Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 1,313 out of 3,001 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 56th percentile of all systems tested. This is a solidly mid-pack result, indicating that while the combo is capable of delivering playable performance, it is not at the top tier for this title. The ranking suggests that the system sits in the upper half of the field, with roughly 1,688 other combinations outperforming it and 1,312 trailing behind. This position is largely defined by the GPU's performance ceiling, as the RTX 5060's overall benchmark percentile of 72 is respectable but not elite, while the CPU's percentile of 91 is substantially higher, hinting at a pairing where the graphics card is the more likely bottleneck in demanding scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1,313 out of 3,001 places it in the 43.7th percentile from the top, meaning it outperforms 56.3% of all tested systems in this game. This is a noteworthy result for a pairing that features a flagship-tier CPU but a mid-range GPU. The data suggests that in Hitman 2, the RTX 5060 is the limiting factor, as the Ryzen 9 9900X3D has the headroom to push far higher frame rates if paired with a more powerful graphics card. The CPU's average benchmark score of 54,762 is nearly double that of the GPU's 26,331, reinforcing that the processor is not the constraint here. When examining the nearest rivals for each component, the CPU is within 2.1% of the Intel Core i7-14700F and within 1.3% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, while the GPU is within 1.2% of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT. This indicates that the combo's performance is closely mirrored by systems using those comparable parts, and any ranking differences in this game are more attributable to the GPU tier than the CPU choice.

The rank also reflects the game's age and optimization; Hitman 2, released in 2018, is not particularly demanding by modern standards. The fact that this combo only reaches the 56th percentile suggests that many other tested systems include higher-end GPUs that can push this game to much higher frame rates, especially at lower resolutions. However, the combo still delivers playable performance at most settings, as evidenced by the measured FPS data. The 3001 total combos indicate a large database, and a rank of 1313 is comfortably above the median, meaning this system is more capable than the average tested configuration for this specific title, even if it doesn't dominate the leaderboard.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz with an effective 28 Gbps. These specifications place it as a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a notable consideration for Hitman 2 at higher resolutions. The GPU's benchmark scores show a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 and a PassMark G3D score of 20,891, with a percentile of 72 against all GPUs. In the context of Hitman 2, the GPU's performance is directly reflected in the measured FPS, showing a clear ceiling at 4K where the card struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher settings.

The RTX 5060's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT with a delta of 1.2%, meaning the RTX 5060 is slightly ahead, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary with a delta of -0.8%, meaning the RTX 5060 trails slightly. This places it in a performance bracket roughly equivalent to those older cards. In Hitman 2, the GPU's role becomes critical at 4K resolution, where the data shows average FPS dropping to 35 at High settings and 26 at Ultra. The 8 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor at 4K Ultra, as the game's texture demands can exceed this capacity, leading to reduced performance. At 1080p, however, the GPU is sufficient to push high frame rates, with the Low preset achieving 183 FPS, indicating that the card is not limiting at lower resolutions. The GPU's pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s are adequate for this game, but the limited VRAM and 128-bit bus are constraints that manifest most clearly at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It features a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache, which is a hallmark of the X3D series and beneficial in gaming scenarios. The CPU's benchmark results are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47,737 and a single-core score of 6,739, along with a Geekbench multi-core score of 22,884 and a single-core score of 3,041. Its percentile of 91 against all CPUs indicates that it is in the top 9% of processors tested, with an average benchmark score of 54,762. In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and given the game's age, the 9900X3D is far more powerful than necessary.

