even the lowest frames stay above the 60 FPS line, making it the only 4K preset that can guarantee a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

Comparing the same settings across resolutions provides insight into scaling. Low settings: 301 FPS at 1080p, 192 FPS at 1440p, 103 FPS at 4K. Medium settings: 226 FPS at 1080p, 144 FPS at 1440p, 77 FPS at 4K. High settings: 171 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, 58 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings: 126 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, 43 FPS at 4K. These numbers show that moving from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 36-38% performance across all settings, while moving from 1440p to 4K costs 47-48% performance. This non-linear scaling is typical for GPU-bound workloads and reflects the increased pixel fill rate demands at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D plays a critical role in this combo, particularly at 1080p where its 8 cores and 16 threads can be fully utilized. The processor has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which are high for a desktop CPU. Its 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a standout feature, and in Hitman 2, which is known for CPU-bound scenes in crowded areas, this cache likely helps maintain high minimum frame rates. The CPU’s 4 nm process node and Zen 5 architecture (codename Granite Ridge) provide efficient instruction processing, and its passmark single-thread score of 4704 indicates strong single-core performance, which is essential for game logic.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 22807 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2228 in single-core. Its passmark multithread score is 41318, and its physics score is 4171. These numbers place it in the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, showing it outperforms 92% of tested processors. The nearest rivals are all within 0.7% in average benchmark score, indicating that the 9850X3D is in a performance class with several Xeon and high-end consumer chips. However, in Hitman 2, the combination of high clock speeds and large cache gives it an advantage that synthetic benchmarks may not fully capture.

The CPU’s role becomes less dominant at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low (301 FPS), the CPU is clearly the bottleneck, as the GPU could theoretically render more frames if the CPU could feed them faster. At 4K Ultra (43 FPS), the CPU is largely idle, waiting on the GPU to complete frame rendering. The data shows that the CPU’s contribution is most significant at 1080p and 1440p, where the frame rates are high enough to expose CPU limitations. The 1440p Medium result (144 FPS average) shows the CPU can still keep up with the GPU at this resolution, but the 4K results indicate that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the definitive limiting factor.

The 16 threads and 5.60 GHz boost clock ensure that Hitman 2’s AI and physics calculations are processed without delays. The CPU’s memory support for DDR5 and dual-channel configuration provides 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for feeding the GPU with draw calls. The 120 TDP and AMD Socket AM5 platform are standard for high-end desktop builds. For users who primarily play at 1080p or 1440p with high refresh rates, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is an excellent match for the RTX 4080 SUPER. At 4K, the CPU’s performance is largely irrelevant, but it provides headroom for future GPU upgrades or more CPU-intensive titles.