Tesla K20c vs Radeon HD 7870 XT
Tesla K20c
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Radeon HD 7870 XT
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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. The Tesla K20c is positioned at rank #325 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Tesla K20c
Performance Per Dollar
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 | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| 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 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 | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+86.8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($500) | ✅More affordable ($270) |
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 Tesla K20c and Radeon HD 7870 XT
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.
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.
Graphics Performance
The Tesla K20c scores 4,432 and the Radeon HD 7870 XT reaches 4,470 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Tesla K20c is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 7870 XT uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,496 (Tesla K20c) vs 1,536 (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Raw compute: 3.524 TFLOPS (Tesla K20c) vs 2.995 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7870 XT).
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 4,432 | 4,470 |
| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2496+63% | 1536 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 3.524 TFLOPS+18% | 2.995 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 40+25% | 32 |
| TMUs | 208+117% | 96 |
| L1 Cache | 208 KB | 384 KB+85% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB+150% | 0.5 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 64-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 1.25 MB (Tesla K20c) vs 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — the Tesla K20c has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 256-bit+300% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB+150% | 0.5 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11_0 (Tesla K20c) vs 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 4.
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11_0 | 12 (11_1)+9% |
| Max Displays | 0 | 4 |
Power & Dimensions
The Tesla K20c draws 225W versus the Radeon HD 7870 XT's 185W — a 19.5% difference. The Radeon HD 7870 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Tesla K20c) vs 500W (Radeon HD 7870 XT). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 225W | 185W-18% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-30% | 500W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 267mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80 |
| Perf/Watt | 19.7 | 24.2+23% |
Value Analysis
The Tesla K20c launched at $3199 MSRP and currently averages $500, while the Radeon HD 7870 XT launched at $270 and now averages $270. The Radeon HD 7870 XT costs 46% less ($230 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 8.9 (Tesla K20c) vs 16.6 (Radeon HD 7870 XT) — the Radeon HD 7870 XT offers 86.5% better value.
| Feature | Tesla K20c | Radeon HD 7870 XT |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3199 | $270-92% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $500 | $270-46% |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.9 | 16.6+87% |
| Codename | GK110 | Tahiti |
| Release | November 12 2012 | November 19 2012 |
| Ranking | #549 | #469 |
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