Hitman 2

Hitman 2, a stealth classic from 2018, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 pairing. The benchmark data reveals a system that is clearly capable of high frame rates, yet its performance scaling across resolutions tells a story of a GPU that becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel counts rise. The combo finishes in the 1739th position out of 3001 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database, which suggests that while this pairing is competent, it is not optimized for maximum 4K performance in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo in Hitman 2 shows a dramatic and predictable decline as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the system produces an average of 90 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that average to 58 FPS, and at 4K, the average falls to 31 FPS. This represents a 35.6% performance hit from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 46.6% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, indicating that the GPU is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth headroom.

The data implies that at 1080p, the system is likely balanced, with the CPU and GPU sharing the workload. However, the precipitous drop at higher resolutions strongly suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the limiting factor. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus, while adequate for 1080p, are strained at 1440p and overwhelmed at 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck; at 1080p, the difference between Low (159 FPS) and Ultra (66 FPS) is 93 FPS, but at 4K, the gap between Low (54 FPS) and Ultra (23 FPS) is only 31 FPS. This shows that at 4K, even lowering settings to Low cannot fully compensate for the raw pixel throughput required.

The data suggests that for a smooth 60 FPS experience, 1440p is the practical ceiling for this combo in Hitman 2, and that only with Medium settings. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates, with the Ultra preset yielding just 23 FPS. The scaling behavior indicates that those seeking high refresh rates at 1440p or any playable 4K experience would need to consider a more powerful GPU, as the Core i7-14700F has ample headroom to push more frames if the graphics card could keep up.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the central figure in this combo's performance profile. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, provide a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The card's boost clock is listed at 2990 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. These figures are crucial in understanding the 4K performance ceiling. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a likely contributor to the frame rate collapse at 3840x2160, especially on Ultra settings where texture detail and draw distances demand more memory.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16014. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, scores 16129, a delta of -0.7%, indicating performance parity. This context is important; the RX 9060 is a mid-range performer. In Hitman 2, this translates to strong 1080p performance (159 FPS on Low) but a rapid decline as resolution scales. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 further cements its position as a capable 1080p/1440p card rather than a 4K powerhouse.

The data indicates that the GPU's role in this game is the primary determinant of overall performance. The CPU is clearly not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low. The RX 9060's compute capabilities, while sufficient for DirectX 12 Ultimate, appear to be the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The 21.43 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is respectable, but the memory subsystem's 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is likely saturated at 4K, leading to the observed frame rate drops.

FAQ

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

A: The measured average frame rate for this combo at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 66 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RX 9060's average benchmark score is 16014, which is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti's score of 16129.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700F a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests not, as the system achieves 159 FPS at 1080p with Low settings, indicating the CPU has plenty of headroom.

Q: What is the highest resolution at which this combo can maintain an average of 60 FPS?

A: Based on the measured data, the system can achieve an average of 58 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, and 76 FPS with Medium settings, so 1440p is the practical limit for 60+ FPS.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 90 at 1080p to 31 at 4K on High settings, a decrease of 59 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested combinations?

A: This specific combo ranks 1739th out of 3001 tested combinations in Hitman 2.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination ranks 1739th out of 3001 tested combos for Hitman 2. This places it in the 42nd percentile of all tested systems, meaning that 42% of the combinations in the database perform worse. While this might sound unimpressive, it is essential to consider the components involved. The CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The GPU, however, is the limiting factor, ranking in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. This imbalance explains the mid-pack ranking.

The ranking suggests that in a game like Hitman 2, which is known for its complex AI and large crowds, the CPU's capabilities are being held back by the GPU's inability to render frames fast enough at higher resolutions. The data implies that if this CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the combo's ranking would improve significantly. The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, has an average score of 53288, which is 0.6% higher, indicating that the i7-14700F is in a strong position to drive a more powerful graphics card.

This mid-pack ranking is a direct result of the GPU's performance ceiling. The measured FPS data shows that the system is very capable at 1080p, where the CPU can push high frame rates. At 4K, the system falls to the bottom quartile of performance, with the Ultra preset producing just 23 FPS. For a user targeting 1080p gaming, this combo is a strong performer. For 4K, it is clearly inadequate, which is reflected in the overall ranking.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data points are from the measured FPS table, providing a granular view of the performance at each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average FPS is 159.
• Medium: The average FPS is 119, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 137.
• High: The average FPS is 90.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 66.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average FPS is 102.
• Medium: The average FPS is 76, with a minimum of 65 and a maximum of 88.
• High: The average FPS is 58.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 43.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average FPS is 54.
• Medium: The average FPS is 41, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47.
• High: The average FPS is 31.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 23.

The data reveals a consistent pattern. At each setting level, the frame rate drops by roughly 35-40% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a similar percentage when moving from 1440p to 4K. The min/max FPS data for Medium settings shows a spread of about 12 FPS at 4K, which narrows to 36 FPS at 1080p. This suggests that frame pacing is more consistent at lower resolutions, while at 4K, the GPU struggles to maintain a stable output.

The 1080p Low preset at 159 FPS is the highlight of this dataset, showing the system's ability to deliver high refresh rate gaming when the graphical load is light. The 4K Ultra preset at 23 FPS is the low point, confirming that this settings level is not playable for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset at 90 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The Ultra preset at 66 FPS is also viable if visual quality is the top priority, as it remains above the 60 FPS threshold.

For 1440p displays, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, delivering an average of 76 FPS. The High preset at 58 FPS is playable but dips below 60 FPS, which might be noticeable to sensitive users. The Ultra preset at 43 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. The data suggests that at 1440p, the Medium preset is the "sweet spot" for this GPU, offering the best balance between frame rate and visual quality.

At 4K, none of the presets achieve a playable 60 FPS. The Low preset at 54 FPS is the highest average, but it involves significant visual compromises. The Medium preset at 41 FPS is playable for a slower-paced stealth game but will feel sluggish. Given the data, 4K gaming is not a realistic target for this combo, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p. The best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p High or 1440p Medium.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a powerhouse processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, capable of boosting up to 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122 and a PassMark multithread score of 41317. The CPU ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. This places it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which has a 0.6% higher average score.

In Hitman 2, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The game is a stealth title that relies heavily on AI routines and crowd simulations, which are CPU-intensive tasks. However, the measured FPS data indicates that the i7-14700F is more than capable of handling these workloads, as the frame rates are consistently high at 1080p. The fact that the system achieves 159 FPS at 1080p Low suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck.

The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2429, is beneficial for a game like Hitman 2. The data implies that the CPU has enough headroom to support a more powerful GPU. If the combo were paired with a GPU that ranks higher in its percentile, the overall frame rates would improve, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance is not the issue; it is the GPU that is holding back the system's full potential in this particular game.