ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 Vs

▼

• Reviews
• News
• Videos
• Benchmarks / Tech
• Buyers Guide
• Magazine
• Library
• Search
• Jobs
• ...

• Deutsch
• English
• Español
• Français
• Italiano
• Nederlands
• Polski
• Português
• Русский
• Türkçe
• Svenska
• Chinese
• Magyar

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 vs

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870

► remove from comparison

The ATI Mobilty Radeon HD 4870 from AMD is a high-end DirectX 10.1 notebook graphics card. Technically, it is based on the desktop HD 4850 and 4870 GPUs but with a lower clock rate to save energy. The HD 4870 is also equipped with GDDR5 RAM, similar to its desktop variations. The successor of the HD 4870 is the Mobility Radeon HD 5870 which supports DirectX 11.

The gaming performance of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 should be comparable to, but still a bit below, the desktop HD 4850. The high amount of shaders and the 256 bit bus allows the Mobility HD 4870 to run every DirectX 9 game in high resolutions and detail settings. Demanding DirectX 10 games, such as Crysis, can be played fluently with medium to high details. Compared to the GeForce GTX 280M, the Mobility HD 4870 delivers a similar level of performance in games.

The Mobility HD 4870 is based on the RV770 chip and features 800 stream processors (160 5-dimensional shader cores). These cores do the graphics work that would normally be done by the shader- and pixel pipelines of older GPUs. The stream processors are also called ALUs and are grouped in five-way VLIW units. Each of the five instructions of a VLIW bundle has to be independent from the others and therefore much of the performance of the HD 4870 depends on the optimization of the driver.

The Mobility Radeon HD 4870 includes Avivo HD, UVD2 and an onboard soundchip for 7.1 sound output over HDMI or DisplayPort. The UVD2 supports full bitstream decoding of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1 streams. In addition to this, it also supports dual video stream decoding and Picture-in Picture mode for full compliancy of the current BD-Live standard. Simply put, the Avivo HD technology handles all video tasks and enables the GPU to decode HD videos.

AMD has published a current consumption of about 65 Watt for the Mobility HD 4870. Still, it is unclear if this value represents the chip alone or the entire MXM board including the memory (which we estimate would contribute about 5 Watts).

Compared to the desktop ATI Radeon HD 4870, the mobile 4870 features a slower core clock and should therefore perform more similarly to the desktop HD 4850 and 4830.

► remove from comparison show full text

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870
Mobility Radeon HD 4000 Series	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2 1600 @ 0.55 GHz 256 Bit @ 888 MHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 800 @ 0.55 GHz 256 Bit @ 888 MHz
Codename	M98-XT
Architecture	Terascale 1
Pipelines	800 - unified
Core Speed	550 MHz
Memory Speed	888 MHz
Memory Bus Width	256 Bit
Memory Type	GDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory	1024 MB
Shared Memory	no
API	DirectX 10.1, Shader 4.1
Transistors	956 Million
technology	55 nm
Features	OpenGL 2.0, PCI-E 2.0 x16, Powerplay, DisplayPort support up to 2560x1600, HDMI support up to 1920x1080 (both with 7.1 AC3 Audio), 1x Dual-Link/Single-Link DVI, 1x Single-Link DVI Support (all display ports have to be supported by the laptop manufacturer)
Notebook Size	large
Date of Announcement	09.01.2009
Link to Manufacturer Page	ati.amd.com

Benchmarks

3DMark Vantage 3DM Vant. Perf. total + ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +6631 Points (2%)

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	6631

3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +6139 Points (3%)

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	6139

3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +min: 14594 avg: 16349 median: 16348.5 (18%) max: 18103 Points

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
E6600	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 652 / 875 MHz 0.5 GB	3 GB	14594
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	18103

3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 3DMark 06100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +min: 10183 avg: 10655 median: 10655 (14%) max: 11127 Points

