Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth title from 2018, presents a fascinating case study when paired with the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The data reveals a massive generational and performance-class gap between the CPU and GPU, creating a bottleneck profile that shifts dramatically depending on resolution and settings. The measured frames per second (FPS) across the board show that the RTX 4090 is capable of immense throughput, but the i5-9400 often holds it back, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has less work to do.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic case of GPU workload scaling, but with a twist. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 173 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 120.1 FPS, a 30.5% decrease. The jump to 4K High yields 64.4 FPS, which is a 46.4% drop from the 1440p figure and a 62.8% drop from the 1080p result. This severe scaling pattern indicates that at lower resolutions, the system is heavily CPU-bound; the RTX 4090 is waiting on the i5-9400 to feed it data, preventing it from reaching its full potential. The data implies that the 1080p results are artificially capped by the processor.

However, the picture changes when looking at the Low preset. At 1080p Low, the system hits 212.6 FPS, but at 1440p Low it only falls to 181.8 FPS, a 14.5% reduction. At 4K Low, it drops to 112.7 FPS, a 38% reduction from 1440p. The scaling here is more gradual, suggesting that even with minimal graphical load, the CPU bottleneck is still present but less severe as the GPU starts to take on more work. The Ultra preset tells a different story: the 4K Ultra result of 50.2 FPS is a 43.3% drop from the 1440p Ultra figure of 88.6 FPS. This steep decline indicates that at Ultra settings, the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor, as the sheer graphical complexity of the scene overwhelms the graphics card, even one as powerful as the RTX 4090.

The data suggests that the limiting component is not a fixed entity but shifts with the workload. At 1080p and 1440p, the i5-9400 is the bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the RTX 4090 becomes the limiting factor, though the CPU is still not entirely off the hook. The performance gap between 1080p High (173 FPS) and 4K High (64.4 FPS) is a stark 108.6 FPS difference, underscoring how resolution scaling taxes the GPU much more heavily than the processor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a behemoth of a graphics card, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. Its specifications are staggering: 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, offering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. The card's boost clock is listed at 2520 MHz. In the context of Hitman 2, the GPU's role is highly dependent on the settings preset. The data shows that the card's massive memory pool and bandwidth are not necessarily the primary factors in this game. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the card manages 50.2 FPS, which is a playable but not exceptionally high frame rate for a card of this caliber.

The RTX 4090's performance in this game, relative to its own capabilities, is interesting. Its percentile vs all GPUs is 91, meaning it outperforms 91% of all GPUs in the benchmark database. Yet, in Hitman 2, it is clearly being held back at lower resolutions. The difference between the 1080p Low result (212.6 FPS) and the 4K Ultra result (50.2 FPS) is a 162.4 FPS gap, showing the GPU is fully utilized only at the highest graphical settings. The card's average benchmark score is 66473, and its nearest rivals are professional workstation cards like the NVIDIA Tesla T4, which scores 66733 (-0.4% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56, which scores 67097 (-0.9% delta). This suggests that in raw compute, the RTX 4090 is comparable to these pro cards, but in gaming, its architecture is designed for much higher frame rates than what the i5-9400 can deliver.

The data implies that the GPU's 24 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Hitman 2, as there are no signs of memory-related stuttering or frame drops in the measured results. The card's clock speeds, particularly the boost clock of 2520 MHz, are high, but the processor prevents them from being fully exploited in many scenarios. The GPU is clearly not the bottleneck at 1080p, but it becomes one at 4K Ultra, where the pixel count and shader complexity finally catch up with its capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 148th out of 1795 tested combos in Hitman 2. This places it in the top 8.2% of all systems tested, which might seem impressive, but it is a misleading statistic. The rank is buoyed by the sheer power of the RTX 4090, which can brute-force high frame rates even with a weak processor. However, the data suggests that this combo is not performing near its potential. The i5-9400, with a percentile vs all CPUs of 50, is a mid-pack processor. Its average benchmark score is 2305, and its nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-10305, which scores 2300 (0.2% delta), and the Intel Xeon E-2134, scoring 2295 (0.4% delta). This indicates the CPU is a middling performer.

