NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M in 2025: A Retrospective and Relevance
An overview of an outdated mobile graphics card in the era of the RTX 50 series
Introduction
In 2025, when ray tracing and neural network technologies dominate the scene, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M appears as a relic from the past. Released in 2014, this mobile GPU was once a flagship for gaming laptops. But is there a place for it in the modern world? Let’s explore its features, performance, and areas of application today.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Kepler Architecture: The Legacy of the 2010s
The GTX 870M is built on the Kepler architecture (28 nm), which looks archaic in 2025. It comprises 1344 CUDA cores and boasts a clock speed of up to 967 MHz. Modern features like RTX (ray tracing), DLSS, or FidelityFX are absent — these technologies emerged later, starting with the RTX 20 series.
Manufacturing Process and Limitations
The 28-nm manufacturing process significantly lags behind today’s 4-nm NVIDIA chips. This leads to high power consumption and heat generation with modest performance. For comparison, the RTX 4050 Mobile (2023) utilizes a 5-nm process and consumes less power while delivering 4 to 5 times more FPS.
2. Memory: What Does the GTX 870M Offer?
GDDR5 and 192-bit Bus
The card is equipped with either 3 GB or 6 GB of GDDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 120 GB/s (192-bit bus). For games from 2014 to 2016, this was sufficient, but by 2025 even indie projects like Hades II require at least 4 GB of VRAM. Modern AAA titles (GTA VI, Starfield) with high-quality textures can consume 6 GB in seconds.
Buffer Issues
The limited memory size and low bandwidth lead to FPS drops in open-world games and complex scene rendering. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077 (on low settings), the GTX 870M delivers 15-20 FPS at 1080p due to insufficient VRAM.
3. Gaming Performance: Nostalgia or Torment?
1080p: Minimum Survival
In older titles (The Witcher 3, CS:GO), the card shows 40-60 FPS on medium settings. However, in Elden Ring (minimum settings), FPS rarely exceeds 25-30. Higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K are unattainable due to lack of power.
Ray Tracing: No Support
RTX features that have become standard by 2025 are absent here. Even with mods like Reshade, mimicking ray tracing effects is impossible — the Kepler architecture isn’t designed for such computations.
4. Professional Use Cases: Is There Potential?
CUDA: A Drop in the Ocean
With 1344 CUDA cores, it's meager for modern tasks. Rendering a medium scene in Blender takes 2-3 hours versus 10-15 minutes on the RTX 4060. Basic functions are sufficient for video editing in DaVinci Resolve, but rendering a 4K video with effects becomes a challenge.
OpenCL and Scientific Computing
The card supports OpenCL, but its performance in MATLAB or TensorFlow (via CUDA) is too low for serious projects. For training neural networks or simulations, cloud solutions are preferable.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
TDP 100W: Inefficient by 2025 Standards
With a TDP of 100W, the GTX 870M runs hotter than modern counterparts. In laptops, this often leads to throttling — a reduction in speeds due to overheating.
Cooling Recommendations
If using the GTX 870M in a PC (via an external enclosure), a case with 3-4 fans and an airflow of ≥50 CFM is necessary. The ideal operating temperature is below 80°C.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon R9 M290X: Similar Issues
The main competitor from 2014, the R9 M290X, has also become outdated. It slightly handles Vulkan projects (Doom Eternal) better but falls short in DirectX 12.
Modern Alternatives: RTX 3050 Mobile
Even the budget RTX 3050 Mobile (2021) outperforms the GTX 870M by 3-4 times. It supports DLSS 3, consumes less power, and easily runs games at 1080p on high settings.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply: At Least 450W
For a desktop PC with GTX 870M, a 450W PSU (80+ Bronze) is needed. Ensure the motherboard supports PCIe 3.0 x16.
Drivers: Seek Legacy Versions
Official driver support ended in 2021. Look for updated versions on forums like TechPowerUp or use modified drivers (e.g., from enthusiasts).
OS Compatibility
Windows 10 is the optimal choice. Windows 11 may cause conflicts due to the lack of a TPM module in older laptops.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price: New units are not sold, but used ones can be found for $30-50.
- Support for DirectX 12 (Feature Level 11_0) for basic tasks.
Cons:
- No support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3).
- Limited performance in gaming and professional applications.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Is the GTX 870M For?
This graphics card is suitable for:
1. Retro gaming enthusiasts looking to run 2010s projects on original hardware.
2. Owners of older laptops needing a GPU upgrade (if the design allows).
3. Office tasks: handling documents, browsing, simple video editing.
In 2025, the GTX 870M holds more historical value than practical gaming capability. For comfortable gaming or graphics work, it's better to choose a budget RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600. However, if you feel nostalgic for Skyrim or Dota 2, this card can still provide you with hours of modest enjoyment.