Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a solid, if not spectacular, performance profile in Hitman 2. This combination ranks in the 836th position out of 1795 tested combos, placing it comfortably in the upper-middle tier of the database. This ranking reflects a system that is well-balanced for the game's engine, though it is far from the top of the charts, indicating that while the hardware is capable, it does not dominate the leaderboard. The data shows that the system's performance is heavily influenced by the chosen resolution and graphical preset, with the CPU proving to be a strong foundation for high frame rates at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the primary constraint as the workload increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 836 out of 1795 is a clear indicator of its position in the overall performance hierarchy for Hitman 2. This places the system in the 53rd percentile of tested configurations, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of other CPU-GPU pairings. This is a respectable result, driven by the strengths of both components. The Ryzen 9 7900X is a high-end CPU, scoring in the 93rd percentile against all other CPUs in our database, which ensures that it is rarely the bottleneck in this game. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide ample processing power for the game's simulation and AI systems.

However, the RTX 3070, while a strong GPU, is only in the 72nd percentile against all other GPUs. This disparity in relative strength is the key to understanding the combo's ranking. At lower resolutions and settings, the CPU's advantage is fully realized, allowing the GPU to work to its maximum potential. But as the graphical load increases, the GPU's relative weakness compared to the CPU becomes more apparent, holding the combo back from reaching higher percentile rankings. The data suggests that this is a pairing where the CPU has significant headroom, and the overall ranking is primarily dictated by the GPU's capability to render frames, especially at higher resolutions.

Comparing the individual components to their nearest rivals in the database provides further context. The CPU's average benchmark score of 50556 is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, which scores 50598, a negligible difference of -0.1%. This indicates that for raw processing power, these two CPUs are effectively interchangeable in performance. The GPU's average score of 28238 is also closely matched with its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (27985), from which it is 0.9% faster. This shows that the RTX 3070 is positioned in a competitive performance bracket, and its ranking in the game is a result of how its specific architecture handles the Hitman 2 engine.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in Hitman 2?*

A: This combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is ranked 836th out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 9 7900X has an average benchmark score of 50556. This is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, which has a score of 50598, representing a performance difference of only -0.1%. It is also a close match for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT, which scores 50738 (-0.4%).

Q: What is the best frame rate result recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 193.1 FPS, which was achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low graphical settings preset.

Q: How does the GPU compare in performance to its nearest competitor?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 28238. It is 0.9% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, which has an average score of 27985.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo fail to reach 60 FPS?

A: At 4K resolution (3840x2160), the combo fails to reach 60 FPS on all tested settings. The average frame rates are 65.3 FPS on Low, 49.7 FPS on Medium, 39.2 FPS on High, and 25.5 FPS on Ultra.

Q: Is the system's performance more limited by the CPU or the GPU?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor in more demanding scenarios. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is only in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs. This performance gap becomes especially pronounced at higher resolutions and graphical settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This substantial core count and high clock speed provide a powerful foundation for gaming. In Hitman 2, a game that features complex AI routines and simulated environments, the CPU's role is critical for maintaining a stable frame rate, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the primary bottleneck. The benchmark results show that the CPU's capabilities are more than sufficient for this game.

The CPU's benchmark scores demonstrate its strength in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For instance, it scores 6168 points in the Cinebench R23 single-core test and 43695 points in the multi-core test. This high single-core performance is directly beneficial for gaming, as many game engines, including Hitman 2, rely on a few primary threads for core game logic. The high multi-core score ensures that background tasks and the game's additional threads do not cause performance fluctuations. This processing power allows the combo to achieve very high frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU must be able to feed the GPU with data quickly.

When the graphical settings are lowered, the CPU's role becomes even more dominant. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 193.1 FPS. This high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU's ability to process the game's simulation at a rapid pace. The GPU is not being taxed by complex rendering, so the frame rate is dictated by how quickly the CPU can calculate the game state. The Ryzen 9 7900X, with its 12 cores and high clock speeds, excels in this role, ensuring that it is not a limiting factor in achieving high frame rates in less demanding scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the combo performs across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of delivering high refresh-rate gaming. With Low settings, the average FPS is 193.1, which drops to 145.5 on Medium settings and 111.1 on High settings. At the Ultra preset, the average is still a very playable 83.7 FPS. This scaling shows that the CPU+GPU combination is well-suited for 1080p gaming and can handle even the most demanding presets with ease.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the increasing load on the GPU. The Low preset delivers an average of 122.9 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings average 94.7 FPS, and High settings average 73.2 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is still capable of delivering smooth gameplay at 1440p. However, the Ultra preset drops to an average of 52.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider to be the standard for a smooth experience. This shows that at 1440p, the Ultra preset becomes a challenge for the RTX 3070.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the GPU is heavily taxed, and the CPU's advantage is less significant. The Low preset yields an average of 65.3 FPS, which is playable but not exceptionally high. Medium settings drop to 49.7 FPS, and High settings to 39.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of only 25.5 FPS. These results clearly show that while the combo is capable of 4K gaming, it is only suitable for the Low preset if a stable 60 FPS is the goal. For higher quality settings at 4K, a more powerful GPU would be necessary.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the shifting bottleneck between the CPU and GPU. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves 111.1 FPS. When moving to 2560x1440, the frame rate drops to 73.2 FPS, a reduction of 37.9 FPS. This is a significant drop, indicating that the GPU is starting to become a limiting factor. The trend continues at 3840x2160, where the frame rate falls to 39.2 FPS, a further reduction of 34 FPS from the 1440p result. This progressive decline in performance as resolution increases is a classic sign of GPU-bound behavior.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The Ryzen 9 7900X is powerful enough to maintain a high frame rate, but the RTX 3070 simply cannot render the increased number of pixels at the same speed. For example, the difference in frame rate between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is 39.8 FPS (from 65.3 down to 25.5). This large gap is entirely due to the increased graphical workload on the GPU. In contrast, at 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra settings is 109.4 FPS (from 193.1 down to 83.7), which is a much larger absolute difference, though the system remains playable on all presets.

This scaling behavior indicates that for optimal performance in Hitman 2, users should consider adjusting settings based on their target resolution. At 1080p, the system has enough headroom to run Ultra settings at a high frame rate. At 1440p, High settings offer a good balance, delivering 73.2 FPS. At 4K, the user must make significant compromises, with only the Low preset providing near-60 FPS performance. The benchmark results overall suggest that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the CPU's power can be fully utilized and the GPU can still keep up. The performance at 4K is limited by the GPU, making it a less ideal resolution for this particular pairing.