The rank of 148 reflects the GPU's dominance, but the bottleneck is evident in the FPS numbers. The fact that the combo ranks in the 148th spot, rather than much higher, suggests that many other combinations with more balanced CPUs and GPUs can achieve better results in this game. The data indicates that a system with a more powerful processor would likely score much higher, as the RTX 4090 would be unleashed. The combo's rank is a direct result of the CPU's inability to keep pace with the GPU's frame generation capabilities, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The performance is "good" but not "great" relative to what the GPU alone could achieve if paired with a more capable processor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how different settings presets affect performance. For a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the only viable option, delivering 64.4 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K yields 85.5 FPS, which is also above 60 FPS and might be a better choice for a smoother experience, though it sacrifices some visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as it drops to 50.2 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for a fluid experience. At 1440p, the High preset delivers 120.1 FPS, and the Medium preset hits 161.2 FPS, both excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset at 1440p produces 181.8 FPS, but this is overkill for most displays.

The data suggests that the best experience per the measured rows is the 1440p High preset. It offers a high frame rate of 120.1 FPS, which is smooth, and provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The 4K High preset is also acceptable at 64.4 FPS, but the 1440p High preset is more comfortable. There is no scenario where the Ultra preset is recommended for this combo, as it only produces 138.8 FPS at 1080p, 88.6 FPS at 1440p, and 50.2 FPS at 4K, all of which are lower than the corresponding High presets. The High preset appears to be the sweet spot, offering the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate across all resolutions. Choosing High over Ultra avoids the significant performance penalty of the highest settings, which is not justified by the marginal visual improvement in this game.

FAQ

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

A: The average FPS is 120.1 at 2560x1440 with the High settings preset.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable with this combo?

A: The data shows 50.2 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. It is playable but not ideal for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest rival in raw benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 66473, while its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla T4, scores 66733, a delta of -0.4%.

Q: What is the highest FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The highest average FPS is 212.6, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the i5-9400's performance compare to the Intel Core i3-10305?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305, while the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2300, a delta of 0.2%, making them nearly identical in performance.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between High and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 173 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 138.8 FPS, a difference of 34.2 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. In the context of Hitman 2, this CPU is the clear bottleneck in most scenarios. Its benchmark scores are modest: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7969 and a single-core score of 1125. The processor's percentile vs all CPUs is 50, indicating it is exactly average. The data shows that this CPU, released in late 2018, is not powerful enough to feed the RTX 4090 with enough data to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions.

The CPU's role in Hitman 2 is critical. At 1080p, the frame rates are likely limited by the CPU's single-threaded performance, which is a common requirement for games of this era. The 6 threads are enough to run the game, but they are not fast enough to push frame rates above 200 FPS consistently. The difference between the 1080p Low result (212.6 FPS) and the 1440p Low result (181.8 FPS) is 30.8 FPS, which is a relatively small drop, suggesting the CPU is the limiting factor in both cases. Even at 4K Low, the CPU still has an influence, as the frame rate of 112.7 FPS is high but not as high as what the GPU could potentially deliver.

The CPU's 9 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are standard for its time, but they are insufficient to keep up with the RTX 4090's demands. The data implies that upgrading the CPU would yield significant performance gains in Hitman 2, especially at 1080p and 1440p. The i5-9400 is a capable processor for many tasks, but it is out of its depth when paired with a flagship GPU. The Cinebench scores show it is not a high-end part, and the gaming results confirm this, as the CPU consistently prevents the system from reaching its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest frame rate at 212.6 FPS. The Medium preset follows at 194.7 FPS, then High at 173 FPS, and finally Ultra at 138.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 73.8 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for higher settings. At 2560x1440, the Low preset again leads with 181.8 FPS, followed by Medium at 161.2 FPS, High at 120.1 FPS, and Ultra at 88.6 FPS. The spread here is 93.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU is starting to become more of a factor. At 3840x2160, the Low preset produces 112.7 FPS, Medium produces 85.5 FPS, High produces 64.4 FPS, and Ultra drops to 50.2 FPS. The spread at 4K is 62.5 FPS.

The data reveals a clear trend: as resolution increases, the performance gap between settings narrows, and the frame rates drop more uniformly. At 1080p, the Low preset is 53.2% faster than Ultra. At 4K, the Low preset is 124.5% faster than Ultra. This indicates that the CPU bottleneck at 1080p is so severe that even the Low preset cannot push the GPU to its limits, while at 4K, the GPU is more fully utilized, and the differences between settings become more pronounced. The High preset at 4K (64.4 FPS) is the only 4K setting above 60 FPS, making it the only viable option for a smooth experience at that resolution. The 1440p High result (120.1 FPS) is the best balance of performance and quality, offering over double the frame rate of the 4K High result while maintaining a high level of visual fidelity.