GeForce GTX 280M SLI vs ATI Radeon HD 4870

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon HD 4870 with GeForce GTX 280M SLI, including specs and performance data.

ATI HD 4870
2008
1 GB GDDR5, 150 Watt
3.59
+4.1%

ATI HD 4870 outperforms GTX 280M SLI by a minimal 4% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking722730
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.31no data
Power efficiency1.651.58
ArchitectureTeraScale (2005−2013)G9x (2007−2010)
GPU code nameRV770N10E-GTX
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date25 June 2008 (16 years ago)2 March 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$299 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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 cores800256
Core clock speed750 MHz585 MHz
Number of transistors956 million1508 Million
Manufacturing process technology55 nm55 nm
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt150 Watt
Texture fill rate30.00no data
Floating-point processing power1.2 TFLOPSno data
ROPs16no data
TMUs40no data

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).

Laptop sizeno datalarge
InterfacePCIe 2.0 x16no data
Length250 mmno data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectors2x 6-pinno data

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 typeGDDR5GDDR3
Maximum RAM amount1 GB2 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed900 MHz950 MHz
Memory bandwidth115.2 GB/sno data
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 S-Videono data

API compatibility

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

DirectX10.1 (10_1)10
Shader Model4.1no data
OpenGL3.3no data
OpenCL1.1no data
VulkanN/A-
CUDA-+

Gaming performance

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

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Elden Ring 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Metro Exodus 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Valorant 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Dota 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Elden Ring 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Fortnite 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Metro Exodus 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Valorant 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
World of Tanks 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Dota 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Valorant 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Elden Ring 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
World of Tanks 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
Valorant 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%

4K
High Preset

Dota 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Elden Ring 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Dota 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Far Cry 5 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Fortnite 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Valorant 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%

All in all, in popular games:

  • there's a draw in 59 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.59 3.45
Recency 25 June 2008 2 March 2009
Maximum RAM amount 1 GB 2 GB

ATI HD 4870 has a 4.1% higher aggregate performance score.

GTX 280M SLI, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 8 months, and a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Radeon HD 4870 and GeForce GTX 280M SLI.

Be aware that Radeon HD 4870 is a desktop card while GeForce GTX 280M SLI is a notebook one.


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

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


ATI Radeon HD 4870
Radeon HD 4870
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M SLI
GeForce GTX 280M SLI

Other comparisons

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.


3.3 230 votes

Rate Radeon HD 4870 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
5 1 vote

Rate GeForce GTX 280M SLI on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.