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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅+502.2% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 171.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Radeon HD 7870 XT

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $329 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (4,470 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($270 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Radeon HD 7870 XT

2012

Why buy it

✅+502.2% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 171.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $329 less on MSRP ($270 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (4,470 vs 26,919).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($270 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than Radeon HD 7870 XT?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 4,470 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon HD 7870 XT is a 2012 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2012, 502.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 2 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4070 is about 121.9% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $270 MSRP, and you are getting 502.2% higher G3D Mark. Radeon HD 7870 XT really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon HD 7870 XT still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon HD 7870 XT is 2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 4,470 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

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 9800X3D 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.

GeForce RTX 4070 Benchmark Check

Radeon HD 7870 XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
1080p
low	183 FPS	77 FPS
medium	167 FPS	63 FPS
high	151 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	33 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	65 FPS
medium	124 FPS	54 FPS
high	110 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	24 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	24 FPS
medium	78 FPS	23 FPS
high	65 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	12 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon HD 7870 XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
1080p
low	544 FPS	126 FPS
medium	454 FPS	93 FPS
high	353 FPS	72 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	351 FPS	70 FPS
medium	288 FPS	48 FPS
high	235 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	24 FPS
4K
low	172 FPS	25 FPS
medium	144 FPS	17 FPS
high	125 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	10 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon HD 7870 XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
1080p
low	884 FPS	201 FPS
medium	713 FPS	161 FPS
high	643 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	569 FPS	101 FPS
1440p
low	684 FPS	151 FPS
medium	549 FPS	121 FPS
high	483 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	467 FPS	101 FPS
medium	373 FPS	80 FPS
high	326 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	50 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon HD 7870 XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
1080p
low	751 FPS	168 FPS
medium	612 FPS	138 FPS
high	536 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	615 FPS	120 FPS
medium	500 FPS	101 FPS
high	433 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	395 FPS	66 FPS
4K
low	384 FPS	71 FPS
medium	324 FPS	55 FPS
high	301 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4070 Open Radeon HD 7870 XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4070 and Radeon HD 7870 XT

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

Radeon HD 7870 XT

The Radeon HD 7870 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 19 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 925 MHz to 975 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 185W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,470 points. Launch price was $270.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Radeon HD 7870 XT's 4,470 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 502.2%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon HD 7870 XT uses GCN 1.0, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 1,536 (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Raw compute: 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2.995 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Boost clocks: 2475 MHz vs 975 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
G3D Mark Score	26,919+502%	4,470
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 1.0
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+283%	1536
Compute (TFLOPS)	29.15 TFLOPS+873%	2.995 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2475 MHz+154%	975 MHz
ROPs	64+100%	32
TMUs	184+92%	96
L1 Cache	5.8 MB+1426%	0.38 MB
L2 Cache	36 MB+7100%	0.5 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The Radeon HD 7870 XT lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon HD 7870 XT relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7870 XT has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 500% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 192 GB/s (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — a 162.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+500%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s+163%	192 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	36 MB+7100%	0.5 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
DirectX	12.2+2%	12 (11_1)
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs UVD 3.2. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Radeon HD 7870 XT).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	VCE 1.0
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	UVD 3.2
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the Radeon HD 7870 XT's 185W — a 7.8% difference. The Radeon HD 7870 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 500W (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 304mm vs 267mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7870 XT
TDP	200W	185W-8%
Recommended PSU	650W	500W-23%
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 6-pin
Length	304mm	267mm
Height	137mm	111mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80
Perf/Watt	134.6+456%	24.2

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599 MSRP, while the Radeon HD 7870 XT launched at $270. The Radeon HD 7870 XT costs 54.9% less ($329 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 16.6 (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 170.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2012).