Radeon HD 4870 vs GeForce GTX 275
Radeon HD 4870
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GeForce GTX 275
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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 4870 is positioned at rank 241 and the GeForce GTX 275 is on rank 217, so the GeForce GTX 275 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 4870
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 275
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 4870 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.7% higher G3D Mark score and 128.6% more VRAM (2 GB vs 896 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 275.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.7%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+128.6%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 4870 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 4870 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $249), it costs 90% less, resulting in a 923.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+923.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($25) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($249) |
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 4870 and GeForce GTX 275
Radeon HD 4870
The Radeon HD 4870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 25 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 750 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,386 points. Launch price was $299.
GeForce GTX 275
The GeForce GTX 275 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 15 2009. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 633 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 219W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,349 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 4870 scores 1,386 and the GeForce GTX 275 reaches 1,349 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 4870 is built on TeraScale while the GeForce GTX 275 uses Tesla 2.0, both on a 55 nm process. Shader units: 800 (Radeon HD 4870) vs 240 (GeForce GTX 275). Raw compute: 1.2 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 4870) vs 0.6739 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 275).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,386+3% | 1,349 |
| Architecture | TeraScale | Tesla 2.0 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 800+233% | 240 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.2 TFLOPS+78% | 0.6739 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16 | 28+75% |
| TMUs | 40 | 80+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB+14% | 224 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 4870 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 275 has 896 MB. The Radeon HD 4870 offers 128.6% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (Radeon HD 4870) vs 224 KB (GeForce GTX 275) — the Radeon HD 4870 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+129% | 0.875 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB+14% | 224 KB |
Media & Encoding
Supported codecs: H.264 (Radeon HD 4870) vs MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264 (GeForce GTX 275).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | No |
| Decoder | — | PureVideo HD VP2 |
| Codecs | H.264 | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 4870 draws 150W versus the GeForce GTX 275's 219W — a 37.4% difference. The Radeon HD 4870 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon HD 4870) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 275). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W-32% | 219W |
| Recommended PSU | 500W-9% | 550W |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 267mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 9.2+48% | 6.2 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 4870 launched at $299 MSRP and currently averages $25, while the GeForce GTX 275 launched at $249 and now averages $249. The Radeon HD 4870 costs 90% less ($224 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 55.4 (Radeon HD 4870) vs 5.4 (GeForce GTX 275) — the Radeon HD 4870 offers 925.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 275 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 | GeForce GTX 275 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $249-17% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-90% | $249 |
| Performance per Dollar | 55.4+926% | 5.4 |
| Codename | RV770 | GT200B |
| Release | June 25 2008 | January 15 2009 |
| Ranking | #784 | #789 |
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