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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.

Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series

Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Crossfire compare 1600 @ 0.7 GHz128 Bit @ 1000 MHz
Mobility Radeon HD 5870 800 @ 0.7 GHz128 Bit @ 1000 MHz
Mobility Radeon HD 5850 compare 800 @ 0.63 GHz128 Bit @ 2000 MHz
Mobility Radeon HD 5830 compare 800 @ 0.5 GHz128 Bit @ 800 MHz
CodenameBroadway-XT
ArchitectureTerascale 2
Pipelines800 - unified
Core Speed700 MHz
Memory Speed1000 MHz
Memory Bus Width128 Bit
Memory TypeDDR3, GDDR3, GDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory1024 MB
Shared Memoryno
APIDirectX 11, Shader 5.0
Power 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

Benchmarks

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
min: 7260     avg: 7929     median: 7999 (2%)     max: 8548 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
min: 7382     avg: 7614     median: 7616 (4%)     max: 7903 Points
3DMark 03 - 3DMark 03 - Standard
min: 37780     avg: 38524     median: 38290 (20%)     max: 39415 Points
3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard
min: 17224     avg: 18044     median: 18052.5 (20%)     max: 18983 Points
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06
min: 12356     avg: 12863     median: 12830.5 (17%)     max: 13534 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x768 +
3DMark 06
min: 12304     avg: 12363     median: 12362.5 (16%)     max: 12421 Points
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
min: 5033     avg: 6270     median: 6609 (5%)     max: 6957 points
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 21.72     avg: 32.6     median: 28.4 (10%)     max: 44.39 fps
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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.

Fifa 11

Fifa 11

2010
low 800x600
264 264.3 ~ 264 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
156 181.6 ~ 169 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
126.8 130 ~ 128 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
90.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Mafia 2

Mafia 2

2010
low 800x600
68.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
65.7  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
60.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
41.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
166 166 170 ~ 167 fps    + Compare
med. 1360x768
61.8 63 66 ~ 64 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
56 56 58 ~ 57 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
37.2 45 ~ 41 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 800x600
85.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1360x768
53.5  fps    + Compare
high 1600x900
30.5  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
10.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
low 1024x768
104.2  fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1366x768
80.5  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
58.6  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
30.9 32.7 33.1 ~ 32 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 800x600
161  fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1024x768
78 78.2 79.7 ~ 79 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
66.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
48.7 50.7 51.1 ~ 50 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Risen

Risen

2009
low 800x600
108.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
56.2 59.5 ~ 58 fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
40.9  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
31.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5

2009
low 800x600
97.9  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
77.5  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
56.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed Shift

2009
low 800x600
57.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
47.1 54.1 59.4 ~ 54 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
52.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
41.5 43.3 ~ 42 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Colin McRae: DIRT 2

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009
low 800x600
112.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
72.8 76.2 94.7 ~ 81 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
48.5  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
29.5 30.9 33.8 ~ 31 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
low 1024x768
131.8  fps    + Compare
ultra 1280x1024
81  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
F.E.A.R. 2

F.E.A.R. 2

2009
low 800x600
192  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
110  fps    + Compare
high 1280x1024
84 109.7 ~ 97 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
41 63.1 ~ 52 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2

2008
low 640x480
117.6 118 122 ~ 119 fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
82.9 83 83.1 ~ 83 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
33 33.6 58.1 ~ 42 fps    + Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
116 142 ~ 129 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
67 72.6 74.9 ~ 72 fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
50 56.1 56.2 ~ 54 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
17.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
114 155 ~ 135 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
69.1 72 72.7 ~ 71 fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
48.5 48.6 56 ~ 51 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
15.8  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
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 1024x768
200.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Fifa 1126416912890.3
Mafia 268.965.760.741.1
StarCraft 2167645741
Metro 203385.353.530.510.9
Battlefield: Bad Company 2104.280.558.632
CoD Modern Warfare 21617966.350
Risen108.85840.931.6
Resident Evil 597.977.556.1
Need for Speed Shift57.85452.342
Colin McRae: DIRT 2112.98148.531
Anno 1404131.881
F.E.A.R. 21921109752
Far Cry 21198342
Crysis - GPU Benchmark129725417.1
Crysis - CPU Benchmark135715115.8
Call of Juarez Benchmark59.9
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark200.9
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

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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

 

Review Update: MSI GX660R Gaming Notebook

Gaming for the Masses. Not long ago, we reviewed the pre-production model of the MSI GX660R. Now that the GX660R is on the market, MSI sent us another model, t...
Intel Core i7-740QM | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | 15.60" | 3.5 kg
 

Review MSI GX660R Gaming Notebook

Powerful Gamer. MSI is offering the new GX660R, a powerful gaming notebook with a swanky design. The hardware in place here will get the heart of any gamer to p...
Intel Core i7-740QM | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | 15.60" | 3.5 kg
 

