GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs Radeon HD 7870M
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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Radeon HD 7870M
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 7870M
Why is GeForce RTX 3060 Ti better than Radeon HD 7870M?
The matchup between the powerful GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and the legacy mobile flagship Radeon HD 7870M reveal over a decade of astronomical GPU progress. The RTX 3060 Ti is roughly 1000% faster, representing the jump from a core that pioneered 1080p stability to an iconic engine that masters 1440p Ultra and introduces world-class Ray Tracing depth.
Technically, these two share no ground. The RTX 3060 Ti features 8GB of dedicated fast memory and specialized cores for Ray Tracing and DLSS support. The Radeon HD 7870M is based on a legacy architecture and lacks the core count or feature set to handle modern games with any stability. Moving from any legacy device to a 30-series discrete desktop is a life-changing improvement, providing the speed and visual stability needed for high-end rendering and professional creative work in 2026.
There is no contest here; the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the absolute winner. it provides a level of detail and speed that turns the most demanding games into fluid, immersive experiences. The Radeon HD 7870M is now strictly piece of hardware history. If you are looking to revitalize your PC experience with a performance boost that is truly night and day, the 30-series discrete card is the superior and definitive choice.
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is significantly newer (2020 vs 2012). The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 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 GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1247.8% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (8 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 7870M.
| Insight | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1247.8%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1247.8%) |
| Longevity | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 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 GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and Radeon HD 7870M
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 4864 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 38 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $399.
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.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 20,312 versus the Radeon HD 7870M's 1,507 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 1247.8%. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 7870M uses GCN 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 4,864 (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 640 (Radeon HD 7870M). Raw compute: 16.2 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 1.024 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870M).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 20,312+1248% | 1,507 |
| Architecture | Ampere | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 4864+660% | 640 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 16.2 TFLOPS+1482% | 1.024 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 80+400% | 16 |
| TMUs | 152+280% | 40 |
| L1 Cache | 4.8 MB+2900% | 0.16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 0.25 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon HD 7870M relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | DLSS 2.0 | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7870M has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs System. L2 Cache: 4 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 0.25 MB (Radeon HD 7870M) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB+300% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | System |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | System |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 0.25 MB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti draws 200W versus the Radeon HD 7870M's 45W — a 126.5% difference. The Radeon HD 7870M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce RTX 3060 Ti) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7870M). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 45W-78% |
| Recommended PSU | 600W | 350W-42% |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 242mm | — |
| Height | 112mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 75 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 101.6+203% | 33.5 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon HD 7870M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $399 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $280 | — |
| Codename | GA104 | Heathrow |
| Release | December 1 2020 | April 24 2012 |
| Ranking | #73 | #765 |
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