AMD Radeon HD 6870M
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6870M Specifications
Radeon HD 6870M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6870M 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 6870M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6870M'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 6870M by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6870M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6870M'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 6870M by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6870M, 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 6870M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6870M 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 6870M 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 6870M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6870M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6870M 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 6870M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6870M by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6870M 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 6870M. 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 6870M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6870M 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 6870M by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6870M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon HD 6870M
The AMD Radeon HD 6870M is a mobile graphics processor built on the TeraScale 2 architecture and fabricated by TSMC on a 40 nm process node. Its Granville chip integrates 1,040 million transistors across a 166 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 6.3M per mm². The card belongs to the Vancouver generation (HD 6800M) and is delivered as an MXM module using the MXM-B (3.0) bus interface. Released on January 3, 2011, the product is now end-of-life. The 50 W TDP positions it as a low-power mobile solution. With no launch MSRP recorded, the card is defined by its technical specifications and its standing in the benchmark database.
Memory Subsystem
The HD 6870M pairs 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit memory bus. The memory clock runs at 1000 MHz, which produces a 4 Gbps effective data rate and a total bandwidth of 64.00 GB/s. This is a compact memory configuration for a mobile part. The 128-bit bus limits the data that can move between the GPU and frame buffer in a single cycle, and 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth is a modest figure. For high-resolution workloads, the implications are clear: large frame buffers and high-resolution textures demand more bandwidth than this configuration can comfortably supply. The 1024 MB capacity is also a limiting factor. At high resolutions, memory usage can exceed 1 GB, forcing the driver to manage the frame buffer more aggressively. The pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s, driven by 16 ROPs, and the texture rate of 27.00 GTexel/s, driven by 40 TMUs, suggest the card is balanced for moderate resolutions. The 16 ROPs, in particular, cap the fill rate and can become a bottleneck in pixel-heavy scenes. Overall, the memory subsystem is adequate for its generation's mainstream mobile workloads, but it is not built for extreme resolutions or heavy texture packs.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 6870M has no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores — both fields are null in the FACT PACK. This is consistent with the TeraScale 2 architecture, which predates dedicated hardware for ray tracing or tensor operations. Consequently, the card offers no hardware-accelerated ray tracing and no AI acceleration. Any such workloads would fall back to the general-purpose shading units, with limited efficiency. The card supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4. Vulkan support is not listed, so the card is confined to the older API generation. DirectX 11.2 with feature level 11_0 includes tessellation and compute shaders, but it does not include the DirectX Raytracing API that requires DirectX 12. The feature set is completed by 800 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The display outputs are portable-device dependent, meaning the physical connectors are determined by the laptop manufacturer rather than the GPU itself. The MXM-B (3.0) interface allows the module to be swapped between compatible systems, though the end-of-life production status limits long-term driver support. For a card of this era, the absence of ray tracing and tensor cores is expected, but it does mean the HD 6870M is not suited to modern ray-traced workloads.
Benchmark Performance
The FACT PACK records an average benchmark score of 0 for the HD 6870M, meaning no benchmark results are stored in the database. The percentile standing is 50, placing the card at the exact median of all GPUs tracked. This is a meaningful signal: the card performs at the level of an average GPU in the database, neither in the top half nor the bottom half. The theoretical compute figures corroborate this mid-range positioning. The card delivers 1,080.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, a figure that comes from its 800 shading units. The pixel fill rate is 10.80 GPixel/s, generated by 16 ROPs, and the texture fill rate is 27.00 GTexel/s, generated by 40 TMUs. These rates are internally consistent with a balanced mid-range part. The 1,080.0 GFLOPS of compute is substantial for a 50 W mobile part, indicating that shader-heavy workloads can be handled reasonably well. However, the 16 ROPs limit the card's ability to write pixels quickly, which matters in high-resolution rendering. The absence of recorded benchmark scores means the percentile is the only direct performance comparison available. A percentile of 50 suggests that, across the entire GPU landscape in the database, the HD 6870M is a thoroughly average performer. It is not a high-end part, nor is it a low-end part; it sits squarely in the middle.
How It Compares
The nearestRivals field in the FACT PACK is empty, so no direct rival names, scores, or deltaPct values are available for comparison. This absence means the analysis must rely on the card's internal metrics. At the 50th percentile, the HD 6870M is positioned exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database. Half of all tracked GPUs are faster, and half are slower. This places the card in the mainstream mobile tier of its generation. The 800 shading units and 1,080.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute are consistent with a mid-range part. The 50 W TDP classifies it as a low-power component, suitable for thinner laptop chassis. The 1024 MB GDDR5 frame buffer and 64.00 GB/s bandwidth align with the memory expectations of a mainstream mobile GPU. Without rival data, no percentage deltas can be reported, and no rival names can be cited. The card's end-of-life status and lack of Vulkan support further define its competitive ceiling in modern workloads. In summary, the HD 6870M is a median performer with no recorded rivals in the dataset, defined by its balanced compute and modest memory configuration.
FAQ
Q: How much VRAM does the AMD Radeon HD 6870M have?
A: 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: Does the HD 6870M support hardware ray tracing?
A: No. The FACT PACK lists no RT cores and no tensor cores; the TeraScale 2 architecture predates dedicated ray tracing hardware.
Q: What API versions does the HD 6870M support?
A: DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4. Vulkan support is not listed.
Q: What is the memory clock speed?
A: 1000 MHz, which translates to 4 Gbps effective.
Q: What is the TDP of the HD 6870M?
A: 50 W, and it is an MXM module with an MXM-B (3.0) interface.
Q: What process node is the Granville chip built on?
A: TSMC's 40 nm process, with 1,040 million transistors on a 166 mm² die.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6870M
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