Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combination delivers a strong, high-refresh-rate experience in Hitman 2 at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra preset proves too demanding for this pairing. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the GPU is the dominant force at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s six Performance cores provide a solid foundation that rarely becomes the primary constraint until frame rates exceed 250 FPS.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 brings six cores and 12 threads to the table, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This is a modern Alder Lake-S design on a 10 nm process, and its benchmark results indicate it is a very capable mid-range processor. In the 3DMark single-thread test, the chip scores 910, while its max-thread score reaches 5890. This single-thread strength is relevant for Hitman 2, a stealth game where AI routines and game logic often rely on a few heavily loaded threads rather than scaling perfectly across all cores.

The CPU’s 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache help keep data flowing. In terms of raw performance, the Core i5-12400’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15935 and single-core score of 2249 place it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 19850 is remarkably close to its nearest rivals: it is just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-9700 and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600K, while sitting 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-8700. The performance delta between these four chips is essentially negligible, meaning in Hitman 2, the CPU choice is unlikely to cause noticeable differences in average FPS.

The measured data supports this. At 1080p Low settings, the combo produces an average of 254.2 FPS. This is the only scenario in the dataset where the CPU might begin to approach its limits, as the GPU is being fed a relatively light workload. However, the Core i5-12400’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3DMark 2-thread score of 1692, ensures that even at these extreme frame rates, the system sustains a fluid experience. The CPU’s role in Hitman 2 is that of a stable backbone; it provides enough throughput to avoid bottlenecking the RX 7900 XT in most practical gaming scenarios, though the data does not suggest it is the component that pushes scores higher.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a high-end graphics card built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 31 chip. It features a massive 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, delivering 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a significant asset for a game like Hitman 2 with expansive, detailed levels, as it prevents memory capacity from being a limiting factor. The card’s boost clock reaches 2394 MHz, with a game clock of 2025 MHz and a base clock of 1387 MHz.

In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU scores 29009 in Passmark G3D and 38358 as its average benchmark score, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database show a tight grouping: it is exactly tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (0% delta), 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 70HX, and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile. The data indicates that the RX 7900 XT is a top-tier performer, and its role in Hitman 2 is to provide the graphical horsepower.

The GPU’s influence is most evident in the scaling of frame rates with settings. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is stark: 87.7 FPS versus 34.8 FPS. This 52.9 FPS drop demonstrates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the higher graphical fidelity, particularly at Ultra settings. The GPU’s pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 804.4 GTexel/s are theoretical limits that the game’s engine approaches at 4K Ultra, resulting in a sub-60 FPS average. The 20 GB VRAM buffer, while generous, does not prevent the GPU from being the definitive bottleneck at the highest settings.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K, which reveals the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1080p High, the combo averages 143.5 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, this drops to 91.3 FPS, a reduction of 52.2 FPS. At 4K High, the average falls to 52.6 FPS, another 38.7 FPS drop. This progressive decline is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario; as resolution increases, the number of pixels the RX 7900 XT must render grows, directly impacting its output.

The pattern is even more dramatic at Ultra settings. From 1080p Ultra’s 108.6 FPS, the score falls to 70.2 FPS at 1440p and then to 34.8 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than half the 1080p Ultra result, highlighting the immense computational cost of running the game at maximum fidelity on a 3840x2160 display. This steep drop-off is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting component at 4K, as the CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution in the same way.

Conversely, the data suggests the CPU becomes more relevant at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 254.2 FPS, a figure that is less than double the 1440p Low score of 166.2 FPS. The scaling here is not linear, which hints that the CPU is starting to cap the frame rate at these very high output levels. The 4K Low score of 87.7 FPS is roughly half the 1440p Low score, which is more in line with pure GPU scaling. In summary, the data shows a system that is GPU-bound at 4K and becomes increasingly CPU-bound as resolution drops and settings are lowered, though the CPU never fully caps the experience in a way that ruins playability.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 379th out of 1795 total combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the top 21% of all tested systems, a strong showing that confirms its high-end status. The rank is a composite measure of performance across the tested resolutions and settings, and it reflects the GPU’s dominance in the pairing.

The data shows that this combo outperforms the vast majority of alternatives, but it is not at the very top of the leaderboard. The rank of 379 suggests that there are 378 combinations that achieve higher average frame rates in this game, likely featuring even more powerful CPUs or GPUs. However, the delta between this combo and those above it is not shown in the data; what is clear is that it sits comfortably in the upper quartile of performance. The 1080p Low score of 254.2 FPS and the 1440p High score of 91.3 FPS are impressive metrics that contribute to this ranking. The 4K Ultra score of 34.8 FPS is the weakest link, dragging the overall rank down, but it does not negate the fact that this is a high-performing combo for most gaming scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Hitman 2 at 4K smoothly?

A: At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 52.6, which is playable but not a locked 60 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 34.8 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that 4K High is the viable option for this resolution, not Ultra.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh-rate monitors?

A: At 1440p High, the combo averages 91.3 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it reaches 166.2 FPS. For 144Hz monitors, 1440p Low or Medium settings would be required, as the Medium preset at 1440p yields 120.6 FPS.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-9700 and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600K, while being 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-8700. These differences are negligible in practice.

Q: Is the 20 GB of VRAM useful for Hitman 2?

A: The GPU has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory with 800.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is far more than what Hitman 2 likely requires. The data shows no memory-related performance issues, as the bottleneck at 4K is the GPU’s rendering power, not its memory capacity.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, all presets are playable, but the data shows that Ultra averages 108.6 FPS, which is still smooth. For the best visual fidelity without sacrificing frame rate, Ultra is the recommended choice at this resolution.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 7900 XT has an average benchmark score of 38358. It is exactly tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile, 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 70HX, and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 254.2 FPS, which is the single highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 191.3 FPS, High averages 143.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 108.6 FPS. All of these scores are above 100 FPS, making 1080p a comfortable environment for high-refresh-rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear step down. The Low preset averages 166.2 FPS, a drop of 88 FPS from 1080p. Medium averages 120.6 FPS, High averages 91.3 FPS, and Ultra averages 70.2 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is still above 60 FPS, indicating that this combo can handle the highest settings at this resolution with a playable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. The Low preset averages 87.7 FPS, which is still fluid. The Medium preset averages 67.4 FPS, and High averages 52.6 FPS. The Ultra preset averages just 34.8 FPS, which is the lowest score in the dataset and below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is the sweet spot for balance, and 4K requires settling for Medium or Low settings to maintain playability.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is the clear winner. At 108.6 FPS, it provides a high-quality visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. There is no need to compromise on quality at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset delivers smooth performance.

At 1440p, the High preset is the best balance of quality and performance. The 91.3 FPS average is sufficient for most monitors, and it offers a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset, which averages 120.6 FPS. While Ultra at 1440p is also playable at 70.2 FPS, the drop from 91.3 to 70.2 FPS is substantial, and High is the recommended choice to preserve frame rate headroom.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended setting. It averages 67.4 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The High preset falls to 52.6 FPS, which may feel less fluid during fast-paced action. The Ultra preset at 34.8 FPS is not recommended for a good experience. The Low preset at 4K averages 87.7 FPS, but the visual compromise is likely too severe for a game like Hitman 2 that benefits from detailed environments. In summary, the data points to Ultra at 1080p, High at 1440p, and Medium at 4K as the ideal presets for this hardware combination.