Hitman 2

# Hitman 2 with AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Hitman 2, with the data revealing a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The combo ranks 2631st out of 3711 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database, yet the CPU's exceptional headroom means settings and resolution choices dramatically alter the outcome. At 1080p, the combination produces smooth frame rates across presets, but the 4K results show the RTX 2060 SUPER struggling under the load of IO Interactive's stealth title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance drop as resolution increases, a pattern that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck in this pairing. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 82 FPS, which falls to 52 FPS at 1440p and further to 28 FPS at 4K — a reduction of 36.6% from 1080p to 1440p and 46.2% from 1440p to 4K. This scaling curve is characteristic of a graphics card operating near its limits, where each pixel count increase imposes a near-linear cost on the renderer.

The Low preset tells a similar story with higher absolute numbers: 145 FPS at 1080p, 93 FPS at 1440p, and 49 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 35.9% and 47.3% respectively, indicating consistent scaling behavior regardless of the preset. Medium settings follow the same trajectory, with 109 FPS at 1080p dropping to 69 FPS at 1440p (36.7% reduction) and then to 37 FPS at 4K (46.4% reduction). Ultra settings show the most severe absolute degradation, starting at 60 FPS at 1080p, falling to 39 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 21 FPS at 4K.

What the data reveals about the limiting component is unambiguous: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with its 16 cores and 32 threads capable of a 17184 score in 3DMark max threads, is nowhere near saturation in this game. The consistent ~36% and ~46% drops across every preset align with what would be expected from a GPU that is fully utilized. If the CPU were the constraint, the scaling between 1080p and 4K would be more muted, as the render load would not translate directly into frame time. Instead, the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are the factors that cap performance, particularly at 4K where even Low settings only muster 49 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's position of 2631 out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2 places it in the 29th percentile of all tested pairings, indicating that while this system is functional, it sits below the median for this specific title. This ranking is notable given the CPU's own standing: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D holds a 95th percentile rank against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75779. The disparity between the CPU's strong individual standing and the combo's middling game-specific rank underscores the GPU-limited nature of this pairing.

In the context of nearest rivals for the CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D's average score of 75779 puts it just 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 (75738) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D (75716), a hair ahead of the AMD EPYC 8224P (75582, 0.3% behind), and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (75488). These are negligible deltas, meaning the CPU is performing exactly as expected among top-tier processors. However, the GPU's own ranking tells a different story: the RTX 2060 SUPER sits at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs with an average score of 18093, which is 0.4% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159) and 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189), while leading the AMD Radeon RX 460 (18373) by 1.5% and the Intel Arc A770M (18383) by 1.6%.

The combination of a 95th-percentile CPU with a 62nd-percentile GPU produces a combo rank that reflects the weaker link. In Hitman 2, where the game's engine scales with both CPU and GPU resources, the data shows the RTX 2060 SUPER holding back what would otherwise be a much stronger result. The 2631st rank out of 3711 is a direct consequence of this imbalance, and it suggests that users seeking higher frame rates in this title would benefit more from a GPU upgrade than any CPU-side change.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is built on the TU106 chip using the Turing architecture at a 12 nm process node, with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die. Its memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's clocks are set at 1470 MHz base and 1650 MHz boost, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). These specifications produce 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, along with 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is decisive across all measured settings. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for this 2018 title, as the game's texture budgets do not appear to exceed this limit even at Ultra settings — the measured FPS drops from 60 at 1080p to 39 at 1440p and 21 at 4K on Ultra suggest compute and bandwidth constraints rather than memory capacity spills. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is a more likely limiting factor at 4K, where the pixel throughput demands (105.6 GPixel/s pixel rate) become strained.

The boost clock of 1650 MHz is representative of the GPU's operating range, and the fact that performance scales linearly with resolution indicates the card is running at its expected clock envelope under sustained load. The 175 W TDP and dual-slot design are consistent with this class of card, and the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface provides adequate bandwidth for the game's data transfers. Notably, the RTX 2060 SUPER's 62nd percentile standing among all GPUs places it just below the RTX 3060 Mobile in average score, a delta of 0.4%, which contextualizes its performance as mid-tier in the current landscape — adequate for 1080p gaming but challenged at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which preset offers the best experience for this combo. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 82 FPS average, which is a smooth experience for a stealth game where precision matters. The Medium preset at 109 FPS offers a significant boost, but the jump from Medium to Low (145 FPS) is even larger, suggesting diminishing returns in visual quality versus frame rate at the lower end. For most users, the High preset at 1080p represents the sweet spot: 82 FPS is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, and the visual fidelity of High settings in Hitman 2 is well-suited to the game's detailed environments.

At 1440p, the choices become more constrained. High settings yield 52 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that rewards smooth camera movement during stealth sequences. Medium settings at 69 FPS are a better option, providing a frame rate that is acceptable for most players while maintaining moderate visual quality. Low settings at 93 FPS would be the choice for those prioritizing framerate above all else, though the visual compromise may detract from the game's atmospheric presentation. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for 1440p, as the frame rate drops below the 40 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for enjoyable play.

