Hitman 2

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 paired with the Intel Core i5-14400F delivers a playable but demanding experience in Hitman 2, with performance that hinges heavily on resolution and settings. The data reveals a configuration that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of high refresh rates at 1080p with adjusted presets. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) to understand where this combo excels and where it struggles, placing its performance in context against the broader database of tested hardware combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about system bottlenecks. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 77.1 FPS, which falls to 46.3 FPS at 1440p, and further to 23.8 FPS at 4K. This represents a 69% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The scaling pattern suggests the CPU has ample headroom at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the limiting factor as pixel count increases. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is a 40% drop, while the jump from 1440p to 4K is another 49% reduction, indicating that the RX 6600's 8 GB frame buffer and 128-bit memory interface are saturated at 4K.

Looking at the Low preset, the scaling is even more revealing. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 131.9 FPS, dropping to 85.8 FPS at 1440p and 46.8 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 4K drop here is 65%. This suggests that even with reduced graphical load, the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K, as the raw pixel throughput becomes the constraint. The data implies that the i5-14400F is not the primary limiter in this game; instead, the RX 6600's compute and memory bandwidth determine the performance ceiling, especially above 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 1460th out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the lower 19th percentile of all configurations, indicating that it is a mid-to-low tier pairing for this specific title. The rank reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU itself is quite capable. The i5-14400F's average benchmark score of 32508 puts it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, but this strength is not fully realized in Hitman 2 because the RX 6600 cannot push enough frames to leverage the processor's power.

The combo's rank is more a function of the GPU than the CPU. When considering the GPU's percentile of 69, the pairing performs slightly below what the graphics card alone might suggest, likely because Hitman 2 is a demanding title at high settings. The combination sits far from top-tier setups, but it is not the worst performer in the database. For 1080p gaming, the rank would be higher relative to other combos, but the 4K performance drags the overall standing down.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 1626 MHz, with a boost clock of 2491 MHz and a game clock of 2044 MHz. These specifications explain the 4K performance drop: the 128-bit bus and 8 GB capacity are insufficient for high-resolution textures and pixel loads in Hitman 2. The data shows that at 4K, even the Medium preset only yields 32.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

The GPU's 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs are capable for 1080p, as evidenced by the 131.9 FPS at Low settings. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate collapses to 20.9 FPS, highlighting the GPU's inability to fill the larger frame buffer. The boost clock of 2491 MHz helps at lower resolutions, but the memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s becomes a bottleneck when the resolution increases. The GPU's FP32 performance of 8.928 TFLOPS is respectable, but it is not enough to overcome the memory constraints at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1080p with Medium settings, which yields 97.5 FPS. This provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. For 1440p, the High preset at 46.3 FPS is borderline playable, but Medium at 66.5 FPS is a better choice for maintaining a stable frame rate. At 4K, no preset achieves 60 FPS; the best option is Low at 46.8 FPS, which is playable but not ideal.

The data suggests that players should prioritize 1080p for competitive or smooth gameplay. At 1080p, the Ultra preset at 53.1 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, while High at 77.1 FPS offers a good balance. For those with 1440p monitors, Medium is the sweet spot, providing 66.5 FPS. Pushing to 4K is not recommended for this combo, as even Low settings cannot reach 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset at 20.9 FPS is unplayable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured performance varies significantly by preset. Low settings deliver 131.9 FPS, Medium drops to 97.5 FPS, High yields 77.1 FPS, and Ultra manages 53.1 FPS. This shows a clear scaling pattern where each step down in quality roughly adds 20-30 FPS. The jump from Ultra to High is 24 FPS, from High to Medium is 20.4 FPS, and from Medium to Low is 34.4 FPS, indicating diminishing returns as settings increase.

At 2560x1440, the numbers are lower but follow a similar trend. Low achieves 85.8 FPS, Medium hits 66.5 FPS, High produces 46.3 FPS, and Ultra drops to 35.5 FPS. The scaling is more compressed, with a 30 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. At 3840x2160, the performance is severely limited: Low gives 46.8 FPS, Medium 32.3 FPS, High 23.8 FPS, and Ultra 20.9 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 2.9 FPS, suggesting the GPU is completely saturated.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It has 20 MB of L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a single-core score of 3093. This places it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, both within 0.2% of its average score.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is secondary at higher resolutions, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck. At 1080p, the i5-14400F's fast single-core performance (Geekbench single-core score of 2333) helps maintain high frame rates, but the RX 6600 limits the maximum output. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the CPU is not the limiter, as the 131.9 FPS is near the GPU's capability. The CPU's 16 threads are more than sufficient for this game, and its 65 W TDP indicates efficient power usage. The processor's boost clock of 4.70 GHz is crucial for the game's AI and physics calculations, but the GPU's 8 GB memory is the primary constraint in this pairing.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the optimal resolution, with Medium settings achieving 97.5 FPS and Low reaching 131.9 FPS. At 1440p, the best playable option is Medium at 66.5 FPS, while 4K is not recommended as no preset exceeds 46.8 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 6600's memory affect 4K performance?

A: The 8 GB GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. At 4K, this is insufficient, as even Low settings only yield 46.8 FPS, and Ultra drops to 20.9 FPS. The memory bandwidth is the primary bottleneck at high resolutions.

Q: Is the i5-14400F a bottleneck for the RX 6600?

A: At 1080p, the CPU shows no bottleneck, as frame rates reach 131.9 FPS on Low. The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, are sufficient for the game. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 1440p and above.

Q: What settings should I use for 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows Medium settings at 97.5 FPS and High at 77.1 FPS both exceed 60 FPS. Ultra at 53.1 FPS is below 60 FPS, so Medium or High are recommended for a stable 60+ FPS experience.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 1460th out of 1795 combos, placing it in the lower percentile. This is due to the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, despite the CPU's strong performance (88th percentile for all CPUs).

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. Medium settings achieve 66.5 FPS, which is playable. High at 46.3 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 35.5 FPS is not recommended. For smooth 1440p gameplay, Medium is the best choice.