Mobility Radeon HD 4870
GPU·Budget

Mobility Radeon HD 4870

AMD

G3D Mark

720

MSRP

$299

AVG Price

$20

January 9 2009
TeraScale (2005−2013)

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.

Overview

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2009. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 550 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 720 points.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 is positioned at rank #621 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 Mobility Radeon HD 4870

#611
Radeon RX 550X (móvel)
MSRP: $35|Avg: $35
4505%
#613
4084%
#614
4073%
#618
GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50
3704%
#619
Radeon RX 6300
MSRP: $60|Avg: $40
3678%
#621
Mobility Radeon HD 4870
MSRP: $299|Avg: $20
100%
#622
GeForce 9800M GT
MSRP: $160|Avg: $5
99%
#623
98%
#624
Radeon HD 8550G + 8670M Dual
MSRP: $250|Avg: $40
96%
#625
GeForce 8300 GS
MSRP: $50|Avg: $50
95%
#626
94%
#627
93%
#628
GeForce 9500M GS
MSRP: $60|Avg: $15
92%
#629
GeForce 8800 GS
MSRP: $150|Avg: $40
91%
#631
Mobility Radeon X1700
MSRP: $49|Avg: $15
89%
#632
GeForce 9800 GTX+
MSRP: $229|Avg: $50
89%
#633
Mobility Radeon HD 560v
MSRP: $150|Avg: $30
88%
#634
GeForce 9300
MSRP: $60|Avg: $20
88%
#635
Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
MSRP: $899|Avg: $400
87%
#636
GeForce 8400M G
MSRP: $50|Avg: $20
87%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of Mobility Radeon HD 4870 specifications and capabilities.

Graphics Performance

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 scores 720 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Entry Level tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the TeraScale (2005−2013) architecture (codename: M98), manufactured on a 55 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 800 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 40 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 16 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 0.88 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score720
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generationTeraScale (2005−2013)
CodenameInternal GPU die codenameM98
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient55 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute800
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling40
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending16
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency550 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance0.88 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second22.00 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generationPCIe 1.1 x16
Transistor Count956 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#927
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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 is equipped with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 64-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures1 GB
VRAM TypeMemory technology generationGDDR5
Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth64-bit
Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate8 Gbps
BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAMUnknown
L1 Cache160 kB
L2 Cache256 kB

Advanced Features & APIs

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 supports modern upscaling and frame generation technologies: FidelityFX Super Resolution — these can dramatically boost effective FPS by generating intermediate frames or upscaling from lower internal resolution. Graphics API support: DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.3— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
FSR Frame Generation❌ Not Supported
AMD Fluid Motion Frames❌ Not Supported
FidelityFX Super Resolution✅ Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version10.1
OpenGLLegacy graphics API3.3
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Display & Media

Display outputs: — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors2
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine versionUVD 2.0
CodecsSupported video compression formatsH.264,VC-1,MPEG-2
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Power & Dimensions

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 draws 30W under load (TDP) — a 350W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: PCIe-powered. Physical size: , occupying 0 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
TDPPower consumption under load30W
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage350W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable typePCIe-powered
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied0-slot
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Value Analysis

At an average price of $20 (MSRP: $299), the Mobility Radeon HD 4870 delivers 36 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #621 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #927 among all indexed GPUs.

SpecificationMobility Radeon HD 4870
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$299
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days$20
Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position#621
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#927
Release DateJanuary 9 2009
Release Year2009

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