GeForce GTX 560M vs Radeon HD 4870 X2

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 560M

2011Core: 775 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
AMD

Radeon HD 4870 X2

2008Core: 700 MHz
Similar parts
·······

GeForce GTX 560M vs Radeon HD 4870 X2 Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce GTX 560M vs Radeon HD 4870 X2 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.

GeForce GTX 560M vs Radeon HD 4870 X2: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

GeForce GTX 560M

2011

Why buy it

  • 200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs 1 GB).
  • Draws 75W instead of 286W, a 211W reduction.
  • More future proof: Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than Radeon HD 4870 X2 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 2011 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 2.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $550 MSRP).

Radeon HD 4870 X2

2008

Why buy it

  • 6.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 2.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($550 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 1 GB vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2008 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 281.3% higher power demand at 286W vs 75W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Radeon HD 4870 X2 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 6.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 2.2% in PassMark G3D (1,309 vs 1,281), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 560M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 3 GB vs 1 GB of VRAM, a 40nm process instead of 55nm, and a newer 2011 generation instead of 2008. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon HD 4870 X2 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon HD 4870 X2 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 560M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 560M vs Radeon HD 4870 X2 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 560M

The GeForce GTX 560M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 30 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 775 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,281 points.

AMD

Radeon HD 4870 X2

The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 12 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 800 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 286W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,309 points. Launch price was $550.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 560M scores 1,281 and the Radeon HD 4870 X2 reaches 1,309 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 560M is built on Fermi 2.0 while the Radeon HD 4870 X2 uses TeraScale, both on 40 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTX 560M) vs 800 (Radeon HD 4870 X2). Raw compute: 0.5952 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 560M) vs 1.12 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 4870 X2).

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
G3D Mark Score
1,281
1,309+2%
Architecture
Fermi 2.0
TeraScale
Process Node
40 nm
55 nm
Shading Units
192
800 ×2+317%
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.5952 TFLOPS
1.12 TFLOPS ×2+88%
ROPs
24+50%
16 ×2
TMUs
32
40 ×2+25%
L1 Cache
256 KB+60%
160 KB
L2 Cache
384 KB+50%
256 KB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 560M gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 4870 X2 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 560M has 3 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 4870 X2 carries 1 GB. GeForce GTX 560M gives you 200% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 560M and 64-bit on the Radeon HD 4870 X2. L2 Cache: 384 KB (GeForce GTX 560M) vs 256 KB (Radeon HD 4870 X2) — the GeForce GTX 560M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
VRAM Capacity
3 GB+200%
1 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
Unknown
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
384 KB+50%
256 KB
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 560M) vs 10.1 (Radeon HD 4870 X2). OpenGL: 4.0 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
DirectX
12 (11_0)+19%
10.1
OpenGL
4.0+21%
3.3
Max Displays
2
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs UVD 2. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 560M) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX (Radeon HD 4870 X2).

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
Encoder
PureVideo HD VP4
Decoder
PureVideo HD VP4
UVD 2
Codecs
H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP
H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 560M draws 75W versus the Radeon HD 4870 X2's 286W — a 116.9% difference. The GeForce GTX 560M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 560M) vs 650W (Radeon HD 4870 X2). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 90°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
TDP
75W-74%
286W
Recommended PSU
350W-46%
650W
Power Connector
1x 6-pin
1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
Length
267mm
Slots
0-100%
2
Temp (Load)
85°C-6%
90°C
Perf/Watt
17.1+272%
4.6
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 560M (2011 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce GTX 560MRadeon HD 4870 X2
MSRP
$550
Codename
GF116
R700
Release
May 30 2011
August 12 2008
Ranking
#804
#796

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.