Review Update Asus G73JH (i7-720QM, FHD TFT) Notebook

More Power. The G73 already let the hearts of the notebook gaming community beat faster in its first available alternative. Asus has now upgraded it and equips ...
Intel Core i7-720QM | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | 17.30" | 4 kg
 

Review MSI GX740-i7247LW7P Gaming-Notebook

Some platforms are obviously dearly loved. This is also the case for the well-known, colorful 17" Gaming Barebone from MSI. With an Intel Core i7-720QM and ATI...
Intel Core i7-720QM | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | 17.00" | 3.4 kg
 

Review Asus G73JH (ATI HD 5870) Gaming Notebook

The hyper-gamer? Asus is making a completely fresh start with the G73; a new design, matt surfaces, an improved cooling system and a DirectX 11 capable graphics...
Intel Core i5-520M | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | 17.30" | 3.9 kg

Medion X7811 / MD97327 DE: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.00", 3.2 kg
  Review » Review Medion Akoya X7811 Gaming-Notebook

Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX HD 5870: Intel Core i7-820QM, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  Review » Review Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX (ATI HD 5870) Notebook

Mesh Ultima i5-B: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.6 kg
  External Review » Mesh Ultima i5-B

MSI GX660R-i5647LW7P: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » MSI GX660R-i5647LW7P

Medion Akoya X7811-MD97588: Intel Core i5-450M, 17.00", 3 kg
  External Review » Medion Akoya X7811-MD97588

Alienware M17X10: Intel Core i5-520M, 17.00", 5.2 kg
  External Review » Alienware M17X10

Alienware M17X, HD5870: Intel Core i5-520M, 17.00", 5.3 kg
  External Review » Alienware M17X, HD5870

SCHENKER XMG A710: Intel Core i5-460M, 17.30", 3.1 kg
  External Review » mySN XMG A710

MSI GX660R-i7488LW7P: Intel Core i7-740QM, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » MSI GX660R-i7488LW7P

MSI GX660R-064: Intel Core i7-720QM, 15.60", 3.4 kg
  External Review » MSI GX660R-064

Deviltech HellMachine (HD 5870): Intel Core i7-720QM, 18.40", 5.5 kg
  External Review » Deviltech HellMachine (HD 5870)

Asus G73JH-BST7: Intel Core i7-740QM, 17.30", 3.7 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-BST7

Asus G73JH-A1: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-A1

MSI GX660R: Intel Core i7-740QM, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » MSI GX660R

MSI GX660-076EU: Intel Core i5-450M, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » MSI GX660-076EU

Origin PC EON15: Intel Core i5-430M, 15.60", 3.4 kg
  External Review » Origin PC EON15

Maingear eX-L 17: Intel Core i5-520M, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Maingear eX-L 17

MSI GX740-079US: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.00", 3.2 kg
  External Review » MSI GX740-079US

Asus G73JH-X1: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-X1

MSI Megabook GX740-091: Intel Core i5-430M, 17.00", 3.3 kg
  External Review » MSI Megabook GX740-091

Sager NP8690: Intel Core i5-520M, 15.60", 3.3 kg
  External Review » Sager NP8690

Asus G73Jh-TZ008V: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.00", 3.4 kg
  External Review » Asus G73Jh-TZ008V

AVADirect Clevo W860CU: Intel Core i7-720QM, 15.60", 2.9 kg
  External Review » AVADirect Clevo W860CU

Asus G73JH-TZ014V: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 4 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-TZ014V

Asus G73JH-TZ038V: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 3.8 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-TZ038V

MSI GX740-i7247LW7P: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.00", 3.4 kg
  External Review » MSI GX740-i7247LW7P

MSI GX740-i5448LW7P: Intel Core i5-430M, 17.00", 3.2 kg
  External Review » MSI GX740-i5448LW7P

Asus G73JH-RBBX05: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 3.9 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-RBBX05

Medion X7811 / MD97327 DE: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.00", 3.2 kg
  External Review » Medion X7811 / MD97327 DE

Asus G73JH-TY042V: Intel Core i5-520M, 17.30", 3.9 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH-TY042V

Asus G73J: Intel Core i7-920XM, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Asus G73J

Sager NP8760: Intel Core i7-820QM, 17.30", 3.8 kg
  External Review » Sager NP8760

Asus G73JH: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Asus G73JH

Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX HD 5870: Intel Core i7-820QM, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » Deviltech Devil 9700 DTX HD 5870

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Playable games for each graphics card and their average FPS results.

Class 0

Arc A380

Class 1

Class 2

Radeon PRO W6600M *

Class 3

UHD Graphics 32EUs
UHD Graphics 750

Class 4

Class 5

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter