How to increase/ Overclock/ Increase/ Boost/ Optimize/ Max/ Tune AMD Radeon HD 7870 Gaming: Review, specs, overclocking Settings and benchmarks + fresh drivers/ Windows 7, 8.1, 8 and Vista.
Launched on the electronics market in 2013, the AMD Radeon HD 7870 video adapter has become one of the most profitable options for building an average gaming PC. At a cost lower than that of Nvidia’s main competitor, the Geforce GTX 660, the card received more performance. Although it had a number of disadvantages: first of all, high power consumption, due to which the computer needed a powerful power supply.
Specifications Radeon HD 7870
The main characteristics of the AMD Radeon HD 7870 allow you to compare the graphics adapter with other video cards. These parameters include:
- processor model: Pitcairn XT;
- number of conveyors: 1280;
- frequency: cores – 1.1 GHz, memory – 1.25 GHz (5.0 GHz);
- memory: GDDR-5, 256-bit, 2048 MB;
- порты: DVI-I, HDMI 1.4а, 2 mini DisplayPort;
- maximum supported resolution: 4096×2160 (30 fps) for DisplayPort and HDMI;
- supported technologies: DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.2, Eyefinity 2.0, CrossFireX, Zero Core, AMD PowerPlay and AMD HD3D.
The maximum TDP value of the video card is 175 W, although this value drops when there is no load on the GPU. The core temperature does not exceed 33 degrees, and the cooler operates with minimal noise.
To ensure normal operation of the card, it is recommended to provide a power supply unit with a capacity of at least 450 W for a computer with HD 7870. The dimensions of the card, the length of which is in the range of 210-280 mm (depending on the manufacturer), require the use of a Middle- or Full-Tower case for its installation.
How to Increase : Review Radeon HD 7870
Most users leave positive feedback about the AMD Radeon HD 7870. Someone notes the optimal ratio of quality and cost, others write about quiet operation, and still others about good FPS values in most games in 2011-2013. release. It copes well with the launch of more modern programs, although with a lower screen resolution.
The positives also include:
- good overclocking potential, which allows you to significantly increase the performance of the video adapter with the help of special applications;
- the ability to use the card for cryptocurrency mining;
- medium dimensions, allowing you to install the adapter on most PCs.
There are few downsides to technology. These include high power consumption, but most modern processors with similar performance have this parameter not much less. Another downside is slower performance when using applications specifically optimized for Nvidia graphics.
Despite the fact that the Radeon HD 7870 is no longer in production, you can find this model in the secondary market: on classifieds sites and in price lists selling used electronics companies. The average cost of the device is from…. – a little, but still enough to prefer buying an old card to choosing a new video processor.
If the graphics adapter is already installed on the computer, only fans of resource-demanding games should replace it. The model fully satisfies the needs of most other PC users, providing work with graphic editors and support for high-resolution movies.
What games will go on AMD Radeon HD 7870
Looking at the AMD Radeon HD 7870 gaming benchmarks, you can evaluate the capabilities of the graphics processor of this card. It is worth noting that the optimal frame rate for human eyes is 25-30 fps. A smaller number leads to problems with updating the picture (it seems that the image “slows down”) and a decrease in comfort from the gameplay.
At 15-20 fps, playing modern shooters or action games is more difficult than usual, at 10 fps, starting the game no longer makes sense.
Indicators for popular games (if you have an appropriate modern processor and enough RAM – for example, at least 8 GB of RAM and Intel Core i5):
- for the Battlefield 1 shooter – 52 fps at high, 45 fps at maximum;
- when you start the 4th part of Fallout, you can get from 36 to 77 fps, depending on the settings you have set;
- for the 3rd part of The Witcher, the figures will be 20-63 frames per second – more than enough for this demanding game;
- in older games like Battlefield 4, Crysis 3 and The Elder Scrolls V, the video adapter shows even at the best settings 43, 26 and 56 fps, respectively.
Comparing the HD 7870 adapter with other video cards of similar power and price, and taking its performance as 100%, you can see that its parameters are similar to the GeForce GTX 750, AMD Radeon HD 6950 and AMD Radeon R7 260X models. GTX 660 Ti, Radeon R7 265 and Radeon HD 7790 cards give out slightly lower results in tests. The HD 7870 noticeably outperforms the top models of previous generations of both brands, Nvidia and AMD.
How to overclock a video card
By overclocking the AMD Radeon HD 7870, you can increase the average memory frequency from 1250 MHz to 1400 MHz. For overclocking, you can use the Sapphire TriXX utility – standard for Advanced Micro Devices GPUs. Although, in order to compensate for the heating of the overclocked card, it is recommended to change the standard thermal paste with a more efficient version of Arctic Cooling MX-2.
The results of overclocking the video adapter are approximately as follows:
- the cooling system copes well with its functions due to the fact that the rotation speed of the coolers increases from 2800 rpm to 4300 rpm;
- the noise from the video card increases, but still does not exceed the permissible value, even for an apartment at night – in fact, the sound is almost inaudible against the background of the power supply;
- when choosing a good thermal paste, the card does not heat up too much and practically does not affect the air temperature inside the system unit.
Trying to use the Radeon 7870 for mining can be quite successful, even compared to popular modern options. You can compare this video adapter, for example, with the AMD RX460 model, although the 2013 card requires almost 2.5 times more electricity.
For home mining, in which you can do without replacing “machines” and wiring, as well as serious electricity bills, “farms” are usually assembled from 4 Radeon 7870 and a kilowatt power supply.
Download drivers for AMD Radeon HD 7870
For the correct operation of the video adapter, the user must download drivers for the Radeon HD 7870 from the official website of the manufacturer. AMD offers free software for its products, which can be selected according to the operating system. Computers with this card usually install Windows 7, although it supports other platforms, including Windows 10, XP and Vista, and even 32-bit versions of Linux.
It is not recommended to download drivers using third-party programs. Some of them are able to infect a computer with viruses, others, such as DriverPack Solution, automatically download and install unnecessary and outdated software for the user.
For Windows 7, 8.1, 8 and Vista
| 32-bit | 64-bit |
For Windows 10
| 32-bit | 64-bit |
File size: ~300.00 MB
Driver version: 15.7.1 from 07/29/2015;
Language: English
Operating system: Windows 10 32/64-bit, Windows 7 32/64-bit, Windows 8.1 32/64-bit, Windows 8 32/64-bit, Windows Vista
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