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AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£80
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 175 W

AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.3

Technical Score

10.0%

8.0

User score

Poor
3.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.4

Performance

24.0%

3.1

Memory

12.0%

6.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.2

Design

4.0%

6.9

Connectivity & Media

Poor
8.0

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

6.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(119)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(126)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Excellent
  • 3.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • amd-radeon-hd-7870-ghz-edition
  • amd-radeon-hd-7870-ghz-edition
amd-radeon-hd-7870-ghz-edition
amd-radeon-hd-7870-ghz-edition

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is a performance-segment graphics card launched in 2012, featuring the 28 nm 'Pitcairn XT' GPU with 1,280 stream processors and a 1000 MHz core clock. It is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s and a TDP of 175W. Its main pros include excellent energy efficiency for its era, significant overclocking headroom, and high performance-per-dollar that allowed it to compete with high-end cards like the GTX 580 at launch. However, it faces notable cons such as its limited 2 GB VRAM being insufficient for modern titles, lack of support for advanced DirectX 12 feature levels (capped at 11_1), and a requirement for two 6-pin power connectors.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.4

Performance

24.0%

3.1

Memory

12.0%

6.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.2

Design

4.0%

6.9

Connectivity & Media

3.3
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a technical score of 3.34 points, which is lower than that of 94.9% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

6.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(119)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(126)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

8.0
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a user score of 8.05 points, which is higher than that of 66.1% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
6.8
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a popularity of 6.8 points, which is higher than 68.2% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.7
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.7 points, which is lower than 87.7% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

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Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

2.56 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition delivers 2.56 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 95.1% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
Show more
VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

2 GB
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has 2 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94.5% of graphics cards and equal to 3.9% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

153.6 GB/s
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition reaches 153.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 91.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

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DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

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OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.2
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports OpenGL 4.2, which is older than on 99.7% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

6
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports up to 6 displays, which is more than 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 1.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

4096x2160
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports a maximum digital resolution of 4096x2160, which is lower than that of 56.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.4% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

2
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition offers 2 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 79.2% of graphics cards and equal to 10.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

5.4 Gbps
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 90.9% of graphics cards and equal to 8% of graphics cards.
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

175 W
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a TDP of 175 W, which is lower than that of 62.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

175 W
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition draws 175 W under peak load, which is lower than 63.7% of graphics cards and equal to 0.9% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

175 W
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a board power limit of 175 W, which is lower than that of 65% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.7% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

241 mm
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is 241 mm long, which is shorter than 75% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.6% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

105 mm
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is 105 mm tall, which is shorter than 97.1% of graphics cards and equal in height to 0.1% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition vs the average graphics card

  • 16x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.512 MB vs 32 MB
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
    When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • 22 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (105 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (105 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.105 mm vs 127 mm
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.241 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 6.63x cheaper
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is cheaper than the average graphics card (£80 vs £530).
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is cheaper than the average graphics card (£80 vs £530).£80 vs £530
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.175 W vs 215 W
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 16x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 2 more monitors per output type
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports more monitors per output type than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 9 °C lower idle temperature
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower idle temperature than the average graphics card (29 °C vs 38 °C). The average graphics card has an idle temperature of 38 °C.
  • 22 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (105 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 47.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 20 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 80.6% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (32 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 88.8% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (2.6 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 88.9% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 3,072 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,280 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 74.7% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,800 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 65.7% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (153.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 31.4% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,200 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 11 older
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,012 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.2 vs 4.6).
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.5 vs 6.8).
  • 87.2% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,800 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Not VR ready
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Narrower decode codec support
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • Lower display resolution
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (4096x2160 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No backplate
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.2 GB vs 12 GB
  • 47.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1000 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 20 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.20 vs 40
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.80 vs 184
  • 80.6% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (32 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (32 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.32.00 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 74.7% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,800 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,800 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.4800 MHz vs 19000 MHz
Total
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Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
119 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
126 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition?

  • Solid 1080p performance for its era and modern eSports titles
  • Excellent power efficiency with ZeroCore technology (idles as low as 3W)
  • Strong overclocking headroom, often rivaling high-end cards like the GTX 580
  • Runs cool and quiet compared to previous generations
  • Versatile connectivity with support for up to 6 displays via Eyefinity

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition?

