Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 lands at rank 108 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it comfortably in the top 6% of all configurations. This is a striking result for a CPU that is several generations old; the data shows that the pairing is not merely functional but highly competitive in this specific title. The combination of a 6-core, 12-thread Comet Lake processor with NVIDIA's flagship Blackwell GPU creates a system that delivers high frame rates across the board, though the performance ceiling varies dramatically depending on your resolution and graphics settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 108 out of 1795 indicates that this configuration outperforms the vast majority of tested systems in Hitman 2. This is not a case of an overpowered GPU being wasted on a weak CPU; the benchmark results show a balanced enough partnership to achieve top-tier placement. The i5-10400F itself sits at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, which is respectable, but its average benchmark score of 14168 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. For instance, it is only 0.4% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7552 and 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. This suggests that in raw compute, the i5-10400F is a mid-pack performer. However, in Hitman 2 specifically, the combination’s rank proves that the game’s engine is not heavily punishing the CPU's older architecture. The GPU is clearly doing heavy lifting, but the CPU is not a bottleneck severe enough to drop the combo out of the top tier. For context, the RTX 5090 alone ranks in the 94th percentile among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 84306 is a mere 0.1% from the RTX 5090 D, showing it is a top-tier part. The synergy here is effective, making this a high-performing combo for stealth-action play.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the undisputed star of this configuration, and its specifications explain why it can push Hitman 2 to such high frame rates. It is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process and packs 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, yielding a massive 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU has 21,760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, with boost clocks reaching 2407 MHz. These numbers translate directly to performance; the card’s FP32 compute is rated at 104.8 TFLOPS. In Hitman 2, this raw power is evident. At 1440p with High settings, the combo achieves 125.9 FPS, and at 1080p Low, it hits 222.5 FPS. The GPU’s role is pivotal in maintaining high average frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU has more headroom. Even at 4K Ultra, the most demanding setting tested, the card manages 51.9 FPS, which is playable but shows the limits of even this hardware. The 32 GB VRAM is far more than Hitman 2 requires, meaning memory capacity is never a limiting factor; instead, the sheer compute and bandwidth of the RTX 5090 are what drive the high scores.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound performance. Moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 183.2 FPS to 66.6 FPS—a 63.6% reduction. This steep decline is a clear indicator that the RTX 5090 is being pushed harder as pixel count increases. At 1080p, the CPU is more capable of feeding frames, but by 4K, the GPU's rendering workload dominates. The data at Ultra settings further confirms this: 144.9 FPS at 1080p falls to 92.5 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 51.9 FPS at 4K. This scaling is expected for a high-end GPU; the i5-10400F does not appear to be the primary limiter at lower resolutions, as the frame rates are exceptionally high. However, the difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is telling: 222.5 FPS drops to 195.6 FPS, a smaller gap than the jump to 4K’s 121.1 FPS. The pattern suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output, but at 4K, the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes the bottleneck. For a practical builder, this means the combo excels at high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, while 4K Ultra is a stretch for consistent 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast: Low settings yield an average of 222.5 FPS, Medium 203.1 FPS, High 183.2 FPS, and Ultra 144.9 FPS. These numbers are well above the refresh rate of most monitors, indicating that the CPU is not holding the GPU back in this range. Moving to 2560x1440, the results are still impressive but show a clear step down. Low settings average 195.6 FPS, Medium 167.4 FPS, High 125.9 FPS, and Ultra 92.5 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra at 1440p is 33.4 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding. At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more moderate. Low settings average 121.1 FPS, which is excellent for 4K, but Medium drops to 91.2 FPS, High to 66.6 FPS, and Ultra to 51.9 FPS. The data shows that for 4K gaming, you will need to compromise on settings to maintain high frame rates; High settings are playable but not ideal for competitive play, while Ultra is borderline. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 69.2 FPS, highlighting the massive performance cost of maxing out graphical features.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, running on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 10297 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1453 in single-core, which are moderate numbers. Its passmark multithread score is 12115, and it performs best in integer math with a score of 41471. In Hitman 2, the CPU’s role is to maintain a steady frame supply, and the data shows it does this adequately. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 222.5 FPS, which is near the practical limit for many CPUs, indicating the i5-10400F is not a major bottleneck at lower settings. However, the CPU’s age is visible in the scaling; as resolution increases, the GPU takes on more load, and the frame rate drops are primarily due to the GPU. The CPU’s 12 threads are sufficient for Hitman 2’s engine, but it is not a top-tier processor. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-8500, is only 1.1% slower in average benchmark score, showing that the 10400F is competitive with older mainstream chips but not a powerhouse. For this game, the CPU is a stable foundation that allows the RTX 5090 to shine, but it does not contribute to the high frame rates; it simply does not hinder them.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in Hitman 2?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the data shows the combo achieves very high frame rates (up to 222.5 FPS at 1080p Low), indicating the CPU is not severely limiting the GPU. At 4K, the frame rate drops are more attributable to the GPU’s workload, so the CPU is not a primary bottleneck in this game.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a high refresh rate experience?

A: For a 144Hz monitor, 1440p High settings (125.9 FPS) or 1080p Ultra (144.9 FPS) are ideal. For a 240Hz monitor, 1080p Low (222.5 FPS) is the only option that comes close, while 1440p Low (195.6 FPS) is also viable.

Q: How does the RTX 5090’s 32 GB VRAM affect Hitman 2 performance?

A: Hitman 2 does not require 32 GB of VRAM, so the memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The GPU’s performance is instead driven by its compute power and 1.79 TB/s memory bandwidth, which allow for high frame rates even at 4K.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Low, it averages 121.1 FPS, which is excellent. At 4K High, it drops to 66.6 FPS, which is playable, but 4K Ultra only reaches 51.9 FPS, making high-refresh 4K gaming difficult at max settings.

Q: How does the i5-10400F compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14168, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD EPYC 7552 and 0.8% lower than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. It is also 1.1% faster than the Intel Core i5-8500.

Q: Is this a well-balanced combo for Hitman 2 specifically?

A: Yes, the combo ranks 108 out of 1795 tested, placing it in the top 6%. The CPU is a mid-range part by itself, but the GPU’s dominance ensures the pairing is highly effective for this game, delivering high frame rates across most settings and resolutions.