FirePro V8700 vs Radeon R9 255

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.

FirePro V8700 vs Radeon R9 255 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

FirePro V8700 vs Radeon R9 255: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

FirePro V8700

2011

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Draws 150W instead of 190W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌2011 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
978.4% HIGHER MSRP
$1,499 MSRPvs$139 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.0 vs 10.8 G3D/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $139 MSRP).

Radeon R9 255

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,360 less on MSRP ($139 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 951.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 1.0 G3D/$ ($139 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅More future proof: GCN 3.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2014 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌26.7% higher power demand at 190W vs 150W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

FirePro V8700 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 2.5% in PassMark G3D (1,539 vs 1,501), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

FirePro V8700 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon R9 255 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,360 cheaper on MSRP at $139 vs $1,499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 951.8% (10.8 vs 1.0), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon R9 255 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, FirePro V8700 has the stronger long-term case.

FirePro V8700 vs Radeon R9 255 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

FirePro V8700

The FirePro V8700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 24 2011. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,539 points.

Radeon R9 255

The Radeon R9 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $249.

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Graphics Performance

The FirePro V8700 scores 1,539 and the Radeon R9 255 reaches 1,501 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro V8700 is built on TeraScale 3 while the Radeon R9 255 uses GCN 3.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (FirePro V8700) vs 1,792 (Radeon R9 255). Raw compute: 1.856 TFLOPS (FirePro V8700) vs 3.29 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 255).

Feature	FirePro V8700	Radeon R9 255
G3D Mark Score	1,539+3%	1,501
Architecture	TeraScale 3	GCN 3.0
Process Node	40 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1280	1792+40%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.856 TFLOPS	3.29 TFLOPS+77%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	80	112+40%
L1 Cache	320 KB	448 KB+40%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	FirePro V8700	Radeon R9 255
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The FirePro V8700 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 255 carries 2 GB. FirePro V8700 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the FirePro V8700 and 128-bit on the Radeon R9 255.

Feature	FirePro V8700	Radeon R9 255
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The FirePro V8700 draws 150W versus the Radeon R9 255's 190W — a 23.5% difference. The FirePro V8700 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro V8700) vs 400W (Radeon R9 255). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	FirePro V8700	Radeon R9 255
TDP	150W-21%	190W
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	1x 6-pin
Length	254mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	60	—
Perf/Watt	10.3+30%	7.9

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Value Analysis

At launch, the FirePro V8700 came in at $1499, while the Radeon R9 255 launched at $139. On MSRP, Radeon R9 255 was 90.7% cheaper ($1360 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 1.0 (FirePro V8700) vs 10.8 (Radeon R9 255) — the Radeon R9 255 offers 980% better value. The newer card here is Radeon R9 255 (2014 vs 2011).

Feature	FirePro V8700	Radeon R9 255
MSRP	$1499	$139-91%
Performance per Dollar	1.0	10.8+980%
Codename	Cayman	Tonga
Release	May 24 2011	September 2 2014
Ranking	#656	#365

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