The nearest rivals for the CPU include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF with a delta of -0.6%, meaning the 9900X3D is slightly behind, and the Intel Core i7-14700F with a delta of 2.1%, meaning the 9900X3D is ahead. This shows that the CPU is competitive with modern mid-range and high-end processors. In Hitman 2, the CPU's impact is most visible at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 183 FPS, which is likely CPU-bound, but this is still a high frame rate. The CPU's 12 cores and 24 threads are overkill for a game that typically uses fewer threads, but the high single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,739) ensures that the game's main thread is handled easily. The data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this combo, as the FPS drops observed at 4K are far more attributable to the GPU's limitations rather than any CPU constraint. The CPU's TDP of 120 W and 4 nm process node also indicate efficiency, but in this context, its raw performance is what matters, and it delivers ample headroom for Hitman 2.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1080p, the system delivers 183 FPS on Low, 137 FPS on Medium (with a min of 117 and max of 158), 104 FPS on High, and 76 FPS on Ultra. These numbers indicate that 1080p is where the combo shines, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a smooth 76 FPS. The jump from Low to Ultra represents a 58% reduction in frame rate, showing the performance cost of higher settings. At 1440p, the FPS drops to 117 on Low, 88 on Medium (min 75, max 101), 66 on High, and 49 on Ultra. This is a significant step down, with the Ultra preset now dipping below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less ideal for smooth gameplay. The 1440p High preset at 66 FPS is still playable, but the Ultra preset at 49 FPS may cause noticeable stuttering on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 4K (3840x2160), the combo struggles more noticeably. The Low preset achieves 62 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset drops to 47 FPS (min 40, max 54), the High preset to 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset to just 26 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo is only viable at Low settings for a smooth experience, and even then, it is borderline. The min FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution, with 117 at 1080p, 75 at 1440p, and 40 at 4K. These minimums indicate potential frame-time spikes, but the averages are more telling. The data reveals a clear pattern: the combo is excellent for 1080p, good for 1440p at medium settings, and marginal at 4K. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are likely the primary reasons for the steep drop at 4K, as the game's memory requirements increase with resolution. The CPU's performance is consistent across all resolutions, which reinforces that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher settings.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling shows a consistent and significant drop in FPS as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which is expected given the GPU's specifications. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 183 at 1080p to 117 at 1440p (a 36% decrease) and then to 62 at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p, or 66% from 1080p). This indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is increasingly stressed at higher resolutions. At Medium settings, the drop is from 137 at 1080p to 88 at 1440p (a 36% decrease) and then to 47 at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p, or 66% from 1080p). The High settings show a similar trend: 104 at 1080p, 66 at 1440p (a 37% decrease), and 35 at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p, or 66% from 1080p). The Ultra settings follow the same pattern: 76 at 1080p, 49 at 1440p (a 36% decrease), and 26 at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p, or 66% from 1080p).

The consistent percentage drops across all settings presets are notable. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistently around 36-37%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is consistently around 47%. This suggests that the scaling is primarily resolution-driven rather than setting-driven, and it points to the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth as the limiting factors. The 4K resolution requires roughly four times the pixel count of 1080p, and while the FPS doesn't drop by 75%, it drops by about 66% from 1080p to 4K, which indicates that the GPU is not purely pixel-bound but also affected by other factors such as memory bandwidth. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely insufficient for 4K with high settings, causing the steep decline. The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal, as the FPS drops are too consistent across settings to be CPU-related. The data clearly shows that the limiting component at 4K is the GPU, with the RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus being the primary bottlenecks. At 1080p, the combo is GPU-bound at Ultra (76 FPS) but becomes CPU-bound at Low (183 FPS), indicating that the CPU has headroom to spare.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the optimal resolution, with all settings presets achieving at least 76 FPS, including Ultra. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 49 FPS, and at 4K, even the High preset only reaches 35 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5060 is 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT and 0.8% behind the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary, placing it in a similar performance bracket to those cards.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54,762, far exceeding the GPU's 26,331, and the FPS drops at higher resolutions are consistent with GPU limitations.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 88 FPS at 1440p with Medium settings, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so significantly at 4K?

A: The drop is primarily due to the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus, which limits its ability to handle the increased pixel count and texture data at 4K. The FPS drops by roughly 66% from 1080p to 4K across all settings.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: Yes, the combo can handle Ultra settings at 1080p with an average of 76 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra settings produce 49 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but at 4K, Ultra settings only achieve 26 FPS, which is not playable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 76 FPS, which is smooth enough for most displays. The High preset at 104 FPS is also excellent if you prefer higher frame rates, but Ultra offers the best visual fidelity without compromising playability. For 1440p, the High preset at 66 FPS is the recommended choice, as it balances visual quality with smoothness. The Medium preset at 88 FPS is also viable if you want a higher frame rate, but the drop in visual quality may be noticeable. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is borderline and may cause stuttering, so it is not recommended for a consistent experience. At 4K, the Low preset at 62 FPS is the only playable option, but it sacrifices significant visual quality. The Medium preset at 47 FPS is below the 60 FPS target and may be acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay, but it is not ideal. The High and Ultra presets at 35 FPS and 26 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for any serious gameplay.

In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is achieved at 1080p with Ultra settings, which provides 76 FPS and the highest visual fidelity available. For 1440p, High settings at 66 FPS offer the best balance, while 4K is only viable at Low settings for a playable frame rate. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a stretch due to GPU limitations. The CPU's high performance ensures that settings can be maxed out at lower resolutions without issue, but the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and bandwidth constraints become apparent at higher resolutions. For users prioritizing smooth gameplay, sticking to 1080p Ultra or 1440p High will yield the most consistent results. If you must play at 4K, the Low preset is the only way to achieve a frame rate above 60 FPS, but the visual compromise is substantial.