Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) vs Radeon HD 7870M

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.

Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) vs Radeon HD 7870M 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.

Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) vs Radeon HD 7870M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 12W instead of 45W, a 33W reduction.
✅More future proof: Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2019 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Radeon HD 7870M

2012

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
✅Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD 7870M is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌275% higher power demand at 45W vs 12W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD 7870M is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.5% in PassMark G3D (1,507 vs 1,500), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

Radeon HD 7870M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon HD 7870M makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) vs Radeon HD 7870M Technical Specifications

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

Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)

The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in May 28 2019. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1100 MHz. It has 48 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 12W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,500 points.

Radeon HD 7870M

The Radeon HD 7870M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,507 points.

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Graphics Performance

The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) scores 1,500 and the Radeon HD 7870M reaches 1,507 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is built on Gen. 11 Ice Lake while the Radeon HD 7870M uses GCN 1.0, both on 10 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 48 (Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)) vs 640 (Radeon HD 7870M).

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)	Radeon HD 7870M
G3D Mark Score	1,500	1,507
Architecture	Gen. 11 Ice Lake	GCN 1.0
Process Node	10 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	48	640+1233%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)	Radeon HD 7870M
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7870M carries 2 GB. Radeon HD 7870M gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) and System on the Radeon HD 7870M.

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)	Radeon HD 7870M
VRAM Capacity	Shared System RAM	2 GB
Memory Type	Shared	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	System	System
Bus Width	System	System

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Power & Dimensions

The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) draws 12W versus the Radeon HD 7870M's 45W — a 115.8% difference. The Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7870M). Power connectors: Integrated vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)	Radeon HD 7870M
TDP	12W-73%	45W
Recommended PSU	1W-100%	350W
Power Connector	Integrated	1x 6-pin
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	85	—
Perf/Watt	125.0+273%	33.5

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU) (2019 vs 2012).

Feature	Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)	Radeon HD 7870M
MSRP	$0	—
Codename	Ice Lake G4 Gen. 11	Heathrow
Release	May 28 2019	April 24 2012
Ranking	#760	#765

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