Radeon HD 4870
GPU·Budget

Radeon HD 4870

AMD

G3D Mark

1,386

MSRP

$299

AVG Price

$25

June 25 2008
150 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 4870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 25 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 750 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,386 points. Launch price was $299.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Radeon HD 4870 is positioned at rank #241 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 4870

#1
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
MSRP: $399|Avg: $280
1563%
#2
GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1502%
#3
Radeon RX 5600 XT
MSRP: $279|Avg: $180
1484%
#4
Radeon RX 9060
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1482%
#5
GeForce RTX 5050
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1479%
#6
GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
MSRP: $249|Avg: $150
1470%
#7
Arc A580
MSRP: $179|Avg: $179
1452%
#8
Radeon RX 9060 XT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1447%
#9
Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1433%
#10
Radeon RX 7600
MSRP: $269|Avg: $250
1429%
#11
Radeon RX 6600
MSRP: $329|Avg: $180
1412%
#12
GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1409%
#13
Arc B570
MSRP: $219|Avg: $219
1384%
#14
Arc B580
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1383%
#99
Radeon Ryzen 7 4700U
MSRP: $450|Avg: $450
98%
#226
Radeon R5 430 OEM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $13
1724%
#241
Radeon HD 4870
MSRP: $299|Avg: $25
100%
#244
Radeon HD 7560D
MSRP: $101|Avg: $15
97%
#246
GeForce GTS 250
MSRP: $129|Avg: $20
95%
#248
GeForce G100
MSRP: $40|Avg: $5
95%
#249
Radeon R7 M265
MSRP: $130|Avg: $30
93%
#250
Radeon HD 8250
MSRP: $50|Avg: $50
91%
#251
Radeon HD 3300
MSRP: $30|Avg: $5
91%
#253
Radeon R5 220
MSRP: $35|Avg: $15
91%
#254
Radeon HD 7350
MSRP: $40|Avg: $10
89%
#255
GeForce GTX 285
MSRP: $359|Avg: $30
89%
#256
Radeon HD 7570
MSRP: $150|Avg: $150
87%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of Radeon HD 4870 specifications and capabilities.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 4870 scores 1,386 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: RV770), 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: 1.2 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.

SpecificationRadeon HD 4870
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score1,386
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generationTeraScale (2005−2013)
CodenameInternal GPU die codenameRV770
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 frequency750 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance1.2 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second30.00 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generationPCIe 1.1 x16
Transistor Count956 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#784
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD 4870 is equipped with 2 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 4870
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures2 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 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.

SpecificationRadeon HD 4870
FSR Frame Generation❌ Not Supported
AMD Fluid Motion Frames❌ Not Supported
FidelityFX Super Resolution✅ Supported
🖥️

Display & Media

Display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x S-Video. Supported codecs: H.264.

SpecificationRadeon HD 4870
DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors2x
S-Video PortsNumber of S-Video display connectors1x
CodecsSupported video compression formatsH.264
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 4870 draws 150 Watt under load (TDP) — a 500W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 2x 6-pin.

SpecificationRadeon HD 4870
TDPPower consumption under load150 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage500W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type2x 6-pin
💰

Value Analysis

At an average price of $25 (MSRP: $299), the Radeon HD 4870 delivers 55 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #241 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #784 among all indexed GPUs.

SpecificationRadeon HD 4870
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$299
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days$25
Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position#241
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#784
Release DateJune 25 2008
Release Year2008

Similar Performance

Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.

Our Recommendation for Radeon HD 4870

Suggested pairings based on performance balance

Compare Radeon HD 4870

See how this GPU stacks up against similar alternatives

Compare with other GPUs