Radeon HD 7870M vs GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile and Radeon HD 7870M, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
GTX 1050 Mobile outperforms HD 7870M by a whopping 196% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in performance ranking | 389 | 670 |
| Place by popularity | 87 | not in top-100 |
| Architecture | Pascal (2016−2021) | GCN (2011−2017) |
| GPU code name | GP107B | Heathrow XT |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Release date | 3 January 2017 (7 years ago) | 24 April 2012 (12 years ago) |
Detailed specifications
General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 640 | 640 |
| CUDA cores | 640 | no data |
| Core clock speed | 1354 MHz | 800 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 1493 MHz | no data |
| Number of transistors | 3,300 million | 1,500 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 75 Watt | 45 Watt |
| Maximum GPU temperature | 97 °C | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 59.72 | 32.00 |
| Floating-point performance | no data | 1,024 gflops |
| Floating-point performance | 1.911 gflops | 1.024 gflops |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Laptop size | large | large |
| Bus support | PCIe 3.0 | no data |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 4000 MB | 2 GB |
| Memory bus width | 128 Bit | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 7008 MHz | 4000 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 64 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | - |
Connectivity and outputs
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
| Display Connectors | DP 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, Dual Link-DVI | No outputs |
| Multi monitor support | + | no data |
| HDCP | 2.2 | - |
| G-SYNC support | + | - |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| GameStream | + | - |
| GPU Boost | 3.0 | no data |
| Ansel | + | - |
API compatibility
List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 (11_1) |
| Shader Model | 6.4 | 5.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | 1.2.131 | 1.2.131 |
| CUDA | + | - |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark performance comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
3DMark Vantage Performance
3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.
3DMark 11 Performance GPU
3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| 900p | 73
+204%
| 24−27
−204%
|
| Full HD | 46
+229%
| 14−16
−229%
|
| 1440p | 24
+200%
| 8−9
−200%
|
| 4K | 15
+200%
| 5−6
−200%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 37
+236%
|
10−12
−236%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 51
+467%
|
9−10
−467%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 40
+344%
|
9−10
−344%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 39
+388%
|
8−9
−388%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 38
+245%
|
10−12
−245%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 55
+139%
|
21−24
−139%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 27
+170%
|
10−11
−170%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 33
+120%
|
14−16
−120%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 30
+173%
|
10−12
−173%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 44
+389%
|
9−10
−389%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 33
+267%
|
9−10
−267%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 36
+350%
|
8−9
−350%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 37
+236%
|
10−12
−236%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 52
+126%
|
21−24
−126%
|
| Metro Exodus | 19
+171%
|
7−8
−171%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14
+40%
|
10−11
−40%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 29
+93.3%
|
14−16
−93.3%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 39
+144%
|
16−18
−144%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 18
+63.6%
|
10−12
−63.6%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 37
+208%
|
12−14
−208%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 33
+313%
|
8−9
−313%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 33
+230%
|
10−11
−230%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 37
+60.9%
|
21−24
−60.9%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 22
+37.5%
|
16−18
−37.5%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 18
+200%
|
6−7
−200%
|
| Metro Exodus | 11
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 18−20
+217%
|
6−7
−217%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 17
+240%
|
5−6
−240%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 13
+333%
|
3−4
−333%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 26
+225%
|
8−9
−225%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 21
+425%
|
4−5
−425%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 24
+200%
|
8−9
−200%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 26
+550%
|
4−5
−550%
|
4K
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7 | 0−1 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 8
+300%
|
2−3
−300%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 7
+133%
|
3−4
−133%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 13
+225%
|
4−5
−225%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 11
+450%
|
2−3
−450%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 11
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 15
+650%
|
2−3
−650%
|
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
+0%
|
9−10
+0%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
+0%
|
27−30
+0%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
+0%
|
40−45
+0%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
+0%
|
9−10
+0%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
+0%
|
27−30
+0%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
+0%
|
40−45
+0%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 9−10
+0%
|
9−10
+0%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
+0%
|
9−10
+0%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
+0%
|
27−30
+0%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
+0%
|
14−16
+0%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
+0%
|
40−45
+0%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
+0%
|
10−11
+0%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 7−8
+0%
|
7−8
+0%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 6−7
+0%
|
6−7
+0%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 8−9
+0%
|
8−9
+0%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 9−10
+0%
|
9−10
+0%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 24−27
+0%
|
24−27
+0%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 8−9
+0%
|
8−9
+0%
|
4K
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 0−1 | 0−1 |
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 1−2
+0%
|
1−2
+0%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 1−2
+0%
|
1−2
+0%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 5−6
+0%
|
5−6
+0%
|
This is how GTX 1050 Mobile and HD 7870M compete in popular games:
- GTX 1050 Mobile is 204% faster in 900p
- GTX 1050 Mobile is 229% faster in 1080p
- GTX 1050 Mobile is 200% faster in 1440p
- GTX 1050 Mobile is 200% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Forza Horizon 4, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1050 Mobile is 650% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- GTX 1050 Mobile is ahead in 28 tests (44%)
- there's a draw in 35 tests (56%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 11.56 | 3.91 |
| Recency | 3 January 2017 | 24 April 2012 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 4000 MB | 2 GB |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 75 Watt | 45 Watt |
GTX 1050 Mobile has a 195.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 95.3% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.
HD 7870M, on the other hand, has 66.7% lower power consumption.
The GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7870M in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
Comparisons with similar GPUs
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
