Hitman 2

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

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Raptor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 4.60 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache. This chip sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs tested on the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 25,236.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role becomes evident when observing frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 184 FPS, which is the highest average in the entire measured set. This suggests the processor has ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower graphical loads. The 16 threads allow the game's simulation and AI systems to run without becoming a bottleneck, as evidenced by the 3DMark 16-thread score of 7,314 and max-thread score of 7,307, which are nearly identical — indicating strong scaling across all available cores.

Comparing to nearest rivals, the i5-13400F sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (which scores 25,365, a -0.5% delta) and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-13620H (25,201, a +0.1% delta). The performance parity with these chips means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 13400F delivers essentially identical frame pacing. The single-thread performance, measured at 960 in 3DMark single-thread and 3,004 in Cinebench R23 single-core, is sufficient for Hitman 2's primary game thread, which typically handles player input and world interactions.

The 65 W TDP and locked multiplier (unlocked: false) suggest this is a power-conscious part, yet its 10-core configuration provides the parallel throughput needed for Hitman 2's background simulation. The L3 cache of 20 MB shared across all cores helps reduce memory latency when the game streams in new areas, which is critical for the stealth genre where sudden AI reactions matter. At 1080p Ultra, the combo still delivers 73.4 FPS, showing that even with maxed-out CPU-related settings, the processor maintains playable performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process, with a die size of 181 mm² and 21,900 million transistors. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU clocks run at 2280 MHz base and 2497 MHz boost, with memory operating at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The card includes 3,840 shading units, 120 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 30 RT cores, and 120 tensor cores, delivering 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The GPU's percentile rank is 73rd among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 30,109. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT with a score of 30,097 (0% delta), followed by the AMD Radeon RX 570 at 30,158 (-0.2% delta). This puts the RTX 5060 in a performance class where it trades blows with last-generation mid-range cards, but its Blackwell architecture brings modern features like DirectX 12 Ultimate support.

In Hitman 2, the GPU's role is most visible at 4K resolution. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 28.7 FPS, while at 4K High it reaches 34.8 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM capacity appears sufficient for this 2018 title, as the game was designed before the era of massive texture packs. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth handles the game's geometry and shadow calculations without apparent stuttering, though the 128-bit bus limits raw throughput compared to wider-memory cards.

The GPU compute score of 10,899 in Passmark indicates the card's compute capability, which is relevant for Hitman 2's dynamic lighting and particle effects. The RTX 5060's 30 RT cores are present but not heavily utilized in this title, as Hitman 2 predates widespread ray tracing adoption. The card's 73rd percentile ranking places it above average, and the measured FPS data confirms it can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming comfortably, with 4K requiring settings reductions.

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

The measured data reveals a clear pattern: frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases, indicating that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the combo delivers 184 FPS at 1080p, 116.2 FPS at 1440p, and 62.6 FPS at 4K. This represents a 36.8% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46.1% drop from 1440p to 4K. Such steep declines suggest the GPU's rendering throughput is being saturated.

At High settings, the pattern continues: 101.2 FPS at 1080p, 67.3 FPS at 1440p, and 34.8 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 65.6%, which is substantial. At Medium settings, the values are 135 FPS at 1080p, 87.4 FPS at 1440p, and 49.5 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows 73.4 FPS at 1080p, 48.6 FPS at 1440p, and 28.7 FPS at 4K.

The fact that even at Low settings, 4K resolution yields only 62.6 FPS — while 1080p Low yields 184 FPS — points squarely at the GPU as the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see smaller FPS drops as resolution increases, because the CPU workload stays constant regardless of pixel count. The 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 128-bit bus are likely constraining factors at 4K, where the GPU must push four times the pixels of 1080p.

The data also shows that the gap between settings presets narrows at 4K. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 110.6 FPS (184 vs 73.4). At 4K, that gap shrinks to 33.9 FPS (62.6 vs 28.7). This compression indicates that at high resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that even reducing settings cannot fully compensate for the pixel throughput demands. For competitive play, 1080p Low at 184 FPS is ideal, while 4K gaming requires accepting lower frame rates or reducing settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Hitman 2?

