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XFX Radeon HD 7870 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£35
  • Avg. price in US: ~$45
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 175 W

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

3.6

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%

3.1

Technical Score

10.0%

7.9

User score

Poor
3.1

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%

1.7

Performance

24.0%

2.8

Memory

12.0%

4.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.7

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.9

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%

6.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(93)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(102)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 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

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The XFX Radeon HD 7870 is a performance-segment graphics card featuring the 28nm Pitcairn XT GPU architecture with 1,280 stream processors, a 1,000 MHz core clock, and 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface. Its main characteristics include support for DirectX 11.1 and PCI-Express 3.0, alongside XFX's signature aesthetics like the brushed aluminum shroud and 'Double Dissipation' dual-fan cooling system. Key pros are its strong price-to-performance ratio at launch, impressive energy efficiency via ZeroCore technology, and significant overclocking headroom, often allowing it to compete with higher-tier cards like the GTX 580. However, cons include its limited support for modern DirectX 12 feature levels, a dual-slot physical size that may obstruct motherboard ports, and its inability to maintain smooth frame rates in current-gen AAA titles at high resolutions.

Technical Specifications of XFX Radeon HD 7870

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%

1.7

Performance

24.0%

2.8

Memory

12.0%

4.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.7

Connectivity & Media

3.1
XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a technical score of 3.1 points, which is lower than that of 96.6% 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%

6.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(93)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(102)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.9
XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a user score of 7.86 points, which is lower than that of 78.4% 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.
6.1
XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a popularity of 6.1 points, which is higher than 65.7% 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%

3.6

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.5
XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.5 points, which is lower than 90.9% 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

1955 points
XFX Radeon HD 7870 scores 1955 points in 3DMark Time Spy, which is lower than 95.7% of graphics cards.
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

4,567 points
XFX Radeon HD 7870 scores 4567 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 73.9% of graphics cards.
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

2.560 TFLOPS
XFX Radeon HD 7870 delivers 2.560 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.
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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

2 GB
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

1.2
XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports Vulkan 1.2, which is older than on 96% of graphics cards and equal to 2.5% 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

4.2
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

190 W
XFX Radeon HD 7870 draws 190 W under peak load, which is lower than 56.4% of graphics cards and equal to 0.7% 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

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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

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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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

?
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
XFX Radeon HD 7870 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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XFX Radeon HD 7870 vs the average graphics card

  • 2 more displays supported
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • Includes dual BIOS
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 15.14x cheaper
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).£35 vs £530
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Better FP64 ratio
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 47.9% lower base clock speed
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 78.8% lower texture rate
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (80 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 80.6% lower pixel rate
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 88.8% lower FP32 performance
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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.
  • 82.8% lower gaming score
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower gaming score than the average graphics card (1,955 points vs 11,337 points). The average graphics card has a gaming score of 11,337 points.
  • 60% lower PassMark score
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (4,567 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 88.9% lower compute throughput
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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.
  • 65.6% lower FP64 performance
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.2 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 3,072 fewer FP32 units
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,012 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4).
  • No DirectStorage support
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenCL version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.2 vs 4.6).
  • Older shader model
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.5 vs 6.8).
  • 87.2% fewer transistors
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDCP version
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 2.3).
  • Not VR ready
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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.
  • 1 fewer fans
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 24 dB noisier at idle
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (24 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • No backplate
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.20 vs 40
  • 78.8% lower texture rate
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (80 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (80 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.80 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.80 vs 184
  • 1 fewer fans
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 80.6% lower pixel rate
    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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

    XFX Radeon HD 7870 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 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of XFX Radeon HD 7870 and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
93 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
102 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about XFX Radeon HD 7870?

  • Excellent overclocking potential, with some users reaching over 20% increases with minor voltage tweaks.
  • Impressive thermal performance and power efficiency for its time, consuming significantly less power than previous-generation equivalents.
  • Dual Dissipation cooling system on Black Edition models keeps the card quiet and cool during gaming sessions.
  • Strong value-to-performance ratio, often competing with or beating more expensive cards like the GTX 570 or 580 at launch.
  • Compact size relative to previous high-end cards like the HD 6970, though still a dual-slot design.

What customers dislike about XFX Radeon HD 7870?

  • Stock performance can feel unremarkable if the card is not overclocked, showing little improvement over some older high-end models.
  • Physical length (approx. 24-25cm) may obstruct SATA ports or other components on smaller motherboards.
  • Lack of support for modern features like DirectX 12 and current driver updates makes it struggle with 2024-era AAA gaming.
  • High fan speeds can become exceptionally loud and unbearable if manually set to 100%.
  • Requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors and a quality power supply (500W+ recommended) for stable operation.

Expert reviews

P
pcper.com
23/05/2012
XFX Double D Black Edition HD 7850 and HD 7870 Review

The PC Perspective review details the XFX Double Dissipation (Double D) Black Edition HD 7850 and HD 7870 graphics cards, which are factory-overclocked variants utilizing AMD's 28nm Pitcairn architecture. Pros highlighted in the review include substantial out-of-the-box core clock bumps—the HD 7850 is pushed to 975 MHz (from 860 MHz) and the HD 7870 to 1050 MHz (from 1000 MHz)—along...Read more

H
hexus.net
30/03/2012
Review: XFX R7870 Black Edition Overclocked - HEXUS.net

The XFX R7870 Black Edition Overclocked (model FX-787A-CDBC) is a premium, factory-overclocked graphics card based on AMD’s 28nm Radeon HD 7870 GPU, priced at £299.99. This top-of-the-line variant stands out visually as one of the best-looking cards in its class, featuring a striking "Double Dissipation" shroud equipped with dual fans and quad-heatpipe "Ghost Thermal Technology"...Read more

T
tombullock.co.uk
01/01/2013
XFX Radeon 7870 Graphics Card Review Please let me know if you need help looking up specific performance metrics (like average FPS in specific 2012 ga...

