ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870

The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is a high-end DirectX 11 capable graphics card by AMD for laptops. At the time of announcement, (Jan 2010) the 5870 paired with GDDR5 memory should be the fastest laptop GPU available, excluding SLI or CrossFire solutions. Technically, the chip is based on the desktop Radeon HD 5770 (RV840) with a slower clock rate.

The memory interface of the Mobility 5870 is composed of two 64 bit wide controllers leading to a 128 bit memory bus that can access up to 1024 MB of DDR3 or GDDR5 memory (or 512 MB GDDR3). If (G)DDR3 is used by the laptop vendor, the performance of the 5870 will become bottlenecked by a noticeable degree.

The HD 5870 offers 800 MADD cores (called Stream Processors) which are grouped in 160 5-dimensional groups. The cores support DirectX 11 functions in hardware (Tessellation, OIT, Post-Processing, Shadows, HDR Texture Compression). Furthermore, 16 ROPs, 40TMUs, and 40 TAUs can be found on the chip. All in all, the approximately 1.04 billion transistors of the 5870 offer a theroretic computation power of up to 1.12 TFLOPS. 

According to AMD, the HD 5000 series has also been improved with regards to general computing (as opposed to the HD 4000 series). Therefore, the performance of ATI stream, OpenCL, and DirectCompute 11 applications should be noticeably better.

Compared to the previous generation such as with the Mobility Radeon HD 4870, the HD 5870 should be about 20% faster, at least according to AMD. HD 5870 cards with GDDR3 memory are expected to have lower performance gains. The gaming performance of the 5870 should be sufficient for all current games (2009-2010) in high resolution and high detail settings. The following games should run fluently in 1920x1200 with 4x Antialiasing: Left4Dead, UT3, Devil May Cry 4, Far Cry 2, ET:Quake Wars, and Wolfenstein MP (over 30 fps according to AMD slides - see below). Compared to the previous leader in the mobile segment, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M, the new HD 5870 should be noticeably faster.

The Mobility Radeon HD 5000 series includes an improved video processor (UVD2) to decode HD videos with the graphics card. Assuming adequate memory bandwidth, the new version can decode two HD streams simultaneously (e.g., for Blu-Ray picture in picture). Beginning from Flash 10.1 Beta, the 5000 series can also accelerate Flash HD videos (e.g., Youtube).

A special feature of the HD 5000 series is its ability to transmit HD audio formats, such as Dolby True HD or DTS HD Master Audio, with up to 8 channels and 192 kHz / 24 Bit over HDMI 1.3a.

Similar to the desktop HD 5000 series, the Mobility HD 5870 also supports Eyefinity to connect up to 6 monitors on a computer. Of course, this depends on how many monitor outputs the laptop can physically support. Furthermore, it appears that only laptops with DisplayPort outputs (e.g., HP Envy 17) can support Eyefinity.

Due to the high power consumption of the Mobility Radeon HD 5870, the GPU is only suited for large laptops with good (and possibly loud) cooling solutions. According to AMD, the performance per watt and the idle power consumption have both been improved thanks to Memory Clock Scaling and Clock Gating. Furthermore, the chip supports PowerXpress (with AMD chipset) and Switchable Graphics (Intel) to switch between dedicated and integrated graphics.

Compared to desktop graphics cards, the Mobility Radeon HD 5870 should perform somewhere between a Radeon HD 5750 and 5770 according to the shader count of the desktop 5770 and the clock rate of the desktop 5750.

ManufacturerATI
Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series

Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Crossfire 1600@700MHz

Mobility Radeon HD 5870 800@700MHz

Mobility Radeon HD 5850 800@625MHz

Mobility Radeon HD 5830 800@500MHz

CodenameBroadway-XT
Pipelines800 - unified
Core Speed *700 MHz
Shader Speed *700 MHz
Memory Speed *1000 MHz
Memory Bus Width128 Bit
Memory TypeDDR3, GDDR3, GDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory1024 MB
Shared Memoryno
DirectXDirectX 11, Shader 5.0
Current Consumption50 Watt
technology40 nm
FeaturesEyefinity (up to 6 displays), HD Audio (Dolby True HD, DTS HD), HDMI 1.3a, Avivo HD (UVD2.2)
Notebook Sizelarge
Date of Announcement07.01.2010
Information1.12 TFLOPS
* The specified clock rates are only guidelines for the manufacturer and can be altered by them.

