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MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£260
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 120 W

MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.3

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%

4.3

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.3

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%

2.2

Performance

24.0%

4.0

Memory

12.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.4

Design

4.0%

7.4

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

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%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 3.7
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.4

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.7
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.4

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.1
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.4

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.1
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.4

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.5
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.4

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

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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 MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is a Polaris-based graphics card featuring 2,048 stream processors, a 256-bit memory interface, and a generous 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM. This factory-overclocked model offers a boost clock of up to 1254 MHz in OC mode and utilizes an 8-pin power connector for enhanced stability. Its main pros include the Twin Frozr VI cooling system with Zero Frozr technology for silent operation under low loads, high build quality, and strong 1080p gaming performance that often nears RX 480 levels. However, common cons include a lack of a protective backplate, high power consumption compared to reference cards, and a tall PCB design that may not fit in all compact cases.

Technical Specifications of MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB

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%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

4.3
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a technical score of 4.34 points, which is lower than that of 86.4% 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%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
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.
1.0
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% 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%

4.3

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

5.8
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.8 points, which is lower than 86.1% 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

?
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

?
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

5.04 TFLOPS
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB delivers 5.04 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 89.6% of graphics cards.
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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

8 GB
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has 8 GB of VRAM, which is less than 57.6% of graphics cards and equal to 25.1% 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
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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

211.2 GB/s
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB reaches 211.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 86.6% 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
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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

x16
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
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

?
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

1.3
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% of graphics cards.
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

4.5
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports OpenGL 4.5, which is older than on 95.2% of graphics cards and equal to 3.3% 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

4
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% 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

?
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
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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

1.4
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% 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

?
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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

120 W
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a TDP of 120 W, which is lower than that of 83.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% 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

?
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

450 W
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB recommends a 450 W PSU, which is lower than that of 85.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 5.8% 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

180 W
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a board power limit of 180 W, which is lower than that of 60.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.3% 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

?
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

276 mm
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is 276 mm long, which is shorter than 55.7% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.8% 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

140 mm
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is 140 mm tall, which is taller than 76.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% 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
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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

774 g
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB weighs 774 g, which is lighter than 72.8% of graphics cards and equal in weight to 0.5% of graphics cards.
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MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB vs the average graphics card

  • 44.2% lower TDP
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.120 W vs 215 W
  • 30.8% lower PSU requirement
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.450 W vs 650 W
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2.04x cheaper
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is cheaper than the average graphics card (£260 vs £530).
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is cheaper than the average graphics card (£260 vs £530).£260 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 30.8% lower PSU requirement
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.

Total
Overall
Performance
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
  • 51.3% lower boost clock speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,218 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 51.8% lower base clock speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (926 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 58.6% lower texture rate
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (155.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 77.7% lower FP32 performance
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (5.1 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 56 fewer TMUs
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (128 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 8 fewer compute units
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (32 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 82.8% lower FP16 performance
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (5.1 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 78.2% lower compute throughput
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (5 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,304 fewer FP32 units
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (2,048 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 65.3% slower memory speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (6,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 52.9% lower memory bandwidth
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (211.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 93.8% smaller L2 cache
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (2 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.7% slower VRAM clock
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,650 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 2.8x larger process node
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No ray tracing
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 7 older
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,016 vs 2,023).
  • No mesh shaders
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • No sampler feedback
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.5 vs 4.6).
  • Older OpenCL version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 3.0).
  • 74% fewer transistors
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (5,700 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • Older shader model
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • No backplate
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 13 mm higher card profile
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB is taller than the average graphics card (140 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 51.3% lower boost clock speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,218 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,218 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1218 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 51.8% lower base clock speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (926 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (926 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.926 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 2.8x larger process node
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.14 nm vs 5 nm
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 65.3% slower memory speed
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (6,600 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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (6,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.6600 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 58.6% lower texture rate
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (155.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (155.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.155.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 52.9% lower memory bandwidth
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (211.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    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

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (211.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.211.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
  • No ray tracing
    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Hardware support for real-time ray tracing effects
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows and want to avoid buying a card that only handles traditional raster graphics well.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.No vs yes
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB?