The XFX Radeon HD 7870 Core Edition graphics card delivers excellent gaming performance, achieving an impressive 75 FPS in Just Cause 2 and boosting the Windows 7 Experience Index gaming graphics score from 5.1 to 7.9. It provides a massive upgrade over basic cards like the Radeon HD 5450, smoothly handling modern titles that previously struggled or ran as a "slideshow". Key...Read more

O
overclockersclub.com
07/05/2012
XFX HD 7870 and 7850 Double Dissipation Review

The XFX HD 7870 and 7850 Double Dissipation cards are highly efficient, factory-overclocked, 28nm Pitcairn-based options featuring the "Ghost" thermal solution, which provides excellent, quiet cooling. Proved as strong performers for HD gaming, these cards boast great aesthetic appeal and, particularly in the case of the 7850, high value, although they are limited by a single...Read more

M
m.hexus.net
30/03/2012
Review: XFX R7870 Black Edition Overclocked - HEXUS.net

The XFX R7870 Black Edition Overclocked (specifically model FX-787A-CDBC) is a premium, factory-overclocked graphics card that stands out for its high-quality aesthetics and specialized cooling system. The card is factory-tuned to a 1,050MHz core clock speed and features a 2GB GDDR5 frame buffer pushed to an effective 5,000MHz, making its memory speed the fastest among the Radeon HD...Read more

H
hardware-mag.de
17/05/2012
Test: XFX HD 7870 Black Edition Dual Fan CF

The Hardware-Magazin review evaluates the factory-overclocked XFX Radeon HD 7870 Black Edition Dual Fan graphics card, testing both single-card performance and a dual-card CrossFire setup. Built on AMD's 28 nm "Pitcairn" architecture with Graphics Core Next (GCN) technology, this mid-range card features advanced capabilities like ZeroCore Power, DirectX 11.1, and enhanced...Read more

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H
hartware.de
16/04/2012
XFX HD 7850 & 7870 Black Edition GameStar

This review by Frank Schräer from Hartware covers the factory-overclocked XFX HD 7850 975M Black Edition and XFX HD 7870 1050M Black Edition graphics cards, both built on AMD's 28 nm "Pitcairn" architecture. Visually indistinguishable except for their top labels, both models utilize XFX's upgraded Double Dissipation (DD) Cooler featuring four heatpipes and two flat 80-mm fans...Read more

(Translated)Show original
H
hardwareluxx.de
05/04/2012
Test: XFX Radeon HD 7870 und Radeon HD 7850 Black Edition

The Hardwareluxx review evaluates the factory-overclocked XFX Radeon HD 7870 Black Edition and Radeon HD 7850 Black Edition graphics cards, built on AMD's 28-nm "Pitcairn" architecture. Both cards feature XFX's custom Dual-Fan cooling system equipped with two 75-mm fans, four thick copper heatpipes, and aluminum fins. XFX pushed the performance of these "Pitcairn XT" and "Pitcairn...Read more

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T
tweakpc.de
12/04/2012
XFX AMD Radeon HD 7870 und 7850 Black Edition im Test

The hardware review by TweakPC evaluates the XFX AMD Radeon HD 7870 Black Edition Double Dissipation and XFX Radeon HD 7850 Black Edition Double Dissipation mid-range graphics cards, comparing them directly against AMD's standard reference designs. A major highlight of these specific models is their premium, high-quality "Ghost" cooling design, which moves away from standard plastic...Read more

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N
noticias3d.com
28/03/2012
XFX Radeon HD 7850 y HD 7870 Black Edition Overclocked.

Based on the review from Noticias3D, the XFX Radeon HD 7850 Black Edition Overclocked stands out for its exceptional acoustic performance and power efficiency. Despite the factory overclock, the card’s power consumption remains excellent, consistently staying below 300W for the entire system—a result that matches or even beats the reference model. Its primary strength is its...Read more

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N
nexthardware.com
05/03/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7870 e HD 7850 : Day One - Nexthardware

The NextHardware review highlights that the AMD Radeon HD 7870 and HD 7850 (Pitcairn 28nm) offer robust performance for modern gaming, scoring 4.5 out of 5 stars based on testing with titles like Metro 2033 and Crysis 2. A key advantage noted is AMD's strategy of allowing partners to launch with custom, non-reference designs immediately, rather than forcing rigid, stock...Read more

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T
tweakers.net
30/06/2026
Snelle HD 7800- en 7900-kaarten - Round-up

Based on the 2012 review from Tweakers, this comprehensive roundup evaluates twelve custom-cooled AMD Radeon HD 7800 and HD 7900 graphics cards from Club3D, Asus, MSI, and XFX, comparing their gaming performance, cooling efficiency, noise levels, and power consumption. While the differences in core and memory clock speeds lead to minimal variances in gaming frame rates across...Read more

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H
hardware.info
28/06/2026
9 AMD Radeon HD 7850 / 7870 videokaarten vergelijkingstest - XFX Radeon HD 7870 Double Dissipation Black Edition

The Hardware Info review of the XFX Radeon HD 7870 Double Dissipation Black Edition highlights it as a visually identical sibling to XFX's 7850 Black Edition, utilizing the exact same cooler design. Operating at a factory overclocked core frequency of 1050 MHz and a memory clock of 1250 MHz, its gaming and benchmark performances line up almost identically with competitors like the...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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