Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
GeForce GTX 470 vs Radeon HD 7870
Aggregated performance score
HD 7870
2012
2048 MB GDDR5
11.97
+49.3%
GTX 470
2010
1280 MB GDDR5
8.02
Radeon HD 7870 outperforms GeForce GTX 470 by 49% based on our aggregated benchmark results.
General info
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in performance ranking | 372 | 479 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Value for money | 2.73 | 8.13 |
| Architecture | GCN (2011−2017) | Fermi (2010−2014) |
| GPU code name | Pitcairn XT | GF100 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 5 March 2012 (12 years old) | 12 April 2010 (14 years old) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $412.83 | $349 |
| Current price | $200 (0.5x MSRP) | $9.98 (0x MSRP) |
Value for money
GTX 470 has 198% better value for money than HD 7870.
Technical specs
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 | 1280 | 448 |
| CUDA cores | no data | 448 |
| Core clock speed | 1000 MHz | 607 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 2800 Million | 3,100 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 175 Watt | 225 Watt |
| Maximum GPU temperature | no data | 105 °C |
| Texture fill rate | 80.00 | 34.0 billion/sec |
| Floating-point performance | no data | 1,088.6 gflops |
Size and 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).
| Bus support | no data | 16x PCI-E 2.0 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 2.0 x16 |
| Length | 241 mm | 9.5" (241 mm) (24.1 cm) |
| Height | no data | 4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm) |
| Width | 2-slot | 2-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | Two 6-pins |
| SLI options | no data | + |
Memory
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 | 2 GB | 1280 MB |
| Memory bus width | 256 Bit | 320 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 4800 MHz | 1674 MHz (3348 data rate) |
| Memory bandwidth | 153.6 GB/s | 133.9 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | - |
Video outputs and ports
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 | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort | Two Dual Link DVIMini HDMI |
| Multi monitor support | no data | + |
| Eyefinity | + | no data |
| HDMI | + | + |
| Maximum VGA resolution | no data | 2048x1536 |
| Audio input for HDMI | no data | Internal |
API support
List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 12 (11_0) |
| Shader Model | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Vulkan | 1.2.131 | N/A |
| CUDA | no data | + |
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.
Radeon HD 7870 outperforms GeForce GTX 470 by 49% based on our aggregated benchmark results.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 25%
Radeon HD 7870 outperforms GeForce GTX 470 by 49% in Passmark.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
Radeon HD 7870 outperforms GeForce GTX 470 by 27% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
Radeon HD 7870 outperforms GeForce GTX 470 by 43% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.
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 | 84
+61.5%
| 52
−61.5%
|
| Full HD | 66
+3.1%
| 64
−3.1%
|
| 1200p | 75−80
+41.5%
| 53
−41.5%
|
Performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
+38.5%
|
12−14
−38.5%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 24−27
+56.3%
|
16−18
−56.3%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 18−20
+72.7%
|
10−12
−72.7%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
+51.9%
|
27−30
−51.9%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 30−35
+40.9%
|
21−24
−40.9%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
+38.5%
|
12−14
−38.5%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
+63.2%
|
18−20
−63.2%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30−35
+52.4%
|
21−24
−52.4%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 40−45
+50%
|
27−30
−50%
|
| Hitman 3 | 30−35
+60%
|
20−22
−60%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 24−27
+56.3%
|
16−18
−56.3%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 20−22
+42.9%
|
14−16
−42.9%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 24−27
+38.9%
|
18−20
−38.9%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
+69.2%
|
12−14
−69.2%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 24−27
+56.3%
|
16−18
−56.3%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 18−20
+72.7%
|
10−12
−72.7%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
+51.9%
|
27−30
−51.9%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 30−35
+40.9%
|
21−24
−40.9%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
+38.5%
|
12−14
−38.5%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
+63.2%
|
18−20
−63.2%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30−35
+52.4%
|
21−24
−52.4%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 40−45
+50%
|
27−30
−50%
|
| Hitman 3 | 30−35
+60%
|
20−22
−60%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 24−27
+56.3%
|
16−18
−56.3%
|
| Metro Exodus | 18−20
+50%
|
12−14
−50%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 20−22
+42.9%
|
14−16
−42.9%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 24−27
+38.9%
|
18−20
−38.9%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 36
+125%
|
16−18
−125%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
+69.2%
|
12−14
−69.2%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 24−27
+56.3%
|
16−18
−56.3%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 18−20
+72.7%
|
10−12
−72.7%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
+51.9%
|
27−30
−51.9%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
+38.5%
|
12−14
−38.5%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
+63.2%
|
18−20
−63.2%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30−35
+52.4%
|
21−24
−52.4%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 40−45
+50%
|
27−30
−50%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 20
+25%
|
16−18
−25%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
+69.2%
|
12−14
−69.2%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 16−18
+41.7%
|
12−14
−41.7%
|
| Hitman 3 | 18−20
+46.2%
|
12−14
−46.2%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 18−20
+28.6%
|
14−16
−28.6%
|
| Metro Exodus | 10−11
+66.7%
|
6−7
−66.7%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
+36.4%
|
10−12
−36.4%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 12−14
+71.4%
|
7−8
−71.4%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 8−9
+167%
|
3−4
−167%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 21−24
+109%
|
10−12
−109%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 6−7
+50%
|
4−5
−50%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 18−20
+46.2%
|
12−14
−46.2%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 21−24
+75%
|
12−14
−75%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24
+64.3%
|
14−16
−64.3%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 12−14
+71.4%
|
7−8
−71.4%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 6−7
+100%
|
3−4
−100%
|
4K
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 8−9
+60%
|
5−6
−60%
|
| Hitman 3 | 10−12
+57.1%
|
7−8
−57.1%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 9−10
+12.5%
|
8−9
−12.5%
|
| Metro Exodus | 5−6
+150%
|
2−3
−150%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 6−7
+50%
|
4−5
−50%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 7−8
+75%
|
4−5
−75%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−11
+100%
|
5−6
−100%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 7−8
+75%
|
4−5
−75%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
+66.7%
|
3−4
−66.7%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 10−12
+120%
|
5−6
−120%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
+100%
|
1−2
−100%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 9−10
+28.6%
|
7−8
−28.6%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 12−14
+33.3%
|
9−10
−33.3%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 16−18
+77.8%
|
9−10
−77.8%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 4−5
+100%
|
2−3
−100%
|
This is how HD 7870 and GTX 470 compete in popular games:
900p resolution:
- HD 7870 is 61.5% faster than GTX 470
1080p resolution:
- HD 7870 is 3.1% faster than GTX 470
1200p resolution:
- HD 7870 is 41.5% faster than GTX 470
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 7870 is 167% faster than the GTX 470.
All in all, in popular games:
- Without exception, HD 7870 surpassed GTX 470 in all 68 of our tests.
Advantages and disadvantages
| Performance score | 11.97 | 8.02 |
| Recency | 5 March 2012 | 12 April 2010 |
| Cost | $412.83 | $349 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2 GB | 1280 MB |
| Chip lithography | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 175 Watt | 225 Watt |
The Radeon HD 7870 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 470 in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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