Hitman 2

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Hitman 2, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling at 4K Ultra settings. This pairing ranks in the top 21% of all tested configurations, with the CPU’s strong multi-threaded foundation complementing the GPU’s massive memory bandwidth to produce playable frame rates across most presets, though the most demanding settings push the system to its limits.

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

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, built on TSMC’s 4 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and it features 64 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 1 MB of L2 cache per core. This mobile-market chip, designed for the AMD Socket FP11 platform, delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,314 and a single-core score of 2,044, indicating robust parallel processing capability that supports the game’s simulation and AI workloads.

In Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is primarily to maintain consistent frame pacing across complex scenes with many NPCs and interactive objects. The processor’s 16 cores and 32 threads provide substantial headroom for the game’s engine, which can leverage multiple threads for physics, pathfinding, and scripted events. The 5.10 GHz boost clock ensures that single-threaded tasks, such as game logic and input handling, execute with minimal latency. Benchmark data shows the CPU achieves a PassMark multi-thread score of 54,934 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4,147, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs tested.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, which scores 1.6% higher on average, and the Intel Core i9-14900K, which scores 1.7% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX trails by 2.0%. This narrow gap indicates that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is competitive with desktop-class processors in synthetic benchmarks, and in Hitman 2, this translates to a CPU that rarely becomes the bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system reaches 249 FPS average, suggesting the CPU can feed the GPU effectively even at high frame rates. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 35 FPS, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary constraint rather than the CPU.

The processor’s memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, delivered through quad-channel LPDDR5X support, provides ample data throughput for the game’s assets. This bandwidth helps maintain smooth performance during level transitions and when streaming in large environments. The CPU’s 32 threads also allow background tasks, such as anti-cheat and audio processing, to run without interfering with main game threads, contributing to the stable frame times observed in the Medium settings rows.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a flagship graphics card built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring the GB202 chip manufactured on a 5 nm process. It boasts 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a staggering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2017 MHz, with a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and it contains 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster operation units. This hardware configuration produces a PassMark G3D score of 39,650, placing the card in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs tested.

In Hitman 2, the RTX 5090’s enormous 32 GB VRAM capacity ensures that even at 4K resolution with Ultra settings, texture data and geometric detail fit entirely within the frame buffer, eliminating potential stutter from memory swapping. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth allows the GPU to rapidly access these textures, which is critical for the game’s detailed environments and crowd scenes. The boost clock of 2407 MHz provides the raw compute throughput needed to render complex lighting and shadow effects at high resolutions.

The GPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which is 1.1% slower. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is 1.4% faster. These comparisons show that the RTX 5090 sits in a competitive performance tier, and in Hitman 2, this translates to strong frame rates at 1440p and 1080p. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system achieves 90 FPS average, while at 1920x1080 with High settings, it reaches 141 FPS average. The GPU’s performance scales predictably with resolution, but the 4K Ultra preset reveals a significant drop to 35 FPS, suggesting that the card’s raw compute power is the limiting factor at this extreme configuration rather than memory capacity.

The GPU’s power delivery, rated at 575 W TDP with a 950 W suggested PSU, supports sustained boost clocks during extended gaming sessions. The dual-slot cooler and 304 mm length indicate a physically substantial card designed for high thermal loads. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth for data transfer from the CPU, ensuring that the processor’s 16 lanes do not bottleneck the GPU’s frame output.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all three resolutions. At 1920x1080, Medium yields 186 FPS average with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS, providing a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors. At 2560x1440, Medium delivers 119 FPS average with a minimum of 101 FPS, keeping frame rates above the 100 FPS threshold that many competitive players prefer. Even at 3840x2160, Medium maintains 64 FPS average with a minimum of 54 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced stealth gameplay.

The High preset is a viable alternative for users prioritizing visual quality over raw frame rate. At 1080p, High achieves 141 FPS average, still comfortably playable. At 1440p, High drops to 90 FPS average, which remains smooth for most displays. However, at 4K, High falls to 48 FPS average, which may cause noticeable judder during fast camera movements. The Ultra preset is only recommended for players with 1080p displays, where it achieves 104 FPS average. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 66 FPS, and at 4K, it plummets to 35 FPS, making it unsuitable for action-heavy sequences.

The Low preset provides the highest frame rates, with 249 FPS at 1080p and 159 FPS at 1440p, but it sacrifices significant visual detail. For players with 240 Hz monitors, Low at 1080p could be worth considering, but the Medium preset’s 186 FPS average is likely indistinguishable from the Low setting in practical gameplay while offering much better image quality. At 4K, Low yields 85 FPS average, making it the only preset that approaches a smooth 4K experience aside from Medium.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combination, as it maintains frame rates above 60 FPS at 4K and above 100 FPS at 1440p. The measured minimum FPS values for Medium — 54 at 4K, 101 at 1440p, and 158 at 1080p — show consistent frame pacing without severe drops, which is crucial for a stealth game where precise timing matters.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination ranks 619th out of 3,001 tested configurations in Hitman 2, placing it in the top 20.6% of all systems evaluated. This ranking reflects the system’s strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where it delivers high frame rates, but the 4K Ultra result of 35 FPS prevents it from climbing higher. The combo’s ranking suggests that while the RTX 5090 is a top-tier GPU, the mobile-oriented CPU, despite its 16 cores, does not boost the system to the absolute top tier in this specific game.

