NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 2080 vs Radeon HD 7870 XT
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7870 XT
Aggregate performance score
We've compared RTX 2080 and HD 7870 XT across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗RTX 2080 outperforms HD 7870 XT by ~35% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+35%
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: GeForce RTX 2080 (~24%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider RTX 2080
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 7.5 · DLSS 2
Reasons to consider HD 7870 XT
- Lower stated power consumption
- Lower recorded market price
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Catalog metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
NVIDIA
AMDPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
4634
7157
100100
6856
Graphics card ranking
Positions 99–104of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
GeForce RTX 2080
171 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Radeon HD 7870 XT
Price $28.00Based 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
46Better
34
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
40Better
31
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
37Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
71Better
57
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
56Better
45
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
Upscaling
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory bus
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Length
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares RTX 2080 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.
RTX 2080HD 7870 XT
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
201 FPS
177 FPS
1080p Ultra
141 FPS
121 FPS
1440p Ultra
110 FPS
66 FPS
4K Ultra
41 FPS
24 FPS
Counter-Strike 2RTX 2080201 FPSHD 7870 XT177 FPSRTX 2080141 FPSHD 7870 XT121 FPSRTX 2080110 FPSHD 7870 XT66 FPSRTX 208041 FPSHD 7870 XT24 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077RTX 2080130 FPSHD 7870 XT115 FPSRTX 2080112 FPSHD 7870 XT96 FPSRTX 208080 FPSHD 7870 XT48 FPSRTX 208027 FPSHD 7870 XT16 FPS
Forza Horizon 5RTX 2080163 FPSHD 7870 XT144 FPSRTX 2080106 FPSHD 7870 XT91 FPSRTX 208099 FPSHD 7870 XT60 FPSRTX 208060 FPSHD 7870 XT35 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRTX 2080106 FPSHD 7870 XT94 FPSRTX 208088 FPSHD 7870 XT76 FPSRTX 208071 FPSHD 7870 XT43 FPSRTX 208028 FPSHD 7870 XT16 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100463430%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100513732%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100524026%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100685619%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100715722%
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 / 100564424%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100554324%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100524026%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100584623%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100534028%
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
DirectX12.211.1
Vulkan1.41.2
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingDLSS 2Not supported
Compute APIOpenCL 3.0, CUDA 7.5OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureTuringGCN 1.0
Process node12 nmBetter28 nm
Release date20182012
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count13600 millionBetter4313 million
Die size545 mm²352 mm²Better
Shader units / cores2944Better1536
Base clock1515 MHzBetter975 MHz
Boost clock1710 MHzBetter975 MHz
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 3x16PCIe 3x16
Length267 mm267 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU550 W450 WBetter
Power connector6+8 pin6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 2.0HDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4amini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CYesNo
Max monitors54
Max resolution7680 × 43204096 × 2160
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM8 GB GDDR6Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit256 bit
TFLOPS10.07Better2.995
Other comparisons
Arc A380IntelReviews 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: RTX 2080 or HD 7870 XT?+
RTX 2080 has the higher overall gaming score, while RTX 2080 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
RTX 2080 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?+
RTX 2080 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
RTX 2080 offers more overall performance, while RTX 2080 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
RTX 2080 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
RTX 2080 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
RTX 2080 leads in combined 1440p performance. RTX 2080 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
RTX 2080 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
HD 7870 XT 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 7870 XT 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 RTX 2080 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.