Hitman 2

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hitman 2 with the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 shows a clear and expected pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers 159 FPS average, which drops to 102 FPS at 1440p, and further to 54 FPS at 4K. This represents a reduction of approximately 36% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 47% from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is steep, but the game remains playable at all tested resolutions on Low settings.

Moving to Medium settings, the same progression holds: 119 FPS at 1080p, 76 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are similar in magnitude, indicating that the resolution scaling curve is consistent regardless of the graphics preset. At High settings, the combo produces 90 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p, and 31 FPS at 4K. The 4K result falls below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that 4K High is not a viable target for this pairing in Hitman 2.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling behavior. At 1080p, the average is 66 FPS, which is still playable. At 1440p, this falls to 43 FPS, and at 4K, the average drops to 23 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is 43 FPS, which is a 65% reduction. This steep decline at higher resolutions points to the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises. The RX 9060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, and the data suggests that this memory subsystem is strained when pushing 4K Ultra in a game like Hitman 2 that features dense environments and complex lighting.

What the scaling data reveals about the limiting component is nuanced. At 1080p, the CPU still has headroom, as evidenced by the high frame rates on Low and Medium settings. The i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides sufficient processing power to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. However, as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows disproportionately, and the frame rate drops become more pronounced. The fact that 4K Ultra produces only 23 FPS while 1080p Low produces 159 FPS indicates that the RX 9060 is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU can handle the game's simulation and AI tasks without becoming the limiting factor at any tested setting.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 44 chip, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. Its boost clock reaches 2990 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 1700 MHz. The memory runs at 2250 MHz, providing 18 Gbps effective speed across a 128-bit bus. This configuration yields 288.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is a critical specification for a game like Hitman 2 that streams large texture datasets as the player moves through sprawling levels.

The GPU's VRAM capacity of 8 GB is directly relevant to the measured results at higher settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS of 23 is far below playable thresholds, and the min FPS is not reported, suggesting that frame pacing may be inconsistent. The 8 GB frame buffer is likely being exceeded at this resolution and preset combination, causing the GPU to rely on slower memory spillover. The benchmark results support this interpretation: the RX 9060 has a PassMark G3D score of 17631 and an average benchmark score of 16014, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RX 9060 performs within a narrow band. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has an average score of 16129, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 9060's 16014 average. The AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862, 1% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 scores 15852, also 1% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 2.1% behind. This clustering indicates that the RX 9060 is positioned in a competitive mid-range tier, and its gaming performance in Hitman 2 aligns with that positioning. The GPU's pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s are respectable figures, but they are not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra in this title.

The GPU's clock behavior also plays a role. The boost clock of 2990 MHz is high for a mid-range card, and the game clock of 2400 MHz suggests that sustained loads will run near that figure. The 132 W TDP and single 8-pin power connector indicate a power-efficient design, but the performance ceiling is what matters here. At 1080p and 1440p, the RX 9060 delivers strong results, particularly on Low and Medium settings. At 4K, it falls short of the 60 FPS target on all presets except Low, where it achieves 54 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the most consistent playable experience, with average FPS ranging from 66 at Ultra to 159 at Low. At 1440p, Medium settings yield 76 FPS, which is also smooth, but 4K is only playable on Low settings at 54 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 54. At Medium, the average drops to 41 FPS, and at High it falls to 31 FPS. Ultra at 4K produces just 23 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a stealth game requiring precise timing.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its closest rival, the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 9060's 16014. This negligible difference suggests the two GPUs perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks, and in-game performance in Hitman 2 should be similar.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for this game at higher resolutions?

A: The measured FPS data indicates that 8 GB is adequate for 1080p and 1440p at all presets, as frame rates remain playable. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS of 23 suggests the VRAM capacity is a limiting factor, causing significant performance degradation.

Q: What is the CPU's contribution to gaming performance in this title?

A: The i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 14340 and single-core score is 2024. In Hitman 2, the CPU is not the bottleneck at any tested resolution, as frame rates scale predictably with GPU load.

Q: Which settings preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: At 1080p, Medium settings provide 119 FPS average with a minimum of 101 FPS, which is a strong balance. At 1440p, Medium gives 76 FPS average with a minimum of 65 FPS. These presets offer the smoothest experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1739 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places the pairing in the lower half of the database, which is surprising given the individual component scores. The CPU has a percentile of 71 among all CPUs, and the GPU has a percentile of 59 among all GPUs. The combo ranking of 1739 suggests that this specific game does not favor the pairing as much as synthetic benchmarks might indicate.

