Hitman 2

FAQ

Q: What is the CPU role in Hitman 2 for this combo?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This 6-core/6-thread configuration provides solid multithreaded throughput for Hitman 2's simulation-heavy crowds and AI, though its single-core performance (Cinebench R20 single-core score of 392) is more modest relative to modern chips.

Q: How does the GPU's memory configuration affect 4K performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. At 3840x2160, average FPS drops to 25 on High settings and just 19 on Ultra, indicating the 6 GB frame buffer is a limiting factor at 4K, where texture data exceeds comfortable capacity.

Q: What is the best 1080p setting for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, Medium settings deliver an average of 99 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS and maximum of 114 FPS. This provides a strong balance between visual quality and smoothness, while High settings drop to 75 FPS average and Ultra falls to 55 FPS average.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, which is 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259), 0.3% above the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248), and 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246). This places it in a tightly contested mid-range tier.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking?

A: The RTX 2060 sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, scores 15283 (0% delta), while the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171 (0.8% higher performance for the RTX 2060).

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2936 out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the lower-middle tier. That ranking reflects the CPU's modest single-thread performance and the GPU's 6 GB VRAM constraint at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz define its operational envelope. For Hitman 2, a stealth game with complex crowd simulations and reactive AI, the CPU's ability to sustain high clocks across all six cores matters more than raw thread count.

Benchmark results show a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 2784 and a single-core score of 392. The multi-core figure is respectable for a mid-range chip, but the single-core score is what drives Hitman 2's frame pacing in crowded scenes. The game's engine relies heavily on a few primary threads for NPC logic and pathfinding, so the 4.10 GHz boost clock is the critical asset here. The 9 MB shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency spikes during rapid scene changes.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-9400's average score of 2254 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, -0.2% delta) and Intel Core i7-10710U (2248, +0.3% delta). This means the CPU does not introduce a meaningful bottleneck or advantage relative to similarly priced processors from its era. In practical terms, the CPU is capable of feeding the RTX 2060 at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, not the processor.

The lack of hyper-threading (6 threads total) means Hitman 2's background tasks, such as audio streaming and physics calculations, compete for the same execution resources. However, the game's 2018 release date means its threading model was designed for 6-core CPUs of that generation, so the i5-9400 aligns well with the game's optimization profile.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, based on the TU106 chip on a 12 nm process, offers 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Its base clock of 1365 MHz and boost clock of 1680 MHz, combined with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, deliver 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 14 Gbps effective memory speed is critical for Hitman 2's detailed textures and large outdoor environments.

The GPU's FP32 throughput of 6.451 TFLOPS and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s determine how quickly it can process pixel shaders and texture fetches. In Hitman 2, which uses dynamic lighting and reflective surfaces, these metrics directly influence frame rates at higher settings. The pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s becomes a bottleneck at 3840x2160, where the GPU must fill over 8 million pixels per frame.

At 1920x1080, the RTX 2060 performs admirably: Low settings hit 132 FPS average, Medium reaches 99 FPS, High achieves 75 FPS, and Ultra drops to 55 FPS. The step from Medium to High (99 to 75 FPS) is a 24% performance loss, while High to Ultra (75 to 55 FPS) is a 27% loss, indicating that Ultra settings introduce disproportionately heavy effects like advanced shadows and ambient occlusion.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers: Low (84 FPS), Medium (63 FPS), High (48 FPS), and Ultra (35 FPS). The 6 GB VRAM becomes a more pressing concern here, as texture streaming at 1440p can exceed comfortable memory headroom, causing occasional stutter. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overextended: High settings yield only 25 FPS average, Medium 34 FPS, Low 45 FPS, and Ultra a slideshow-like 19 FPS. The 4K results are only viable for screenshots, not gameplay.

Benchmark data shows the RTX 2060 at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 15290. Its nearest rival, the GTX 580, matches its score (15283, 0% delta), while the RTX 3050 OEM trails by 0.6% and the RX 7600 by 0.8%. This indicates the RTX 2060 is a competent mid-range GPU for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming, but not a high-end performer.

