NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 5090 vs Radeon HD 7870
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7870
Aggregate performance score
We've compared RTX 5090 and HD 7870 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗RTX 5090 outperforms HD 7870 by ~203% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+203%
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 5090 (~72%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider RTX 5090
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 12.0 · DLSS 4
Reasons to consider HD 7870
- Lower stated power consumption
- Lower recorded market price
- Higher catalog value index
- 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
10033
5863
38100
10056
Graphics card ranking
Positions 1–6of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
GeForce RTX 5090
156 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Radeon HD 7870
Price $26.00Based 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
100Better
33
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
78Better
30
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
76Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
58
63Better
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
79Better
46
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
HDMI
Device class
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
Upscaling
Compute API
DisplayPort
Release date
Launch price—
ArchitectureBetter
Recommended PSU
Length
Thickness
Max monitors
Max resolution
Transistor countBetter
Die sizeBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Base clockBetter
Clock speedBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
USB Type-C
Memory cacheBetter
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares RTX 5090 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.
RTX 5090HD 7870
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
416 FPS
166 FPS
1080p Ultra
288 FPS
113 FPS
1440p Ultra
215 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
109 FPS
23 FPS
Counter-Strike 2RTX 5090416 FPSHD 7870166 FPSRTX 5090288 FPSHD 7870113 FPSRTX 5090215 FPSHD 787063 FPSRTX 5090109 FPSHD 787023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077RTX 5090262 FPSHD 7870107 FPSRTX 5090234 FPSHD 787090 FPSRTX 5090162 FPSHD 787045 FPSRTX 509078 FPSHD 787015 FPS
Forza Horizon 5RTX 5090324 FPSHD 7870135 FPSRTX 5090221 FPSHD 787085 FPSRTX 5090196 FPSHD 787056 FPSRTX 5090150 FPSHD 787034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRTX 5090214 FPSHD 787087 FPSRTX 5090179 FPSHD 787071 FPSRTX 5090143 FPSHD 787041 FPSRTX 509084 FPSHD 787016 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10010033101%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100973692%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 1001003988%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 1001005656%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 10058638%
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 / 1001004380%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 1001004282%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 1001003988%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 1001004576%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 1001004086%
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 4Not supported
Compute APIOpenCL 3.0, CUDA 12.0OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureBlackwell 2.0BetterGCN 1.0
Process node4 nmBetter40 nm
Release date20252012
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count92.2 billionBetter1500 million
Die size750 mm²123 mm²Better
Shader units / cores21760Better640
Base clock2017 MHzBetter1000 MHz
Boost clock2407 MHzBetter1000 MHz
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 5x16PCIe 3x16
Length304 mmVaries by board
ThicknessDual-slotVaries by board
Recommended PSU950 WVaries by board
Power connector16 pin6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 2.1bBoard dependent
DisplayPortDisplayPort 2.1bBoard dependent
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors4Varies by board
Max resolution7680 × 4320Varies by board
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM32 GB GDDR7Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR7GDDR5
Memory bus512 bitBetter256 bit
TFLOPS104.8Better1.024
Other comparisons
Arc B580IntelReviews 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 / 69
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 (3)
- · 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 5090 or HD 7870?+
RTX 5090 has the higher overall gaming score, while HD 7870 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
RTX 5090 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 5090 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 5090 offers more overall performance, while RTX 5090 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
RTX 5090 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 7870 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
RTX 5090 leads in combined 1440p performance. RTX 5090 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
RTX 5090 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 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 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 5090 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.