Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-9400 pairs a 6-core, 6-thread configuration with a 2.90 GHz base clock and a 4.10 GHz boost clock. This Coffee Lake architecture chip sits at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, an unremarkable position that places it in a dead heat with rivals like the Intel Core i3-10305 and Intel Core i3-1125G4, both of which trail by only 0.2 percent in average benchmark score. The data shows a processor that is neither a bottleneck nor a star in Hitman 2; its 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are adequate for the game's stealth simulation logic, which tends to favor single-thread performance. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1125 reinforces this, while the multi-core score of 7969 suggests that the six threads are enough to handle the game's background AI and physics without starving the main game thread.

The 14 nm process node and 65 W TDP are modest figures, but they do not directly translate to gaming performance. Instead, the benchmark results indicate that the CPU's role in this combo is largely supportive. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 67.7 FPS, but as settings rise, the frame rate drops significantly, suggesting that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower settings but rather the GPU begins to take over. The processor's 50th percentile ranking means it sits in the middle of the pack, and its nearest rivals show delta percentages of only 0.2 to 0.4 percent, indicating that swapping to a similar-tier chip would yield negligible gains. The data implies that the i5-9400 provides a stable, predictable foundation, but it does not boost the combo in any meaningful way.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the more consequential component here, and its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth is a defining constraint. The GPU's base clock of 1168 MHz and boost clock of 1244 MHz, paired with 2048 shading units, deliver a raw FP32 performance of 5.095 TFLOPS. The 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs is deceptive because the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which are within 0.2 percent in average benchmark score—a statistical quirk that does not reflect real-world gaming parity. The RX 570's 4 GB VRAM is the critical weakness, and the measured FPS data shows this clearly.

At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages only 27.9 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 9.4 FPS, which is effectively unplayable. The GPU's texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s are not enough to drive high-resolution textures in Hitman 2's dense environments. The data suggests that the VRAM capacity is the primary bottleneck at higher settings, as the frame rate drops disproportionately when moving from Medium to High or Ultra. The GPU's 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this class, but the performance ceiling is clear: the RX 570 is a capable 1080p card when settings are kept in check, but it struggles beyond that.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep penalty as resolution increases, and the pattern tells a clear story about the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system hits 67.7 FPS, which drops to 43.1 FPS at 1440p Low—a 36 percent reduction—and then to 21.8 FPS at 4K Low, a further 49 percent drop. The scaling is not linear, and the increasing gap between resolutions points directly to the GPU as the bottleneck. At 1080p High, the average is 38.2 FPS, which falls to 24.4 FPS at 1440p High and then to 11.7 FPS at 4K High. The Ultra preset is even more punishing: 27.9 FPS at 1080p, 20.6 FPS at 1440p, and 9.4 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions because the frame rate scales so drastically with GPU load. If the i5-9400 were the bottleneck, the 1080p to 1440p drop would be smaller, as the CPU would cap the frame rate. Instead, the consistent halving of FPS from 1080p to 4K across all settings suggests that the RX 570's memory bandwidth and VRAM are saturated. The 4 GB VRAM is especially problematic at 4K, where texture data exceeds capacity, causing the frame rate to collapse. The resolution scaling pattern is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario, with the CPU providing a stable baseline while the GPU's limitations dominate.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 1734 out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom 3.4 percent of all configurations. This is a poor result, and the data suggests that both components are underperforming relative to their individual percentiles. The CPU sits at the 50th percentile, and the GPU at the 74th percentile, yet the combo ranks near the bottom, indicating that the pairing is inefficient. The reason is likely the 4 GB VRAM limitation, which hampers the GPU in a game that favors higher memory capacities, especially at higher settings.

Comparatively, the individual component benchmarks show that the RX 570's nearest rivals are far more powerful GPUs like the RTX 5060 and RX 7700 XT, but those comparisons are based on synthetic averages, not gaming performance. In Hitman 2, the combo's rank of 1734 out of 1795 means that nearly every other tested configuration outperforms it. The data implies that while the CPU and GPU are individually mid-pack, their combination is poorly suited to this game's demands. The i5-9400's six threads are sufficient, but the RX 570's memory subsystem is not, and the result is a combo that struggles to reach playable frame rates at any resolution above 1080p Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the measured FPS values show a clear hierarchy based on settings. Low settings produce an average of 67.7 FPS, which is the only playable result in this resolution tier. Medium settings drop to 55.1 FPS, which is still smooth, but High settings fall to 38.2 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 27.9 FPS. The 1080p data suggests that a 60 FPS target is achievable only at Low or Medium settings, with Medium being the sweet spot for visual fidelity versus performance.

Moving to 1440p, the situation worsens. Low settings yield 43.1 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced stealth action. Medium settings produce 34.6 FPS, High settings drop to 24.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 20.6 FPS. None of these are ideal for a smooth experience, and the data indicates that 1440p is only viable at Low settings. At 4K, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings manage 21.8 FPS, Medium achieves 21 FPS, High produces 11.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 9.4 FPS. The 4K data is uniformly poor, and no setting offers a playable experience. The measured FPS breakdown shows that the combo is a 1080p-only solution, and even then, it requires careful settings management.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience is achieved at 1080p Medium, which delivers 55.1 FPS. This is the only setting and resolution combination that balances visual quality with playable performance, as it stays above the 50 FPS threshold while offering better textures than Low. The 1080p Low preset at 67.7 FPS is smoother, but the visual downgrade is significant, and the data shows that Medium provides a 37 percent improvement in frame rate over High at the same resolution. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, 1080p Low is the only option that exceeds 60 FPS, but the Medium preset is the recommended choice for a more immersive experience.

At 1440p, the best option is Low at 43.1 FPS, but this is a marginal experience and not recommended unless the player has no other choice. The Ultra presets at any resolution are not viable, as they all fall below 28 FPS. The data clearly indicates that the 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as even Low settings produce only 21.8 FPS. The recommended configuration is 1080p Medium, which offers the best compromise between the visual enhancements of the game's stealth environments and the need for responsive gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this system?

A: The data shows that 1080p Medium delivers 55.1 FPS, which is the highest frame rate at a medium visual quality. 1080p Low achieves 67.7 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

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

A: No. The highest 4K result is 21.8 FPS at Low settings, and Ultra drops to 9.4 FPS. All 4K configurations are below playable thresholds.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. Frame rates drop by roughly half from 1080p to 4K at all settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU sits at the 50th percentile and is not the primary constraint.

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

A: It ranks 1734 out of 1795 combos in Hitman 2, placing it in the bottom 3.4 percent. This is a poor ranking despite the CPU and GPU having individual percentiles of 50 and 74, respectively.

Q: What is the most playable setting for a smooth experience?

A: 1080p Medium at 55.1 FPS is the most playable setting that maintains visual quality. The 1080p Low preset at 67.7 FPS is smoother but sacrifices visual detail.

Q: Does the 4 GB VRAM affect performance at higher resolutions?

A: Yes. The 4 GB VRAM is a significant limitation, as evidenced by the steep frame rate drops at 1440p and 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 9.4 FPS suggests the VRAM is saturated, causing severe performance degradation.