Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX paired with the AMD Radeon 890M represents a unique configuration for Hitman 2, combining a high-end 16-core mobile processor with an integrated graphics solution. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics subsystem across all resolutions, with the CPU providing ample headroom that the iGPU cannot exploit. This analysis breaks down the performance data, contextualizes the results against rival components, and provides actionable settings guidance based strictly on the measured figures.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is stark and unequivocal, demonstrating that the AMD Radeon 890M is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 71 FPS at 1920x1080 to 46 FPS at 2560x1440, representing a 35% reduction. Pushing further to 3840x2160, the average drops to 24 FPS, which is a 66% decrease from the 1080p baseline. This steep curve indicates that the GPU's shading units, texture units, and memory bandwidth—all shared with the system—are saturated well before the CPU's capabilities are taxed.

At High settings, the scaling pattern is similar but compressed due to lower absolute numbers. The average FPS goes from 40 at 1080p, to 26 at 1440p, and finally to 14 at 4K. The jump from 1440p to 4K at High settings results in a 46% performance loss, confirming that the increased pixel count at 4K imposes a disproportionate load on the Radeon 890M's 1024 shading units. The 4K Ultra setting is nearly unplayable at 10 FPS average, while even 1440p Ultra struggles at 19 FPS.

The data suggests that resolution scaling is not linear but exponential in its impact. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 41 FPS (71 vs. 30), while at 4K the same settings gap is only 14 FPS (24 vs. 10). This compression at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is hitting a hard architectural ceiling, likely related to its RDNA 3.5 integrated design and system-shared memory. The 5.939 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for 4K rendering in this title, making 1080p the only practical resolution for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on Zen 4 architecture with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and single-core score of 6030 place it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, indicating exceptional processing power. However, in Hitman 2, this CPU is vastly underutilized due to the GPU bottleneck. The game's measured performance at 1080p Low (71 FPS) is likely near the upper limit of what the Radeon 890M can produce, regardless of CPU headroom.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with an average benchmark score of 76155 (0.1% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a score of 75779 (0.6% lower). These deltas are negligible, meaning the 8945HX is essentially tied with the best competing processors for synthetic workloads. Yet in Hitman 2, the combo rank of 2837 out of 3001 tested configurations (bottom 5.5%) shows that the processor's strength cannot compensate for the integrated GPU's limitations.

The 64 MB of L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a solid foundation for game logic and asset streaming, but the system-shared GPU memory means the CPU and iGPU compete for the same DDR5 bandwidth. The base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost to 5.40 GHz allow for rapid single-thread response, which is relevant for Hitman 2's stealth AI and physics calculations. However, benchmark results indicate that frame rates at 1080p Medium (53 FPS) and High (40 FPS) are more than double the CPU's ability to feed frames, confirming that the processor is never the limiting factor in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX strong enough for Hitman 2?

A: Yes, the CPU is overqualified for this title. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and 95th percentile ranking indicate it can handle far more demanding workloads. The measured frame rates are constrained entirely by the GPU, as evidenced by the consistent performance drop when increasing resolution.

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but not at playable frame rates. The best 4K result is 24 FPS average at Low settings, which drops to 10 FPS at Ultra. Even 1440p requires Low settings (46 FPS) to approach a consistent 45+ FPS experience.

Q: How does the Radeon 890M compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Radeon 890M has an average benchmark score of 9210, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Radeon Vega 8 (9221) and 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (9273). This places it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, indicating mid-tier integrated performance.

Q: What is the best resolution for this configuration?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average frame rate exceeds 60 FPS, achieving 71 FPS at Low settings. At Medium settings, it drops to 53 FPS, which is still playable, while High and Ultra yield 40 FPS and 30 FPS respectively.

Q: Why is the combo rank so low (2837 out of 3001) despite the powerful CPU?

A: The combo ranking reflects the overall gaming experience, which is dominated by the GPU. The Radeon 890M's 45th percentile GPU score and its 5.939 TFLOPS FP32 performance are insufficient for Hitman 2 at higher settings, dragging the combined score down despite the CPU's 95th percentile ranking.

Q: Does the CPU's 32 threads help in Hitman 2?

A: The 32 threads provide no measurable benefit in this game based on the data. The frame rates are consistent with GPU-bound behavior, and the CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 51405 is irrelevant when the GPU cannot render frames faster than the observed averages.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2837 out of 3001 tested configurations places this system in the bottom 5.5% of all combinations for Hitman 2. This is a remarkably poor showing for a CPU that ranks in the 95th percentile of all processors. The disconnect highlights the critical role of the GPU in gaming performance. The Radeon 890M's 45th percentile GPU ranking (average benchmark score of 9210) is the primary driver of this low combo position.