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024
(3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024)	E6600	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 652 / 875 MHz 0.5 GB	3 GB	10183
Alienware M17x (HD 4870) (3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	11127

Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Gaming graphics100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +7.2 Points (91%)

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	7.2

Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +7.2 Points (91%)

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	7.2

Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)100% 1 Mobility Radeon HD 4870 +5190 Points (4%)

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Alienware M17x (HD 4870)	620M	Mobility Radeon HD 4870 550 / 888 MHz 1 GB	4 GB	5190

Average Benchmarks ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 → 0% n=0

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card - Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

CoD Modern Warfare 2

2009 med. 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:46.4 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:30.8 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Risen

2009 med. 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:50 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:28.3 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Need for Speed Shift

2009 med. 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:51.8 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:30.7 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009 med. 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:65.2 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:29.5 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Anno 1404

2009 ultra 1280x1024 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:58.8 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

F.E.A.R. 2

2009 high 1280x1024 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:88.8 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:49.3 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Far Cry 2

2008 low 640x480 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:76 [X] no modelIntel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6600 2.4GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Supreme Commander - FA Bench

2007 high 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:50 [X] no modelIntel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6600 2.4GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007 high 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:50 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:14.5 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007 high 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:43.9 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps ultra 1920x1080 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:13.5 [X] Alienware M17x (HD 4870)Intel Core i7-620M 2.7GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005 high 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:165 [X] no modelIntel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6600 2.4GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo

1999 high 1024x768 100% Mobility Radeon HD 4870:582 [X] no modelIntel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6600 2.4GHz Mobility Radeon HD 4870 fps

Average Gaming ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870
low	med.	high	ultra	QHD	4K	low	med.	high	ultra	QHD	4K
CoD Modern Warfare 2	46.4	30.8
Risen	50	28.3
Need for Speed Shift	51.8	30.7
Colin McRae: DIRT 2	65.2	29.5
Anno 1404	58.8
F.E.A.R. 2	88.8	49.3
Far Cry 2	76
Supreme Commander - FA Bench	50
Crysis - GPU Benchmark	50	14.5
Crysis - CPU Benchmark	43.9	13.5
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark	165
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo	582
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870
low	med.	high	ultra	QHD	4K	low	med.	high	ultra	QHD	4K
< 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps	1	3 1	3 1 2	4 4	< 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps

For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

Add one or more devices and compare

In the following list you can select (and also search for) devices that should be added to the comparison. You can select more than one device.

restrict list: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 530v (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 545v (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 560v (2010/05)ATI Radeon HD 4225 (2010/05)ATI Radeon HD 4270 (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 550v (2010/05)ATI FirePro M7820 (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 565v (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 540v (2010/05)ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 (2010/08)v1.35log 26. 07:09:24

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 1080 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 4870 +0s ... 0s

#3 redirected to Ajax server, took 1766729364s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:20:15 +0100 +0s ... 0s

#5 composed specs +0.021s ... 0.021s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.021s

#7 start showIntegratedCPUs +0s ... 0.021s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 1080 +0.018s ... 0.039s

#9 got single benchmarks 1080 +0.005s ... 0.044s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 4870 +0s ... 0.044s

#11 got single benchmarks 4870 +0s ... 0.044s

#12 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.044s

#13 min, max, avg, median took s +0.004s ... 0.048s

#14 before gaming benchmark output +0s ... 0.048s

#15 Got 19 rows for game benchmarks. +0.001s ... 0.049s

#16 composed SQL query for gamebenchmarks +0s ... 0.049s

#17 got data and put it in $dataArray +0.002s ... 0.051s

#18 benchmarks composed for output. +0.007s ... 0.057s

#19 calculated avg scores. +0s ... 0.057s

#20 return log +0.001s ... 0.059s

Please share our article, every link counts! Add as a preferredsource on Google > Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Graphics Card Comparison - Head 2 Head Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1) 10 ← exclude selected types