Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a spread of frame rates in Hitman 2 that clearly illustrates the shifting balance between CPU and GPU responsibility as resolution changes. The data shows a predictable pattern: performance degrades as pixel count rises, but the rate of that degradation is far from uniform across the quality presets. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 145.7 FPS, which drops to 89.2 FPS at 1440p and then to 49.6 FPS at 4K. That represents a 39% reduction when moving from 1080p to 1440p and a further 44% drop when stepping up to 4K. This steep falloff at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as the pixel workload grows, while at 1080p the processor is likely able to feed the graphics card more effectively, allowing the RX 5700 XT to stretch its legs.

The picture changes significantly when looking at the Ultra preset, where the frame rate starts lower and the relative drop between resolutions is less severe. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 62.2 FPS, which falls to 41.1 FPS at 1440p (a 34% reduction) and then to 18.1 FPS at 4K (a 56% reduction from 1440p). The fact that the 4K Ultra figure is so low — below 20 FPS — suggests that the combination is simply not viable for maximum-quality 4K gaming in this title. Interestingly, the gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is enormous, with the former delivering more than double the frame rate of the latter. This wide delta points to the graphics card being heavily taxed by the higher-quality settings, even at a resolution where the CPU should be able to keep pace. The Medium preset sits neatly in between, with 105.9 FPS at 1080p, 71.3 FPS at 1440p, and 37.5 FPS at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling pattern across resolutions tells a story about where the bottleneck resides for each settings tier. For the Low preset, the frame rate drops from 145.7 FPS at 1080p to 89.2 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 56.5 FPS, and then to 49.6 FPS at 4K, another drop of 39.6 FPS. The percentage losses are roughly 39% and 44%, respectively, which is a fairly consistent degradation. This consistency suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor even at Low settings, as the pixel throughput demands scale linearly with resolution. If the CPU were the primary constraint, we would expect to see a much smaller drop between 1080p and 1440p, since the processor's workload does not increase as dramatically with resolution. The fact that the frame rate nearly halves at each resolution step indicates that the RX 5700 XT is being pushed to its limits regardless of how low the quality settings go.

For the High preset, the numbers tell a similar but slightly less extreme story. At 1080p, the combo delivers 78.4 FPS, which drops to 49.6 FPS at 1440p (a 37% reduction) and then to 26.5 FPS at 4K (a 47% reduction from 1440p). The 4K High figure is barely playable, sitting just above 25 FPS, which many would consider the minimum threshold for a playable experience in a stealth game. The Medium preset shows a gentler curve, with 105.9 FPS at 1080p, 71.3 FPS at 1440p, and 37.5 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops here are 33% and 47%, respectively, indicating that the GPU is still the dominant constraint. The Ultra preset, however, shows the most dramatic falloff, with the 4K figure of 18.1 FPS representing just 29% of the 1080p result. This steep cliff suggests that the combination of high resolution and maximum quality settings overwhelms the GPU's capabilities, pushing it far beyond its comfortable operating range.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT's specifications provide context for these results. The card features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory subsystem is likely sufficient for Hitman 2 at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K with high-quality textures, the 8 GB capacity could become a limiting factor. The GPU's clock speeds show a base of 1605 MHz and a boost of 1905 MHz, with a game clock rated at 1755 MHz. These clocks are relatively high for the RDNA 1.0 architecture, which helps explain why the card can still produce respectable frame rates at lower resolutions. The card's compute capability is rated at 9.754 TFLOPS for FP32, which places it in a mid-range tier for its generation.

Looking at the measured data, the RX 5700 XT's performance in Hitman 2 aligns with its benchmark standing. The GPU holds a percentile rank of 68 among all tested graphics cards, and its average benchmark score of 24731 places it close to rivals like the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile, which scores 24763, and the Intel Arc A350M at 24647. The delta percentages are minimal, with the RTX A5000 Mobile just 0.1% ahead and the Arc A350M 0.3% behind. This tight grouping suggests that the RX 5700 XT is well-positioned within its performance class, and the Hitman 2 results reflect that positioning. The fact that the card achieves 78.4 FPS at 1080p High and 62.2 FPS at 1080p Ultra indicates that it can handle this game at mainstream resolutions without major issues, though the 4K Ultra result of 18.1 FPS shows clear limitations that cannot be overcome by the CPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hitman 2 with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot, with all presets except Ultra exceeding 78 FPS. At 1440p, the Low preset hits 89.2 FPS, but High drops to 49.6 FPS, which is still playable but less comfortable. 4K is only viable at Low settings, where the combo manages 49.6 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset perform at different resolutions?

