Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 8050S combination delivers a highly variable experience in Hitman 2, with performance heavily dependent on resolution and settings. The data presents a clear picture of a system that can comfortably handle 1080p gaming but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra. This analysis examines the measured FPS data, contextualizes the CPU and GPU roles, and provides actionable settings recommendations based solely on the provided metrics.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 5.40 GHz, drawing a TDP of 55 W. This is a high-end mobile part, as indicated by its 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database. Its benchmark scores are substantial: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and a single-core score of 6030, alongside a Passmark multi-thread score of 51405. These figures suggest a processor with immense headroom for gaming workloads, which typically rely more heavily on single-core performance.

In the context of Hitman 2, a stealth game from 2018, the CPU's role is likely to be secondary to the GPU at most settings. The game's engine is not known for being exceptionally demanding on many cores, but the 8945HX's strong single-thread performance ensures that the game's primary game logic and AI calculations are handled without bottlenecking the graphics pipeline. The data shows that the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 142 FPS, which is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU can feed the GPU effectively. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the GPU is more stressed, the 59 FPS result indicates that the CPU has ample performance in reserve.

The CPU's closest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (deltaPct 0.1), the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P (deltaPct -0.4), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (deltaPct 0.6). These scores are all within 0.6% of the 8945HX's average, indicating that the processor's raw compute power is on par with these other top-tier parts. For a game like Hitman 2, this level of CPU performance means that the processor is highly unlikely to be the cause of frame rate dips observed in the measured data. The bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions and settings, will be the GPU.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon 8050S is an integrated GPU (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process. It features 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with 32 ray tracing cores. Its clock speeds are a base of 1295 MHz and a boost of 2800 MHz. A critical detail is its memory configuration: it uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's DDR5 memory, and its effective bandwidth will be dependent on the system configuration.

The GPU’s benchmark scores are a Geekbench OpenCL score of 65818 and a Vulkan score of 58398, placing it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs. While this is a high percentile, the shared memory architecture is a significant factor in its gaming performance. Hitman 2, like many games, benefits from having dedicated, high-bandwidth VRAM. With system-shared memory, the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can lead to performance drops in texture-heavy scenes or at higher resolutions where memory demands increase.

The Radeon 8050S's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, are the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (deltaPct 0.3), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (deltaPct -2.5), the AMD Radeon RX 7600M (deltaPct -2.6), and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT LP (deltaPct -2.7). The performance delta between the 8050S and these rivals is small, suggesting that despite its integrated nature, it performs competitively with some dedicated mobile GPUs. However, the measured FPS data in Hitman 2 reveals its practical limits. The GPU is the primary constraint on performance, especially as resolution and settings increase, which is evident in the steep FPS drops seen from 1080p to 4K.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 8050S is ranked 2221 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places the system in the 74th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning that roughly 26% of the tested systems perform better. This ranking is interesting because it reflects the sum of the CPU and GPU's capabilities. While the CPU is a top-5 percentile part, the GPU's integrated nature and shared memory configuration hold the combo back significantly in overall gaming performance.

This rank of 2221 indicates that the system is not a top-tier gaming rig, despite having a flagship-class processor. The bottleneck is almost certainly the GPU. For a game like Hitman 2, which is not particularly new, a more balanced system with a mid-range dedicated GPU would likely rank much higher. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for scenarios where CPU-intensive tasks are more important than gaming, or for gaming at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. The 74th percentile ranking is respectable, but it clearly shows that the GPU limits the system's ability to compete with higher-end gaming laptops and desktops that feature dedicated graphics cards with their own VRAM.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality settings. All figures are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

1920x1080 (Full HD):

• Low: 142 FPS
• Medium: 106 FPS (minimum 90, maximum 122)
• High: 80 FPS
• Ultra: 59 FPS

At 1080p, the system performs admirably. Even at Ultra settings, it maintains an average of 59 FPS, which is just on the edge of smooth gameplay. The jump from Low to Ultra is a 58% reduction in frame rate, from 142 to 59 FPS. The Medium setting offers a solid 106 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays.

