Radeon HD 4870 X2 vs GeForce GTX 280
Radeon HD 4870 X2
Popular choices:
GeForce GTX 280
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 Radeon HD 4870 X2 is positioned at rank 302 and the GeForce GTX 280 is on rank 314, so the Radeon HD 4870 X2 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 GeForce GTX 280
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.9% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 280.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.9%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) |
| 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) | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 4870 X2 holds the technical lead. Priced at $550 (vs $649), it costs 15% less, resulting in a 20.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+20.2%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($550) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($649) |
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 GeForce GTX 280
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.
GeForce GTX 280
The GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 236W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,285 points. Launch price was $649.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 scores 1,309 and the GeForce GTX 280 reaches 1,285 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is built on TeraScale while the GeForce GTX 280 uses Tesla 2.0, both on 55 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 800 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 240 (GeForce GTX 280). Raw compute: 1.12 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,309+2% | 1,285 |
| Architecture | TeraScale | Tesla 2.0 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 65 nm |
| Shading Units | 800 ×2+233% | 240 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.12 TFLOPS ×2+80% | 0.6221 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16 ×2 | 32+100% |
| TMUs | 40 ×2 | 80+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 1 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 10.1 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 280). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 10.1 | 11.1 (10_0)+10% |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: UVD 2 vs PureVideo HD (VP2). Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 280).
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | None |
| Decoder | UVD 2 | PureVideo HD (VP2) |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 draws 286W versus the GeForce GTX 280's 236W — a 19.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 280 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 280). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 85.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 286W | 236W-17% |
| Recommended PSU | 650W | 550W-15% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 267mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 90°C | 85-6% |
| Perf/Watt | 4.6 | 5.4+17% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 4870 X2 launched at $550 MSRP and currently averages $550, while the GeForce GTX 280 launched at $649 and now averages $649. The Radeon HD 4870 X2 costs 15.3% less ($99 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.4 (Radeon HD 4870 X2) vs 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) — the Radeon HD 4870 X2 offers 20% better value.
| Feature | Radeon HD 4870 X2 | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $550-15% | $649 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $550-15% | $649 |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.4+20% | 2.0 |
| Codename | R700 | GT200 |
| Release | August 12 2008 | June 16 2008 |
| Ranking | #796 | #802 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon HD 4870 X2 and GeForce GTX 280