A: At 1080p, Ultra delivers 62.2 FPS, which is smooth. At 1440p, it falls to 41.1 FPS, which is borderline. At 4K, it drops to 18.1 FPS, which is not playable for a stealth game that requires precise timing.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more of a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The resolution scaling suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all settings. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, which indicates the graphics card is being taxed more heavily than the processor. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14372, show it has sufficient headroom for this game.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 24731 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile's 24763, with a delta of just -0.1%. The Intel Arc A350M scores 24647, putting it 0.3% behind. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1440p High settings?

A: The measured average is 49.6 FPS, which is identical to the 4K Low result. This suggests that the GPU is operating near its limits for this quality level, and users may want to consider dropping to Medium (71.3 FPS) for a smoother experience.

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

A: Only at Low settings, where it achieves 49.6 FPS. At Medium, the frame rate drops to 37.5 FPS, and at High it falls to 26.5 FPS. Ultra at 4K is not viable, with just 18.1 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination ranks 1369 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the lower portion of the database, which is somewhat surprising given that the individual components hold respectable positions in their respective benchmark charts. The CPU sits at the 75th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 17181, while the GPU is at the 68th percentile among graphics cards. The combo ranking of 1369 out of 1795 corresponds to roughly the 76th percentile from the bottom, meaning that about 24% of tested combos perform worse. This discrepancy between the component rankings and the combo ranking suggests that Hitman 2 may be particularly demanding on the GPU, which pulls the overall result down.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmarks help contextualize its performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U scores 17189, which is essentially identical to the i5-11400F's 17181, with a delta of 0%. The Intel Core i7-1260P and Core Ultra 7 164U both score 17212 and 17215, respectively, putting them 0.2% ahead. The Intel Core i5-1240U scores 17141, which is 0.2% behind. These margins are negligible, indicating that the i5-11400F is well-matched with its peers. The GPU's rivals show a similar pattern, with the RTX A5000 Mobile just 0.1% ahead and the Arc A350M 0.3% behind. Given these close synthetic scores, the combo's rank of 1369 likely reflects the specific demands of Hitman 2 rather than a fundamental weakness in either component.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of this combo's capabilities across twelve different configurations. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 145.7 FPS, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. The Medium preset follows at 105.9 FPS, then High at 78.4 FPS, and finally Ultra at 62.2 FPS. This ordering is expected, with each quality step reducing performance by a consistent margin. The gap between Low and Medium is 39.8 FPS, between Medium and High is 27.5 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 16.2 FPS. The diminishing returns suggest that the Ultra preset is particularly demanding, possibly due to increased draw distances and shadow quality.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 89.2 FPS, which is a 39% reduction from the 1080p Low result. Medium drops to 71.3 FPS, High to 49.6 FPS, and Ultra to 41.1 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p show a narrower gap of just 8.5 FPS, indicating that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor regardless of quality settings. At 3840x2160, the results are significantly lower: Low achieves 49.6 FPS, Medium 37.5 FPS, High 26.5 FPS, and Ultra just 18.1 FPS. The 4K Low result exactly matches the 1440p High result, which is a useful reference point for users deciding between resolution and quality trade-offs. The Ultra preset at 4K is clearly unplayable, with a frame rate that would make stealth mechanics difficult to execute smoothly.

Settings Recommendations

For users targeting a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data suggests that 1080p with High settings is the optimal configuration, delivering 78.4 FPS with room to spare. The Ultra preset at 1080p also exceeds 60 FPS at 62.2 FPS, so those who prioritize visual fidelity can safely use it without sacrificing playability. At 1440p, the Medium preset offers the best balance, with 71.3 FPS that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 1440p drops to 49.6 FPS, which is below the ideal range for a fast-paced stealth game, though it may be acceptable for slower, more methodical play. The Low preset at 1440p provides 89.2 FPS but sacrifices too much visual quality for most users.

For 4K gaming, the options are limited. The Low preset achieves 49.6 FPS, which is playable but visually sparse. The Medium preset at 37.5 FPS is borderline, and the High preset at 26.5 FPS is likely too choppy for comfortable gameplay. The Ultra preset at 18.1 FPS is not recommended under any circumstances. Given these results, the best overall experience for most users would be 1080p Ultra or 1440p Medium, depending on whether they prioritize resolution or quality. The 1080p Ultra configuration offers the highest visual fidelity at a playable frame rate, while 1440p Medium provides a sharper image with slightly reduced quality settings. For those with 4K displays, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, the experience will be compromised compared to lower resolutions.