AMD Radeon HD 8870M vs NVIDIA GRID K2 Comparison

# AMD Radeon HD 8870M vs NVIDIA GRID K2

The AMD Radeon HD 8870M and NVIDIA GRID K2 represent two very different philosophies in GPU design from the same era, yet the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly narrow overall gap. The GRID K2 takes the single head-to-head benchmark (Geekbench OpenCL) with a score of 10,602 against the HD 8870M’s 8,462, a 20.2% margin. However, their overall percentile rankings tell a different story: the HD 8870M sits at the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, while the GRID K2 sits at the 42nd percentile. This near-parity in percentile despite a large raw score difference suggests the HD 8870M’s performance profile is more consistent across its benchmark set, while the GRID K2’s average (8,080) is dragged down by its Metal score of 5,557 — a test the HD 8870M never took. The data implies that raw compute power is not the only factor; the ecosystem and driver support matter just as much.

The Verdict

The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins the only shared benchmark decisively, posting 10,602 in Geekbench OpenCL versus the AMD Radeon HD 8870M’s 8,462 — a 20.2% advantage. But this is a narrow win in a single test, and the overall percentile data complicates the picture. The GRID K2’s average benchmark score of 8,080 actually falls below the HD 8870M’s average of 8,462, because the GRID K2’s Geekbench Metal result (5,557) is far lower than its OpenCL result. The HD 8870M, with only one benchmark recorded, maintains a higher average and a better percentile (43rd vs 42nd).

Who should pick which, strictly from the data? For raw OpenCL compute throughput, the GRID K2 is the clear choice — 20% faster than the HD 8870M in that specific workload. The GRID K2 also offers double the memory (4 GB vs 2 GB), quadruple the shading units (1,536 vs 640), and substantially higher texture and pixel rates, which makes it the pick for memory-heavy or shader-bound tasks. However, the HD 8870M’s higher percentile rank suggests it is more competitive within its own performance class, and its 43rd percentile places it ahead of the GRID K2’s 42nd. For users who value a balanced score across different API workloads, the HD 8870M looks more consistent, though it lacks the GRID K2’s sheer peak performance. The GRID K2 also carries a launch MSRP of 5,199 USD, a figure that reflects its enterprise-oriented positioning.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is fundamental. The AMD Radeon HD 8870M uses the Venus chip built on GCN 1.0 architecture, part of the Solar System generation (HD 8800M). The NVIDIA GRID K2 uses the GK104 chip on Kepler architecture, from the GRID generation. Both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, but the similarities end there. The GRID K2’s die is more than twice the size at 294 mm² versus 123 mm², and it packs over twice the transistors — 3,540 million versus 1,500 million. Transistor density is nearly identical (12.2M / mm² for AMD, 12.0M / mm² for NVIDIA), which means the GRID K2’s advantage comes from sheer physical size, not design efficiency.

The GRID K2’s memory subsystem is dramatically larger: 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, yielding 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth, versus the HD 8870M’s 2 GB on a 128-bit bus at 72.00 GB/s. The GRID K2 also doubles the TMUs (128 vs 40) and ROPs (32 vs 16), and its shading unit count of 1,536 is 2.4 times higher. Clock speeds differ as well — the HD 8870M runs at 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost, while the GRID K2’s clocks are not stated in the data. The GRID K2’s memory runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) versus the HD 8870M’s 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). API support shows a split: the HD 8870M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GRID K2 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The HD 8870M’s slightly higher DirectX feature level (11_1 vs 11_0) is notable for a mobile GPU. The GRID K2 has no display outputs, indicating a compute-only accelerator, while the HD 8870M is a standard mobile part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL workloads?

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 10,602, which is 20.2% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 8870M’s 8,462.

Q: Why does the GRID K2 have a lower average benchmark score if it wins the head-to-head?

A: The GRID K2 has two benchmark results: 10,602 in OpenCL and 5,557 in Geekbench Metal. Its average of 8,080 is pulled down by the low Metal score, while the HD 8870M has only one result (8,462), giving it a higher average.

Q: Which GPU has more memory and bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Radeon HD 8870M has 2 GB on a 128-bit bus, providing 72.00 GB/s.

Q: Are these GPUs from the same generation?

A: No. The AMD Radeon HD 8870M is from the Solar System generation (HD 8800M), released on 2013-03-31, while the NVIDIA GRID K2 is from the GRID generation, released on 2013-05-10. Both are 28 nm parts from TSMC.

Q: What are the power requirements for each?

A: The GRID K2 has a TDP of 225 W, requires a 550 W suggested PSU, and uses 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin power connectors. The HD 8870M’s TDP, power connectors, and suggested PSU are not listed in the data.

Q: Which GPU has better API support?

A: The HD 8870M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the GRID K2 supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the GRID K2 has a slightly newer Vulkan version (1.2.175 vs 1.2.170).

