Is Amd 7870 Better Than Amd Radeon

Caroline Mae

2 min read

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06-01-2025

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The AMD Radeon HD 7870 and the AMD Radeon HD 7770 are both older graphics cards, released in 2012 and part of AMD's "Southern Islands" GPU architecture. While both belong to the same generation, their performance capabilities differ significantly. This comparison will help determine which card is superior.

Performance Benchmarks: A Clear Winner

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 boasts significantly higher performance than its sibling, the HD 7770. This is primarily due to differences in core clock speed, memory bandwidth, and the number of stream processors. Independent benchmarks consistently show the 7870 outperforming the 7770 by a considerable margin in most games and applications. The difference is especially noticeable at higher resolutions and graphical settings.

While the 7770 can handle older titles and less demanding games at 1080p, the 7870 provides a much smoother and higher-quality gaming experience, even at higher resolutions. For modern games or those with higher graphical settings, the 7870 is the only viable option of the two.

Key Differences Driving Performance:

• Stream Processors: The 7870 possesses a larger number of stream processors, leading to greater parallel processing capabilities and improved performance.
• Clock Speed: The 7870 features a higher core clock speed, resulting in faster processing of graphical data.
• Memory Bandwidth: The 7870 generally utilizes faster and higher bandwidth memory, improving data transfer speeds between the GPU and system memory.

Features and Considerations Beyond Raw Power

While raw performance is a key factor, other aspects should be considered:

• Power Consumption: The 7870 consumes considerably more power than the 7770. This may require a more robust power supply and could lead to increased electricity bills.
• Price: At the time of their release, the 7870 commanded a higher price tag than the 7770. However, both cards are now considered outdated and are readily available at very low prices in the used market.
• Drivers: While both cards received driver updates throughout their lifespan, support is now limited. It's important to check if drivers are readily available for your operating system.

Conclusion: The 7870 Triumphs

In a direct comparison, the AMD Radeon HD 7870 is demonstrably superior to the AMD Radeon HD 7770. Its significantly higher performance makes it the better choice for gaming, even considering the increased power consumption and higher initial cost (now negligible due to their age). However, given both cards' age, they are unlikely to provide a modern gaming experience and should only be considered if other alternatives are unavailable. For current gaming needs, a more modern GPU is strongly recommended.