The AMD RX 470 is a mid-range graphics card that was released in 2016 as part of the Polaris family. At the time of its release, it was considered a powerful and affordable option for gamers and graphics enthusiasts. However, with the rapid pace of technological advancements in the graphics card industry, the question on everyone’s mind is: is the RX 470 future proof? In this article, we will delve into the details of the RX 470, its performance, and its potential to keep up with future demands.
Introduction to the RX 470
The RX 470 is based on the Polaris 10 GPU, which is a 14nm FinFET processor. It features 2048 stream processors, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 render outputs. The card has a base clock speed of 926 MHz and a boost clock speed of up to 1206 MHz. It also comes with 4 GB or 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, depending on the variant. The RX 470 was designed to provide a balance between performance and power consumption, making it an attractive option for those who want to play games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
Performance Analysis
In terms of performance, the RX 470 is capable of handling modern games at high settings at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. It can also handle VR applications and video editing software with ease. However, when it comes to 4K gaming, the RX 470 starts to struggle. The card’s performance is limited by its memory bandwidth and the number of stream processors, which can lead to frame rate drops and stuttering. Despite this, the RX 470 remains a popular choice for gamers who want to play at lower resolutions.
Comparison with Other Graphics Cards
The RX 470 is often compared to other mid-range graphics cards such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. While the GTX 1060 has a higher clock speed and more CUDA cores, the RX 470 has a higher memory bandwidth and a more efficient architecture. In terms of performance, the RX 470 is comparable to the GTX 1060, but it consumes more power. However, the RX 470 is generally cheaper than the GTX 1060, making it a more affordable option for gamers on a budget.
Future Proofing the RX 470
So, is the RX 470 future proof? The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the type of games and applications you want to run, the resolution you want to play at, and the level of performance you expect. If you’re looking to play games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, the RX 470 should remain a viable option for the next few years. However, if you’re looking to play games at 4K resolutions or want to take advantage of new technologies such as ray tracing and artificial intelligence, the RX 470 may not be the best choice.
Upgrades and Modifications
One way to future proof the RX 470 is to upgrade or modify it. For example, you can overclock the card to increase its performance. Overclocking involves increasing the clock speed of the GPU and memory to squeeze out more performance. However, overclocking can also increase the power consumption and heat generation of the card, which can reduce its lifespan. Another option is to add a water cooling system to the card. Water cooling can help to reduce the temperature of the card, which can improve its performance and increase its lifespan.
New Technologies and the RX 470
The RX 470 is not compatible with new technologies such as ray tracing and artificial intelligence. Ray tracing is a technology that allows for more realistic lighting and reflections in games, while artificial intelligence can be used to improve the performance and efficiency of graphics cards. While the RX 470 can still provide good performance in modern games, it may not be able to take advantage of these new technologies. However, it’s worth noting that not all games and applications use these technologies, so the RX 470 can still be a viable option for many users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the RX 470 is a mid-range graphics card that can still provide good performance in modern games and applications. While it may not be future proof in the sense that it can’t keep up with the latest technologies and resolutions, it can still be a viable option for gamers who want to play at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. With proper upgrades and modifications, the RX 470 can remain a powerful and efficient graphics card for years to come. However, if you’re looking to play games at 4K resolutions or want to take advantage of new technologies such as ray tracing and artificial intelligence, you may want to consider a more modern graphics card.
Final Thoughts
The RX 470 is a testament to the rapid pace of technological advancements in the graphics card industry. While it was once a powerful and affordable option for gamers, it has been surpassed by more modern graphics cards. However, the RX 470 can still be a good option for those who want to play games at lower resolutions and don’t need the latest technologies. As the graphics card industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the RX 470 and other mid-range graphics cards hold up. For now, the RX 470 remains a popular choice for gamers who want to play modern games without breaking the bank.
| Specification | RX 470 |
|---|---|
| GPU | Polaris 10 |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 128 |
| Render Outputs | 32 |
| Memory | 4 GB or 8 GB GDDR5 |
| Base Clock Speed | 926 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | Up to 1206 MHz |
Recommendations
Based on our analysis, we recommend the RX 470 for gamers who want to play modern games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. However, for those who want to play games at 4K resolutions or want to take advantage of new technologies such as ray tracing and artificial intelligence, we recommend a more modern graphics card. Ultimately, the decision to buy the RX 470 or any other graphics card depends on your specific needs and budget. We hope this article has provided you with the information you need to make an informed decision.
Is the RX 470 still a viable option for 1080p gaming?
The RX 470 is an older mid-range graphics card from AMD, released in 2016. Despite its age, it can still handle 1080p gaming with ease, provided the games are not too demanding. The RX 470 features 4GB or 8GB of GDDR5 memory, which is sufficient for most modern games at 1080p resolution. However, the card’s performance may vary depending on the game and its graphics settings. In general, the RX 470 can deliver smooth frame rates in less demanding games, but it may struggle with more graphics-intensive titles.