The rank position can be interpreted in context. With 3001 combos tested, a rank of 1739 means that 1262 combos perform worse and 1738 perform better. This is a middle-of-the-pack result. The game's stealth genre often involves large crowds and complex AI pathfinding, which can stress CPU performance, but the i5-11400F handles this adequately based on the measured frame rates. The GPU's 59th percentile ranking is reflected in the 4K performance, which drags down the overall combo rank when compared to pairings with higher-end graphics cards.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its performance tier. The AMD EPYC 7H12 has an average score of 17120, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-11400F's 17177. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239, 0.4% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17278, 0.6% higher. These are all within a 1% band, indicating that the i5-11400F is a solid mid-range processor. The GPU's nearest rivals are similarly clustered, with the RTX 3060 Ti being the closest at 0.7% higher. This means the combo's rank is not due to either component being an outlier; rather, it is the combination's overall capability that places it at 1739.

For Hitman 2 specifically, the combo's rank suggests that it is better suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming rather than 4K. The measured FPS data supports this, as 4K performance is only playable on Low settings. Players using this combo should target 1080p for the smoothest experience or accept lower settings at 1440p for higher visual fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 159 FPS, which is well above any refresh rate commonly found on monitors. Medium settings yield 119 FPS average, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS. High settings drop to 90 FPS average, and Ultra settings produce 66 FPS average. All 1080p presets are playable, with even the lowest average FPS of 66 being smooth enough for a stealth game that does not require twitch reflexes.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected reduction. Low settings deliver 102 FPS average, which is still excellent. Medium settings produce 76 FPS average, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. High settings yield 58 FPS average, which is just below the 60 FPS standard but still playable. Ultra settings drop to 43 FPS average, which is borderline playable but may feel less smooth during crowded scenes. The 1440p Medium preset offers the best balance, with a minimum FPS of 65 ensuring that frame dips do not become noticeable.

At 3840x2160, the performance falls significantly. Low settings produce 54 FPS average, which is the only 4K preset that approaches playability. Medium settings yield 41 FPS average, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop to 31 FPS average, and Ultra settings produce just 23 FPS average. The 4K results indicate that this combo is not suited for high-fidelity gaming at this resolution, and players should either lower the resolution or accept significant compromises in visual quality.

The measured FPS data is complete for all resolution-settings combinations except for min and max values, which are only provided for Medium presets. The available data shows a consistent pattern: the combo performs admirably at 1080p, competently at 1440p, and poorly at 4K for demanding presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Medium preset provides the best experience, with an average of 119 FPS and a minimum of 101 FPS. This ensures that the frame rate never dips below 100 FPS, which is ideal for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 90 FPS is also excellent, but the Medium preset offers a higher margin of safety against frame drops.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, delivering 76 FPS average with a minimum of 65 FPS. This keeps the frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold even during demanding scenes. The High preset at 58 FPS is close but falls below the 60 FPS mark, which may cause occasional stutters. The Low preset at 102 FPS is overkill for most players, and the Ultra preset at 43 FPS is not smooth enough for a game that requires precise movements and timing.

For 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which produces 54 FPS average. This is playable but not ideal, and players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate may prefer the Medium preset at 41 FPS. However, the minimum FPS of 35 at Medium suggests that frame drops can be significant, which could affect gameplay in crowded areas. The High and Ultra presets at 31 and 23 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for any scenario.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions. It provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, with minimum FPS values that keep the experience smooth. Players who prefer higher settings should stick to 1080p, where the Ultra preset at 66 FPS is still playable, but should be aware that the visual improvement over Medium may not justify the 44% reduction in frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz, and it boosts up to 4.40 GHz. The CPU has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. This configuration provides 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a dual-channel DDR4 interface.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI pathfinding, and physics calculations. The game's stealth mechanics often involve many NPCs with individual routines, which can be CPU-intensive. The i5-11400F's performance in synthetic benchmarks suggests it is well-suited to this task. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and single-core score of 2024 indicate strong processing power for both multithreaded and single-threaded workloads. The PassMark multithread score of 16908 and single-thread score of 2981 further confirm this.

The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 159 FPS, which is close to what the GPU can deliver. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions, but the data shows significant drops as resolution increases. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU has sufficient headroom.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its performance. The AMD EPYC 7H12 has an average score of 17120, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-11400F's 17177. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239, 0.4% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17278, 0.6% higher. These differences are negligible, meaning the i5-11400F is on par with its immediate competitors in overall CPU performance.

For Hitman 2 specifically, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are adequate for the game's requirements. The game was released in 2018, and while it can use multiple cores, it does not heavily scale beyond 6 threads. The i5-11400F's boost clock of 4.40 GHz provides strong single-thread performance, which is important for the game's main game loop and AI updates. The CPU's 71st percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms that it is a capable mid-range processor that will not hold back the RX 9060 in this title.