AMD Radeon HD 8770 OEM

AMD Radeon HD 8770 OEM: An Overview of an Obsolete GPU in 2025
April 2025
Introduction
The AMD Radeon HD 8770 OEM is a graphics card released in the early 2010s for the OEM segment (pre-built PCs and workstations). Despite its age, it is still found in older systems. In 2025, its relevance is nearing zero, but it may still be useful for certain tasks. Let’s explore who might benefit from this GPU today.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The HD 8770 OEM is based on the GCN 1.0 (Graphics Core Next) architecture, which was the first iteration of AMD's revolutionary design.
Manufacturing Process: 28 nm, which is typical for the 2012-2014 era.
Unique Features:
- Support for Mantle API (a predecessor to Vulkan), which improved performance in games of that time.
- AMD Eyefinity technology for connecting multiple monitors.
- Lack of modern features: ray tracing, FidelityFX Super Resolution, or DLSS equivalents are not available.
Conclusion: The card was designed as a budget solution for office tasks and basic multimedia, but today its capabilities are severely limited.
2. Memory
Memory Type: GDDR5.
Capacity: 2 GB — a minimal amount even for games from 2015.
Bus and Bandwidth: 128-bit bus with a bandwidth of up to 72 GB/s.
Impact on Performance:
- Small capacity and low bandwidth become a "bottleneck" in modern applications.
- Even web browsers with heavy pages (e.g., streaming 4K video) can cause stuttering.
3. Gaming Performance
1080p Resolution (Low Settings):
- CS:GO: 60-80 FPS (no anti-aliasing).
- GTA V: 25-35 FPS.
- Fortnite: 20-25 FPS (minimum settings).
1440p and 4K: Not recommended — the card cannot even handle rendering the interface.
Ray Tracing: Not supported natively.
Modern Titles (2023-2025):
- Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield — unable to launch, or FPS <10.
- Indie games (e.g., Hades) — 40-50 FPS on low settings.
Recommendation: Only suitable for older projects or cloud gaming through services like Xbox Cloud.
4. Professional Tasks
Video Editing:
- Working in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro is only feasible with proxy files. Rendering 1080p video will take 3-5 times longer than on modern GPUs.
3D Modeling:
- Blender and Maya — only for simple scenes. Rendering on OpenCL is slow (30-60 minutes for a medium complexity scene).
Scientific Calculations:
- OpenCL 1.2 support is available, but performance is 10-15 times lower than modern Radeon RX 7000 or NVIDIA RTX 4000 series.
Conclusion: The card is outdated for professional tasks. It is suitable only for learning or emergency cases.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP: 75 W — powered through the PCIe slot without needing an additional connector.
Cooling: Passive or basic cooler. Even under load, temperatures rarely exceed 70°C.
Case Recommendations:
- Any case with basic ventilation is suitable.
- A power supply of 300 W (e.g., EVGA 300 BR) is sufficient for a build with the HD 8770 OEM.
Pros: Low power consumption makes the card quiet and economical.
6. Comparison with Competitors
Analogues from 2013-2015:
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 740: Comparable in performance but poorly optimized for OpenCL.
- Intel HD Graphics 4600 (integrated): In 2025, the integrated graphics of new processors (e.g., Ryzen 5 8600G) outpace the HD 8770 OEM by 2-3 times.
Modern Budget GPUs (2025):
- AMD Radeon RX 7400: 300% faster, priced at $150.
- Intel Arc A310: Supports Ray Tracing and XeSS, priced at $130.
Conclusion: The HD 8770 OEM is outclassed even by the cheapest new GPUs.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply: 300 W is sufficient. Examples: Corsair CV450, be quiet! System Power 10.
Compatibility:
- PCIe 3.0 x16 (backward compatible with 2.0).
- OS Support: Official drivers are available only up to Windows 10. Windows 11 may have issues.
Drivers: Use the latest version from AMD's site (released in 2020). The open-source driver amdgpu will work for Linux.
Important: Do not purchase this card separately — only consider it if it is already in your PC.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Quiet operation.
- Low power consumption.
- Supports 3 monitors via DisplayPort and HDMI.
Cons:
- Weak performance in 2025.
- No support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3).
- Limited driver support.
9. Final Verdict: Who is the HD 8770 OEM For?
- Owners of old PCs: For upgrading systems with GPUs from the 2000s.
- Office Tasks: Document work, video playback, video calls.
- Retro Hardware Enthusiasts: For building a PC in the style of the 2010s.
Alternative: If your budget is limited to $100-$150, consider new integrated graphics (Ryzen 5 8600G) or a used GTX 1650.
Summary: The HD 8770 OEM in 2025 is a relic. It should be considered only as a temporary solution or part of a nostalgic project. For any serious tasks, a more modern GPU is required.
Prices in the article are accurate as of April 2025. New units of the HD 8770 OEM are not available on the market — only older systems are mentioned.