Radeon HD 7870M
VS
Radeon RX Vega 8

Radeon HD 7870M vs Radeon RX Vega 8

AMD

Radeon HD 7870M

2012Core: 800 MHz
VS
AMD

Radeon RX Vega 8

2018Core: 720 MHzBoost: 1190 MHz

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. The Radeon HD 7870M is positioned at rank #122 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 7870M

#112
Radeon RX 550X (móvel)
MSRP: $35|Avg: $35
288%
#114
261%
#115
261%
#119
GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50
237%
#120
Radeon RX 6300
MSRP: $60|Avg: $40
235%
#122
Radeon HD 7870M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#123
Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
MSRP: $150|Avg: $150
100%
#126
GeForce GT 550M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $30
99%
#131
GeForce GT 335M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $25
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The Radeon RX Vega 8 is significantly newer (2018 vs 2012). The Radeon RX Vega 8 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 7870M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon RX Vega 8 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 7870M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.

InsightRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
Performance
Lower raw frame rates (-2.2%)
Leading raw performance (+2.2%)
Longevity
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2018 / GCN 5.0 (2017−2020))
Ecosystem
Supports FSR Upscaling
Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM
✅ More VRAM (+100+%)
❌ Less VRAM capacity
Efficiency
⚡ Higher Power Consumption
💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit

💎 Value Proposition

While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon RX Vega 8 remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.

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 7870M and Radeon RX Vega 8

AMD

Radeon HD 7870M

The Radeon HD 7870M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,507 points.

AMD

Radeon RX Vega 8

The Radeon RX Vega 8 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in February 1 2018. It features the GCN 5.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 720 MHz to 1190 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,540 points.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 7870M scores 1,507 and the Radeon RX Vega 8 reaches 1,540 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7870M is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon RX Vega 8 uses GCN 5.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 640 (Radeon HD 7870M) vs 512 (Radeon RX Vega 8).

FeatureRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
G3D Mark Score
1,507
1,540+2%
Architecture
GCN 1.0
GCN 5.0
Process Node
28 nm
14 nm
Shading Units
640+25%
512
ROPs
16+100%
8
TMUs
40+25%
32

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
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 7870M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX Vega 8 has 0 MB. The Radeon HD 7870M offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs System.

FeatureRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
VRAM Capacity
2 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
Shared
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
System
System
Bus Width
System
System
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 7870M draws 45W versus the Radeon RX Vega 8's 15W — a 100% difference. The Radeon RX Vega 8 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 7870M) vs 1W (Radeon RX Vega 8). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated.

FeatureRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
TDP
45W
15W-67%
Recommended PSU
350W
1W-100%
Power Connector
1x 6-pin
Integrated
Temp (Load)
85°C
Perf/Watt
33.5
102.7+207%
💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon RX Vega 8 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2012).

FeatureRadeon HD 7870MRadeon RX Vega 8
MSRP
$0
Avg Price (30d)
$0
Codename
Heathrow
Vega
Release
April 24 2012
February 1 2018
Ranking
#765
#372