Radeon HD 3870 vs Radeon R7 M265
Radeon HD 3870
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Radeon R7 M265
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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. The Radeon HD 3870 is positioned at rank 298 and the Radeon R7 M265 is on rank 249, so the Radeon R7 M265 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3870
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R7 M265
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R7 M265 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.4% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (4 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 3870.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 3870 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 3870 holds the technical lead. Priced at $15 (vs $30), it costs 50% less, resulting in a 97.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+97.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($15) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($30) |
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 Radeon HD 3870 and Radeon R7 M265
Radeon HD 3870
The Radeon HD 3870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 5 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 552 points. Launch price was $349.
Radeon R7 M265
The Radeon R7 M265 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in February 13 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 925 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 560 points. Launch price was $149.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 3870 scores 552 and the Radeon R7 M265 reaches 560 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 3870 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon R7 M265 uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD 3870) vs 1,024 (Radeon R7 M265). Raw compute: 2.56 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3870) vs 1.894 TFLOPS (Radeon R7 M265).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 552 | 560+1% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280+25% | 1024 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.56 TFLOPS+35% | 1.894 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80+25% | 64 |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB+25% | 256 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 3870 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R7 M265 has 4 GB. The Radeon R7 M265 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 4 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Media & Encoding
Supported codecs: H.264 (Radeon HD 3870) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon R7 M265).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | — | UVD 4.0 |
| Codecs | H.264 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 3870 draws 200W versus the Radeon R7 M265's 150W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon R7 M265 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (Radeon HD 3870) vs 350W (Radeon R7 M265). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Mobile.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 150W-25% |
| Recommended PSU | 300W-14% | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Mobile |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 2.8 | 3.7+32% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 3870 launched at $219 MSRP and currently averages $15, while the Radeon R7 M265 launched at $130 and now averages $30. The Radeon HD 3870 costs 50% less ($15 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 36.8 (Radeon HD 3870) vs 18.7 (Radeon R7 M265) — the Radeon HD 3870 offers 96.8% better value. The Radeon R7 M265 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3870 | Radeon R7 M265 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $219 | $130-41% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-50% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 36.8+97% | 18.7 |
| Codename | Pitcairn | Pitcairn |
| Release | March 5 2012 | February 13 2014 |
| Ranking | #460 | #489 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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