How This Combo Ranks

This combo ranks 2936 out of 3711 tested combinations in Hitman 2, placing it in the 21st percentile of all tested systems. This ranking is lower than the individual component percentiles (CPU at 47th, GPU at 58th) would suggest, indicating a suboptimal pairing for this specific game.

The reason for the underperformance lies in the interaction between the CPU's modest single-thread performance and the GPU's VRAM limitation. At 1080p, the combo performs adequately, but at 1440p and 4K, the 6 GB VRAM forces texture quality reductions, while the CPU's 6 threads struggle to maintain consistent frame pacing in dense crowd scenes. The combo's rank of 2936 means that 775 other combinations deliver better Hitman 2 experiences, likely including systems with more VRAM or stronger single-core CPUs.

The ranking is not catastrophic—this combo outperforms 775 combinations, meaning it's better than roughly 21% of tested systems. However, for a CPU and GPU that individually sit above the median, this result highlights a mismatch: the RTX 2060 was designed for 1080p gaming, but Hitman 2's Ultra settings at 1080p already push the GPU to its limits, while the i5-9400's lack of hyper-threading limits its ability to handle the game's background tasks efficiently at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 132 FPS average — this is the maximum performance the combo can deliver, suggesting the CPU or GPU is not heavily constrained.
• Medium: 99 FPS average, 84 FPS minimum, 114 FPS maximum — a smooth experience with headroom for high refresh rate monitors.
• High: 75 FPS average — good for 60 Hz displays, but frame drops may occur in crowded scenes.
• Ultra: 55 FPS average — playable but not ideal; the 6 GB VRAM is likely causing texture streaming issues.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 84 FPS average — still very playable, indicating the GPU can handle 1440p at reduced settings.
• Medium: 63 FPS average, 54 FPS minimum, 73 FPS maximum — a solid 60 FPS experience with minor dips.
• High: 48 FPS average — borderline playable; frame pacing becomes inconsistent in action sequences.
• Ultra: 35 FPS average — not recommended for gameplay; this is a screenshot-only setting.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 45 FPS average — playable but visually compromised; textures and shadows are significantly reduced.
• Medium: 34 FPS average, 29 FPS minimum, 39 FPS maximum — below 30 FPS minimum, causing noticeable stutter.
• High: 25 FPS average — unplayable for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: 19 FPS average — effectively a static presentation.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step from 1080p to 1440p to 4K costs roughly 40-50% of the average FPS at the same settings. The 1440p Medium result (63 FPS) is the sweet spot for this combo, balancing visual quality and performance, while 1080p Medium (99 FPS) is the best for competitive or high-refresh-rate play.

Settings Recommendations

For 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers the best overall experience. The 99 FPS average with a 84 FPS minimum and 114 FPS maximum ensures smooth gameplay even during intense firefights or crowd-heavy areas. High settings at 75 FPS are also viable for those who prefer visual fidelity, but the 24% performance drop from Medium may not be worth the marginal graphical improvement.

For 2560x1440, Medium is the only sensible choice. The 63 FPS average with a 54 FPS minimum stays above the 50 FPS threshold for acceptable smoothness, while High at 48 FPS will cause noticeable judder in fast-paced scenes. Low at 84 FPS is an option for players who prioritize frame rate over visuals, but Medium offers a better balance.

For 3840x2160, none of the settings provide a playable experience. Low at 45 FPS is the closest to playable, but the visual sacrifices (reduced textures, simplified shadows) undermine the purpose of 4K resolution. Medium at 34 FPS has a 29 FPS minimum, which will be perceived as stuttering. Users with 4K displays should either lower resolution to 1440p or accept that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming.

The overall recommendation is to play at 1920x1080 with Medium settings for the best combination of performance and visual quality. This configuration leverages the RTX 2060's strengths while keeping the i5-9400's single-thread limitations in check. For 1440p, Medium is the only viable setting, and for 4K, the combo is simply not powerful enough—the data shows a 45 FPS ceiling even at Low settings, which is below the industry-standard 60 FPS target.