AMD Radeon HD 7870M
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 7870M Specifications
Radeon HD 7870M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M 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 7870M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 7870M'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 7870M by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 7870M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 7870M'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 7870M by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 7870M, 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 7870M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 7870M 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.
GCN 1.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M is built on AMD's GCN 1.0 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 7870M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 7870M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 7870M 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 7870M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 7870M by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 7870M 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 7870M. 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 7870M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M 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 7870M by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 7870M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon HD 7870M
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M is a mobile graphics processor built on the GCN 1.0 architecture, using the Heathrow chip fabricated on TSMC's 28 nm process. The silicon packs 1,500 million transistors into a 123 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.2M per mm². This part belongs to the London (HD 7800M) generation, with a production status of end-of-life and a release date of April 23, 2012. It occupies the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the benchmark database, indicating a mid-pack standing. The predecessor is Vancouver and the successor is Solar System, though no specific benchmark scores or rival comparisons are available in the dataset.
Power and Cooling
The thermal design power (TDP) for the AMD Radeon HD 7870M is rated at 45 W. This figure is relatively modest for a discrete mobile GPU of its era, reflecting the efficiency targets of the 28 nm process node. The data does not specify a suggested PSU rating, which is typical for mobile parts where the system power delivery is integrated into the laptop design rather than a separate desktop power supply. Similarly, no power connector requirements are listed, and the slot width is unspecified, consistent with a portable device dependent form factor where the physical mounting and power delivery are determined by the host laptop chassis.
The memory operates at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective data rate, which contributes to the overall power envelope. The 45 W TDP covers the entire GPU including the 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. For thermal management, the data indicates this is an end-of-life product, meaning cooling solutions were designed for its specific power draw during its production lifetime. The lack of a suggested PSU recommendation is notable; in a mobile context, the laptop's power adapter and internal VRM design handle the GPU's requirements, and the 45 W figure suggests a mid-range thermal solution is adequate. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16, which has minimal impact on power delivery but influences the overall system integration. Benchmark results indicate that the power characteristics align with the 50th percentile performance standing, meaning the 45 W budget delivers average performance relative to the full GPU landscape.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these features were not part of the GCN 1.0 architecture. The shading workload is handled by 640 shading units, alongside 40 texture mapping units and 16 render output units. The pixel rate is 12.80 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 32.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute throughput is 1,024.0 GFLOPS, which represents the peak single-precision floating-point performance. No FP16 performance is listed, indicating that half-precision compute was not a highlighted capability for this architecture.
For API support, the GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 feature level is 11_1, which means it can run DirectX 12 titles but with the feature set of an earlier generation. The Vulkan version listed is 1.2.170, providing modern API access for compatible games. OpenGL 4.6 is fully supported for legacy and cross-platform applications. The display outputs are described as portable device dependent, meaning the actual connectors vary by laptop model. The absence of RT cores and tensor cores means the GPU relies entirely on traditional rasterization and compute shaders; any ray tracing effects in games would need to be implemented via software or compute-based methods, which is generally less efficient than dedicated hardware. The memory subsystem provides 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth from the 128-bit GDDR5 interface, which is a limiting factor for texture-heavy workloads but adequate for the 640 shading units at this performance tier.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the AMD Radeon HD 7870M is sparse; the average benchmark score is listed as 0, and the nearestRivals array is empty. This means no direct comparative percentages can be calculated against specific competing GPUs from the FACT PACK. The percentileVsAllGpus field places it at 50, indicating that it sits exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database. This percentile ranking suggests that the HD 7870M outperforms roughly half of all GPUs tracked, while being slower than the other half. Given the 1,024.0 GFLOPS FP32 throughput and 64.00 GB/s memory bandwidth, the performance profile is typical of a mid-range mobile part from the 2012 timeframe.
The lack of rival data constrains any detailed delta analysis. However, the 50th percentile standing provides context: a GPU at this level would be suitable for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings in older titles, but would struggle with demanding modern games at high resolutions. The texture rate of 32.00 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 12.80 GPixel/s are the key throughput metrics. Comparing within the architecture, the 640 shading units at a 1,024 GFLOPS peak deliver roughly 1.6 GFLOPS per shading unit, which is a balanced ratio for GCN 1.0. The 16 ROPs and 40 TMUs are proportionally modest, meaning fill-rate-bound scenarios could bottleneck the shader throughput. The memory bandwidth of 64 GB/s is a potential constraint; at 1080p, this bandwidth supports moderate texture filtering and framebuffer operations, but high-resolution textures or anti-aliasing may cause performance dips. Since no rival scores are available, the percentile rank is the primary comparative metric, indicating a median position that implies parity with the midpoint of the GPU performance distribution.
FAQ
Q: What is the thermal design power of the AMD Radeon HD 7870M?
A: The TDP is rated at 45 W.
Q: Does this GPU support ray tracing or have tensor cores?
A: No, the HD 7870M has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores; it relies on 640 shading units for all compute and rendering tasks.
Q: What is the memory configuration and bandwidth?
A: It features 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, running at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed, providing 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: Which APIs are supported?
A: The GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.
Q: How does it rank among all GPUs in the database?
A: It sits at the 50th percentile, meaning it performs better than half of all GPUs tracked and worse than the other half.
Q: What is the production status and release date?
A: The production status is end-of-life, and it was released on April 23, 2012.
Q: What is the peak single-precision compute performance?
A: The FP32 performance is 1,024.0 GFLOPS.
Who Should Consider It
The AMD Radeon HD 7870M is positioned for users who require a balanced mobile GPU for 1080p gaming at moderate settings. Its 50th percentile standing across all GPUs indicates that it can handle most titles from its era at medium quality presets, but the 64.00 GB/s memory bandwidth and 16 ROPs will limit performance at higher resolutions or with heavy anti-aliasing. For 1366x768 or 1600x900 panels, the GPU is more capable; the pixel rate of 12.80 GPixel/s is sufficient for these lower pixel counts, and the 1,024 GFLOPS shader throughput can sustain playable frame rates in older and less demanding games.
Gamers targeting 1080p should expect to lower settings to achieve smooth performance in contemporary titles, particularly those with high texture detail, as the 2 GB VRAM capacity is adequate but the bandwidth may be a bottleneck. For esports titles and less demanding multiplayer games, the HD 7870M provides a decent experience at medium settings. Users with workloads involving OpenGL or Vulkan applications will benefit from the modern API support (4.6 and 1.2.170 respectively), which extends the software compatibility beyond the DirectX 11 era. However, the lack of RT cores means any ray-traced effects will be compute-based, which is inefficient; users needing ray tracing should look at newer architectures. Given the end-of-life status, this GPU is relevant only for legacy systems or budget builds where the 45 W TDP is a consideration for thermal constraints. The 128-bit memory bus, while narrow, is paired with GDDR5 to deliver acceptable bandwidth for the 640 shading units, making the HD 7870M a reasonable choice for entry-level 1080p gaming at low-to-medium presets, or for 720p gaming at higher presets. The 50th percentile ranking underscores that it is neither a high-end nor a low-end part, but a true mid-range option that trades off absolute performance for a modest power envelope.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 7870M
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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