At 4K, the situation is more dire. High settings produce 28 FPS, Medium 37 FPS, and Low 49 FPS, with Ultra at 21 FPS being essentially unplayable. The only viable option at 4K is Low, which at 49 FPS approaches playability but still falls short of a locked 60 FPS. For this combo, 4K gaming in Hitman 2 requires significant compromises, and the data suggests that users should either drop to 1440p for a better experience or accept Low settings at 4K. The min FPS values for Medium at 1080p (92) and 1440p (59) indicate that even the average frame rates have some headroom, but the lack of min FPS data for other presets makes it difficult to assess 1% lows.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D bottlenecking the RTX 2060 SUPER in Hitman 2?

A: No. The CPU's 3DMark max threads score of 17184 and 16 cores with 32 threads provide far more processing power than this game requires. The resolution scaling pattern, with consistent ~36% drops from 1080p to 1440p and ~46% drops from 1440p to 4K across all presets, indicates the GPU is the limiting component.

Q: What frame rate can this combo achieve at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 82 at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is a smooth frame rate for a stealth game, and the data shows that Medium settings increase this to 109 FPS, while Low reaches 145 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this combination?

A: Barely, and only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 49. Medium settings drop to 37 FPS, High to 28 FPS, and Ultra to 21 FPS. The 4K results indicate the RTX 2060 SUPER's 448.0 GB/s bandwidth and 7.181 TFLOPS compute are insufficient for this resolution at higher quality presets.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested combinations in Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 2631st out of 3711 tested combinations, placing it in the lower 29% of the database. This rank is notably lower than the CPU's individual 95th percentile standing, reflecting the GPU's performance ceiling.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gameplay?

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 69 FPS with min FPS of 59, which is the most balanced option. High settings drop to 52 FPS, while Low achieves 93 FPS but with reduced visual quality. Ultra at 39 FPS is not recommended.

Q: Does the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM cause issues in this game?

A: No. The measured FPS data shows no sudden drops or stutter patterns that would indicate VRAM overflow. The consistent scaling from 1080p to 4K suggests the 8 GB capacity is adequate for Hitman 2's memory requirements, with the performance limits coming from compute and bandwidth constraints instead.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge), manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design (2x 70.6 mm²). Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. The CPU operates at a base clock of 4.30 GHz and boosts to 5.70 GHz, with a 170 W TDP and support for DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is largely preparatory — setting up draw calls, physics calculations, and AI routines — but the measured data shows it is not the limiting factor. The 3DMark benchmarks illustrate the CPU's capability: a single-thread score of 1292, 2-thread score of 2549, 4-thread score of 4963, 8-thread score of 9259, and 16-thread score of 16374, culminating in a max-thread score of 17184. Cinebench results reinforce this, with a multicore score of 6536 in R15 and 42018 in R23, plus single-core scores of 350 and 2259 respectively.

The 95th percentile ranking against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 75779, places the 9950X3D just 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 and Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D, and 0.4% above the Intel Core Ultra 9 285. These rival deltas are marginal, confirming that the CPU is performing at the top of its class. In the context of Hitman 2, the 128 MB L3 cache and high boost clock of 5.70 GHz ensure that any single-threaded game logic is handled with minimal latency, but the game's engine does not appear to stress the CPU to a degree where its 16 cores would be fully utilized.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the constraint at any resolution or preset. The 1080p Low preset at 145 FPS is the highest measured frame rate, and even at this level, the GPU is still the bottleneck — a more powerful graphics card would likely push this number higher. The 9950X3D's enormous headroom in this title means that users could pair it with a significantly stronger GPU without any CPU-side limitation, making it a future-proof choice for Hitman 2 and similar titles.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 49 FPS average
• Medium: 37 FPS average, with min 31 and max 43
• High: 28 FPS average
• Ultra: 21 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 93 FPS average
• Medium: 69 FPS average, with min 59 and max 80
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 39 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 145 FPS average
• Medium: 109 FPS average, with min 92 and max 125
• High: 82 FPS average
• Ultra: 60 FPS average

The data reveals a consistent pattern across all three resolutions: Low provides the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra as the most demanding preset. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max FPS data provided, showing a range of 92 to 125 at 1080p, 59 to 80 at 1440p, and 31 to 43 at 4K. These ranges indicate that Medium settings have a spread of roughly 30% between minimum and maximum frame rates, which is typical for a game with variable scene complexity.

The step between Low and Medium at 1080p is a 24.8% reduction in average FPS (from 145 to 109), while the step from Medium to High is 24.8% as well (from 109 to 82). The step from High to Ultra is 26.8% (from 82 to 60). At 1440p, the steps are 25.8% (Low to Medium), 24.6% (Medium to High), and 25.0% (High to Ultra). At 4K, the steps are 24.5% (Low to Medium), 24.3% (Medium to High), and 25.0% (High to Ultra). This remarkably consistent ~25% reduction per preset step across all resolutions indicates that each quality tier imposes a similar relative cost, and that the GPU is scaling linearly with the rendering load rather than hitting any architectural cliff.

The 1080p Ultra result of exactly 60 FPS is notable, as it suggests that the card can maintain a 60 FPS target at maximum settings at this resolution, though without min FPS data, it is unclear if this is a locked experience or an average with dips. The 4K results below 50 FPS at all presets confirm that this resolution is not viable for this combo in Hitman 2, regardless of quality settings.