Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is a stealth game built around crowd simulation, complex AI routines, and large, detailed environments. The data for this combo shows that the CPU does most of the foundational work, while the GPU’s massive memory pool and high clock speeds determine the ceiling for visual quality. The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It pairs a 12 MB shared L3 cache with a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface rated at 42.7 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10297 and a single-core score of 1453, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 5783. Its percentile ranking against all CPUs is 73, meaning it outperforms nearly three-quarters of the processors in the database.

The benchmark results reveal the CPU’s character. Its multi-threaded performance is solid but not class-leading, as indicated by a 3DMark max-thread score of 4735. However, the single-thread score of 688 in 3DMark and a Passmark single-thread score of 2541 suggest that its per-core strength is adequate for older game engines like the one powering Hitman 2. The CPU’s nearest rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 7552, which scores 0.4% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, which scores 0.8% higher. This places the i5-10400F in a crowded performance tier where the differences are marginal, but its 12 threads ensure that the game’s background simulation tasks have enough resources to avoid stuttering.

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

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides the game with 6 physical cores and 12 threads. This configuration is sufficient for Hitman 2’s engine, which typically scales well up to 8 threads but shows diminishing returns beyond that. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz is the key figure for this game; Hitman 2’s frame pacing is sensitive to single-thread performance, and the CPU’s ability to sustain high clocks on one or two cores directly impacts the minimum frame rate scenarios. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 226 FPS, which is a clear indicator that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The L3 cache of 12 MB is shared across all cores, which helps keep the game’s frequently accessed AI data close to the execution units, reducing latency.

However, the CPU’s limitations become apparent when comparing its synthetic scores to its real-world game results. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 4324 and single-core score of 610 are respectable, but the Passmark physics score of 696 is modest. In Hitman 2, physics calculations for ragdolls and destructible objects are handled by the CPU. The benchmark data shows that at 1440p High, the average FPS drops to 98.4, which suggests that while the CPU can push high frame rates at 1080p, the GPU starts to take over the workload as resolution increases. The CPU’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-8500, scores 1.1% higher on average, indicating that the 10400F’s extra threads do not translate into a significant advantage in this game’s specific workload.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the dominant component in this pairing. It is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a 5 nm process node, featuring 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1929 MHz, with a game clock of 2365 MHz and a boost clock of 2498 MHz. The memory operates at an effective 20 Gbps. This configuration provides 61.39 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and a pixel rate of 479.6 GPixel/s. The GPU’s percentile ranking against all GPUs is 85, and its average benchmark score is 44019. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which scores 2% lower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile, which scores 0.8% higher.

In Hitman 2, the GPU’s role is to handle the rendering of large crowds, complex lighting, and high-resolution textures. The 24 GB VRAM is overkill for this game, as the data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 39.5. This is not a VRAM limitation; rather, it is a shader and fill-rate limitation. The GPU’s boost clock of 2498 MHz allows it to maintain high throughput, but the game’s engine does not fully utilize the RDNA 3 architecture’s dual-issue capabilities. The Passmark G3D score of 31238 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6841 confirm the card’s raw power, but Hitman 2’s DirectX 11-era rendering path benefits more from raw clock speed than from the GPU’s advanced features. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 116.5 FPS, which shows the GPU can easily saturate the CPU’s output at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 226 FPS. Moving to 1080p Medium, the average drops to 199.4 FPS, and at 1080p High, it falls to 158 FPS. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 116.5 FPS. This progression shows that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter; even at Low settings, the CPU cannot push beyond 226 FPS, which indicates a CPU bottleneck. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 49.3% reduction in frame rate, which is significant but not as steep as the reduction seen at higher resolutions.

