Radeon HD 3870 X2
GPU·Budget

Radeon HD 3870 X2

AMD

G3D Mark

587

MSRP

$449

AVG Price

$40

August 12 2008
286 Watt
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 Radeon HD 3870 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: 587 points. Launch price was $550.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Radeon HD 3870 X2 is positioned at rank #327 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 3870 X2

#1
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
MSRP: $399|Avg: $280
5537%
#2
GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
5320%
#3
Radeon RX 5600 XT
MSRP: $279|Avg: $180
5258%
#4
Radeon RX 9060
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
5249%
#5
GeForce RTX 5050
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
5238%
#6
GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
MSRP: $249|Avg: $150
5208%
#7
Arc A580
MSRP: $179|Avg: $179
5143%
#8
Radeon RX 9060 XT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
5124%
#9
Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
5076%
#10
Radeon RX 7600
MSRP: $269|Avg: $250
5063%
#11
Radeon RX 6600
MSRP: $329|Avg: $180
5002%
#12
GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
4991%
#13
Arc B570
MSRP: $219|Avg: $219
4901%
#14
Arc B580
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
4898%
#312
Radeon R5 430 OEM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $13
6107%
#327
Radeon HD 3870 X2
MSRP: $449|Avg: $40
100%
#329
GeForce 7950 GT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $50
89%
#330
RADEON X550XT
MSRP: $50|Avg: $40
85%
#334
Radeon X1650 Pro
MSRP: $100|Avg: $15
65%
#336
RADEON X550
MSRP: $60|Avg: $10
65%
#337
Radeon HD 8350
MSRP: $200|Avg: $39
63%
#339
Radeon X1950 GT
MSRP: $140|Avg: $49
58%
#340
GeForce 6600 GT
MSRP: $199|Avg: $50
55%
#341
RADEON X600 PRO
MSRP: $99|Avg: $10
52%
#342
Radeon X1600 Pro
MSRP: $149|Avg: $49
50%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of Radeon HD 3870 X2 specifications and capabilities.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 3870 X2 scores 587 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: R700), manufactured on a 55 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 800 ×2 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 40 ×2 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 16 ×2 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 1.12 TFLOPS ×2 — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score587
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generationTeraScale (2005−2013)
CodenameInternal GPU die codenameR700
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient55 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute800 ×2
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling40 ×2
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending16 ×2
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency700 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance1.12 TFLOPS ×2
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second28.00 ×2 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generationPCIe 1.1 x16
Transistor Count956 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#796
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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD 3870 X2 is equipped with 0.5 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 64-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures0.5 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 Radeon HD 3870 X2 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— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
FSR Frame Generation❌ Not Supported
AMD Fluid Motion Frames❌ Not Supported
FidelityFX Super Resolution✅ Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version10.1
Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL)OpenCL 1.0
Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink supportCrossFire
🖥️

Display & Media

Display outputs: DVIx 0, S-Videox 1 — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: UVD+, decoder: UVD+— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
0 PortsNumber of 0 display connectorsDVIx
1 PortsNumber of 1 display connectorsS-Videox
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors2
Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine versionUVD+
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine versionUVD+
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Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 3870 X2 draws 286 Watt under load (TDP) — a 550W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. Physical size: 267mm long, occupying 2 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
TDPPower consumption under load286 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage550W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance267mm
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied2-slot
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Value Analysis

At an average price of $40 (MSRP: $449), the Radeon HD 3870 X2 delivers 15 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #327 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #796 among all indexed GPUs.

SpecificationRadeon HD 3870 X2
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$449
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days$40
Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position#327
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#796
Release DateAugust 12 2008
Release Year2008

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