In terms of specific performance, the RX 470 can handle games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch at high frame rates, even with high graphics settings. However, more demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 may require reduced graphics settings to achieve smooth frame rates. Overall, the RX 470 is still a viable option for 1080p gaming, but it may not be the best choice for those who want to play the latest games at high graphics settings. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option for 1080p gaming, the RX 470 may still be worth considering, but be aware of its limitations.
How does the RX 470 compare to newer mid-range graphics cards?
The RX 470 is significantly outdated compared to newer mid-range graphics cards from both AMD and NVIDIA. Newer cards like the RX 5600 XT, RX 6700 XT, and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1660 Super and RTX 3060 offer significantly better performance and power efficiency. These newer cards also support newer technologies like PCIe 4.0, ray tracing, and variable rate shading, which can enhance the gaming experience. In contrast, the RX 470 is limited to PCIe 3.0 and lacks support for these newer technologies.
In terms of performance, the RX 470 is generally outperformed by newer mid-range graphics cards. For example, the RX 5600 XT offers around 20-30% better performance than the RX 470, while the RX 6700 XT offers around 50-60% better performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super and RTX 3060 also offer significantly better performance than the RX 470. If you’re looking for a mid-range graphics card for gaming, it’s generally recommended to opt for a newer card, as they offer better performance, power efficiency, and support for newer technologies.
Can the RX 470 handle 1440p gaming?
The RX 470 can handle 1440p gaming, but its performance may vary depending on the game and its graphics settings. At 1440p resolution, the RX 470 may struggle to deliver smooth frame rates in more demanding games, and you may need to reduce graphics settings to achieve playable frame rates. However, in less demanding games, the RX 470 can still deliver smooth frame rates at 1440p resolution. It’s worth noting that the RX 470 is not ideally suited for 1440p gaming, and you may experience some performance issues, especially in more graphics-intensive games.
In general, the RX 470 can handle 1440p gaming in games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch, but you may need to reduce graphics settings to achieve smooth frame rates. More demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 may be too much for the RX 470 at 1440p resolution, and you may experience significant performance issues. If you’re looking to play games at 1440p resolution, it’s generally recommended to opt for a more powerful graphics card, like the RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060, which can handle 1440p gaming with ease.
Is the RX 470 future-proof?
The RX 470 is not considered future-proof, as it lacks support for newer technologies like ray tracing, variable rate shading, and PCIe 4.0. These technologies are becoming increasingly important in modern games, and the RX 470’s lack of support may limit its ability to run future games at high graphics settings. Additionally, the RX 470’s older architecture and limited memory bandwidth may make it less suitable for future games that require more powerful graphics processing.
In terms of specific limitations, the RX 470’s lack of support for ray tracing and variable rate shading may limit its ability to run games that utilize these technologies. For example, games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare use ray tracing and variable rate shading to enhance the gaming experience, but the RX 470 is not capable of supporting these technologies. If you’re looking for a future-proof graphics card, it’s generally recommended to opt for a newer card that supports the latest technologies and has a more powerful architecture.
Can the RX 470 be used for content creation and video editing?
The RX 470 can be used for content creation and video editing, but its performance may vary depending on the specific application and workload. The RX 470 features 2048 stream processors and 4GB or 8GB of GDDR5 memory, which can handle tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and graphics rendering. However, the RX 470 may struggle with more demanding workloads, like 4K video editing and 3D rendering, due to its limited memory bandwidth and older architecture.
In terms of specific performance, the RX 470 can handle tasks like video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro and graphics rendering in Blender, but it may not be the best choice for more demanding workloads. For example, the RX 470 can handle 1080p video editing with ease, but it may struggle with 4K video editing due to its limited memory bandwidth. If you’re looking for a graphics card for content creation and video editing, it’s generally recommended to opt for a more powerful card, like the RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060, which can handle more demanding workloads with ease.
Is the RX 470 still supported by AMD?
The RX 470 is still supported by AMD, but its support is limited to security updates and bug fixes. AMD no longer releases new drivers or performance updates for the RX 470, as it is an older graphics card. However, AMD still provides support for the RX 470 through its Radeon Software suite, which includes features like Radeon Image Sharpening, Radeon Anti-Lag, and Radeon Boost. Additionally, the RX 470 is still compatible with the latest versions of Windows Windows 10 and Linux.
In terms of specific support, AMD’s Radeon Software suite provides regular security updates and bug fixes for the RX 470, which can help ensure the card remains stable and secure. However, the RX 470 may not be compatible with newer features and technologies, like ray tracing and variable rate shading, due to its older architecture. If you’re looking for a graphics card with more comprehensive support, it’s generally recommended to opt for a newer card, like the RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060, which receive more frequent driver updates and performance enhancements.