AMD
Radeon RX 5500 vs Radeon HD 7870
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7870
Aggregate performance score
We've compared RX 5500 and HD 7870 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗RX 5500 outperforms HD 7870 by ~12% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+12%
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 RX 5500 (~13%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider RX 5500
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- Lower stated power consumption
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · FSR
Reasons to consider HD 7870
- 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.
AMDPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
3733
8263
100100
6056
Graphics card ranking
Positions 161–166of 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.
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
37Better
33
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
33Better
30
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
31Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
82Better
63
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
52Better
46
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
Device class
Upscaling
HDMI
DisplayPort
USB Type-C
Recommended PSU
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
Thickness
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares RX 5500 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.
RX 5500HD 7870
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
189 FPS
166 FPS
1080p Ultra
133 FPS
113 FPS
1440p Ultra
77 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
23 FPS
Counter-Strike 2RX 5500189 FPSHD 7870166 FPSRX 5500133 FPSHD 7870113 FPSRX 550077 FPSHD 787063 FPSRX 550023 FPSHD 787023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077RX 5500122 FPSHD 7870107 FPSRX 5500105 FPSHD 787090 FPSRX 550056 FPSHD 787045 FPSRX 550015 FPSHD 787015 FPS
Forza Horizon 5RX 5500154 FPSHD 7870135 FPSRX 550099 FPSHD 787085 FPSRX 550070 FPSHD 787056 FPSRX 550034 FPSHD 787034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRX 550099 FPSHD 787087 FPSRX 550083 FPSHD 787071 FPSRX 550050 FPSHD 787041 FPSRX 550016 FPSHD 787016 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100373311%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100443620%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100443912%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10060567%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100826326%
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 / 100484311%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10046429%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100443912%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100504511%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100444010%
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
DirectX12.111.1
Vulkan1.41.2
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingFSRNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 2.1OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureRDNA 1.0GCN 1.0
Process node7 nmBetter40 nm
Release date20192012
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count6400 millionBetter1500 million
Die size158 mm²123 mm²Better
Shader units / cores1408Better640
Base clock1500 MHzBetter1000 MHz
Boost clock1845 MHzBetter1000 MHz
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 4x8PCIe 3x16
LengthVaries by boardVaries by board
ThicknessVaries by boardVaries by board
Recommended PSUVaries by boardVaries by board
Power connector8 pin6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 2.0bBoard dependent
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4Board dependent
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitorsVaries by boardVaries by board
Max resolution7680 × 4320Varies by board
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM4 GB GDDR6Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory bus128 bit256 bitBetter
TFLOPS5.196Better1.024
Other comparisons
GTX 1050 3GBNVIDIAReviews 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: RX 5500 or HD 7870?+
RX 5500 has the higher overall gaming score, while RX 5500 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
RX 5500 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?+
RX 5500 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
RX 5500 offers more overall performance, while RX 5500 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
RX 5500 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
RX 5500 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
RX 5500 leads in combined 1440p performance. RX 5500 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
RX 5500 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
RX 5500 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?+
RX 5500 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 RX 5500 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.