2560x1440 (Quad HD):

• Low: 91 FPS
• Medium: 68 FPS (minimum 58, maximum 78)
• High: 51 FPS
• Ultra: 38 FPS

At 1440p, the system begins to show its limitations. Low settings still deliver a smooth 91 FPS, but Ultra settings drop to 38 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced stealth game. The Medium preset provides a playable 68 FPS, while High dips to 51 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings is a 36% decrease in performance, highlighting the GPU's struggle with the increased pixel count.

3840x2160 (4K UHD):

• Low: 48 FPS
• Medium: 36 FPS (minimum 31, maximum 42)
• High: 27 FPS
• Ultra: 20 FPS

4K resolution is clearly beyond the comfortable reach of this combo. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is only 48, which may be playable but is not smooth. Ultra settings yield a mere 20 FPS, making the game nearly unplayable. The data shows a stark decline in performance at 4K, with even the Medium preset failing to maintain a consistent 30 FPS, as evidenced by the minimum FPS of 31.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for a consistently smooth 60+ FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system consistently exceeds 60 FPS. At 1080p, the Low, Medium, and High presets all deliver average FPS above 60, with 80 FPS at High. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS mark.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Hitman 2?

A: The data indicates that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combo. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS achieved is 48 at Low settings. The Medium preset averages 36 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets drop to 27 and 20 FPS, respectively. These frame rates are too low for a comfortable gaming experience.

Q: How does the GPU's shared memory affect performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 8050S uses system-shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. This configuration likely contributes to the significant performance drops at higher resolutions, as the GPU must rely on system memory bandwidth, which is shared with the CPU. The steep FPS decline from 1080p to 4K suggests that memory bandwidth becomes a critical bottleneck at higher pixel counts.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The benchmark data strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is a top-tier part with a 95th percentile ranking, while the combo's overall rank is only 2221 out of 3001. The FPS drops correlate more with resolution and settings changes, which primarily affect the GPU's workload, rather than CPU-bound tasks.

Q: What is the expected frame rate at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 68, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78. This is a playable frame rate, though it may dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes.

Q: How does the combo rank compare to other systems tested?

A: The combo is ranked 2221 out of 3001 tested combinations in Hitman 2. This places it in the 74th percentile, meaning it outperforms about 74% of all tested systems but is beaten by the top 26%.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a standard 60 FPS target, the choices are clear.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, delivering an average of 80 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (106 FPS) while still maintaining a high frame rate. The Ultra preset is playable at 59 FPS, but the marginal visual gains over High are likely not worth the 26% performance hit.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It is the only preset that maintains an average FPS above 60, hitting 68 FPS. The High preset drops to 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness, High is an option, but the data suggests Medium is the sweet spot for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, no preset provides a consistently smooth experience. The Low preset offers the highest average FPS at 48, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 36 FPS. For users who must play at 4K, Low is the only viable option, but the experience will not be optimal. It is clear that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming in Hitman 2.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across the three resolutions reveals a clear trend: performance degrades significantly as resolution increases. This scaling is a direct indicator of the GPU being the primary bottleneck.

Looking at the Medium preset, which has complete data for all resolutions, the frame rate drops from 106 FPS at 1080p to 68 FPS at 1440p, a 36% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the frame rate drops from 68 FPS to 36 FPS, another 47% decrease. The overall drop from 1080p to 4K is a 66% reduction in performance (from 106 to 36 FPS).

This pattern is consistent with a GPU-limited scenario. The pixel count increases by 1.78x from 1080p to 1440p, and by 2.25x from 1440p to 4K. The FPS drops are roughly proportional to these increases, indicating that the Radeon 8050S's processing power and shared memory bandwidth are being saturated by the higher resolution demands. The CPU, with its high single-core and multi-core scores, is not showing signs of bottlenecking, as the FPS drop is closely tied to pixel throughput rather than game logic complexity. The system is clearly balanced towards CPU performance, but the GPU's integrated nature and lack of dedicated VRAM limit its ability to handle the graphical demands of higher resolutions in Hitman 2.