AMD
Radeon R5 230 vs Radeon HD 7870
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7870
Aggregate performance score
We've compared R5 230 and HD 7870 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗HD 7870 outperforms R5 230 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 R5 230 (~13%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider R5 230
- Lower stated power consumption
- Lower recorded market price
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Reasons to consider HD 7870
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- 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
3133
10063
100100
4356
Graphics card ranking
Positions 239–244of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
Radeon HD 7870
151 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Overview
Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
31
33Better
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
29
30Better
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
26
28Better
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
63
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
52Better
46
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
Power consumptionBetter
Device class
Vulkan
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Process node
Recommended PSU
Length
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
HDMI
DisplayPort
Upscaling
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares R5 230 and HD 7870 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.
R5 230HD 7870
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
155 FPS
166 FPS
1080p Ultra
109 FPS
113 FPS
1440p Ultra
58 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
21 FPS
23 FPS
Counter-Strike 2R5 230155 FPSHD 7870166 FPSR5 230109 FPSHD 7870113 FPSR5 23058 FPSHD 787063 FPSR5 23021 FPSHD 787023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077R5 230100 FPSHD 7870107 FPSR5 23086 FPSHD 787090 FPSR5 23042 FPSHD 787045 FPSR5 23014 FPSHD 787015 FPS
Forza Horizon 5R5 230126 FPSHD 7870135 FPSR5 23082 FPSHD 787085 FPSR5 23052 FPSHD 787056 FPSR5 23031 FPSHD 787034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyR5 23082 FPSHD 787087 FPSR5 23068 FPSHD 787071 FPSR5 23038 FPSHD 787041 FPSR5 23014 FPSHD 787016 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10031336%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100313615%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100343914%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100435626%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001006345%
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 / 100364318%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100364215%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100343914%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100384517%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100354013%
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
Vulkan1.21.2
OpenGL4.44.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureTeraScale 2BetterGCN 1.0
Process node40 nm40 nm
Release date20142012
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count370 million1500 millionBetter
Die size67 mm²Better123 mm²
Shader units / cores160640Better
Base clock625 MHz1000 MHzBetter
Boost clock625 MHz1000 MHzBetter
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 3x16
Length168 mmVaries by board
ThicknessSingle-slotVaries by board
Recommended PSU200 WVaries by board
Power connectorNone6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 1.3aBoard dependent
DisplayPortBoard dependentBoard dependent
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors3Varies by board
Max resolution2560 × 1600Varies by board
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM1 GB DDR32 GB GDDR5Better
Memory typeDDR3GDDR5
Memory bus64 bit256 bitBetter
TFLOPS0.21.024Better
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 (5)
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: R5 230 or HD 7870?+
R5 230 has the higher overall gaming score, while R5 230 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
R5 230 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?+
R5 230 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
R5 230 offers more overall performance, while R5 230 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
R5 230 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
R5 230 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
R5 230 leads in combined 1440p performance. R5 230 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
R5 230 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
R5 230 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?+
R5 230 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 R5 230 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.