Benchmarks

3DMark 2001SE - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 36342     avg: 37966.7 (62%)     max: 40589 Points
3DMark 03 - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 37780     avg: 38524.4 (36%)     max: 39415 Points
3DMark 05 - Standard 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 17224     avg: 18043.9 (56%)     max: 18983 Points
3DMark 06
0% 100%
min: 12304     avg: 12779.3 (49%)     max: 13534 Points
PCMark Vantage - Gaming Score 1024x768
0% 100%
min: 5320     avg: 5881.1 (28%)     max: 6544 Points
Cinebench R10 - Shading 32Bit
0% 100%
min: 5033     avg: 6269.6 (58%)     max: 6957 Points
3DMark Vantage - P Result no PhysX 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 7260     avg: 7929.1 (26%)     max: 8548 Points
3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 7382     avg: 7614.4 (22%)     max: 7903 Points
...
Radeon HD 4850 -2%
Mobility Radeon HD 5870
GeForce GTS 450 12%
GeForce GTX 550 Ti 30%
...
GeForce GTX 590 315%
0%
100%
Windows 7 Experience Index - Graphics
0% 100%
min: 6     avg: 7 (89%)     max: 7.4 points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Gaming graphics
0% 100%
min: 6     avg: 7 (89%)     max: 7.2 points
Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit
0% 100%
min: 21.72     avg: 32.6 (43%)     max: 44.39 Points
Unigine Heaven 2.1 - high, Tesselation (normal), DirectX11 1280x1024
0% 100%
min: 24     avg: 24 (18%)     max: 24 fps
...
Radeon HD 5670 -5%
Mobility Radeon HD 5870
GeForce GTX 550 Ti 33%
GeForce GTS 450 38%
...
GeForce GTX 590 467%
0%
100%
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card