To contextualize, the CPU's nearest rivals—Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D—all have similar average benchmark scores within 0.6% of the 8945HX. If any of these CPUs were paired with a discrete GPU, the combo rank would be dramatically higher. The data shows that the 8945HX is capable of feeding frames at a rate far exceeding what the 890M can output, making the GPU the sole bottleneck.

The combo ranking is also influenced by the fact that Hitman 2 is a 2018 release with relatively modest requirements compared to modern titles. This means the game should run well on less powerful hardware, yet the integrated GPU still struggles. The 4K Ultra result of 10 FPS and the 1440p Ultra result of 19 FPS are among the lowest measured values, suggesting that this combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming at Low to Medium settings. Users expecting a high-end experience will be disappointed by the 2837th place ranking, which accurately reflects the system's real-world gaming limitations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience balances visual quality with playable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 71 FPS average, which is smooth and responsive for a stealth game. Medium settings yield 53 FPS, still above the 45 FPS threshold that most players consider acceptable. High settings drop to 40 FPS, which is borderline, and Ultra is not recommended at 30 FPS.

For 1440p, the only viable option is Low settings with 46 FPS average. Medium drops to 34 FPS, while High (26 FPS) and Ultra (19 FPS) are too slow for consistent gameplay. At 4K, all settings are below 25 FPS, making this resolution unsuitable for anything other than screenshot purposes or very slow-paced exploration.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1080p Medium, offering 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS and maximum of 62 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 30 FPS baseline while maintaining moderate visual fidelity. If prioritizing frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low at 71 FPS is the only preset that fully utilizes a 60 Hz display. For users with a 144 Hz monitor, the 890M cannot sustain 144 FPS at any resolution or setting, so the recommendation is to stick with 1080p and adjust between Low and Medium based on preference.

The Medium preset at 1080p is the recommended choice because it offers the best balance of stability and quality. The minimum FPS of 45 at this setting indicates that even during intense scenes, the frame rate stays above the playable threshold. In contrast, the High preset's 40 FPS average leaves little headroom, and the lack of minimum FPS data suggests potential dips below 30 FPS during action sequences.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings shows a clear progression: Low averages 71 FPS, Medium averages 53 FPS (min 45, max 62), High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 41 FPS, representing a 58% reduction in performance. The Medium setting shows the only recorded variance in this resolution, with a 17 FPS spread between minimum and maximum.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop significantly: Low produces 46 FPS, Medium 34 FPS (min 29, max 39), High 26 FPS, and Ultra 19 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 27 FPS (59% reduction), but the absolute numbers are lower. The Medium setting at 1440p has a 10 FPS variance, indicating less stable frame pacing than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, performance collapses: Low averages 24 FPS, Medium 18 FPS (min 15, max 21), High 14 FPS, and Ultra 10 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is only 14 FPS, showing that at 4K the GPU is so overwhelmed that settings have diminishing returns. The Medium setting's minimum of 15 FPS and maximum of 21 FPS represents a 6 FPS range, suggesting severe stuttering during gameplay.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently offers the highest frame rates, with the 1080p Low result of 71 FPS being the only measured value above 60 FPS. The 1440p Low at 46 FPS is the only 1440p result above 40 FPS. The data indicates that the Radeon 890M is best utilized at 1080p, where it can maintain playable frame rates, while higher resolutions should be avoided for active gameplay.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M is an integrated graphics processor based on RDNA 3.5 architecture with 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. Its boost clock of 2900 MHz enables a peak FP32 performance of 5.939 TFLOPS, which is modest for modern gaming. The GPU has 16 ray tracing cores, but Hitman 2 does not utilize ray tracing, so this feature has no direct impact on the measured results.

The 890M's average benchmark score of 9210 places it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals being the AMD Radeon Vega 8 (9221, 0.1% faster), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (9273, 0.7% faster), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 (9294, 0.9% faster). This indicates that the 890M performs similarly to a GTX 960 from 2015, which is consistent with its integrated nature and system-shared memory architecture.

The GPU's memory bandwidth is "System Dependent," meaning it shares the CPU's DDR5 memory. The 8945HX supports dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, but this is shared between CPU and GPU workloads. In Hitman 2, this shared bandwidth becomes a bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the GPU must continuously access system memory for textures and frame buffers. The 4K results (10-24 FPS) are particularly impacted by this limitation, as the bandwidth requirement scales with pixel count.

The GPU's transistor count of 34,000 million on a 4 nm process node is substantial, but the 15 W TDP limits its sustained performance. The boost clock of 2900 MHz is high for an iGPU, yet the thermal and power constraints prevent it from maintaining peak performance in demanding scenes. The measured FPS data shows that the 890M is the limiting component in every configuration, with the CPU never being the bottleneck. For users seeking higher frame rates in Hitman 2, a discrete GPU would be necessary, as the integrated solution's 5.939 TFLOPS cannot handle the game's rendering demands beyond 1080p Medium settings.