Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination delivers a highly capable Hitman 2 experience across the board, though the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy tied to resolution and settings. At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally strong, with average frame rates well above playable thresholds even at the most demanding preset. Moving to 1440p, the system maintains excellent fluidity at most settings, but 4K Ultra presents a significant challenge, dipping below 60 FPS. The benchmark data shows a system that is balanced, with the CPU and GPU each playing distinct roles depending on the workload.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU and GPU combination for Hitman 2?

A: The combo ranks 596th out of 1795 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all tested systems for this specific title.

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 222.6 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate ranges from 34.9 FPS on Ultra settings to 73.7 FPS on Low settings, indicating that high-refresh-rate 4K play is not feasible.

Q: How does the CPU's single-threaded performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Core i5-12400's average benchmark score of 19850 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, with a delta of only 0.1% compared to the Intel Core i7-9700 and -0.2% compared to the Intel Core i7-8700.

Q: What is the GPU's memory capacity, and how does it factor into performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. This capacity supports high-resolution textures and demanding settings.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the CPU in this combo?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has a launch MSRP of $199.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this pairing at rank 596 out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2, which is a solid position in the upper third of the field. This rank suggests that while the combination is not at the absolute top tier, it is significantly ahead of the majority of systems tested. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 77 means it performs better than 77% of all CPUs in the database, while the GPU’s percentile of 79 indicates it outperforms 79% of all GPUs.

The composition of the ranks is interesting. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19850 is almost perfectly aligned with its nearest rivals, showing a difference of only 0.1% from the Intel Core i7-9700 and -0.2% from the Intel Core i7-8700. This indicates that in pure processing power, the i5-12400 is on par with these older flagship parts. The GPU, with an average score of 34780, is similarly close to its rivals, with a -0.2% delta against the NVIDIA A2 and a 0.3% delta against the NVIDIA Quadro GV100. This suggests that the overall rank of 596 is a direct result of the combined, near-peer performance of both components, rather than one component being a standout bottleneck or a major advantage.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for a game like Hitman 2, which can utilize multiple threads for game logic, AI, and physics. The processor's 18 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand.

Looking at the CPU's synthetic benchmark scores, the single-threaded performance is strong, which is often critical for game frame pacing. It scores 910 in the 3dmark single-thread test and 2249 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The multi-threaded scores show scaling with core count, with the Cinebench R23 multicore score reaching 15935. This indicates the processor can handle both the primary game thread and background tasks effectively.

The data suggests the CPU is not a primary bottleneck in this combination. For instance, at 1080p Low settings, the frame rate reaches 222.6 FPS. This high score indicates the CPU is capable of feeding frames to the GPU at a very high rate. The performance difference between Low and High settings at 1080p (222.6 vs 128.4 FPS) shows that the GPU is the limiting factor as settings increase, while the CPU has enough headroom to push high frame rates when the graphical load is light.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo is exceptionally strong. The average frame rate starts at 222.6 FPS on Low settings, drops to 167.2 FPS on Medium, and reaches 128.4 FPS on High. The most demanding setting, Ultra, still produces an average of 96 FPS. This means that at 1080p, the system can easily drive high-refresh-rate monitors at most settings, and even Ultra settings remain above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play.

At 2560x1440, performance remains very good but shows the expected decline. The Low setting yields an average of 141.7 FPS, which is still an excellent result. Medium settings produce 107.9 FPS, and High settings deliver 82.1 FPS. The Ultra setting, however, drops to an average of 59.4 FPS. This is right at the edge of the 60 FPS mark, indicating that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, players would need to use High settings or lower.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly under significant strain. The average frame rate on Low settings is 73.7 FPS, which is playable. However, Medium settings drop to 54.6 FPS, and High settings fall to 45.4 FPS. The Ultra setting produces an average of only 34.9 FPS, which is not a smooth experience for most players. This resolution is where the combination's limits are most apparent, and the data suggests that 4K gaming requires a compromise on settings to maintain acceptable frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the dominant component in this pairing, especially at higher resolutions. It is based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and the Navi 48 chip, built on a 4 nm process. Key specifications include 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1330 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz.

The GPU's role becomes increasingly critical as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to allow the GPU to flex its muscles, with frame rates scaling directly with the graphical load. The difference between 222.6 FPS on Low and 96 FPS on Ultra at 1080p is a clear indicator of the GPU's processing load.

The 16 GB VRAM buffer is a significant asset. In Hitman 2, which can have large textures and complex scenes, having ample memory prevents stuttering and texture pop-in. The data shows that at 4K, the frame rate drops dramatically, suggesting that the GPU's compute power, not the memory capacity, is the limiting factor. The gap between High (45.4 FPS) and Medium (54.6 FPS) at 4K is 9.2 FPS, while the gap between Medium and Low (73.7 FPS) is 19.1 FPS, showing how the GPU's rendering workload scales with settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and target frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice for the vast majority of users. The average frame rate of 96 FPS is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience. Even if a user has a 144Hz monitor, the system can often stay within the high refresh rate territory, though it will not be at the maximum. For those seeking the absolute highest frame rates, the Low preset at 222.6 FPS is available, but the visual quality trade-off is typically not worth it given the strong performance at Ultra.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended setting. It delivers an average of 82.1 FPS, which is a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 59.4 FPS is playable but is so close to the 60 FPS threshold that any demanding scene could cause noticeable dips. Choosing High ensures a consistent and fluid experience while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only setting that guarantees a smooth experience, with an average of 73.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 54.6 FPS is on the edge of playability and may be acceptable for some, but it risks frame drops. The High and Ultra presets, at 45.4 and 34.9 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a playable experience. Users with 4K displays should prioritize the Low preset to achieve a stable frame rate, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to enable higher graphical fidelity.