CPU
GPU
FirePro M40003
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 4870
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The FirePro M40003 is positioned at rank 151 and the Radeon HD 4870 is on rank 241, so the FirePro M40003 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro M40003
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 4870
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 4870 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score. However, the FirePro M40003 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 4870 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 4870 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $72), it costs 65% less, resulting in a 192.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+192.6%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($72) | ✅More affordable ($25) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FirePro M40003 and Radeon HD 4870
FirePro M40003
The FirePro M40003 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 27 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 675 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,364 points.
Radeon HD 4870
The Radeon HD 4870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 25 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 750 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,386 points. Launch price was $299.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro M40003 scores 1,364 and the Radeon HD 4870 reaches 1,386 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro M40003 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon HD 4870 uses TeraScale, both on 28 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 512 (FirePro M40003) vs 800 (Radeon HD 4870). Raw compute: 0.6912 TFLOPS (FirePro M40003) vs 1.2 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 4870).
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,364 | 1,386+2% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 512 | 800+56% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6912 TFLOPS | 1.2 TFLOPS+74% |
| ROPs | 16 | 16 |
| TMUs | 32 | 40+25% |
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 160 KB+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The FirePro M40003 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 4870 has 2 GB. The FirePro M40003 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Media & Encoding
Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (FirePro M40003) vs H.264 (Radeon HD 4870).
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 1.0 | — |
| Decoder | UVD 4.0 | — |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 | H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro M40003 draws 33W versus the Radeon HD 4870's 150W — a 127.9% difference. The FirePro M40003 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro M40003) vs 500W (Radeon HD 4870). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 33W-78% | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-30% | 500W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 82mm | — |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 41.3+349% | 9.2 |
Value Analysis
The FirePro M40003 launched at $150 MSRP and currently averages $72, while the Radeon HD 4870 launched at $299 and now averages $25. The Radeon HD 4870 costs 65.3% less ($47 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 18.9 (FirePro M40003) vs 55.4 (Radeon HD 4870) — the Radeon HD 4870 offers 193.1% better value. The FirePro M40003 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2008).
| Feature | FirePro M40003 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-50% | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $72 | $25-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 18.9 | 55.4+193% |
| Codename | Chelsea | RV770 |
| Release | June 27 2012 | June 25 2008 |
| Ranking | #752 | #784 |
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