Hitman 2

The benchmark data for Hitman 2 places the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination in an interesting position. The pairing of a 2018 six-core processor with a modern high-end GPU produces a performance profile that is heavily dictated by the graphics settings and resolution chosen. The measured results show a system that can deliver high refresh rates at 1080p but transitions into a more demanding scenario as pixel count increases.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 215 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to saturate its capabilities at this lower resolution. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 134.9 FPS, a reduction of 37.3% from the 1080p figure. This substantial drop suggests the GPU is beginning to take on a larger share of the rendering load.

At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS falls to 75.8. This is a 43.8% decrease from the 1440p result and a 64.7% decrease from the 1080p result. The scaling pattern across Low settings shows that the RX 7800 XT is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases. The data indicates a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, where the rendering pipeline becomes the bottleneck rather than the processor.

When examining High settings, the trend continues but with a different magnitude. At 1080p High, the average is 120.4 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 76.6 FPS, a 36.4% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 41.5 FPS, which is a 45.8% decrease from 1440p. The percentage drops are consistent between Low and High settings, reinforcing that resolution scaling is the dominant factor. The 4K High result of 41.5 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is not ideal for smooth gameplay at this resolution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This large memory pool is a significant asset for Hitman 2, a game known for its detailed environments and crowds. The 16 GB capacity ensures that texture data is unlikely to exceed available VRAM, even at 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 30.6. The benchmark results show that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is sufficient to handle the data throughput required at all tested settings.

The GPU’s clock speeds show a base of 1295 MHz and a boost of 2430 MHz. With 3840 shading units and 96 ROPs, the card has substantial compute resources. The measured pixel rate of 233.3 GPixel/s and texture rate of 583.2 GTexel/s indicate a high capacity for fill-rate intensive scenes. In Hitman 2, which features large, open-ended levels, these specifications translate to strong performance when the resolution is not too demanding.

The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks places it in the 76th percentile versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 32619 is nearly identical to the AMD FirePro S9300 X2, which scores 32540, a delta of 0.2%. This indicates the RX 7800 XT is positioned among capable workstation-class cards. The data suggests that the GPU is not the limiting factor at 1080p, where the CPU’s capabilities are more likely to cap the frame rate. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, as evidenced by the FPS falling to 30.6 at Ultra settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This configuration lacks Hyper-Threading, which can be a factor in games that utilize more than six threads. The processor’s L3 cache is 9 MB shared, which is adequate for a game of this era.

In the measured results, the CPU’s role is most apparent at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS reaches 215. This high number suggests the CPU is able to drive the GPU to its limits at this resolution. However, the CPU’s benchmark scores show it is a mid-range part. It scores 7969 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1125 in single-core. Its percentile versus all CPUs is 50, meaning it sits at the median. Its average benchmark score of 2305 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2300, a delta of just 0.2%.

The lack of additional threads may contribute to the FPS ceiling at 1080p. When the resolution increases, the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck, and the CPU’s six threads are sufficient to keep up with the lower frame rates. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 30.6, which is likely GPU-bound. At 1080p Low, the 215 FPS average indicates the CPU is working near its maximum capability to process the game’s simulation and draw calls. The processor’s 65 W TDP and dual-channel memory support of DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s are standard for the platform.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ranks 669th out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This ranking places it in the 62.7th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack position is telling, as it reflects the imbalance between the older CPU and the newer GPU. The high-end RX 7800 XT is being held back by the i5-9400’s processing power in CPU-light scenarios.

In the database of 1795 combos, a rank of 669 means there are 668 systems that perform better in this specific game. This suggests that while the GPU is capable of high frame rates, the CPU’s limitations prevent the combo from reaching the top tiers. The data implies that pairing this GPU with a stronger processor would yield higher scores. The combo’s ranking is more a reflection of the CPU’s age than the GPU’s capabilities.

The GPU alone ranks in the 76th percentile versus all GPUs, which is notably higher than the combo’s ranking. This discrepancy highlights the CPU’s role as a limiting factor in the overall system performance for Hitman 2. The benchmark results confirm that the RX 7800 XT is capable of much higher performance when paired with a more capable processor. This combo’s rank of 669 out of 1795 is a clear indicator that the i5-9400 is not fully utilizing the potential of the RX 7800 XT in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows strong performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 215 FPS, while Medium yields 159.3 FPS. High settings deliver 120.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 88.8 FPS. These numbers demonstrate a smooth scaling curve, with each jump in settings reducing the frame rate by a predictable margin. The 88.8 FPS at Ultra is still very playable and shows the GPU’s headroom at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are lower but still respectable. Low settings produce 134.9 FPS, Medium delivers 102.5 FPS, and High yields 76.6 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p result in an average of 58.3 FPS. This is just below the 60 FPS target, indicating that Ultra settings at this resolution will require some adjustments for a perfectly smooth experience. The data shows a 27% drop from High to Ultra at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance takes a significant hit. Low settings average 75.8 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 55.6 FPS, and High falls to 41.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K produce an average of 30.6 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced stealth game. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 59.6% reduction in frame rate, illustrating the GPU’s limitations at this extreme resolution. The data indicates that 4K gaming is only viable at Low or Medium settings for this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 120.4.

Q: How does the combo rank among other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 669th out of 1795 tested combinations for Hitman 2.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory size and bandwidth?

A: The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s.

Q: What is the processor’s boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low?

A: The average FPS drops from 215 at 1080p Low to 75.8 at 4K Low, a 64.7% reduction.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 58.3.