Maxwell GPU Surface Book vs Radeon E8870PCIe
Maxwell GPU Surface Book
Popular choices:
Radeon E8870PCIe
Popular choices:
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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book is positioned at rank 230 and the Radeon E8870PCIe is on rank 327, so the Maxwell GPU Surface Book offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Maxwell GPU Surface Book
Performance Per Dollar Radeon E8870PCIe
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon E8870PCIe is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.7% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Maxwell GPU Surface Book.
| Insight | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Maxwell GPU Surface Book holds the technical lead. Priced at $75 (vs $200), it costs 63% less, resulting in a 162.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+162.2%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($75) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($200) |
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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book and Radeon E8870PCIe
Maxwell GPU Surface Book
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.
Radeon E8870PCIe
The Radeon E8870PCIe is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 25 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 575 MHz to 625 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 37W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,368 points.
Graphics Performance
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book scores 3,311 and the Radeon E8870PCIe reaches 3,368 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is built on Maxwell while the Radeon E8870PCIe uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) vs 640 (Radeon E8870PCIe). Boost clocks: 993 MHz vs 625 MHz.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,311 | 3,368+2% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 640+67% |
| Boost Clock | 993 MHz+59% | 625 MHz |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book draws 30W versus the Radeon E8870PCIe's 37W — a 20.9% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) vs 350W (Radeon E8870PCIe). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 30W-19% | 37W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 0mm | — |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 85 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 110.4+21% | 91.0 |
Value Analysis
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book launched at $150 MSRP and currently averages $75, while the Radeon E8870PCIe launched at $250 and now averages $200. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book costs 62.5% less ($125 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 44.1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) vs 16.8 (Radeon E8870PCIe) — the Maxwell GPU Surface Book offers 162.5% better value. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2014).
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book | Radeon E8870PCIe |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-40% | $250 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75-63% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 44.1+163% | 16.8 |
| Codename | Surface Book | Venus |
| Release | October 1 2015 | January 25 2014 |
| Ranking | #779 | #734 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Maxwell GPU Surface Book and Radeon E8870PCIe