  • Excellent 1080p gaming performance, often maintaining 60 FPS on high/ultra settings in well-optimized titles.
  • TwinFrozr VI cooling system provides extremely quiet and cool operation, frequently rated as the most silent RX 470 model.
  • Zero Frozr technology stops fans during low-load tasks for completely silent idle performance.
  • Strong build quality with a premium aesthetic and customizable RGB lighting via the MSI Gaming App.
  • Includes an 8-pin power connector for better power delivery and stability during overclocking compared to reference cards.
  • 8GB of VRAM provides extra headroom for texture-heavy games and light 1440p gaming with adjusted settings.
  • Good connectivity options, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DVI-D port, which are often missing on reference models.

What customers dislike about MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming 8GB?

  • The 8GB variant was frequently viewed as overpriced at launch, often costing as much as the faster RX 480 4GB models.
  • Lacks a backplate, which some users noted can lead to slight GPU sag over time and feels less premium.
  • Large physical dimensions (especially height) can make installation difficult in small-form-factor (ITX) or narrow cases.
  • Early driver stability issues and software quirks with AMD WattMan were common complaints.
  • The 8GB of VRAM was considered 'pointless' by some reviewers at 1080p because the GPU core often lacks the raw power to utilize the full buffer effectively.
  • No hardware support for modern technologies like Ray Tracing or Mesh Shaders, limiting its longevity for new AAA releases.

Expert reviews

O
overclockersclub.com
23/10/2016
MSI RX 470 Gaming X 8G Review - Overclockers Club

The MSI RX 470 Gaming X 8G offers strong 1080p performance and capable 1440p gaming, utilizing the Twin Frozr VI cooler for low temperatures and silent operation under light loads. Key advantages include impressive overclocking headroom, allowing a 1410MHz core speed, and robust factory overclocks that deliver high out-of-the-box performance. Drawbacks identified in the review...Read more

D
digitalfoundry.net
13/08/2016
AMD Radeon RX 470 review

The AMD Radeon RX 470 is a "1080p budget powerhouse" that delivers performance surprisingly close to the flagship RX 480 despite having fewer compute units (32 vs. 36) and lower clock speeds. The MSI Gaming X version, in particular, overcomes standard reference limitations with a robust eight-pin power input and a TwinFrozr 6 cooling assembly, allowing it to maintain a stable...Read more

K
kitguru.net
09/08/2016
MSI RX 470 Gaming X 8G Review - KitGuru

The MSI RX 470 Gaming X 8G is an Ellesmere-based graphics card featuring 2,048 stream processors, 32 ROPs, and 128 texture units. It is clocked out of the box at 1242MHz in Gaming mode and up to 1254MHz in OC mode, with its GDDR5 memory running up to 1,675MHz. Structurally, it marks a shift for the RX 470 line by being the first model reviewed by the publication to ship with a...Read more

H
hardware.fr
10/01/2017
MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming X - HardWare.fr. For the full review, visit HardWare.fr.

The MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming X review highlights a custom graphics card with a base GPU clock speed of 1212 MHz that can be pushed to 1242 MHz in its Gaming X configuration, using GDDR5 memory clocked at 1650 MHz. Measuring 27.5 cm in length and exceeding standard height by 3 cm, it features a visually striking design equipped with a large dual 10cm-fan heatsink, two nickel-plated...Read more

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T
tweakers.net
26/06/2026
MSI Radeon RX 470 GAMING X 8G - Foritain - Product reviews

The MSI Radeon RX 470 Gaming X 4GB and 8GB graphics cards deliver a highly quiet and cooler-running performance based on AMD’s 14nm FinFET Polaris architecture. The custom MSI Twin Frozr VI cooling design keeps temperatures low at around 62–63°C under heavy loads. The card remains completely silent during idle tasks due to zero-RPM fans, and virtually inaudible when gaming....Read more

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T
techtesters.eu
25/10/2016
MSI RX 470 Gaming X 4G & 8G - Techtesters

The review of the MSI RX 470 Gaming X graphics cards evaluated both the 4GB and 8GB models, demonstrating that aftermarket alternatives can successfully combat the limitations of AMD’s standard reference designs. Equipped with MSI’s signature Twin Frozr cooling system, both variants excel in thermal management and noise control compared to basic models. Performance testing across...Read more

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