Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers a comprehensive dataset for Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018. The measured frames per second across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a system with substantial headroom, where the balance between CPU and GPU shifts predictably as pixel count rises. This analysis walks through the scaling behavior, component roles, and practical settings guidance based solely on the recorded figures.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 produces a dramatic and consistent reduction in average frame rates across all settings, highlighting the increasing burden placed on the graphics processor. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 307 at 1080p to 234 at 1440p, a reduction of 73 FPS, and then further to 124 at 4K, representing a cumulative 183 FPS decrease from the starting point. This scaling pattern shows that even a high-end GPU like the RTX 5090 D is significantly challenged by the pixel throughput required at 4K, particularly when the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions.

At Medium settings, the same trend emerges with average FPS figures of 274 at 1080p, 175 at 1440p, and 93 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 36%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 47%, indicating that the scaling penalty intensifies as resolution increases. For High settings, the averages are 207 at 1080p, 132 at 1440p, and 71 at 4K, with the 4K result representing only about 34% of the 1080p performance. This steep curve suggests that the limiting component at 4K High is almost entirely the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

The Ultra preset shows the most pronounced resolution sensitivity, with averages of 153 at 1080p, 98 at 1440p, and 52 at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure is the lowest recorded in the entire dataset, indicating that this combination of resolution and settings pushes the RTX 5090 D to its limits in this game. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is a 55 FPS drop, and from 1440p to 4K another 46 FPS drop, demonstrating that the GPU workload grows nearly linearly with pixel count at the highest quality level.

The data also shows that the CPU becomes less of a factor as resolution rises. At 1080p Low, the 307 FPS average suggests that the Ryzen 9 5950X, with its 16 cores and 32 threads, is capable of driving very high frame rates, but the GPU still manages to keep up. By 4K, the CPU’s role is diminished, as the GPU is clearly the limiting component across all settings. For users targeting high refresh rates at 1440p, the system delivers strong results, but 4K gaming will require accepting lower settings to maintain smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications explain much of the observed performance. The GPU features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is far beyond what Hitman 2 requires, even at 4K Ultra, meaning that VRAM capacity is never a constraint in these tests. The measured data confirms this, as the frame rates at 4K are limited by compute throughput rather than memory limitations.

The RTX 5090 D’s clock speeds are listed at a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz or 28 Gbps effective. These clocks, combined with 21,760 shading units and 680 texture mapping units, yield a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s. In Hitman 2, these raw throughput figures translate into the observed scaling, where the GPU’s ability to fill pixels is the primary determinant of FPS at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77712. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, which scores 76904 with a delta of 1.1%, and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78940 with a delta of -1.6%. These comparisons show that the RTX 5090 D sits in a competitive band, though the Hitman 2 results suggest it performs strongly relative to its peers in this specific title.

At 4K Ultra, the average FPS of 52 indicates that the GPU is heavily utilized, and the lack of recorded minimum or maximum values for most settings means the data only provides average performance. The Medium preset at 4K, which does include min and max figures of 79 and 107 FPS respectively, shows a frame time variance that is typical for a GPU under load. The RTX 5090 D’s 575 W TDP and suggested 950 W PSU requirement are consistent with a high-end card that delivers this level of performance, but the Hitman 2 results show that even this hardware cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X serves as the central processor in this configuration, and its capabilities are well-documented in the benchmark data. With 16 cores and 32 threads, the CPU offers substantial multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 26017 and Geekbench multicore score of 15233. The single-core performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1614 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2083, which is relevant for Hitman 2’s engine that often relies on a few primary threads.

The CPU’s base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz provide the frequency headroom needed for high-FPS scenarios. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 307 FPS, which indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with frames at a very high rate. The 5950X’s 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, contribute to its ability to handle game logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck in less demanding settings.

The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 51947. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, which scores 52073 with a delta of -0.2%, and the Intel Core i9-13900F at 51730 with a delta of 0.4%. These differences are minimal, suggesting that the 5950X performs on par with modern competitors in general benchmarks, though the Hitman 2 data shows the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

At 1440p and 4K, the CPU’s role diminishes as the GPU takes over the workload. The fact that 1080p Low achieves 307 FPS while 4K Low drops to 124 FPS indicates that the CPU can sustain high frame rates, but the GPU’s rendering time dominates at higher pixel counts. The Ryzen 9 5950X’s 105 W TDP and AM4 socket are notable, but the performance data shows that for Hitman 2, the CPU provides ample support for the RTX 5090 D without becoming a constraint in most scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 36th out of 3001 combos for Hitman 2. This top 1.2% placement indicates that the system delivers exceptionally high performance in this game, outperforming the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in the database. The rank is derived from the measured FPS data, which shows strong results across all resolutions and settings.