  • Limited longevity for modern AAA games due to 2GB VRAM
  • Incomplete DirectX 12 support (feature level 11_1 only)
  • Requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors, which may be bulky for some builds
  • Dual-slot design can block adjacent expansion slots
  • Potential for fan longevity issues on certain partner models (e.g., Sapphire)

Expert reviews

H
hexus.net
05/03/2012
Review: AMD Radeon HD 7870 and HD 7850 graphics cards

The HEXUS review covers the launch of AMD’s Radeon HD 7870 (Pitcairn XT) and HD 7850 (Pitcairn Pro) graphics cards, which are built on the 28nm Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture to fill the upper-mid-range market gap. The faster HD 7870 is priced at $349 (£260) and relies on a high core clock of 1,000MHz alongside 1,280 stream processors to outpace the older HD 6970 and sit...Read more

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techspot.com
05/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 & Radeon HD 7850 Review | TechSpot

The TechSpot review of the Pitcairn-based AMD Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 highlights these 28nm cards as strong mid-range performers offering 2GB GDDR5, low power consumption, and excellent overclocking. The $349 7870 GHz Edition beats the GTX 570 by 18%, while the $249 7850 outperforms the GTX 560 Ti by 9%, delivering superior price-to-performance. YouTube · Conversely, the $249 7850's...Read more

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legitreviews.com
04/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition & 7850 Video Card Review

The Legit Reviews overview covers the 2012 launch of the AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition and the Radeon HD 7850. Built on TSMC's 28nm manufacturing process, these "Pitcairn" core graphics cards bridged a major market gap between the entry-level HD 7770 and high-end HD 7950. The premium HD 7870 GHz Edition features 1,280 stream processors and a 1GHz core clock speed, while the...Read more

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tomshardware.com
04/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 And 7850 Review: Pitcairn Gets Benchmarked

AMD Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 Review Summary The AMD Radeon HD 7870 and 7850 graphics cards successfully fill the price gap between the higher-end HD 7950 and budget-tier HD 7700, delivering surprisingly high gaming performance relative to their power footprint. On the positive side, both Pitcairn-based boards run very coolly, quietly, and consume very little power. The $350 Radeon HD...Read more

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techpowerup.com
04/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7850 & HD 7870 2 GB Review - TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the AMD Radeon HD 7850 and HD 7870 2 GB highlights the 28 nm "Pitcairn" silicon utilizing Graphics CoreNext (GCN) architecture to improve mid-to-high-end performance. Pros include a 40% performance increase over previous-generation cards, exceptional power efficiency, and outstanding overclocking headroom, with the HD 7870 pushing past 1200 MHz core....Read more

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digitalfoundry.net
09/09/2012
Radeon HD 7870 Review If you would like, I can extract specific benchmark numbers, power consumption details, or overclocking results directly from th...

The Digital Foundry hardware review evaluates the Club 3D Radeon HD 7870 "royalAce" edition, a factory-overclocked mid-range graphics card based on AMD's 28nm Pitcairn architecture. Retailing around the £200 mark, this specific variant boosts core clock speeds by 10% to 1100MHz. It features a wider 256-bit memory bus and 32 ROPs, allowing it to outperform its primary competitor, the...Read more

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wsgf.org
07/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition & HD 7850 Review - WSGF

The WSGF review of the AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition and HD 7850 highlights these 28nm cards as highly efficient, bringing 2GB VRAM performance to a lower price point ($250–$350). They offer improved power consumption, noise levels, and heat management, effectively replacing the older HD 6900 family with similar, or slightly improved, performance metrics. While providing great...Read more

U
uk.pcmag.com
02/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition - Review 2012 - PCMag UK

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition is a powerful entry point into enthusiast-level gaming, striking a solid balance between mid-range and high-end performance within AMD’s 7000 "Southern Islands" lineup. Built on the 28nm Graphics Core Next architecture, this card is uniquely clocked at 1GHz and paired with 2GB of GDDR5 memory. In terms of pros, the card delivers excellent gaming...Read more

E
expertreviews.co.uk
05/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 review

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 is an upper-mid-range graphics card featuring the 28nm "Pitcairn" processor, equipped with 1,280 stream processors, 2GB of RAM, and a 256-bit memory bus. Launched at a reviewed price of £260, it offers excellent value by delivering performance close to the more expensive £350 Radeon HD 7950. In gaming benchmarks, it achieves an impressive 74.3fps in Dirt 3 at...Read more

H
hexus.net
20/07/2012
Review: Sapphire HD 7870 Flex GHz Edition - Graphics - HEXUS.net

