Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D lands at rank 32 out of 3001 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the top 1.1% of all configurations evaluated. This is a high-end pairing that delivers exceptional performance, though the data reveals some interesting bottlenecks that are worth understanding before building or upgrading.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 32 out of 3001 tested combinations is remarkable, but it does not represent the absolute ceiling of what this GPU can achieve. The RTX 5090 D sits in the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-13400F sits in the 77th percentile among all CPUs. This gap matters in a game like Hitman 2, which is not particularly demanding on modern hardware. The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor in many scenarios, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has headroom to spare.

Looking at the measured FPS, the combo delivers playable frame rates at every resolution and settings combination tested. At 1080p Low, it hits 321 FPS average, which is far beyond what any display can show. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 52 FPS average, which is still playable but shows the game's heavier settings take a toll even on a flagship GPU. The rank of 32 indicates that while this combo is extremely fast, there are 31 other combinations in the database that produce higher frame rates in this specific title, likely featuring faster CPUs that can feed the GPU more effectively at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which gives builders flexibility when choosing a motherboard. The CPU's 20 MB of shared L3 cache is substantial for a mid-range part, and its 65 W TDP means it runs cool enough for a capable air cooler.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role becomes apparent when examining the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 321 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 124 FPS. That is a 61% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 4K, which indicates the GPU is becoming the limiting factor at higher resolutions. However, when comparing 1080p Low to 1080p Ultra, the FPS drops from 321 to 153, a 52% reduction. This suggests that even at 1080p, the CPU's single-thread performance is holding the combo back from pushing even higher frame rates.

The CPU's benchmark scores provide context. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22604 and single-core score of 3191 are respectable, but not class-leading. Its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, which scores nearly identical at 25284 average, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25365 average. The i5-13400F's average benchmark score of 25292 puts it within 0.3% of these rivals, meaning the CPU is well-matched to its peers but not ahead of them. This explains why the combo ranks 32nd rather than higher—the CPU is good, but not exceptional, and Hitman 2's frame rates at lower resolutions are likely CPU-bound.

FAQ

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D overkill for Hitman 2?

A: The data indicates yes at lower settings and resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 321 FPS average, which far exceeds any display's refresh rate. Even at 1440p High, it produces 132 FPS average. The GPU only becomes fully utilized at 4K Ultra, where it drops to 52 FPS average.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p compared to 1080p?

A: Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings reduces the average FPS from 207 to 132, a 36% drop. At Low settings, the drop is from 321 to 234 FPS, a 27% reduction. The scaling suggests the GPU is becoming more of a factor at 1440p, but the CPU still has influence.

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p High offers the best balance, with 132 FPS average and no reported minimum FPS below 149 at Medium settings. This is smooth and visually detailed. 4K is playable at High with 71 FPS average, but 4K Ultra drops to 52 FPS.

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

A: The i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25292, which is within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (25284) and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (25365). It is slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, which scores 25201, a 0.4% difference.

Q: Does the combo have any frame rate drops at Medium settings?

A: Yes, the measured FPS data includes minimum FPS values for Medium settings. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 79 FPS with a maximum of 107 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 149 FPS with a maximum of 201 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 233 FPS with a maximum of 315 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D significantly faster than its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, which is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (76904) and 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (78940). The differences are small, suggesting these GPUs are closely matched in overall performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce 321 FPS average, Medium produces 274 FPS with a minimum of 233 and maximum of 315, High produces 207 FPS, and Ultra drops to 153 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-limited at Low and Medium settings, as the GPU has massive headroom. Even at Ultra, 153 FPS is far beyond what most monitors can display, making this resolution ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows more GPU influence. Low settings produce 234 FPS average, Medium produces 175 FPS with a minimum of 149 and maximum of 201, High produces 132 FPS, and Ultra drops to 98 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings is 75 FPS, which is significant but still leaves the combo well above 60 FPS at every settings level. The Ultra preset at 98 FPS is particularly notable, as it shows the GPU can handle demanding settings at this resolution without dipping below playable thresholds.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor. Low settings produce 124 FPS average, Medium produces 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 and maximum of 107, High produces 71 FPS, and Ultra drops to 52 FPS. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium (79) is still smooth, but the Ultra preset at 52 FPS average suggests that this is the boundary of playable performance for the combo. The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU's influence diminishes.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the balance between CPU and GPU in this combo. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 321 at 1080p to 234 at 1440p and then to 124 at 4K. That is a 27% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. The larger drop at higher resolutions confirms the GPU is becoming the limiting component.

At High settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The average FPS drops from 207 at 1080p to 132 at 1440p (a 36% reduction) and then to 71 at 4K (a 46% reduction from 1440p). This pattern indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is limiting performance, as the GPU has plenty of headroom. At 4K, the GPU is fully utilized, and the frame rate is determined almost entirely by its capabilities.

The Medium settings data provides additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the minimum FPS is 233, while at 4K Medium, the minimum is 79. The ratio of minimum to average FPS is similar across resolutions (about 85% at 1080p and 85% at 4K), suggesting that frame time consistency is maintained even as the GPU load increases. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, dropping from 153 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 4K, a 66% reduction. This indicates that Ultra settings are the most GPU-intensive, and the combo's performance at 4K Ultra is the weakest point in the dataset.

The limiting component analysis is clear: at 1080p, the CPU is the primary constraint, as frame rates exceed what the GPU alone would likely produce. At 4K, the GPU is the bottleneck, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up. The crossover point appears to be around 1440p, where both components are relatively balanced.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy for settings recommendations based on resolution and desired performance.

At 1080p, the combo is so fast that even Ultra settings produce 153 FPS average. This means there is no practical reason to lower settings unless targeting extremely high refresh rates (240 Hz or more). The Medium preset at 274 FPS average and Low at 321 FPS are only useful for competitive play where maximum frame rates matter more than visual fidelity. For most users, High or Ultra at 1080p is the best choice, as both exceed any standard display's refresh rate.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset at 98 FPS average is the best visual experience while remaining well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 132 FPS is also excellent, offering a smoother experience with slightly reduced visual quality. The Medium preset at 175 FPS is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors (144 Hz or 165 Hz), as it provides a large margin above the refresh rate. The Low preset at 234 FPS is unnecessary unless chasing maximum frame rates.

At 4K, the recommendations are more nuanced. The High preset at 71 FPS average is the best balance of visual quality and playability, as it stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 93 FPS is smoother and still looks good, making it a strong alternative for users who prioritize frame rate over visual extremes. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS is playable but close to the edge of what is considered smooth, so it is only recommended for users who value maximum visual fidelity and can tolerate slightly lower frame rates. The Low preset at 124 FPS is not recommended, as it sacrifices too much visual quality for a frame rate that is already achievable at Medium.

The data suggests the combo is best utilized at 1440p, where it can run Ultra settings at nearly 100 FPS, or at 4K High, where it maintains 71 FPS. These configurations offer the best combination of visual quality and smooth gameplay for this specific title.