Radeon HD 6870 vs GeForce GTX 580

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 580 and Radeon HD 6870, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 580
2010
1536 MB GDDR5, 244 Watt
11.93
+108%

GTX 580 outperforms HD 6870 by a whopping 108% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking401592
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation2.000.92
Power efficiency3.532.74
ArchitectureFermi 2.0 (2010−2014)TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)
GPU code nameGF110Barts
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Designno datareference
Release date9 November 2010 (13 years ago)21 October 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$499 $239

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 580 has 117% 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 cores5121120
Core clock speed772 MHzno data
Boost clock speedno data900 MHz
Number of transistors3,000 million1,700 million
Manufacturing process technology40 nm40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)244 Watt151 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature97 °Cno data
Texture fill rate49.4150.40
Floating-point processing power1.581 TFLOPS2.016 TFLOPS
ROPs4832
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 supportPCI-E 2.0 x 16PCIe 2.0 x16
InterfacePCIe 2.0 x16PCIe 2.0 x16
Length267 mm220 mm
Height4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)no data
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin2x 6-pin
SLI options+-

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 amount1536 MB1 GB
Memory bus width384 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed2004 MHz (4008 data rate)1050 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.4 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 ConnectorsMini HDMITwo Dual Link DVI2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort
Multi monitor support+no data
Eyefinity-+
HDMI++
Maximum VGA resolution2048x1536no data
Audio input for HDMIInternalno data

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
OpenGL4.24.4
OpenCL1.11.2
Vulkan+-
CUDA+-

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 580 11.93
+108%
HD 6870 5.74

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 580 4602
+108%
HD 6870 2216

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 580 21941
+23.5%
HD 6870 17773

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 580 6065
+43.8%
HD 6870 4218

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 580 4970
+58.2%
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:

900p54
−13%
61
+13%
Full HD96
+57.4%
61
−57.4%
1200p78
+100%
39
−100%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 18−20
+100%
9−10
−100%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
+86.7%
14−16
−86.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 18−20
+157%
7−8
−157%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+138%
16−18
−138%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 24−27
+100%
12−14
−100%
Cyberpunk 2077 18−20
+100%
9−10
−100%
Far Cry 5 27−30
+115%
12−14
−115%
Far Cry New Dawn 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+111%
35−40
−111%
Hitman 3 21−24
+83.3%
12−14
−83.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 60−65
+75%
35−40
−75%
Metro Exodus 35−40
+160%
14−16
−160%
Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 35−40
+90%
20−22
−90%
Watch Dogs: Legion 65−70
+40.8%
45−50
−40.8%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
+86.7%
14−16
−86.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 18−20
+157%
7−8
−157%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+138%
16−18
−138%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 24−27
+100%
12−14
−100%
Cyberpunk 2077 18−20
+100%
9−10
−100%
Far Cry 5 27−30
+115%
12−14
−115%
Far Cry New Dawn 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+111%
35−40
−111%
Hitman 3 21−24
+83.3%
12−14
−83.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 60−65
+75%
35−40
−75%
Metro Exodus 35−40
+160%
14−16
−160%
Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 35−40
+90%
20−22
−90%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−33
+57.9%
18−20
−57.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 65−70
+40.8%
45−50
−40.8%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
+86.7%
14−16
−86.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 18−20
+157%
7−8
−157%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 24−27
+100%
12−14
−100%
Cyberpunk 2077 18−20
+100%
9−10
−100%
Far Cry 5 27−30
+115%
12−14
−115%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+111%
35−40
−111%
Hitman 3 21−24
+83.3%
12−14
−83.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 60−65
+75%
35−40
−75%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 35−40
+90%
20−22
−90%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−33
+57.9%
18−20
−57.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 65−70
+40.8%
45−50
−40.8%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 21−24
+109%
10−12
−109%
Far Cry New Dawn 18−20
+100%
9−10
−100%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 12−14
+140%
5−6
−140%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 8−9
+700%
1−2
−700%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 12−14
+140%
5−6
−140%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+100%
3−4
−100%
Far Cry 5 14−16
+100%
7−8
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 55−60
+256%
16−18
−256%
Hitman 3 14−16
+50%
10−11
−50%
Horizon Zero Dawn 24−27
+84.6%
12−14
−84.6%
Metro Exodus 18−20
+375%
4−5
−375%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 18−20
+1700%
1−2
−1700%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
+140%
5−6
−140%
Watch Dogs: Legion 70−75
+106%
35−40
−106%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 18−20
+90%
10−11
−90%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 10−12
+175%
4−5
−175%
Far Cry New Dawn 9−10
+125%
4−5
−125%
Hitman 3 8−9
+300%
2−3
−300%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
+323%
12−14
−323%
Metro Exodus 10−11
+233%
3−4
−233%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10−11
+400%
2−3
−400%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 7−8
+133%
3−4
−133%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 5−6
+150%
2−3
−150%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 6−7
+200%
2−3
−200%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3 0−1
Far Cry 5 6−7
+100%
3−4
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 14−16
+200%
5−6
−200%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 10−11
+150%
4−5
−150%
Watch Dogs: Legion 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 10−12
+83.3%
6−7
−83.3%

This is how GTX 580 and HD 6870 compete in popular games:

  • HD 6870 is 13% faster in 900p
  • GTX 580 is 57% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 580 is 100% 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 580 is 1700% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, GTX 580 surpassed HD 6870 in all 70 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 11.93 5.74
Maximum RAM amount 1536 MB 1 GB
Power consumption (TDP) 244 Watt 151 Watt

GTX 580 has a 107.8% higher aggregate performance score, and a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount.

HD 6870, on the other hand, has 61.6% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 580 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.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580
GeForce GTX 580
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.


4 458 votes

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3.8 342 votes

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Questions & comments

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