Compared to other high-end combinations, this pairing outperforms the majority of tested systems, but it falls short of configurations using desktop-class CPUs with higher boost clocks. The CPU’s 95th percentile ranking among all processors and the GPU’s 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate that both components are near the top of their respective markets. However, the combination’s 619th rank out of 3,001 suggests that other pairings, likely with more powerful desktop CPUs, achieve better results in Hitman 2.

The ranking also reflects the game’s release date of 2018-11-12, which predates both the CPU and GPU by several years. Hitman 2’s engine may not fully utilize the RTX 5090’s advanced features, such as its 170 ray tracing cores or 680 tensor cores, which are designed for workloads that this older title does not employ. Consequently, the system’s performance is driven primarily by raw rasterization power and memory bandwidth, areas where the RTX 5090 excels but where its modern architecture may not provide a proportional advantage over older, less feature-rich GPUs in this specific game.

The combo’s position in the ranking indicates that for players who primarily play Hitman 2, this configuration is more than sufficient, but it may not represent the optimal use of the RTX 5090’s capabilities. The 4K Ultra result of 35 FPS is a notable outlier compared to the 1440p High result of 90 FPS, suggesting that the game’s Ultra preset imposes a disproportionately high load on the GPU. Players seeking the highest possible frame rates in this game might consider alternative settings or resolutions, as the data shows diminishing returns beyond the Medium preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system in Hitman 2?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 provides 119 FPS average with a minimum of 101 FPS, offering the best balance of smoothness and visual quality. At 3840x2160, Medium delivers 64 FPS average, which is also playable for this stealth title.

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

A: Yes, but only with the Low or Medium presets. Low achieves 85 FPS average, while Medium achieves 64 FPS average. The High preset drops to 48 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35 FPS, which may not provide a comfortable experience.

Q: How does the RTX 5090’s 32 GB VRAM affect performance in this game?

A: The 32 GB memory capacity ensures that all texture data fits within the frame buffer at any resolution, preventing stutter from memory swapping. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth allows rapid access to these textures, contributing to stable frame times at lower presets.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 CPU a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: Benchmark data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p, where frame rates exceed 140 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as the CPU’s 16 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock provide sufficient processing power.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking compared to other tested systems?

A: The combination ranks 619th out of 3,001 tested configurations, placing it in the top 20.6% of all systems. This ranking reflects strong performance at lower resolutions but a notable drop at 4K Ultra settings.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 compare to its nearest rival in this game?

A: The RTX 5090 has an average benchmark score of 79,842, which is 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB and 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is 1.4% faster.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its highest frame rates, with the Low preset achieving 249 FPS average. The Medium preset delivers 186 FPS average, with a measured minimum of 158 FPS and maximum of 214 FPS. The High preset reaches 141 FPS average, while the Ultra preset drops to 104 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate displays even on the most demanding settings.

At 2560x1440, frame rates remain strong but show a predictable decline. The Low preset achieves 159 FPS average, while the Medium preset delivers 119 FPS average, with a minimum of 101 FPS and maximum of 137 FPS. The High preset reaches 90 FPS average, and the Ultra preset falls to 66 FPS average. The 1440p results demonstrate that the system can maintain playable frame rates across all presets, with Medium providing the best combination of smoothness and visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance drops significantly, revealing the GPU’s limitations at this extreme resolution. The Low preset achieves 85 FPS average, while the Medium preset delivers 64 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS and maximum of 73 FPS. The High preset falls to 48 FPS average, and the Ultra preset drops to 35 FPS average. These figures show that 4K gaming is only viable with lower presets, and even then, the frame rates are lower than what many players would consider ideal for a fast-paced action game. The 4K Medium result of 64 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS, is the only 4K configuration that approaches a consistently smooth experience.

The data reveals a clear pattern: the system’s performance scales linearly with resolution, with each step up from 1080p to 1440p to 4K resulting in approximately a 30-40% reduction in frame rates for the same settings. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets also widens at higher resolutions, with the difference at 1080p being 145 FPS (249 vs. 104) and at 4K being 50 FPS (85 vs. 35). This suggests that the Ultra preset imposes a disproportionately heavy load on the GPU, particularly at 4K, where the card’s raw compute power becomes the limiting factor. The Medium preset consistently provides the most balanced experience across all resolutions, with frame rates that remain above 60 FPS even at 4K.