Quadro K4200 vs Radeon HD 7870 XT
Quadro K4200
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 7870 XT
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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 7870 XT is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Quadro K4200 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| 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 (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Quadro K4200 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Quadro K4200 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $270), it costs 81% less, resulting in a 423.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+423.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($270) |
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 Quadro K4200 and Radeon HD 7870 XT
Quadro K4200
The Quadro K4200 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 22 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 771 MHz to 784 MHz. It has 1344 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 108W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,332 points. Launch price was $854.99.
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
The Quadro K4200 scores 4,332 and the Radeon HD 7870 XT reaches 4,470 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro K4200 is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 7870 XT uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,344 (Quadro K4200) vs 1,536 (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Raw compute: 2.107 TFLOPS (Quadro K4200) vs 2.995 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Boost clocks: 784 MHz vs 975 MHz.
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 4,332 | 4,470+3% |
| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1344 | 1536+14% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.107 TFLOPS | 2.995 TFLOPS+42% |
| Boost Clock | 784 MHz | 975 MHz+24% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 112+17% | 96 |
| L1 Cache | 112 KB | 384 KB+243% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
The Quadro K4200 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7870 XT has 2 GB. The Quadro K4200 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 256-bit+300% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12_0 (Quadro K4200) vs 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12_0 | 12 (11_1) |
| Max Displays | 3 | 4+33% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 2nd Gen (Quadro K4200) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Decoder: NVDEC 1st Gen vs UVD 3.2.
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 2nd Gen | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | NVDEC 1st Gen | UVD 3.2 |
| Codecs | — | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Quadro K4200 draws 108W versus the Radeon HD 7870 XT's 185W — a 52.6% difference. The Quadro K4200 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro K4200) vs 500W (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 241mm vs 267mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 108W-42% | 185W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-30% | 500W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 241mm | 267mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80 |
| Perf/Watt | 40.1+66% | 24.2 |
Value Analysis
The Quadro K4200 launched at $0 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 7870 XT launched at $270 and now averages $270. The Quadro K4200 costs 81.5% less ($220 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 86.6 (Quadro K4200) vs 16.6 (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — the Quadro K4200 offers 421.7% better value. The Quadro K4200 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | Quadro K4200 | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $0-100% | $270 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-81% | $270 |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.6+422% | 16.6 |
| Codename | GK104 | Tahiti |
| Release | July 22 2014 | November 19 2012 |
| Ranking | #475 | #469 |
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