AMD Radeon HD 7870 And 7850 Review: Pitcairn Gets Benchmarked

Temperature And Noise

Before we discuss the following results, we need to point out that a lot of the cards in our lab come from board partners. They’re not reference designs, and so their thermal and acoustic performance will differ from the AMD’s samples. This gives them a potential advantage, depending on the vendor’s priorities. In an effort to maintain transparency, when a card isn’t a reference design, we label it as such, making sure clock rates match the reference specification.

Despite competing custom coolers, the Radeon boards demonstrate low idle temperatures. This is likely a consequence of low power use translating to modest thermal output.

Load temperatures are also conservative—impressive given the large aftermarket heat sinks with which these reference designs compete.

None of these cards make much noise at idle, but we’re more concerned with their behavior under a 3D load.

Modest thermals turn into great acoustics for both of the Radeon HD 7800s. We just wish the Radeon HD 7970 was as quiet as these two mid-range boards.

  • hardcore_gamer
    Wow..7870 has nearly half the power-draw of GTX 570 and performs better . IMO this is the most impressive card in GCN line up so far.
    Reply
  • ilysaml
    Watch the benches well, the HD 7870 almost beating the GTX 580.
    Reply
  • alex3064
    what date is this 7850/7870 actually launched
    Reply
  • esrever
    AMD saved the best for last it seems. Although a bit over priced, these cards are amazing performance/watt with all the new features. Nice to see the 7870 take a few blows at the 580 in a few games. Can't wait to see what kepler can do as well!
    Reply
  • alex3064
    alex3064what date is this 7850/7870 actually launchedi mean when will it be launched in market
    Reply
  • theuniquegamer
    impressive performance of 7870 (i was disappointed by the 7770's performance )And what about microshuttering? Is it present in 7870 CF?
    Reply
  • hardcore_gamer
    ilysamlWatch the benches well, the HD 7870 almost beating the GTX 580.
    Looking at the performance graphs, 7870 performs very close to 7950 which has 40% more SPs and a 384 bit memory interface. I think AMD reduced the performance of 79xx series on purpose so that they can release a better card just before the launch of Kepler.
    Reply
  • _Pez_
    the 7870 is quite impressive. O.O almost the same gaming capability of the 580 for 350. OMG!
    Reply
  • hardcore_gamer
    alex3064i mean when will it be launched in market
    It is there in the first page. "you won’t be able to buy the card until at least March 19th, AMD tells us."
    Reply
  • Onikage
    7870 is a sensational card !!! even at this given price!!!
    what a card !!!
    DAY 1 BUY !
    Reply