Radeon HD 6870 vs GeForce GTX 560 Ti

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 560 Ti and Radeon HD 6870, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 560 Ti
2011
1 GB GDDR5, 170 Watt
7.94
+38.1%

GTX 560 Ti outperforms HD 6870 by a substantial 38% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking518598
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.841.00
Power efficiency3.202.61
ArchitectureFermi 2.0 (2010−2014)TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)
GPU code nameGF114Barts
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Designno datareference
Release date25 January 2011 (13 years ago)21 October 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$249 $239

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 560 Ti has 84% better value for money than HD 6870.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores3841120
Core clock speed823 MHzno data
Boost clock speedno data900 MHz
Number of transistors1,950 million1,700 million
Manufacturing process technology40 nm40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)170 Watt151 Watt
Texture fill rate52.6750.40
Floating-point processing power1.263 TFLOPS2.016 TFLOPS
ROPs3232
TMUs6456

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Bus supportno dataPCIe 2.0 x16
InterfacePCIe 2.0 x16PCIe 2.0 x16
Length229 mm220 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors2x 6-pin2x 6-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount1 GB1 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed1002 MHz1050 MHz
Memory bandwidth128.3 GB/s134.4 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort
Eyefinity-+
HDMI++

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

CrossFire-+

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (11_0)DirectX® 11
Shader Model5.15.0
OpenGL4.64.4
OpenCL1.11.2
VulkanN/A-
CUDA2.1-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 560 Ti 7.94
+38.1%
HD 6870 5.75

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 560 Ti 3058
+38.1%
HD 6870 2215

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 560 Ti 4013
HD 6870 4218
+5.1%

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 560 Ti 15494
HD 6870 17773
+14.7%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 560 Ti 3470
+10.5%
HD 6870 3141

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p63
+3.3%
61
−3.3%
Full HD66
+6.5%
62
−6.5%
1200p50−55
+28.2%
39
−28.2%

Cost per frame, $

1080p3.773.85

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+33.3%
9−10
−33.3%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 20−22
+33.3%
14−16
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+57.1%
7−8
−57.1%
Battlefield 5 24−27
+50%
16−18
−50%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+33.3%
12−14
−33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+33.3%
9−10
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+38.5%
12−14
−38.5%
Far Cry New Dawn 21−24
+37.5%
16−18
−37.5%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+40.5%
35−40
−40.5%
Hitman 3 14−16
+25%
12−14
−25%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+25%
35−40
−25%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+53.3%
14−16
−53.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+37.5%
16−18
−37.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+30%
20−22
−30%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+14.3%
45−50
−14.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 20−22
+33.3%
14−16
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+57.1%
7−8
−57.1%
Battlefield 5 24−27
+50%
16−18
−50%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+33.3%
12−14
−33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+33.3%
9−10
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+38.5%
12−14
−38.5%
Far Cry New Dawn 21−24
+37.5%
16−18
−37.5%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+40.5%
35−40
−40.5%
Hitman 3 14−16
+25%
12−14
−25%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+25%
35−40
−25%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+53.3%
14−16
−53.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+37.5%
16−18
−37.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+30%
20−22
−30%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+21.1%
18−20
−21.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+14.3%
45−50
−14.3%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 20−22
+33.3%
14−16
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+57.1%
7−8
−57.1%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+33.3%
12−14
−33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+33.3%
9−10
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+38.5%
12−14
−38.5%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+40.5%
35−40
−40.5%
Hitman 3 14−16
+25%
12−14
−25%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+25%
35−40
−25%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+30%
20−22
−30%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+21.1%
18−20
−21.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+14.3%
45−50
−14.3%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+37.5%
16−18
−37.5%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+36.4%
10−12
−36.4%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+33.3%
9−10
−33.3%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 8−9
+60%
5−6
−60%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+200%
1−2
−200%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+60%
5−6
−60%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 9−10
+28.6%
7−8
−28.6%
Forza Horizon 4 30−33
+87.5%
16−18
−87.5%
Hitman 3 10−12
+10%
10−11
−10%
Horizon Zero Dawn 16−18
+30.8%
12−14
−30.8%
Metro Exodus 10−11
+150%
4−5
−150%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 7−8
+600%
1−2
−600%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 7−8
+40%
5−6
−40%
Watch Dogs: Legion 50−55
+38.9%
35−40
−38.9%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+30%
10−11
−30%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 7−8
+75%
4−5
−75%
Far Cry New Dawn 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%
Hitman 3 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+115%
12−14
−115%
Metro Exodus 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5−6
+150%
2−3
−150%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Cyberpunk 2077 1−2 0−1
Far Cry 5 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Forza Horizon 4 9−10
+80%
5−6
−80%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Watch Dogs: Legion 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 8−9
+33.3%
6−7
−33.3%

This is how GTX 560 Ti and HD 6870 compete in popular games:

  • GTX 560 Ti is 3% faster in 900p
  • GTX 560 Ti is 6% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 560 Ti is 28% faster in 1200p

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 560 Ti is 600% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, GTX 560 Ti surpassed HD 6870 in all 70 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 7.94 5.75
Recency 25 January 2011 21 October 2010
Power consumption (TDP) 170 Watt 151 Watt

GTX 560 Ti has a 38.1% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 3 months.

HD 6870, on the other hand, has 12.6% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 560 Ti is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 6870 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
AMD Radeon HD 6870
Radeon HD 6870

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


3.9 826 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 560 Ti on a scale of 1 to 5:

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3.8 363 votes

Rate Radeon HD 6870 on a scale of 1 to 5:

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Questions & comments

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