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 detailled information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Fifa 11
Fifa 11 (2010)
low:
264 264.3 ~ 264 fps      Compare
med.:
156 181.6 ~ 169 fps      Compare
high:
126.8 130 ~ 128 fps      Compare
ultra:
90.3  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Civilization 5 (2010): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings low. - more...
Mafia 2
Mafia 2 (2010)
low:
68.9  fps      Compare
med.:
65.7  fps      Compare
high:
60.7  fps      Compare
ultra:
41.1  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
StarCraft 2
StarCraft 2 (2010)
low:
166 166 170 ~ 167 fps      Compare
med.:
61.8 63 66 ~ 64 fps      Compare
high:
56 56 58 ~ 57 fps      Compare
ultra:
37.2 45 ~ 41 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Just Cause 2 (2010): Not playable with a weaker graphics card. - more...
Metro 2033
Metro 2033 (2010)
low:
85.3  fps      Compare
med.:
53.5  fps      Compare
high:
30.5  fps      Compare
ultra:
10.9  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising (2010): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings ultra. - more...
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
low:
104.2  fps      Compare
med.:
80.5  fps      Compare
high:
58.6  fps      Compare
ultra:
30.9 32.7 33.1 ~ 32 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Stalker: Call of Pripyat (2010): Not playable with a weaker graphics card. - more...
CoD Modern Warfare 2
CoD Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
low:
161  fps      Compare
med.:
78 78.2 79.7 ~ 79 fps      Compare
high:
66.3  fps      Compare
ultra:
48.7 50.7 51.1 ~ 50 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Risen
Risen (2009)
low:
108.8  fps      Compare
med.:
56.2 59.5 ~ 58 fps      Compare
high:
40.9  fps      Compare
ultra:
31.6  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 (2009)
low:
97.9  fps      Compare
high:
77.5  fps      Compare
ultra:
56.1  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Need for Speed Shift
Need for Speed Shift (2009)
low:
57.8  fps      Compare
med.:
47.1 54.1 59.4 ~ 54 fps      Compare
high:
52.3  fps      Compare
ultra:
41.5 43.3 ~ 42 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Colin McRae: DIRT 2
Colin McRae: DIRT 2 (2009)
low:
112.9  fps      Compare
med.:
72.8 76.2 94.7 ~ 81 fps      Compare
high:
48.5  fps      Compare
ultra:
29.5 30.9 33.8 ~ 31 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Anno 1404
Anno 1404 (2009)
low:
131.8  fps      Compare
ultra:
81  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
ArmA 2 (2009): Not playable with a weaker graphics card. - more...
F.E.A.R. 2
F.E.A.R. 2 (2009)
low:
192  fps      Compare
med.:
110  fps      Compare
high:
84 109.7 ~ 97 fps      Compare
ultra:
41 63.1 ~ 52 fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
GTA IV - Grand Theft Auto (2008): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings high. - more...
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2 (2008)
low:
117.6 118 122 ~ 119 fps      Compare
high:
83 83 83.1 ~ 83 fps      Compare
ultra:
33 33.6 58.1 ~ 42 fps      Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Crysis Warhead (2008): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings low. - more...
Crysis - GPU Benchmark
Crysis - GPU Benchmark (2007)
low:
116 142 ~ 129 fps      Compare
med.:
67 72.6 74.9 ~ 72 fps      Compare
high:
50 56.1 56.2 ~ 54 fps      Compare
ultra:
17.1  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis - CPU Benchmark
Crysis - CPU Benchmark (2007)
low:
114 155 ~ 135 fps      Compare
med.:
69.1 72 72.7 ~ 71 fps      Compare
high:
48.5 48.6 56 ~ 51 fps      Compare
ultra:
15.8  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
World in Conflict - Benchmark (2007): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings high. - more...
Call of Juarez Benchmark
Call of Juarez Benchmark (2006)
high:
59.9  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark (2005)
high:
200.9  fps      Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
F.E.A.R. (2005): Playable with a weaker graphics card in detail settings high. - more...

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

Benchmarks von AMD

AMD has published a few benchmarks on their slides when presenting the new Mobility 5000 series. Please be aware that the selection of the games and settings may be favorable for AMD and therefore may not represent the general performance of the card.

AMD: Framerate 5870
AMD: Framerate 5870
AMD:HD 4870 vs 5870
AMD:HD 4870 vs 5870
AMD:GTX 280M vs 5870
AMD:GTX 280M vs 5870

Notebook reviews with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 graphics card

Alienware M17X, HD5870 (Intel Core i5 520M, 17.0")
» Alienware M17X, HD5870 - External Review

Alienware M17X10 (Intel Core i5 520M, 17.0")
» Alienware M17X10 - External Review

Asus G73J (Intel Core i7 920XM, 17.3")
» Asus G73J - External Review

Asus G73JH (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH - External Review

Asus G73JH-A1 (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH-A1 - External Review

Asus G73JH-BST7 (Intel Core i7 740QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH-BST7 - External Review

Asus G73JH-RBBX05 (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH-RBBX05 - External Review

Asus G73JH-TY042V (Intel Core i5 520M, 17.3")
» Review Asus G73JH (ATI HD 5870) Gaming Notebook - Review
» Asus G73JH-TY042V - External Review

Asus G73Jh-TZ008V (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.0")
» Asus G73Jh-TZ008V - External Review

Asus G73JH-TZ014V (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Review Update Asus G73JH (i7-720QM, FHD TFT) Notebook - Review
» Asus G73JH-TZ014V - External Review

Asus G73JH-TZ038V (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH-TZ038V - External Review

Asus G73JH-X1 (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.3")
» Asus G73JH-X1 - External Review

