GeForce GTX 550 Ti vs Radeon HD 7870M

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon HD 7870M with GeForce GTX 550 Ti, including specs and performance data.

HD 7870M
2012
2 GB GDDR5, 45 Watt
3.91

GTX 550 Ti outperforms HD 7870M by a minimal 3% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking702695
Place by popularitynot in top-10081
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.79
Power efficiency5.952.38
ArchitectureGCN 1.0 (2011−2020)Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014)
GPU code nameHeathrowGF116
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date24 April 2012 (12 years ago)15 March 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$149

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 cores640192
Core clock speed800 MHz900 MHz
Number of transistors1,500 million1,170 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt116 Watt
Maximum GPU temperatureno data100 °C
Texture fill rate32.0028.80
Floating-point processing power1.024 TFLOPS0.6912 TFLOPS
ROPs1624
TMUs4032

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 sizelargeno data
Bus supportno data16x PCI-E 2.0
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 2.0 x16
Lengthno data210 mm
Heightno data4.376" (11.1 cm)
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1x 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 amount2 GB2 GB
Memory bus width128 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed1000 MHz4.1 GB/s
Memory bandwidth64 GB/s98.4 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 ConnectorsNo outputsTwo Dual Link DVI-IMini HDMI
Multi monitor supportno data+
HDMI-+
Maximum VGA resolutionno data2048x1536
Audio input for HDMIno dataInternal

API compatibility

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

DirectX12 (11_1)12 (11_0)
Shader Model5.15.1
OpenGL4.64.2
OpenCL1.21.1
Vulkan1.2.131N/A
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.

HD 7870M 3.91
GTX 550 Ti 4.03
+3.1%

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.

HD 7870M 1507
GTX 550 Ti 1554
+3.1%

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.

HD 7870M 2702
+18.9%
GTX 550 Ti 2272

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.

HD 7870M 13065
+27.7%
GTX 550 Ti 10229

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:

900p35−40
−8.6%
38
+8.6%
Full HD35−40
−8.6%
38
+8.6%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data3.92

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Battlefield 5 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
Hitman 3 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Metro Exodus 7−8
−14.3%
8−9
+14.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
−2.4%
40−45
+2.4%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Battlefield 5 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
Hitman 3 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Metro Exodus 7−8
−14.3%
8−9
+14.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
−2.4%
40−45
+2.4%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
Hitman 3 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
−2.4%
40−45
+2.4%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 3−4
−33.3%
4−5
+33.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Far Cry 5 4−5
−25%
5−6
+25%
Forza Horizon 4 4−5
−25%
5−6
+25%
Hitman 3 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 24−27
−4.2%
24−27
+4.2%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 2−3
−50%
3−4
+50%
Hitman 3 0−1 0−1
Metro Exodus 0−1 0−1

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 0−1 0−1
Far Cry 5 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%

This is how HD 7870M and GTX 550 Ti compete in popular games:

  • GTX 550 Ti is 9% faster in 900p
  • GTX 550 Ti is 9% faster in 1080p

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

  • in Far Cry New Dawn, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 550 Ti is 50% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 550 Ti is ahead in 13 tests (21%)
  • there's a draw in 50 tests (79%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.91 4.03
Recency 24 April 2012 15 March 2011
Chip lithography 28 nm 40 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 116 Watt

HD 7870M has an age advantage of 1 year, a 42.9% more advanced lithography process, and 157.8% lower power consumption.

GTX 550 Ti, on the other hand, has a 3.1% higher aggregate performance score.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Radeon HD 7870M and GeForce GTX 550 Ti.

Be aware that Radeon HD 7870M is a notebook card while GeForce GTX 550 Ti is a desktop one.


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

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AMD Radeon HD 7870M
Radeon HD 7870M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
GeForce GTX 550 Ti

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.


2.6 13 votes

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4.9 59480 votes

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Questions & comments

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