CPU
GPU
Radeon HD 8790M
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 4870 X2
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 8790M is positioned at rank 207 and the Radeon HD 4870 X2 is on rank 302, so the Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 4870 X2
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 0.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 8790M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon HD 4870 X2 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 8790M and Radeon HD 4870 X2
Radeon HD 8790M
The Radeon HD 8790M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 1 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,306 points.
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.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8790M scores 1,306 and the Radeon HD 4870 X2 reaches 1,309 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8790M is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon HD 4870 X2 uses TeraScale, both on 28 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 384 (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 800 (Radeon HD 4870 X2). Raw compute: 0.6912 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 1.12 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 4870 X2).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,306 | 1,309 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 800 ×2+108% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6912 TFLOPS | 1.12 TFLOPS ×2+62% |
| ROPs | 8 | 16 ×2+100% |
| TMUs | 24 | 40 ×2+67% |
| L1 Cache | 96 KB | 160 KB+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8790M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 4870 X2 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 8790M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+100% | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | Unknown |
| Bus Width | System | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (11_1) (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 10.1 (Radeon HD 4870 X2). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 2.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (11_1)+10% | 10.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.6+39% | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 0 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: UVD 3.0 vs UVD 2. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 8790M) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX (Radeon HD 4870 X2).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 1.0 | — |
| Decoder | UVD 3.0 | UVD 2 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4,DivX |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8790M draws 50W versus the Radeon HD 4870 X2's 286W — a 140.5% difference. The Radeon HD 8790M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8790M) vs 650W (Radeon HD 4870 X2). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 267mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 90°C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-83% | 286W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-46% | 650W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Length | 0mm | 267mm |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75-17% | 90°C |
| Perf/Watt | 26.1+467% | 4.6 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 8790M is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8790M | Radeon HD 4870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $550 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $550 |
| Codename | Mars | R700 |
| Release | April 1 2013 | August 12 2008 |
| Ranking | #797 | #796 |
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