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two GPUs differ, based on the FACT PACK data.

| Field | AMD Radeon HD 8870M | NVIDIA GRID K2 |

|---|---|---|

| Manufacturer | AMD | NVIDIA |

| Chip | Venus | GK104 |

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Kepler |

| Generation | Solar System (HD 8800M) | GRID (K2) |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 3,540 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 294 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 12.0M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 725 MHz | Not stated |

| Boost Clock | 775 MHz | Not stated |

| Memory Clock | 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) | 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 72.00 GB/s | 160.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 1,536 |

| TMUs | 40 | 128 |

| ROPs | 16 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 12.40 GPixel/s | 23.84 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 31.00 GTexel/s | 95.36 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 992.0 GFLOPS | 2.289 TFLOPS |

| TDP | Not stated | 225 W |

| Slot Width | Not stated | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | Not stated | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | Not stated | 550 W |

| Display Outputs | Not stated | No outputs |

| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.2.175 |

| Dimensions (Length) | Not stated | 267 mm (10.5 inches) |

| Release Date | 2013-03-31 | 2013-05-10 |

| Predecessor | London | Not stated |

| Successor | Gem System | Not stated |

| Launch MSRP | Not stated | 5,199 USD |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 8,462 | 10,602 |

| Geekbench Metal | Not tested | 5,557 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 8,462 | 8,080 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 43 | 42 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, and the NVIDIA GRID K2 wins decisively. The GRID K2 scores 10,602 against the HD 8870M’s 8,462, a delta of -20.2% from the AMD part’s perspective. This is a substantial margin, but it is the only direct comparison available. The GRID K2’s advantage in this test aligns with its hardware specifications: it has 2.4 times the shading units, 3.2 times the TMUs, and double the ROPs. The FP32 throughput difference is stark — 2.289 TFLOPS for the GRID K2 versus 992.0 GFLOPS for the HD 8870M, a 2.3x gap. Memory bandwidth also favors the GRID K2 at 160.0 GB/s versus 72.00 GB/s, exactly 2.2 times higher.

However, the GRID K2’s own benchmark set reveals inconsistency. Its Geekbench Metal score of 5,557 is roughly half its OpenCL score, suggesting that its performance is highly workload-dependent. The HD 8870M has no Metal score recorded, so it cannot be compared on that API. The GRID K2’s average benchmark score (8,080) is actually lower than the HD 8870M’s (8,462), which means that if a user were to average across all available benchmarks, the AMD part comes out ahead despite losing the head-to-head. This is a curious situation: the GRID K2 wins the only direct comparison, yet its overall average is worse, purely because of its weak Metal showing.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins in every raw computational metric that matters for heavy parallel workloads. Its FP32 of 2.289 TFLOPS dwarfs the HD 8870M’s 992.0 GFLOPS, and its texture rate of 95.36 GTexel/s is three times the AMD part’s 31.00 GTexel/s. The pixel rate of 23.84 GPixel/s versus 12.40 GPixel/s is nearly double. Memory bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s versus 72.00 GB/s makes the GRID K2 the clear choice for large data sets. The GRID K2’s 4 GB frame buffer is also double the HD 8870M’s 2 GB, which matters for high-resolution textures or compute buffers. The GRID K2’s 42nd percentile is marginally below the HD 8870M’s 43rd, but this is a negligible difference given the GRID K2’s dominance in the shared benchmark.

The AMD Radeon HD 8870M wins in the aggregate. Its average benchmark score of 8,462 beats the GRID K2’s 8,080, and its percentile rank (43rd) is one point higher. The HD 8870M also has a more modern DirectX feature level (12 (11_1) versus 12 (11_0)), which could matter for application compatibility. Its lower transistor count and die size suggest a more power-efficient design, though TDP data is not available for the AMD part. The HD 8870M’s 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost clocks are explicitly stated, whereas the GRID K2’s clocks are absent from the data — this transparency itself is a point in AMD’s favor for spec-sheet comparison. For users who care about Vulkan support, the GRID K2’s version 1.2.175 is slightly newer than the HD 8870M’s 1.2.170, but the difference is marginal. The HD 8870M’s mobile-oriented design (no slot width or power connector data suggests a compact form factor) makes it the flexible choice for laptop integration, while the GRID K2’s dual-slot, 267 mm length, and 225 W TDP clearly target rack-mounted server environments. The data suggests the GRID K2 is a compute accelerator first and foremost — it has no display outputs — while the HD 8870M is a general-purpose mobile GPU. The GRID K2’s launch MSRP of 5,199 USD reflects its enterprise positioning, a figure that is absent for the HD 8870M. In summary, the GRID K2 wins on peak performance and memory capacity, while the HD 8870M wins on consistency and average score across its benchmark set.