Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, still presents a meaningful challenge to modern hardware at higher settings. The measured data for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo shows a system that is exceptionally capable at 1080p and 1440p, but one that clearly hits a performance ceiling when pushed to 4K with maximum quality. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate gaming at mainstream resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a dramatic and predictable drop as resolution scales up, which clearly points to the GPU as the bottleneck in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces an average of 171 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 110 FPS, a decrease of roughly 35%. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls to 58 FPS, which is only about 34% of the 1080p performance. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4060's rendering throughput, rather than the CPU's processing power, is the limiting factor.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced at higher settings. With High settings, the average FPS goes from 97 at 1080p, to 62 at 1440p, and finally to 33 at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is a 36% drop, while the jump from 1440p to 4K results in a 47% reduction in average FPS. This non-linear scaling is typical of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing capability. The 4K Ultra result of just 24 FPS, which is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay, confirms that this resolution and setting combination is not viable for this GPU in Hitman 2.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this hardware is at 1440p. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs a significant amount of performance, but the visual fidelity gain is often worth it. At 1440p, the system maintains playable frame rates even on High settings, suggesting that the CPU is not holding the GPU back. The fact that the 1080p Low average of 171 FPS is far higher than the 1440p Low average of 110 FPS suggests that the CPU could potentially push even more frames at 1080p, but the GPU's workload at that resolution is so low that other bottlenecks may come into play. Overall, the resolution scaling analysis shows a system that is ideal for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but not for 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the deciding factor in this system's Hitman 2 performance. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are directly reflected in the measured frame rates. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the combination of higher resolution textures and effects can push memory usage to its limits, which likely contributes to the low average FPS at 4K Ultra. The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1830 MHz and a boost of 2460 MHz, are what allow it to achieve the higher frame rates seen at lower resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 61st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals, according to the data, are the AMD Radeon HD 7790, AMD Radeon 780M, AMD Radeon Pro 560, and AMD Radeon Pro 460, with delta percentages of -0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 respectively. This indicates that the RTX 4060 is a mid-range performer, and its performance in Hitman 2 aligns with this. The 4K High average of 33 FPS and 4K Ultra of 24 FPS are consistent with a GPU that is not designed for enthusiast-level 4K gaming.

The GPU's feature set, including support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and a 115 W TDP, makes it a capable card for modern titles. However, in Hitman 2, the data shows that the RTX 4060's raw rasterization performance is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The difference between the 1080p High average of 97 FPS and the 4K High average of 33 FPS is a 66% reduction, which is a significant hit. This is not a sign of a poorly performing GPU, but rather an indication that 4K gaming requires significantly more graphics processing power. For a 1080p or 1440p gamer, the RTX 4060 provides a strong experience, but for 4K, it is the component that holds the system back.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in Hitman 2?

A: No. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 171 FPS. This high frame rate, combined with the fact that the FPS drops significantly as resolution increases (to 110 FPS at 1440p and 58 FPS at 4K), indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU.

Q: Can this system run Hitman 2 at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: The data suggests that it is not ideal. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 33. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 24. These frame rates are below the smooth 60 FPS target most players prefer. Only the 4K Low preset, with an average of 58 FPS, approaches a playable level.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Hitman 2?

A: The benchmark results indicate that 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p with High settings, the system averages 62 FPS, which is good. At 1440p with Medium settings, it averages 82 FPS, and with Low settings, it averages 110 FPS. This shows that the system can handle high-quality visuals at smooth frame rates at this resolution.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 171 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers an average of 72 FPS. This is a 99 FPS difference, meaning the Ultra preset is roughly 58% slower than the Low preset. This gives players a wide range of options depending on their preference for visual fidelity or frame rate.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rivals in terms of overall GPU performance?

