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AMD Instinct MI210 vs AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870: Comparison
Instinct MI210 vs ATI Radeon HD 5870 memory bandwidth compared
On memory bandwidth the spread is 90%, Instinct MI210 1600 GB/s against ATI Radeon HD 5870 153.6 GB/s, so Instinct MI210 takes it. Memory bus width runs the same way, 4096 bit on the Instinct MI210 versus 256 bit on the ATI Radeon HD 5870, another win for Instinct MI210. There is a split on board partner as well, AMD Reference on the Instinct MI210 versus AMD on the ATI Radeon HD 5870. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA 2 on the Instinct MI210 versus Legacy on the ATI Radeon HD 5870.
Who each one is for
Buy the Instinct MI210 for double-precision workloads that don't need MI250X-level throughput, though it is not built for any desktop or workstation build - compute-only, no display output and maximum-throughput HPC nodes (use MI250X instead). It also earns its place with HPC and AI deployments in standard PCIe-slot servers without OAM sled support. The ATI Radeon HD 5870 is the one to take 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). It is not the one for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. Our rating of the Instinct MI210 (7.3/10): A practical, PCIe-slot-friendly way to get CDNA 2 compute into a standard server, useful for smaller HPC and AI deployments, but clearly the entry point of its generation next to the dual-die MI250X and now well behind the MI300 series.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Instinct MI210 and ATI Radeon HD 5870 differ on card length?
Yes. Card Length reads 267 mm on the Instinct MI210 versus 280 mm on the ATI Radeon HD 5870.
Is the GPU Brand the same on the Instinct MI210 and ATI Radeon HD 5870?
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 MI210
- AMD
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- AMD
Series
- AMD Instinct MI210
- Instinct MI200
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- Legacy
Board Partner
- AMD Instinct MI210
- AMD Reference (PCIe dual-slot card, data center/OEM only)
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- AMD (Reference)
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI210
- HBM2E
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- GDDR5Best
Ray Tracing Support
- AMD Instinct MI210
- No
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- No
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI210
- CDNA 2 (single Graphics Compute Die)
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- Legacy
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI210
- TSMC 6nm
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- Other
Card Length
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 267 mmBest
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- 280 mm-5%
Slot Width
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 2
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- 2
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 4096 bitBest
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- 256 bit-94%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 1600 GB/sBest
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- 153.6 GB/s-90%
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 2022-03
- AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870
- September 2009
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI210 if you want the lower card length (267 mm vs 280 mm), the lower slot width (2 vs 2) and the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 256 bit).
Choose AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
AMD Instinct MI210
7.3 / 10 Expert Rating
A practical, PCIe-slot-friendly way to get CDNA 2 compute into a standard server, useful for smaller HPC and AI deployments, but clearly the entry point of its generation next to the dual-die MI250X and now well behind the MI300 series.