ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6
ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6: A Retro Giant in the Modern World
Review and Analysis of the Legendary Graphics Card Years Later
Introduction
Released in 2009, the ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 was a revolution of its time. Sixteen years later, this model remains a source of nostalgia for enthusiasts and an interesting artifact from the age of gaming hardware evolution. By 2025, it is no longer suitable for modern tasks, but it retains niche value. Let’s explore who might still find this card useful today.
1. Architecture and Key Features
TeraScale 2 Architecture
The HD 5870 is built on the TeraScale 2 (RV870) architecture with a 40nm manufacturing process. It was the first generation of AMD GPUs to support DirectX 11, which was groundbreaking at the time. The card featured 2.15 billion transistors and 1600 stream processors, delivering high computation power for its era.
Unique Features
The main highlight is the Eyefinity technology, allowing the connection of up to six monitors via DisplayPort 1.1. This solution was widely used in simulators and multimedia workstations.
Modern technologies like ray tracing (RTX), DLSS, or FidelityFX are not applicable here, as they emerged a decade later. However, the HD 5870 did support ATI Stream for parallel computing — a predecessor to OpenCL.
2. Memory
GDDR5 and Bandwidth
The graphics card was equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. The effective memory frequency was 4800 MHz, providing a bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. This was a top-tier figure for 2009, but today even budget cards like the NVIDIA RTX 3050 (224 GB/s) outperform the HD 5870 by 1.5 times.
The memory capacity was sufficient for gaming at resolutions up to 2560x1600, but in modern title projects, even 2GB has become a bottleneck due to high-resolution textures.
3. Gaming Performance
Retro Gaming and Limitations
From 2009 to 2012, the HD 5870 confidently ran AAA titles at ultra settings:
- Crysis (2007): 35-40 FPS at 1920x1200;
- Battlefield 3 (2011): 45-50 FPS at 1920x1080;
- Skyrim (2011): 55-60 FPS at 1920x1080.
By 2025, the situation is different:
- Cyberpunk 2077: 10-15 FPS at low settings in 1080p;
- Call of Duty: Warzone: 12-18 FPS in 720p.
Resolutions
- 1080p: Acceptable only for older games (pre-2015);
- 1440p and 4K: Not recommended even for indie projects.
Ray tracing is not supported — this technology requires hardware support for RT cores, which the HD 5870 lacks.
4. Professional Tasks
Limited Capabilities
The card supports OpenCL 1.1, which theoretically allows it to be used for rendering or computations. However, its performance is significantly lower than even budget modern solutions:
- Blender: Rendering a scene lasting 20 minutes on an RTX 4060 would take 3-4 hours on the HD 5870;
- DaVinci Resolve: Editing 1080p video is possible, but effects and color correction cause lag.
For scientific calculations, the card is unfit — it falls short compared to integrated GPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
TDP and System Requirements
The TDP of the HD 5870 is 188W — quite high by 2025 standards (for comparison, the RTX 4060 consumes 115W). A power supply of at least 500W with two 6-pin connectors was required for stable operation.
Cooling
The standard cooler handled cooling effectively, but under overclocking, temperatures could reach 90°C. In modern cases with poor ventilation, overheating may occur. Recommendations:
- At least 2 case fans (intake + exhaust);
- Regular thermal paste replacement (every 2-3 years);
- Avoid compact cases — models with airflow design are ideal (e.g., NZXT H5 Flow, Fractal Design Meshify).
6. Comparison with Competitors
Historical Context
In 2009, the main competitor was the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480:
- Advantages of GTX 480: Better performance in DirectX 11 tests;
- Advantages of HD 5870: Lower power consumption (188W vs 250W), support for Eyefinity.
In 2025
Comparing the HD 5870 with modern GPUs is pointless. Even the budget AMD Radeon RX 6400 (2022) is 4-5 times faster with half the TDP.
7. Practical Tips
Compatibility
- Platforms: PCIe 2.0 x16, but operates in PCIe 3.0/4.0 slots with a performance loss of 1-2%;
- OS: Official drivers are only available for Windows 7/8.1. Windows 10/11 may encounter issues;
- Monitors: DisplayPort adapters are required for Eyefinity, as modern monitors often lack DVI/VGA.
Power Supply
Minimum of 500W (550-600W recommended for a buffer). Quality models: Corsair CX550M, be quiet! Pure Power 11.
Drivers
Use modified community drivers (e.g., NimeZ) for partial DirectX 12 support and to fix issues in Windows 10/11.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unique capability to connect 6 monitors;
- Reliable construction (many units remain operational);
- Low price on the secondary market ($30-50).
Cons
- Does not support modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3);
- High power consumption;
- Lack of technical support from AMD.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is the HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Suitable For?
This graphics card is archaic, but in 2025 it can still be useful for:
1. Collectors and Enthusiasts — as an artifact from the golden age of GPUs;
2. Owners of Retro PCs — for authentic gaming experiences from the 2000s;
3. Specific Tasks — such as outputting images across multiple monitors in digital signage.
If you are looking for a card for modern gaming or work — consider the AMD Radeon RX 7600 or NVIDIA RTX 4060. The HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 remains a niche solution, reminding us how far the industry has advanced in 15 years.