GeForce GTX 745 vs Radeon HD 6870
GeForce GTX 745
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 6870
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6870 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.8% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 745 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.8%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.8%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| 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 | Standard Size (247mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 745 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 745 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $50), it costs 50% less, resulting in a 92.7% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+92.7%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($25) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
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 745 and Radeon HD 6870
GeForce GTX 745
The GeForce GTX 745 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 18 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1020 MHz to 1085 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,126 points. Launch price was $119.
Radeon HD 6870
The Radeon HD 6870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 21 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The boost clock speed is 900 MHz. It has 1120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 151W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,206 points. Launch price was $239.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 745 scores 2,126 and the Radeon HD 6870 reaches 2,206 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 745 is built on Maxwell while the Radeon HD 6870 uses TeraScale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 512 (GeForce GTX 745) vs 1,120 (Radeon HD 6870). Raw compute: 1.111 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 745) vs 2.016 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6870). Boost clocks: 1085 MHz vs 900 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,126 | 2,206+4% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 512 | 1120+119% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.111 TFLOPS | 2.016 TFLOPS+81% |
| Boost Clock | 1085 MHz+21% | 900 MHz |
| ROPs | 16 | 32+100% |
| TMUs | 32 | 56+75% |
| L1 Cache | 256 KB+14% | 224 KB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 0.5 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 745 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6870 has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 745 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 745) vs 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 6870) — the GeForce GTX 745 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 80 GB/s | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 0.5 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 745) vs 11.0 (Radeon HD 6870). Vulkan: 1.4 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 6.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0)+9% | 11.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.4 | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.6+5% | 4.4 |
| Max Displays | 3 | 6+100% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 4th Gen (GeForce GTX 745) vs None (Radeon HD 6870). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs UVD 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 745) vs MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC (Radeon HD 6870).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 4th Gen | None |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP6 | UVD 3.0 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 745 draws 55W versus the Radeon HD 6870's 151W — a 93.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 745 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTX 745) vs 500W (Radeon HD 6870). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 145mm vs 247mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 55W-64% | 151W |
| Recommended PSU | 300W-40% | 500W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 145mm | 247mm |
| Height | 69mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-12% | 85 |
| Perf/Watt | 38.7+165% | 14.6 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 745 launched at $80 MSRP and currently averages $25, while the Radeon HD 6870 launched at $239 and now averages $50. The GeForce GTX 745 costs 50% less ($25 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 85.0 (GeForce GTX 745) vs 44.1 (Radeon HD 6870) — the GeForce GTX 745 offers 92.7% better value. The GeForce GTX 745 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2010).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 745 | Radeon HD 6870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-67% | $239 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-50% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 85.0+93% | 44.1 |
| Codename | GM107 | Barts |
| Release | February 18 2014 | October 21 2010 |
| Ranking | #559 | #661 |
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