GeForce GTX 275 vs Radeon HD 4870
GeForce GTX 275
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Radeon HD 4870
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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 GeForce GTX 275 is positioned at rank 217 and the Radeon HD 4870 is on rank 241, so the GeForce GTX 275 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 275
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 2.7% higher G3D Mark score and 128.6% more VRAM (2 GB vs 896 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 275.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+128.6%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 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 $249), it costs 90% less, resulting in a 923.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+923.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($249) | ✅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 GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4870
GeForce GTX 275
The GeForce GTX 275 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 15 2009. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 633 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 219W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,349 points. Launch price was $249.
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 GeForce GTX 275 scores 1,349 and the Radeon HD 4870 reaches 1,386 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 275 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon HD 4870 uses TeraScale, both on a 55 nm process. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 275) vs 800 (Radeon HD 4870). Raw compute: 0.6739 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 275) vs 1.2 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 4870).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,349 | 1,386+3% |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 800+233% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6739 TFLOPS | 1.2 TFLOPS+78% |
| ROPs | 28+75% | 16 |
| TMUs | 80+100% | 40 |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 275 comes with 896 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 4870 has 2 GB. The Radeon HD 4870 offers 128.6% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 224 KB (GeForce GTX 275) vs 256 KB (Radeon HD 4870) — the Radeon HD 4870 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.875 GB | 2 GB+129% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Media & Encoding
Supported codecs: MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264 (GeForce GTX 275) vs H.264 (Radeon HD 4870).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | No | — |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP2 | — |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264 | H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 275 draws 219W versus the Radeon HD 4870's 150W — a 37.4% difference. The Radeon HD 4870 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 275) vs 500W (Radeon HD 4870). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 219W | 150W-32% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 500W-9% |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 267mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 6.2 | 9.2+48% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 275 launched at $249 MSRP and currently averages $249, while the Radeon HD 4870 launched at $299 and now averages $25. The Radeon HD 4870 costs 90% less ($224 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 5.4 (GeForce GTX 275) vs 55.4 (Radeon HD 4870) — the Radeon HD 4870 offers 925.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 275 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 275 | Radeon HD 4870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $249-17% | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $249 | $25-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.4 | 55.4+926% |
| Codename | GT200B | RV770 |
| Release | January 15 2009 | June 25 2008 |
| Ranking | #789 | #784 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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