AVADirect Clevo W860CU (Intel Core i7 720QM, 15.6")
» AVADirect Clevo W860CU - External Review

Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX HD 5870 (Intel Core i7 820QM, 15.6")
» Review Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX (ATI HD 5870) Notebook - Review
» Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX HD 5870 - External Review

Deviltech HellMachine (HD 5870) (Intel Core i7 720QM, 18.4")
» Deviltech HellMachine (HD 5870) - External Review

Maingear eX-L 17 (Intel Core i5 520M, 17.3")
» Maingear eX-L 17 - External Review

Medion Akoya X7811-MD97588 (Intel Core i5 450M, 17.0")
» Medion Akoya X7811-MD97588 - External Review

Medion X7811 / MD97327 DE (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.0")
» Review Medion Akoya X7811 Gaming-Notebook - Review
» Medion X7811 / MD97327 DE - External Review

Mesh Ultima i5-B (Intel Core i5 460M, 15.6")
» Mesh Ultima i5-B - External Review

MSI GX660-076EU (Intel Core i5 450M, 15.6")
» MSI GX660-076EU - External Review

MSI GX660R (Intel Core i7 740QM, 15.6")
» Review MSI GX660R Gaming Notebook - Review
» Review Update: MSI GX660R Gaming Notebook - Review
» MSI GX660R - External Review

MSI GX660R-064 (Intel Core i7 720QM, 15.6")
» MSI GX660R-064 - External Review

MSI GX660R-i5647LW7P (Intel Core i5 460M, 15.6")
» MSI GX660R-i5647LW7P - External Review

MSI GX660R-i7488LW7P (Intel Core i7 740QM, 15.6")
» MSI GX660R-i7488LW7P - External Review

MSI GX740-079US (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.0")
» MSI GX740-079US - External Review

MSI GX740-i5448LW7P (Intel Core i5 430M, 17.0")
» MSI GX740-i5448LW7P - External Review

MSI GX740-i7247LW7P (Intel Core i7 720QM, 17.0")
» Review MSI GX740-i7247LW7P Gaming-Notebook - Review
» MSI GX740-i7247LW7P - External Review

MSI Megabook GX740-091 (Intel Core i5 430M, 17.0")
» MSI Megabook GX740-091 - External Review

Origin PC EON15 (Intel Core i5 430M, 15.6")
» Origin PC EON15 - External Review

Sager NP8690 (Intel Core i5 520M, 15.6")
» Sager NP8690 - External Review

Sager NP8760 (Intel Core i7 820QM, 17.3")
» Sager NP8760 - External Review

Schenker XMG A710 (Intel Core i5 460M, 17.3")
» mySN XMG A710 - External Review

» Comparison of GPUs
Detailled list of all laptop GPUs with a short description. Classified and sorted by performance.

» Benchmark List
Sortable and restrainable list of all GPUs with benchmarks (e.g. 3DMarks).

» Notebook Gaming List
Which game can be played with my graphics card.

Class 1
GeForce GTX 590
GeForce GTX 580
Radeon HD 6970
GeForce GTX 570
GeForce GTX 480
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Radeon HD 6870
GeForce GTX 470
Radeon HD 5850
GeForce GTX 460 768MB
Radeon HD 6790
Radeon HD 5770
GeForce GTX 550 Ti
GeForce GTS 450
Radeon HD 4850
Radeon HD 5670
Class 2
GeForce GT 240
GeForce GT 430
7590M *
Radeon HD 5570
Radeon HD 6550D *
GeForce GT 220
Radeon HD 6450 GDDR5
Class 3
Radeon HD 4350
GeForce G 107M *
Chrome9HD *
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
SGX543MP2 *
Mali-400 MP *
PowerVR SGX540 *
PowerVR SGX535
unknown *

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter

> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > FAQ / Tips / Technics > Comparison of Laptop Graphics Cards > ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870
Author: Klaus Hinum (Update: 2012-01-25)