At 1440p, the situation changes. Low settings yield 174.3 FPS, Medium drops to 131.2 FPS, High to 98.4 FPS, and Ultra to 73 FPS. The drop from 1080p Low (226 FPS) to 1440p Low (174.3 FPS) is a 22.9% reduction, while the drop from 1080p Ultra (116.5 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (73 FPS) is a 37.3% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck at Ultra settings, but the CPU still has headroom at Low settings. At 4K, the GPU is firmly in control. Low settings average 91.9 FPS, Medium 72.8 FPS, High 52 FPS, and Ultra 39.5 FPS. The transition from 1080p Low to 4K Low is a 59.3% drop, while the transition from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is a 66.1% drop. This pattern is typical for a high-end GPU paired with a mid-range CPU: the GPU’s frame rate scales with resolution, but the CPU’s maximum output caps the frame rate at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX ranks 322nd out of 1795 tested combos in the Hitman 2 database. This places it in the top 18% of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing for a CPU that is several generations old. The rank reflects the GPU’s dominance in the pairing; the RX 7900 XTX is capable of delivering high frame rates, but the CPU’s 6-core, 12-thread design prevents the combo from reaching the very top tiers. The data suggests that combos with newer, higher-clocked CPUs like the Ryzen 7 series or Core i7/i9 parts would rank higher, but the i5-10400F holds its own in this game due to its decent single-thread performance.

The combo’s rank is consistent with its measured FPS. At 1440p High, the average of 98.4 FPS is playable, and at 4K High, the 52 FPS average is borderline but acceptable for a stealth game. The rank of 322 out of 1795 means that 1,473 other combos perform worse, which validates the GPU’s strength. However, the CPU’s 73rd percentile ranking against all CPUs suggests that pairing it with a top-tier GPU creates an imbalance. In the database, the combo’s performance is closer to what you would expect from a mid-range GPU paired with a high-end CPU, rather than the reverse. The deltaPct values for the CPU’s nearest rivals are all within 1.2% of its average score, indicating that the CPU tier is highly competitive, but the GPU’s 85th percentile ranking is what propels this combo to its 322nd position.

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

The measured FPS data provides exact figures for each resolution and settings combination. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves:

• Low: 226 FPS
• Medium: 199.4 FPS
• High: 158 FPS
• Ultra: 116.5 FPS

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 174.3 FPS
• Medium: 131.2 FPS
• High: 98.4 FPS
• Ultra: 73 FPS

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 91.9 FPS
• Medium: 72.8 FPS
• High: 52 FPS
• Ultra: 39.5 FPS

The 1080p data shows a clear CPU bottleneck at Low and Medium settings, where the frame rates exceed 200 FPS. The 1440p data shows a more balanced workload, with the GPU starting to take over at High and Ultra. The 4K data shows a GPU-bound scenario, where the frame rates scale directly with the GPU’s pixel throughput. The most telling figure is 1080p Low at 226 FPS versus 4K Low at 91.9 FPS; this 59.3% drop is entirely attributable to the GPU’s fill rate, as the CPU is not stressed at Low settings. Conversely, the 1080p Ultra figure of 116.5 FPS versus 4K Ultra at 39.5 FPS shows a 66.1% drop, which is the GPU working at its maximum capacity.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K in Hitman 2?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 91.9. At Medium settings, the average drops to 72.8 FPS. At High settings, the average is 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. At Ultra settings, the average is 39.5 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p. The data shows 226 FPS at Low settings, which is a CPU-bound result. The GPU is capable of higher frame rates, but the CPU’s single-thread performance caps the output.

Q: How does the i5-10400F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score is 14168. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7552, scores 0.4% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 0.8% higher. The Intel Core i5-8500 scores 1.1% higher, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 scores 1.2% higher. These differences are all within 1.2%, indicating similar performance.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1440p?

A: High settings at 1440p yield an average of 98.4 FPS, which is a good balance. Ultra settings drop to 73 FPS, which is still playable but shows a 25.8% performance hit from High. Medium settings increase the frame rate to 131.2 FPS.

Q: Does the 24 GB VRAM on the RX 7900 XTX matter for Hitman 2?

A: No, the game does not require that much VRAM. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is due to pixel fill rate and shader workload, not memory capacity. The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s is more relevant for texture streaming.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 322nd out of 1795 combos, placing it in the top 18% of all tested configurations. This is a strong result, driven primarily by the GPU’s high percentile ranking of 85.