The high rank is consistent with the individual components’ positions in their respective benchmarks. The CPU’s 91st percentile and the GPU’s 92nd percentile suggest that both parts are near the top of their classes, and their combination results in a system that excels in Hitman 2. The nearest rival combos are not explicitly listed, but the component-level rivals provide context: the CPU trades blows with the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and Intel Core i9-13900F, while the GPU is closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT.

The data shows that the combo’s rank is not just a function of raw hardware power, but also of how well the components work together in this specific game. Hitman 2’s stealth gameplay and level design may favor certain hardware characteristics, and this pairing clearly benefits from the RTX 5090 D’s throughput and the 5950X’s strong single-thread performance. The 36th rank out of 3001 combos indicates that only a handful of other configurations can match or exceed this system’s performance in Hitman 2.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of performance across twelve distinct configurations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers average FPS of 307 on Low, 274 on Medium, 207 on High, and 153 on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p includes a minimum of 233 and a maximum of 315 FPS, showing a frame time range of 82 FPS. The Low and High presets at 1080p do not have min/max data recorded, but the averages are the highest and second-highest in the dataset, respectively.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS figures are 234 on Low, 175 on Medium, 132 on High, and 98 on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p has a minimum of 149 and a maximum of 201 FPS, indicating a 52 FPS range. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with Low losing 73 FPS, Medium losing 99 FPS, High losing 75 FPS, and Ultra losing 55 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is becoming more of a factor at 1440p, but the system still maintains high frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the averages fall to 124 on Low, 93 on Medium, 71 on High, and 52 on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 107 FPS, representing a 28 FPS range, which is narrower than at lower resolutions due to the GPU being fully utilized. The 4K results show that the RTX 5090 D can handle 4K gaming at Low and Medium settings with playable frame rates, but High and Ultra presets dip below 60 FPS, making them less suitable for smooth gameplay.

The Ultra preset consistently shows the lowest frame rates at every resolution, with 153 at 1080p, 98 at 1440p, and 52 at 4K. The High preset offers a middle ground, with 207 at 1080p, 132 at 1440p, and 71 at 4K. The Low preset provides the highest performance, with 307 at 1080p, 234 at 1440p, and 124 at 4K. These numbers allow for direct comparison when choosing a settings preset, as outlined in the recommendations section.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 307, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K in Hitman 2?

A: Yes, at 4K Low and Medium settings, the average FPS is 124 and 93 respectively, both above 60. At 4K High, the average drops to 71, which is still above 60, but at 4K Ultra the average falls to 52, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its nearest rival in general benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, while its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, scores 76904, giving the RTX 5090 D a 1.1% advantage. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT scores 78940, which is 1.6% higher than the RTX 5090 D.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking among all tested CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 51947.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in the game database?

A: The combo ranks 36th out of 3001 tested combinations for Hitman 2.

Q: At which resolution does the CPU become less of a limiting factor?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the GPU is the primary limiting component, as the frame rates drop significantly from 1440p, while the CPU’s strong performance at 1080p (307 FPS on Low) indicates it can handle high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the choice of settings depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 153 FPS, which is sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors, but the High preset at 207 FPS provides a better balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 274 FPS is ideal for competitive play or maximizing frame rates, while the Low preset at 307 FPS is only necessary for extreme refresh rates beyond 300 Hz.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 132 FPS is the recommended choice for most users, as it offers strong visual fidelity with frame rates well above 100. The Medium preset at 175 FPS is better suited for those prioritizing smoothness over detail, while the Ultra preset at 98 FPS is still playable but may show occasional dips in demanding scenes. The Low preset at 234 FPS is unnecessary unless targeting the highest possible refresh rates.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Medium preset at 93 FPS provides the best experience, as it maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while offering improved visuals over Low. The High preset at 71 FPS is also viable for those who prefer higher detail and can tolerate frame rates near the 60-70 range, but the Ultra preset at 52 FPS is not recommended due to the risk of noticeable stuttering. The Low preset at 124 FPS is available for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual compromise is significant.

The Medium preset stands out as the most consistent option across all resolutions, with averages of 274 at 1080p, 175 at 1440p, and 93 at 4K. This preset also has recorded minimum and maximum values, showing a frame time range that is manageable at all resolutions. For the best overall experience, the data indicates that Medium settings at 1440p or 4K offer a strong combination of performance and quality, while High at 1080p is a good choice for those with high-refresh-rate displays.