A: The average benchmark score for the RTX 4060 is 17639. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, has an average score of 17666, which is a delta of -0.2%. The AMD Radeon 780M has a score of 17588, a delta of 0.3%. These scores suggest that the RTX 4060 performs in the same tier as these cards in general benchmarks, though its performance in Hitman 2 will be specific to this game's engine.

Q: Is 8 GB of VRAM on the RTX 4060 enough for Hitman 2?

A: The data does not directly measure VRAM usage, but the performance pattern suggests it is adequate for 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, the significant drop in average FPS (e.g., 33 FPS at High and 24 FPS at Ultra) could be partly attributed to the 8 GB memory capacity being stressed, as higher resolutions require more memory for textures and geometry.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how the system performs across different settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly CPU-bound in the best way, delivering high frame rates. The Low preset yields an average of 171 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 129 FPS, with a minimum of 109 and a maximum of 148 FPS. The High preset averages 97 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 72 FPS. This shows a smooth scaling curve, with each step up in settings costing a significant but manageable amount of performance.

At 2560x1440, the GPU starts to take on more work. The Low preset still delivers a very high average of 110 FPS. The Medium preset averages 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 62 FPS, which is still a solid experience. The Ultra preset averages 46 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. This resolution offers a good balance between visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The Low preset averages 58 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that approaches playability. The Medium preset averages 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 33 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 24 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this GPU in Hitman 2, as even the Medium preset struggles to maintain a consistent 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system depends on the user's display and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For players with a 1080p monitor, the High preset is recommended. It delivers an average of 97 FPS, which is smooth enough for most gamers, and provides a significant visual improvement over the Medium preset. For those with a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor (144Hz or higher), the Medium preset, with an average of 129 FPS, is the better choice to maximize frame rates while still maintaining decent visuals. The Low preset at 171 FPS is only necessary for competitive play where every frame counts.

For 1440p monitors, the High preset is the best overall recommendation. It produces an average of 62 FPS, which is generally considered the baseline for smooth gameplay. If a player prefers higher frame rates, the Medium preset at 82 FPS is an excellent alternative that still looks good. The Ultra preset at 46 FPS is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 110 FPS is a viable option for competitive play, but it sacrifices too much visual quality for a single-player stealth game.

For 4K monitors, the data suggests that this combination is not well-suited for high-quality gameplay. The only setting that provides average FPS above 60 is Low (58 FPS), which defeats the purpose of playing at 4K. The Medium preset at 44 FPS and the High preset at 33 FPS are both below the playable threshold for most users. Therefore, it is recommended to either lower the resolution to 1440p or to adjust the in-game resolution scale if such an option is available. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 24 FPS, should be avoided entirely.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D plays a supportive but critical role in this system's Hitman 2 performance. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it provides more than enough processing power to feed the RTX 4060 at 1080p and 1440p. The high frame rates at 1080p with Low settings (171 FPS average) demonstrate that the CPU is not a limiting factor at lower resolutions. The CPU's large 128 MB of L3 cache and high boost clock of 5.50 GHz are likely contributing to the strong minimum frame rates seen in the data, such as the 109 FPS minimum at 1080p Medium.

The CPU's benchmark scores show it is a top-tier processor. It has an average benchmark score of 54762 and is in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, Intel Xeon 6505P, and Intel Core i7-14700F, with delta percentages of -0.6, 1.3, 2, and 2.1 respectively. This indicates that the 9900X3D is a very high-performance chip, but in Hitman 2, its capabilities are only fully utilized when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

The data suggests that at 4K, the CPU's role diminishes significantly. As the resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the FPS drops to 33 at High and 24 at Ultra. In these scenarios, the CPU is likely waiting for the GPU to finish rendering frames, meaning its performance is less relevant to the final FPS. The fact that the 1080p Low average (171 FPS) is much higher than the 1440p Low average (110 FPS) further confirms that the system is not CPU-limited in most scenarios. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D ensures that the RTX 4060 can perform to its full potential at 1080p and 1440p, making it an ideal pairing for this game at those resolutions.