The Sapphire HD 7870 Flex GHz Edition is a custom-cooled, feature-rich graphics card that capitalizes on AMD's recent $50 price cut to a more competitive $299 (£250) retail point. A major standout feature of this specific model is its integrated third clock generator, which allows users to connect three low-cost DVI monitors simultaneously for multi-display setups without requiring...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
11/07/2012
Sapphire HD 7870 Flex GHz Edition 2 GB Review - TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the Sapphire HD 7870 Flex highlights its impressive raw performance, which rivals the NVIDIA GTX 580, alongside a highly effective Dual-X cooling system and low power consumption. A key advantage is the Flex technology, which allows for three-monitor Eyefinity setups without requiring expensive active DisplayPort adapters. However, the card lacks a factory...Read more

T
techradar.com
05/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 review - TechRadar

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 is built on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture and a 28nm production process, delivering impressive efficiency and support for modern features like PCI Express 3.0 and ZeroCore Power tech. At stock 1GHz speeds, its performance matches the previous high-end HD 6970, though this similarity in performance and its initial launch price make the base card...Read more

G
guru3d.com
04/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7850 and 7870 review - www.guru3d.com

The Guru3D review introduces the AMD Radeon HD 7800 mid-range graphics card series, which utilizes the 28nm "Pitcairn" GPU architecture based on AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) design. The higher-end Radeon HD 7870 "GHz Edition" features 1280 Stream Processors, a 1000 MHz core clock speed, and a 175W power profile. The slightly scaled-down Radeon HD 7850 comes equipped with 1024...Read more

G
gamezoom.net
29/08/2013
Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition OC - Test/Review(hardwareluxx.de) | 05.03.2012 | Test: AMD Radeon HD 7870 und 7850(pcgameshardware.de) | 05.03.201...

The Gamezoom hardware review focuses on the Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition OC, assessing its design, custom thermals, and overall value proposition within the 2013 GPU market. A major highlight of the card is Gigabyte's custom Windforce 3X cooling solution, which incorporates a massive aluminum heatsink and a specialized "Triangle Cool" layout utilizing three automatically...Read more

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hardwareluxx.de
19/08/2012
Test: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 PCS+ Vortex II - Hardwareluxx

Performance and Specifications The PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 PCS+ Vortex II is a highly customized graphics card based on AMD’s 28-nm "Pitcairn XT" GPU architecture, which features 1,280 shader units, 80 texture units, and a 256-bit memory interface with 2,048 MB of GDDR5 memory. PowerColor significantly pushes the factory overclocking boundaries on this model, running at 1150 MHz...Read more

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0
01net.com
29/03/2012
Test : Bien trop chère, mais la Radeon HD 7870 en a sous le ventilo

The 01net.com review highlights the AMD Radeon HD 7870 as a high-performing Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture card engineered on a 28 nm process, specifically tailored for serious PC gamers seeking fluid Full HD gameplay. Equipped with a 1000 MHz core clock and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, this GPU stands toe-to-toe with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 570 in overall raw...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
05/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 et HD 7850Go to product viewer dialog for this item., jusqu'à 45% de progression

The Les Numériques review highlights the AMD Radeon HD 7870 2 Go and Radeon HD 7850 2 Go as highly successful additions to the mid-to-high-end "enthusiast" graphics card segment, delivering significant year-over-year progress. The core pro underscored by the editors is a notable, sharp performance increase of up to 45% compared to previous generations, combined with exceptionally...Read more

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xataka.com
19/04/2012
AMD 7870, análisis - Xataka

The review evaluates the AMD Radeon HD 7870 graphics card, positioning it at the upper end of the mainstream market thanks to its 28-nanometer architecture and standard 1 GHz factory clock speed,. Built as a non-commercial evaluation model, it was tested on a high-end Intel Core i7-3930K system across dedicated benchmarks (like 3DMark 11 and Unigine 2.5) and multiple games at a...Read more

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elchapuzasinformatico.com
22/11/2012
Review: Asus HD 7870 DirectCU II Top

The El Chapuzas Informático review highlights the Asus HD 7870 DirectCU II TOP as a heavily customized, factory-overclocked (1100 MHz core) 28nm Pitcairn XT card featuring the quiet and efficient DirectCU II cooling system. It boasts superior component quality with 10-phase Digi+ VRM, providing excellent stock performance and low operating temperatures, although it requires dual...Read more

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hwlegend.tech
05/07/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7850 e HD 7870 GHz Edition - HW Legend(bitsandchips.it) | 05 March 2012 | Recensione AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition e HD 7850: le Pitcai...

The 2012 review from HW Legend evaluates the AMD Radeon HD 7850 and HD 7870 GHz Edition, two mainstream graphics cards from the 28nm "Southern Islands" family built on the Pitcairn GPU architecture. Tested on an Intel Z77 platform with a Core i7 3770K, both reference cards feature 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 154 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD 7870 features the full...Read more

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