Time for a stupid question:
Why is it that a superior GPU has a lower number than an inferior GPU? We all know that a better quality product should always have a higher number. I think they did this specifically to confuse me. Time to be paranoid...
Because the 4870 was a part of the earlier graphics generation. The 4xxx series.
This came before the 5xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series.
Graphics cards are typically numbered like so:
The largest place value is the generation (e.g the 5 in Nvidia 580 or 4 in Radeon 4870)
The other numbers denote that card's place in that generation (performance wise).
As chipsets evolve and GPUs get faster, previous top of the line chips (like the 4870) get equaled in power by lower class chips in a new generation.
Of note is the Wiiu's "rumored" GPU isnt superior in all ways to the 720's rumored GPU.
The 4870 lacks support for hardware tesselation, but the 6670 does support hardware tesselation.
In terms of raw computing power, and fillrate however, the 4870 is indeed superior.
I am unsure how much of a strain tesselation will put on the 6670, but I do know that the 5xxx series were particulary low performing when tesselation was used, even on the highest end chipset.
Edited by SuperCow, 24 January 2012 - 09:38 PM.