AMD
Radeon HD 6850 vs Radeon HD 7870 XT
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7870 XT
Aggregate performance score
We've compared HD 6850 and HD 7870 XT across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗HD 7870 XT outperforms HD 6850 by ~6% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+6%
Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?H2HBench Data Quality
Low confidenceSpecifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026
Limited verified data
H2HBench Verdict
Higher catalog score: Radeon HD 6850 (~9%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider HD 6850
- Lower stated power consumption
- Lower recorded market price
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Reasons to consider HD 7870 XT
- Higher catalog performance index
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Catalog metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
AMDPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
3234
8457
100100
5656
Graphics card ranking
Positions 194–199of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
Radeon HD 7870 XT
142 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Radeon HD 6850
Price $25.00Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.
Overview
Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
32
34Better
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
29
31Better
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
27
28Better
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
84Better
57
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
49Better
45
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
USB Type-C
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
Power consumptionBetter
Interface
Clock speedBetter
LengthBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory bus
Memory bandwidthBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
Vulkan
Upscaling
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares HD 6850 and HD 7870 XT across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.
HD 6850HD 7870 XT
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
161 FPS
177 FPS
1080p Ultra
110 FPS
121 FPS
1440p Ultra
63 FPS
66 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
24 FPS
Counter-Strike 2HD 6850161 FPSHD 7870 XT177 FPSHD 6850110 FPSHD 7870 XT121 FPSHD 685063 FPSHD 7870 XT66 FPSHD 685023 FPSHD 7870 XT24 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077HD 6850104 FPSHD 7870 XT115 FPSHD 685087 FPSHD 7870 XT96 FPSHD 685046 FPSHD 7870 XT48 FPSHD 685016 FPSHD 7870 XT16 FPS
Forza Horizon 5HD 6850131 FPSHD 7870 XT144 FPSHD 685083 FPSHD 7870 XT91 FPSHD 685057 FPSHD 7870 XT60 FPSHD 685034 FPSHD 7870 XT35 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyHD 685085 FPSHD 7870 XT94 FPSHD 685069 FPSHD 7870 XT76 FPSHD 685041 FPSHD 7870 XT43 FPSHD 685016 FPSHD 7870 XT16 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10032346%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10035376%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10039403%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100845738%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
H2H AI workload indices
Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10043442%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10041435%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10039403%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10045462%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10039403%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling
DirectX11.011.1
VulkanNot supported1.2
OpenGL4.44.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureTeraScale 2BetterGCN 1.0
Process node40 nm28 nmBetter
Release date20102012
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count1700 million4313 millionBetter
Die size255 mm²Better352 mm²
Shader units / cores9601536Better
Base clock775 MHz975 MHzBetter
Boost clock775 MHz975 MHzBetter
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 3x16
Length198 mmBetter267 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU300 WBetter450 W
Power connector6 pin6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 1.3aHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortmini-DisplayPort 1.1mini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors54
Max resolution4096 × 21604096 × 2160
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM1 GB GDDR52 GB GDDR5Better
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit256 bit
TFLOPS1.4882.995Better
Other comparisons
Reviews and questions
Explain this comparison
Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.
What AI will explain
Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.
Evidence details
Data coverage
- Verified gaming results
- 0
- Verified synthetic results
- 0
- Games with verified results
- 0
- Verified community results
- 0
- Estimated / unverified results
- 32
- Specifications
- 0 / 70
Calculated scores · How is this calculated?
Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.
clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)Price evidence · View sources (6)
Verified community results
No verified community benchmarks yet.
Reviewed by
No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.
Comparison history
Show recorded changes (4)
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
Why you can trust this comparison
Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.
Owner experiences
Real builds, results, and community feedback.
Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges
Frequently asked comparison questions
Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.
01Which is better for gaming: HD 6850 or HD 7870 XT?+
HD 6850 has the higher overall gaming score, while HD 6850 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
HD 6850 is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.
03Which is better for Blender?+
HD 6850 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
HD 6850 offers more overall performance, while HD 6850 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
HD 6850 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
HD 6850 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
HD 6850 leads in combined 1440p performance. HD 6850 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
HD 6850 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
HD 6850 is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.
10Which is better without replacing the power supply?+
HD 6850 is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.
11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?+
Consider upgrading to HD 6850 if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.