AMD Radeon HD 6870
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6870 Specifications
Radeon HD 6870 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6870 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
HD 6870 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6870's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon HD 6870 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6870 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6870's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon HD 6870 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6870, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
HD 6870 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6870 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
TeraScale 2 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 6870 is built on AMD's TeraScale 2 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the HD 6870 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6870 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6870 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon HD 6870 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6870 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6870 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon HD 6870. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon HD 6870 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6870 is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon HD 6870 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6870 Benchmark Scores
passmark_directx_10Source
DirectX 10 tests AMD Radeon HD 6870 with the graphics API introduced with Windows Vista. This shows performance in games from the 2007-2009 era that targeted this feature level.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerspassmark_directx_11Source
DirectX 11 tests AMD Radeon HD 6870 with the widely-used graphics API powering most current games. This shows mainstream gaming performance across the majority of today's titles. DX11 remains the most common rendering path even in newer games.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_directx_12Source
DirectX 12 tests AMD Radeon HD 6870 with the modern low-overhead graphics API. This shows performance in next-gen games that leverage DX12 features like ray tracing and mesh shaders. DX12 offers better CPU efficiency through reduced driver overhead. AAA games increasingly require DX12 for advanced graphical features and optimal performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_directx_9Source
DirectX 9 tests AMD Radeon HD 6870 performance with the legacy graphics API still used by older games. This shows compatibility and performance with classic titles from the 2000s era. Many indie games and older titles still rely on DirectX 9. Emulators and legacy software also benefit from good DX9 performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_g2dSource
PassMark G2D tests 2D graphics performance for desktop rendering, UI elements, and productivity applications. This shows how AMD Radeon HD 6870 handles everyday visual tasks. Higher scores mean smoother desktop experience and faster UI rendering. Multi-monitor setups and high-DPI displays benefit from strong 2D performance.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_g3dSource
PassMark G3D measures overall 3D graphics performance of AMD Radeon HD 6870 across DirectX 9 through 12 tests. This provides a comprehensive gaming capability score.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_gpu_computeSource
GPU compute tests parallel processing capability of AMD Radeon HD 6870 using OpenCL. This shows performance in video encoding, scientific computing, and AI workloads. Non-gaming applications increasingly leverage GPU compute for acceleration. Video editing, 3D rendering, and machine learning all benefit from strong GPU compute scores.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About AMD Radeon HD 6870
Launched in October 2010, the AMD Radeon HD 6870 is a dual-slot, end-of-life graphics card built on the 40 nm TeraScale 2 architecture using the Barts chip. With a launch MSRP of 239 USD, it targets the upper mid-range of its generation, and the data shows it remains a distant relic by modern standards, sitting at the 2nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 536 places it in a narrow competitive band with several other legacy AMD parts, making its relative performance within that group the most revealing metric for understanding its historical standing.
Memory Subsystem
The HD 6870 is equipped with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, yielding a peak bandwidth of 134.4 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 1050 MHz, translating to an effective 4.2 Gbps data rate. This configuration was respectable for its era, but the capacity is the primary constraint for modern use. At high resolutions, 1 GB of VRAM is a severe bottleneck; modern textures and geometry can exceed this allocation quickly, causing stuttering or texture pop-in regardless of raw bandwidth.
The 256-bit bus width provides a solid foundation for the bandwidth figure, but the effective speed is modest by contemporary standards. The 134.4 GB/s bandwidth supports 1080p gaming in older titles, but the memory size limits the card to low or medium settings even at that resolution. For 1440p or 4K, the data suggests the HD 6870 would be overwhelmed not by compute throughput but by memory capacity and bandwidth starvation. The 28.80 GPixel/s pixel rate and 50.40 GTexel/s texture rate further indicate that the card's fillrate capabilities are outpaced by its memory constraints in high-resolution scenarios. In essence, the memory subsystem is a balanced but dated design that cannot feed modern rendering workloads at higher resolutions.
Who Should Consider It
The benchmark scores paint a clear picture of the HD 6870's suitability. Its Passmark G3D score of 2205 and average score of 536 are extremely low, indicating it is only viable for legacy gaming or as a display output card. Users with a 1080p monitor running games from the early 2010s might find acceptable performance, but the DirectX 11 score of 16 and DirectX 12 score of 0 show it has no headroom for modern APIs. The DirectX 9 score of 53 is comparatively higher, suggesting it remains functional for older titles but nothing else.
For resolution and settings, the data implies a hard ceiling: 720p with medium-to-high settings in pre-2012 games is the realistic maximum. At 1080p, users must drop to low settings and accept frame rates that may dip below playable thresholds in demanding scenes. The card is not suitable for 1440p or higher resolutions, as the 1 GB memory and 134.4 GB/s bandwidth cannot sustain the necessary data throughput. Enthusiasts collecting retro hardware may find it interesting, but as a daily driver, the HD 6870 is outclassed by even the weakest modern integrated graphics. The Passmark G2D score of 418 indicates basic 2D desktop work is fine, but any 3D workload will expose the card's age.
