AMD Radeon R9 M470
AMD Radeon R9 M470: Review of an Obsolete Mobile GPU in 2025
Relevance, Performance, and Practical Advice
Introduction
In 2025, the AMD Radeon R9 M470 stands as an example of a budget mobile GPU released in the mid-2010s. Despite its outdated architecture, it is still found in second-hand laptops and some budget models. Let’s explore who might benefit from this card today and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The R9 M470 is based on the 3rd generation Graphics Core Next (GCN) microarchitecture, which debuted in 2014. This solution is optimized for a balance between performance and energy efficiency, but it significantly lags behind modern AMD RDNA or NVIDIA Ampere GPUs.
Manufacturing Process: 28nm process technology. In comparison, modern GPUs in 2025 use 5nm and 6nm processes, providing significantly better energy efficiency.
Unique Features:
- FidelityFX: Support for the open AMD technology package, including FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) version 1.0, but not FSR 3.0 with frame interpolation.
- Lack of Hardware Ray Tracing: No support for ray tracing due to the absence of the corresponding hardware blocks.
- FreeSync: Compatibility with adaptive synchronization to reduce screen tearing.
Memory: Type, Size, and Performance Impact
Memory Type: GDDR5 with a 128-bit bus.
Size: 4GB— the minimum standard for gaming even in 2025, but sufficient for performance in 1080p at low settings.
Bandwidth: 96 GB/s (6 Gbps × 128 bits / 8). For comparison, modern mobile GPUs with GDDR6 achieve 300–400 GB/s.
Impact on Gaming:
- 1080p: Acceptable performance in older titles (e.g., The Witcher 3 — 35–45 FPS on medium settings).
- 1440p and 4K: Not recommended due to memory limitations and low bandwidth.
Gaming Performance
Example FPS (1080p, medium settings):
- CS:GO — 90–110 FPS;
- Fortnite (without FSR) — 40–50 FPS;
- Cyberpunk 2077 (Low, FSR 1.0) — 25–30 FPS.
Role of FSR: AMD FSR 1.0 technology can increase FPS by 20–30%, but image quality decreases more noticeably compared to FSR 3.0.
Conclusion: The card is suitable for less demanding games and retro project emulators, but it is weak for modern AAA titles in 2025.
Professional Tasks
Video Editing: In Premiere Pro, rendering 1080p video is possible but with lags. Acceleration through OpenCL is limited.
3D Modeling: Blender and Maya work at a basic level — suitable for educational projects, but not for complex scenes.
Scientific Calculations: The lack of CUDA support (NVIDIA ecosystem) and modest OpenCL capabilities make the card ill-suited for such tasks.
Recommendation: Professionals should choose a GPU with hardware Ray Tracing support and larger memory (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 3050 Mobile).
Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP: 75–90W. For a mobile card, this is a high figure — modern analogs with similar performance consume 40–50W.
Cooling: An effective ventilation system is required. Older laptops may experience overheating under prolonged load.
Advice:
- Regularly clean the coolers from dust.
- Use cooling pads.
- Avoid long gaming sessions in resource-heavy projects.
Comparison with Competitors
2015–2016 Analogues:
- NVIDIA GTX 960M: Comparable in performance but better in energy efficiency (TDP 65W).
- AMD Radeon RX 550: Newer but weaker in compute tasks.
Modern Budget Alternatives (2025):
- NVIDIA RTX 2050 Mobile ($300–400): Supports DLSS 3.0 and basic Ray Tracing.
- AMD Radeon RX 6500M ($250–350): RDNA 2, FSR 3.0, 4GB GDDR6.
Summary: The R9 M470 lags behind even budget newcomers of 2025, but it may be justified when purchasing a used laptop for $100–150.
Practical Tips
Power Supply: Laptops with the R9 M470 require a 120–150W adapter. For stable operation, avoid cheap alternatives.
Compatibility:
- Platforms: Only old systems with PCIe 3.0. Modern PCIe 5.0 is backward compatible but offers no speed improvement.
- Drivers: Official support from AMD has ended, but the community releases unofficial updates.
Driver Nuances:
- Use the latest version of Adrenalin 2021 Edition.
- Windows 11 may have compatibility issues — ensure to check compatibility.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low cost on the second-hand market.
- Support for FreeSync and basic FSR.
- Sufficient for office tasks and older games.
Cons:
- High power consumption.
- No support for modern technologies (Ray Tracing, FSR 3.0).
- Limited memory capacity.
Final Conclusion: Who is the R9 M470 Suitable For?
This graphics card is a choice for:
1. Owners of old laptops looking to extend their lifespan.
2. Students needing a PC for study and less demanding games.
3. Retro gaming enthusiasts.
Why in 2025? If you are buying a used device for $100–150, the R9 M470 can still justify the investment. However, for new laptops, opt for modern GPUs — even budget models from 2025 offer better performance and features.
Conclusion
The AMD Radeon R9 M470 is an example of a “survivor” GPU that recalls the mid-2010s era. It is not suitable for modern tasks, but remains a niche solution for those who prioritize budget and simplicity.