Radeon HD 4870 X2 vs FirePro M5950
Radeon HD 4870 X2
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FirePro M5950
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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 X2 is positioned at rank 302 and the FirePro M5950 is on rank 181, so the FirePro M5950 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 X2
Performance Per Dollar FirePro M5950
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The FirePro M5950 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 4870 X2.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The FirePro M5950 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the FirePro M5950 holds the technical lead. Priced at $200 (vs $550), it costs 64% less, resulting in a 176.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+176.1%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($550) | ✅More affordable ($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 Radeon HD 4870 X2 and FirePro M5950
Radeon HD 4870 X2
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 12 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 800 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 286W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,309 points. Launch price was $550.
FirePro M5950
The FirePro M5950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 4 2011. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 35W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,314 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 scores 1,309 and the FirePro M5950 reaches 1,314 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is built on TeraScale while the FirePro M5950 uses TeraScale 2, both on 55 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 800 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 480 (FirePro M5950). Raw compute: 1.12 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 0.696 TFLOPS (FirePro M5950).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,309 | 1,314 |
| Architecture | TeraScale | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 800 ×2+67% | 480 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.12 TFLOPS ×2+61% | 0.696 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16 ×2+100% | 8 |
| TMUs | 40 ×2+67% | 24 |
| L1 Cache | 160 KB+233% | 48 KB |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 1 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 10.1 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 11.2 (FirePro M5950). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.1. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 5.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 10.1 | 11.2+11% |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 4.1+24% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 5+150% |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: UVD 2 vs UVD 3. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 Part 2 (FirePro M5950).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | None |
| Decoder | UVD 2 | UVD 3 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 Part 2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 draws 286W versus the FirePro M5950's 35W — a 156.4% difference. The FirePro M5950 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 350W (FirePro M5950). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 75°C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 286W | 35W-88% |
| Recommended PSU | 650W | 350W-46% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 267mm | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 1-50% |
| Temp (Load) | 90°C | 75°C-17% |
| Perf/Watt | 4.6 | 37.5+715% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 launched at $550 MSRP and currently averages $550, while the FirePro M5950 launched at $200 and now averages $200. The FirePro M5950 costs 63.6% less ($350 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.4 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 6.6 (FirePro M5950) — the FirePro M5950 offers 175% better value. The FirePro M5950 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | FirePro M5950 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $550 | $200-64% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $550 | $200-64% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.4 | 6.6+175% |
| Codename | R700 | Whistler |
| Release | August 12 2008 | January 4 2011 |
| Ranking | #796 | #795 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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