Radeon HD 7870 XT vs Tesla K20c

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar Tesla K20c

#310

Tesla K20m

MSRP: $3199|Avg: $55

10628%

#325

Tesla K20c

MSRP: $3199|Avg: $500

100%

#326

GRID M6-1Q

MSRP: $1500|Avg: $100

99%

#327

Quadro FX 380

MSRP: $129|Avg: $15

99%

#328

Tesla C2050 / C2070

MSRP: $2499|Avg: $30

99%

#329

FirePro M7740

MSRP: $500|Avg: $500

96%

#330

Quadro FX 570

MSRP: $199|Avg: $15

94%

#331

RTXA5000-24Q

MSRP: $3721|Avg: $2100

93%

#332

GRID P40-1Q

MSRP: $3000|Avg: $150

92%

#334

Tesla C2050

MSRP: $2499|Avg: $95

91%

#335

Tesla M10

MSRP: $2500|Avg: $500

91%

#336

FirePro S10000

MSRP: $3599|Avg: $500

91%

#337

Quadro FX 3450

MSRP: $119|Avg: $30

90%

#338

GRID P40-24Q

MSRP: $5699|Avg: $200

89%

#339

Quadro 4000

MSRP: $1199|Avg: $30

88%

#340

FireStream 9250

MSRP: $999|Avg: $49

84%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

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 0.9% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Tesla K20c.

Insight	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
Performance	✅Leading raw performance (+0.9%)	❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.9%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	✅ More VRAM (+0%)
Efficiency	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt	⚡ Higher Power Consumption
Case Fit	Standard Size (267mm)	Standard Size (267mm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon HD 7870 XT offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 7870 XT holds the technical lead. Priced at $270 (vs $500), it costs 46% less, resulting in a 86.8% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+86.8%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($270)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($500)

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.

Radeon HD 7870 XT Benchmark Check

Tesla K20c Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 7870 XT and Tesla K20c

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.

Tesla K20c

The Tesla K20c is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 12 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 706 MHz. It has 2496 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,432 points. Launch price was $3,199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 7870 XT scores 4,470 and the Tesla K20c reaches 4,432 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7870 XT is built on GCN 1.0 while the Tesla K20c uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 2,496 (Tesla K20c). Raw compute: 2.995 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 3.524 TFLOPS (Tesla K20c).

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
G3D Mark Score	4,470	4,432
Architecture	GCN 1.0	Kepler
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1536	2496+63%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.995 TFLOPS	3.524 TFLOPS+18%
ROPs	32	40+25%
TMUs	96	208+117%
L1 Cache	384 KB+85%	208 KB
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	1.25 MB+150%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
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 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 1.25 MB (Tesla K20c) — the Tesla K20c has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	256-bit+300%	64-bit
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	1.25 MB+150%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 11_0 (Tesla K20c). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
DirectX	12 (11_1)+9%	11_0
Max Displays	4	0

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 7870 XT draws 185W versus the Tesla K20c's 225W — a 19.5% difference. The Radeon HD 7870 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 350W (Tesla K20c). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
TDP	185W-18%	225W
Recommended PSU	500W	350W-30%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	267mm	267mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80	—
Perf/Watt	24.2+23%	19.7

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon HD 7870 XT launched at $270 MSRP and currently averages $270, while the Tesla K20c launched at $3199 and now averages $500. The Radeon HD 7870 XT costs 46% less ($230 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 16.6 (Radeon HD 7870 XT) vs 8.9 (Tesla K20c) — the Radeon HD 7870 XT offers 86.5% better value.

Feature	Radeon HD 7870 XT	Tesla K20c
MSRP	$270-92%	$3199
Avg Price (30d)	$270-46%	$500
Performance per Dollar	16.6+87%	8.9
Codename	Tahiti	GK110
Release	November 19 2012	November 12 2012
Ranking	#469	#549