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AMD Instinct MI100 vs AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition: Comparison
Instinct MI100 vs Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition memory bandwidth compared
Start with memory bandwidth, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 153.6 GB/s, 87% in favour of Instinct MI100. Add tdp to that, 300 W on the Instinct MI100 versus 175 W on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition, and the pattern holds. Add memory bus width to that, 4096 bit on the Instinct MI100 versus 256 bit on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition, and the pattern holds. Instinct MI100 also leads on boost clock, 1502 MHz on the Instinct MI100 versus 1000 MHz on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition. There is a split on board partner as well, Reference on the Instinct MI100 versus AMD on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA on the Instinct MI100 versus GCN on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition.
Which should you buy, Instinct MI100 or Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition?
Buy the Instinct MI100 for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not the pick for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). Avoid it for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. The Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition suits buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not built for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Instinct MI100 and Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition differ on vram capacity?
Yes. VRAM Capacity reads 32 GB on the Instinct MI100 versus 2 GB on the Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition.
Is the GPU Brand the same on the Instinct MI100 and Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition?
It is. Both are listed at AMD, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI100
- AMD
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- AMD
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Datacenter Accelerator
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- Desktop Add-In Card
Series
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Instinct
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- Radeon HD 7000 Series
Board Partner
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Reference
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- AMD (Reference)
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- GDDR5Best
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHzBest
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 1000 MHz-33%
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 W-71%
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 175 WBest
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- GCN
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI100
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- Other
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 1280
VRAM Capacity
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 32 GBBest
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 2 GB
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 256 bit-94%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- 153.6 GB/s-87%
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- March 2012
Form Factor
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe Add-in Card
- AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition
- Component
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the higher boost clock (1502 MHz vs 1000 MHz), the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 256 bit) and the higher memory bandwidth (1200 GB/s vs 153.6 GB/s).
Choose AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition if you want the lower TDP (175 W vs 300 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | AMD Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.