A: The data shows 1080p provides the most playable experience across all settings, with averages ranging from 73.4 FPS at Ultra to 184 FPS at Low. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 48.6 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Low, the combo averages 62.6 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Medium, it drops to 49.5 FPS, and at High/Ultra it falls to 34.8 and 28.7 FPS respectively. Players seeking smooth 4K should use Low settings.

Q: How does the i5-13400F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25,236, placing it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13620H (25,201) and 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9474F (25,103). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25,365) by 0.5%.

Q: What is the GPU's performance ranking relative to other cards?

A: The RTX 5060 sits in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 30,109. It scores essentially identically to the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (30,097, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 570 (30,158, -0.2% delta).

Q: Which settings preset gives the highest frame rate at 1080p?

A: Low settings at 1080p yield the highest average of 184 FPS. Medium delivers 135 FPS, High delivers 101.2 FPS, and Ultra delivers 73.4 FPS. The progression is linear, with each preset step costing roughly 30-35 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game's performance?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 184 FPS, but at 4K Low, the GPU limits performance to 62.6 FPS — a 66% reduction that is directly attributable to GPU rendering load.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, Low settings at 184 FPS is the best choice for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings at 135 FPS offers a balanced experience with improved visual quality while maintaining high frame rates. High settings at 101.2 FPS is the sweet spot for most players, providing near-maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. Ultra at 73.4 FPS is playable but shows the GPU beginning to struggle.

At 1440p, the recommendations shift. Low settings at 116.2 FPS is excellent for fast-paced play. Medium at 87.4 FPS is the recommended balance, offering strong visuals and smooth performance. High at 67.3 FPS is playable but approaching the threshold where frame pacing becomes noticeable. Ultra at 48.6 FPS is not recommended for action-heavy sequences.

For 4K, the options are limited. Low settings at 62.6 FPS is the only preset that achieves 60 FPS. Medium at 49.5 FPS is acceptable for slower stealth sections but will feel less responsive. High at 34.8 FPS and Ultra at 28.7 FPS are only suitable for screenshot purposes or turn-based observation. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires sacrificing visual quality for playability.

The best overall experience, balancing visual quality and performance, is High settings at 1440p (67.3 FPS) or High settings at 1080p (101.2 FPS). For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, 1080p Low (184 FPS) provides the smoothest experience possible with this hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 184 FPS on Low settings, 135 FPS on Medium, 101.2 FPS on High, and 73.4 FPS on Ultra. This represents a full range of playable options, with even Ultra staying above 70 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops to 116.2 FPS on Low, 87.4 FPS on Medium, 67.3 FPS on High, and 48.6 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it the first setting/resolution combination that is not consistently smooth.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 62.6 FPS on Low, 49.5 FPS on Medium, 34.8 FPS on High, and 28.7 FPS on Ultra. Only the Low preset maintains 60 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 121.4 FPS, while the drop from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 44.7 FPS — showing that higher settings compress the resolution scaling curve.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each settings tier costs roughly 25-35% of the previous tier's frame rate at the same resolution. At 1080p, the step from Low to Medium costs 49 FPS, Medium to High costs 33.8 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 27.8 FPS. At 4K, the same steps cost 13.1 FPS, 14.7 FPS, and 6.1 FPS respectively, demonstrating the GPU's diminishing returns at higher pixel counts.

How This Combo Ranks

This Intel Core i5-13400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 874th out of 1,795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the 51st percentile of all system configurations. This middle-of-the-pack ranking is notable given the individual components' percentile scores: the CPU ranks in the 82nd percentile and the GPU in the 73rd percentile.

The discrepancy between component percentiles and combo rank suggests that Hitman 2's performance is heavily dependent on the GPU, and the RTX 5060's mid-tier positioning drags the overall system ranking below what the CPU alone might suggest. The combo's rank of 874 out of 1,795 means there are 921 combos that perform better in this specific game, likely featuring higher-end GPUs paired with similar or better CPUs.

The data indicates that this combo is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but falls behind in 4K scenarios where GPU-bound systems excel. The 874th rank reflects this reality: it outperforms combos with weaker GPUs but trails those with more powerful graphics cards. For a system targeting high-refresh-rate 1080p or solid 1440p gameplay, this rank is appropriate. For 4K enthusiasts, the combo's position in the lower half of the rankings is a clear signal that GPU upgrades would be necessary to climb the leaderboard.