NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M is a mobile graphics solution built on the Kepler architecture, using the GK104 chip fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. With 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, this part targets high-end laptops from 2014 and sits in the 49th percentile of all GPUs in the database. Benchmark results place its average score at 11,173 points, derived from Geekbench OpenCL and Metal tests, and the data shows it remains a competent performer for its generation, though it is now clearly outclassed by modern parts.

Benchmark Performance

The GTX 870M delivers an average benchmark score of 11,173, which places it almost exactly in the middle of its immediate competitive set. In Geekbench Metal, it scores 9,715, while the OpenCL result is significantly higher at 12,630, indicating that compute-heavy workloads see a notable performance boost over graphics API tests. This spread suggests the card’s raw compute capabilities outpace its driver or feature utilization in Metal environments.

Against its nearest rivals, the GTX 870M is essentially neck-and-neck with several workstation and desktop parts. The AMD FirePro W4300 averages 11,187, a mere 0.1% ahead of the GTX 870M, making that matchup a statistical tie. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 scores 11,228, leading by 0.5%, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 desktop card posts 11,259, a 0.8% advantage. Conversely, the GTX 870M holds a 1.5% lead over the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, which averages 11,012. In practical terms, the GTX 870M is functionally indistinguishable from these four rivals in aggregate performance, with deltas all under 2%.

The FP32 throughput of 2.599 TFLOPS, combined with a texture rate of 108.3 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 27.08 GPixel/s, indicates that the card handles traditional rasterization workloads competently. The 1344 shading units and 112 texture mapping units provide ample parallel processing capacity for gaming at moderate settings, but the relatively low 24 ROPs become a bottleneck at high resolutions with heavy anti-aliasing. The data suggests that the GTX 870M is best suited for 1080p gaming, where its compute and texture resources can be fully utilized without overburdening the ROP pipeline.

Who Should Consider It

Given its benchmark positioning, the GTX 870M is appropriate for users running games at 1080p with medium to high detail settings, provided they are playing titles from its era or older. The 49th percentile ranking means it outperforms roughly half of all GPUs in the database, which translates to playable frame rates in most esports and older AAA titles at 1080p. For newer, more demanding releases, the card will require reduced settings or lower resolutions to maintain acceptable performance.

Users who prioritize compute tasks, such as OpenCL-accelerated applications, will find the GTX 870M more capable than its gaming reputation suggests, given the 12,630 OpenCL score. However, those seeking high-refresh-rate gaming or 1440p+ resolutions should look elsewhere, as the 120.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 192-bit bus will limit texture streaming and frame buffer throughput in demanding scenarios. The card is also viable for users with legacy software that relies on DirectX 11 or OpenGL 4.6, as the API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175, though the 11_0 feature level restricts advanced DirectX 12 effects.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GTX 870M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these features were introduced in later architectures. Consequently, the card lacks hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based upscaling capabilities. The Kepler architecture relies on traditional rasterization and compute shaders for rendering, meaning any ray tracing workloads would be handled in software with severe performance penalties, making them impractical for real-time use.

In terms of API support, the GTX 870M offers DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The DirectX 12 support is limited to the 11_0 feature level, which means it can run DirectX 12 titles but without the full feature set, such as mesh shaders or variable rate shading. Vulkan 1.2.175 provides broader compatibility with modern cross-platform engines, though performance will still be constrained by the older hardware. The card’s display outputs are portable device dependent, which is typical for MXM modules, and it connects via an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface.

How It Compares

The AMD FirePro W4300 is the closest competitor, with an average score of 11,187 versus the GTX 870M’s 11,173, a delta of only -0.1%. This effectively means the two perform identically in aggregate benchmarks. The FirePro is a workstation card, so the GTX 870M offers comparable compute performance while being designed for consumer gaming laptops.

The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 leads the GTX 870M by 0.5%, with an average score of 11,228. This margin is negligible in real-world usage, and the GTX 870M’s higher clock speeds (941 MHz base, 967 MHz boost) and larger memory bandwidth (120.0 GB/s) may give it an edge in texture-heavy workloads despite the lower aggregate score.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 is a desktop card that outperforms the GTX 870M by 0.8%, scoring 11,259. The GTX 760 benefits from a higher power envelope and potentially better cooling, but the GTX 870M is a mobile part with a 100 W TDP, making the performance gap remarkably small given the form factor differences.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M is the only rival the GTX 870M beats, with a 1.5% advantage (11,173 vs 11,012). This indicates that the GTX 870M is a modest generational improvement over its predecessor within the same mobile segment, though the difference is minor and unlikely to be noticeable without direct side-by-side testing.

FAQ

Q: Does the GTX 870M support hardware ray tracing?

A: No, the GTX 870M has no ray tracing cores, as it is based on the Kepler architecture, which predates hardware RT acceleration.

Q: How does the GTX 870M perform in OpenCL workloads?

A: The Geekbench OpenCL score is 12,630, which is notably higher than its Metal score of 9,715, indicating strong compute performance for its class.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the GTX 870M?

A: The average benchmark score is 11,173, placing it in the 49th percentile of all GPUs in the database.

Q: Is the GTX 870M faster than the GTX 780M?

A: Yes, by 1.5% in average benchmark scores, with the GTX 870M scoring 11,173 versus 11,012 for the GTX 780M.

Q: What DirectX version does the GTX 870M support?

A: It supports DirectX 12 (11_0), meaning it can run DirectX 12 titles but with the feature level of DirectX 11.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does the GTX 870M have?

A: The memory bandwidth is 120.0 GB/s, provided by 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus.

Power and Cooling

The GTX 870M has a TDP of 100 W, which is modest for a high-end mobile GPU of its generation. This power draw allows for thinner laptop designs, but it also limits sustained performance under heavy loads compared to desktop parts. The card uses an MXM Module slot width and requires no additional power connectors, drawing all power through the MXM-B (3.0) interface. This simplifies integration into laptops, but the lack of external power connectors means the system’s power delivery is entirely dependent on the motherboard design.

Cooling requirements are moderate given the 100 W TDP, and most laptops equipped with this GPU include dual-fan solutions or heat pipe assemblies. The 28 nm process node and 3,540 million transistor count contribute to the thermal profile, but the card’s boost clock of 967 MHz is relatively conservative, helping to manage temperatures. Users should ensure adequate airflow in their chassis, as sustained loads at the boost clock will generate substantial heat, though no specific PSU recommendation is provided in the data.

Memory Subsystem

The GTX 870M is equipped with 3 GB of GDDR5 memory operating at 1250 MHz, with an effective data rate of 5 Gbps. The memory bus is 192 bits wide, yielding a total bandwidth of 120.0 GB/s. This configuration is adequate for 1080p gaming in its era, but the 192-bit bus is narrower than some desktop rivals, which can limit performance at higher resolutions or with large texture packs.

For high-resolution gaming, the 3 GB frame buffer is a constraint, as modern titles at 1440p or above can exceed this capacity with high-quality textures. The 120.0 GB/s bandwidth also becomes a limiting factor when rendering at higher resolutions, as the GPU must fetch more data per frame. Given the card’s 49th percentile ranking and the modest bandwidth, the GTX 870M is best paired with 1080p displays and moderate settings. The GDDR5 type is standard for the era, and the memory clock of 1250 MHz is within normal ranges for Kepler-based parts, but the overall subsystem is not designed for future-proofing beyond its contemporary game titles.