FireStream 9170 vs GRID K1

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.

FireStream 9170 vs GRID K1 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.

FireStream 9170 vs GRID K1: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

FireStream 9170

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,141 less on MSRP ($1,999 MSRP vs $4,140 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.3 vs 0.2 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $4,140 MSRP).
✅Measures 241mm instead of 267mm, a 26mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌2010 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

GRID K1

2013

Why buy it

✅More future proof: Kepler (2012−2018) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌2013 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
107.1% HIGHER MSRP
$4,140 MSRPvs$1,999 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.2 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($4,140 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
❌10.8% longer card at 267mm vs 241mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GRID K1 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.6% in PassMark G3D (651 vs 647), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

FireStream 9170 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

FireStream 9170 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $2,141 cheaper on MSRP at $1,999 vs $4,140, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 105.8% (0.3 vs 0.2), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GRID K1 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

FireStream 9170 vs GRID K1 Technical Specifications

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

FireStream 9170

The FireStream 9170 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 23 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 825 MHz. It has 1600 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 647 points.

GRID K1

The GRID K1 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 11 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 651 points. Launch price was $5,199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The FireStream 9170 scores 647 and the GRID K1 reaches 651 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FireStream 9170 is built on TeraScale 2 while the GRID K1 uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,600 (FireStream 9170) vs 1,536 (GRID K1). Raw compute: 2.64 TFLOPS (FireStream 9170) vs 2.289 TFLOPS ×2 (GRID K1).

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
G3D Mark Score	647	651
Architecture	TeraScale 2	Kepler
Process Node	40 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1600+4%	1536 ×2
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.64 TFLOPS+15%	2.289 TFLOPS ×2
ROPs	32	32 ×2
TMUs	80	128 ×2+60%
L1 Cache	160 KB+25%	128 KB
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards ship with 512 MB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the FireStream 9170 and 64-bit on the GRID K1.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	64-bit
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10.1 (FireStream 9170) vs 12_0 (GRID K1). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 0.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
DirectX	10.1	12_0+19%
Max Displays	2	0

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The FireStream 9170 draws 225W versus the GRID K1's 225W — a 0% difference. The GRID K1 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FireStream 9170) vs 350W (GRID K1). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 241mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
TDP	225W	225W
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	PCIe-powered
Length	241mm	267mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	—
Perf/Watt	2.9	2.9

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the FireStream 9170 came in at $1999, while the GRID K1 launched at $4140. On MSRP, FireStream 9170 was 51.7% cheaper ($2141 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.3 (FireStream 9170) vs 0.2 (GRID K1) — the FireStream 9170 offers 50% better value. The newer card here is GRID K1 (2013 vs 2010).

Feature	FireStream 9170	GRID K1
MSRP	$1999-52%	$4140
Performance per Dollar	0.3+50%	0.2
Codename	Cypress	GK104
Release	June 23 2010	May 11 2013
Ranking	#631	#611

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