Hitman 2

The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 combination represents a specific entry-level desktop pairing from the Coffee Lake and Turing eras, respectively. The CPU provides six physical cores and six threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This configuration is typical for a mid-range processor from its generation, and its benchmark standing reflects that positioning: the i5-9400 sits at the 50th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2305. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance include the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2300 (a 0.2% difference), and the Intel Xeon E-2134 at 2295 (0.4% difference). The data indicates the CPU is a balanced, mainstream part rather than a high-end or enthusiast offering.

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

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic, AI, and physics. The i5-9400’s six cores and six threads, running at a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, provide a solid foundation for a game of this era. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings suggest that the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck, except perhaps at the lowest settings and resolution where the GPU has less work to do. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 69 FPS, which is the highest average recorded in the entire dataset. This high frame rate at low resolution indicates that the CPU can push frames well beyond what the GTX 1650 can typically render at higher graphical loads.

The i5-9400’s single-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R23, is 1125 points, while its multi-core score is 7969. These figures place it in a competitive position for its class. However, in the context of Hitman 2, the game's engine is known to scale with both single-core and multi-core performance. The CPU's 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s are sufficient to avoid stalling the GPU in most scenarios. The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 26.8, and at 3840x2160 with High, it drops to 13 FPS. This scaling pattern suggests that as resolution increases, the load shifts decisively to the GPU, and the CPU's role diminishes.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS rows provide a clear picture of the performance envelope for this combo. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 69 FPS, which is the only setting that approaches a high-refresh rate experience. The Medium preset at 1080p produces 49.6 FPS, which is playable but not smooth by modern standards. The High preset at 1080p drops to 40.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 27.7 FPS. Given these numbers, the optimal experience for a standard 60 Hz display is the Low preset at 1080p, as it is the only one that comes close to or exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. However, the gap between Low and Medium is substantial, with a 19.4 FPS difference, which suggests that the visual fidelity gain from Medium might not be worth the performance loss for users prioritizing frame rate.

For users willing to accept lower frame rates, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a balance, but the data shows a significant drop to 49.6 FPS. At higher resolutions, the situation becomes more constrained. At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 41.4 FPS, which is the only playable option at that resolution, as Medium drops to 34.5 FPS and High to 26.8 FPS. At 3840x2160, all presets are effectively unplayable, with the best option being Low at 22.1 FPS. The benchmark results indicate that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with lower settings, and that users should not expect a consistent 60 FPS experience at Medium or higher settings.

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

The frame rate scaling across resolutions is stark and informative. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 40.9 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 26.8 FPS, a reduction of 14.1 FPS, or roughly 34.5%. Further scaling to 3840x2160 at High yields just 13 FPS, which is a 27.9 FPS drop from 1080p, representing a 68.2% decrease. This pattern is consistent across all presets. For instance, at Low settings, the FPS goes from 69 at 1080p to 41.4 at 1440p, and then to 22.1 at 4K. The linearity of these drops, where halving the resolution does not halve the frame rate, points to the GPU being the primary limiting component.

The GTX 1650 has a memory bus width of 128 bit and a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s, which is modest for higher resolutions. Its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory is also a limiting factor at 4K, where texture data exceeds the available VRAM. The GPU's compute capabilities, with a FP32 throughput of 2.984 TFLOPS, are simply insufficient for rendering Hitman 2 at high resolutions. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 11.3, which is a slideshow. This indicates that the GTX 1650 is the bottleneck; the CPU has the headroom to deliver higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 1080p Low result of 69 FPS, but the GPU cannot translate that CPU throughput into playable frame rates at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the benchmark database, this combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 1753 out of 1795 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the bottom 2.3% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a low-performing configuration for this specific title. The rank of 1753 is a comprehensive measure that accounts for all tested resolutions and settings, and it reflects the GPU's inability to handle the game's demands at higher graphical presets.

To contextualize this rank, the GPU's nearest rivals in overall benchmark scores include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, which scores 8746 (a -0.4% difference), and the AMD Radeon 550X, which scores 8749 (-0.4% difference). These rivals are similarly positioned, which suggests that the GTX 1650 is not alone in its performance class. However, the combo rank of 1753 is a stark indicator that in Hitman 2 specifically, this hardware pairing struggles. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-8809G with a score of 2319 (-0.6% difference), do not offer a significant performance uplift, further cementing that the GPU is the limiting factor. The data suggests that for users with this combo, the experience in Hitman 2 is at the lower end of the spectrum, and the measured FPS confirms this.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this combo to achieve a playable frame rate?

A: The only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which averages 69 FPS. The next best option is 1920x1080 with Medium settings at 49.6 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. At 2560x1440, the Low preset provides 41.4 FPS, which is the only viable option at that resolution.

Q: How does the GTX 1650's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1650's average benchmark score is 8713. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8746, which is a -0.4% difference. The AMD Radeon 550X scores 8749, also a -0.4% difference. These differences are marginal, indicating that the GTX 1650 performs similarly to these other GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system for Hitman 2?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push the frame rate to 69 FPS, but at 4K High, the frame rate drops to 13 FPS. This scaling pattern shows that the GPU's rendering capabilities are exhausted as resolution increases, while the CPU has headroom.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems for Hitman 2?

A: This combo ranks 1753 out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 2.3% of all systems tested for this game. This is a low rank, indicating that the hardware is not well-suited for Hitman 2 at higher settings.

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

A: No, the data shows that at 3840x2160, the best average frame rate is 22.1 FPS on Low settings. The High and Ultra presets drop to 13 FPS and 11.3 FPS, respectively, which are unplayable. The 4 GB VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth of the GTX 1650 are insufficient for 4K rendering.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance influence the game's frame rates?

A: The i5-9400 has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969, which is adequate for gaming. However, the measured frame rates do not show a CPU bottleneck, as the FPS drops are consistent with GPU limitations. The CPU's six cores and six threads are sufficient to avoid being the limiting factor in Hitman 2.