Benchmark Performance
The HD 6870's average benchmark score of 536 is the central datum, but its nearest rivals reveal a tightly clustered field. Compared to the AMD Radeon HD 6770M, the HD 6870 trails by 5.8%, as the mobile part scores 569. This is a surprising result, as the desktop card has a higher TDP and larger die, yet the data shows the mobile chip outperforms it in average score. The gap is narrow enough to be within run-to-run variance, but it undermines any expectation of desktop superiority.
Against the AMD Radeon HD 6750M, the HD 6870 leads by 10.7%, with the mobile part averaging 484. This margin is more substantial, indicating a clear performance tier separation despite the HD 6870's lower score than the 6770M. The AMD Radeon HD 6850, a direct desktop sibling, scores 459, placing the HD 6870 a significant 16.9% ahead. This delta is the largest among its rivals and confirms that, within the same generation, the HD 6870 holds a meaningful performance advantage over the lower-tier desktop part. Finally, the AMD Radeon HD 6450 scores 635, which is 15.6% higher than the HD 6870, a counterintuitive outcome given the 6450's lower positioning; the data suggests architectural or driver optimizations favor the entry-level card in these specific benchmarks.
The Passmark sub-scores reinforce the overall picture. The DirectX 10 score of 15 and DirectX 11 score of 16 are minuscule, indicating poor real-world gaming performance in any API newer than DirectX 9, where the score of 53 is still low but comparatively better. The GPU compute score of 1042 is higher than the DirectX scores, but still negligible for modern compute tasks. The 2.016 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is a theoretical peak that the benchmark results show is rarely approached in practice.
FAQ
Q: What is the average benchmark score of the AMD Radeon HD 6870?
A: The average benchmark score is 536, placing it at the 2nd percentile of all GPUs.
Q: How does the HD 6870 compare to the AMD Radeon HD 6850?
A: The HD 6870 is 16.9% ahead of the HD 6850 in average benchmark score (536 vs. 459).
Q: Does the HD 6870 support DirectX 12?
A: No, its DirectX 12 benchmark score is 0, and it only supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) per its API specifications.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the HD 6870?
A: The memory bandwidth is 134.4 GB/s, using 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit bus.
Q: Which rival card scores higher than the HD 6870?
A: The AMD Radeon HD 6770M (score 569) and AMD Radeon HD 6450 (score 635) both have higher average scores, by 5.8% and 15.6% respectively.
Q: What is the pixel rate of the HD 6870?
A: The pixel rate is 28.80 GPixel/s, with a texture rate of 50.40 GTexel/s.
How It Compares
Against the AMD Radeon HD 6770M, the HD 6870 falls short by 5.8%, a narrow margin that suggests the mobile part is surprisingly competitive. The 6770M's higher score (569 vs. 536) indicates that thermal and power constraints did not hinder its benchmark performance relative to the desktop card, making the HD 6870's desktop advantage moot in this comparison.
The AMD Radeon HD 6750M is a clearer victory for the HD 6870, which leads by 10.7%. With the mobile part scoring 484, the HD 6870 demonstrates a solid performance gap that justifies its desktop positioning, though both cards are firmly in the legacy category.
The AMD Radeon HD 6850 is the HD 6870's closest desktop rival, and the data shows a definitive 16.9% advantage for the HD 6870. This is the largest delta among the listed rivals, confirming that the extra shading units and higher clocks translate into measurable performance gains within the same architecture family.
The AMD Radeon HD 6450 presents an anomaly, scoring 635 and beating the HD 6870 by 15.6%. Despite being a lower-tier product, its benchmark results are higher, which may reflect driver maturity or specific workload optimizations in the Passmark tests; the data does not explain this outcome, but it challenges any assumption that higher model numbers always equate to better performance.
Power and Cooling
The HD 6870 has a TDP of 151 W, which is modest by modern standards but still requires adequate cooling. The card is dual-slot and measures 247 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 36 mm in width, making it a compact design for its era. The suggested PSU is 450 W, which is reasonable for a system with this card, and it draws power via 2x 6-pin connectors.
The 40 nm process node from TSMC, with 1,700 million transistors on a 255 mm² die, results in a transistor density of 6.7M / mm². This density is low by today's standards, but it was typical for the time. The dual-slot cooler is necessary to dissipate the 151 W of heat, and the card's dimensions suggest it will fit in most mid-tower cases, but users should verify clearance. The PCIe 2.0 x16 interface is sufficient for the card's bandwidth needs, and the power requirements are consistent with other cards of its generation.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 6870 has no dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, as these features did not exist in the TeraScale 2 architecture. Its API support includes DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, but no Vulkan support is listed. This limits the card to legacy DirectX 11 and earlier titles; modern games requiring DirectX 12 or Vulkan will not run.
The shading units number 1120, with 56 TMUs and 32 ROPs, providing a theoretical pixel rate of 28.80 GPixel/s and texture rate of 50.40 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 2.016 TFLOPS, which is the peak compute capability. For display outputs, the card offers 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.1, supporting multi-monitor setups of the era. The lack of Vulkan is a critical omission, as it rules out compatibility with a wide range of modern games that rely on this API. The DirectX 12 score of 0 in benchmarks confirms that no functionality is available in that API, making the HD 6870 strictly a pre-2013 gaming solution.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6870
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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