Radeon R9 270: Unleashing Midrange Power
AMD introduced the Radeon R9 270 midrange graphics card in 2013 as part of the Radeon R200 series. Due to its high performance-to-price ratio, the R9 270 became popular among gamers and content creators. Today we evaluate the latest AMD Radeon R9 270, not the 270X! Pitcairn in disguise, the non-X variants are sure to be affordable (Radeon HD 7870).
It’s slower than the 270X, but it can still put up some good numbers and provide you with a good gaming experience for 135 EUR (ex VAT) and 179 USD, including Battlefield 4. We’ll discuss the Radeon R9 270’s features, performance, and gaming impact in this article.
Specifications Of Radeon R9 270
| Architecture | Graphics Core Next (GCN) on 28nm process |
| Stream Processors | 1280 |
| Memory | 2GB GDDR5, a 256-bit memory bus, around 1400 MHz effective speed |
| Clock Speeds | Base around 900 MHz |
| API Support | DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.4, OpenCL 2.0 |
| Display Outputs | DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Power Requirements | Around 150W, 1 x 6-pin PCI Express power connector |
| Specialized Technologies | Mantle, TrueAudio, Eyefinity |
| Form Factor | Dual-slot design, length varies by manufacturer |
| Crossfire Support | Yes (supports multiple GPUs for increased performance) |
What is in the box?
- Graphics: The graphics card is the main hardware for rendering graphics and operating visual applications.
- Manuals: Installation, setup, and troubleshooting instructions. A graphics card driver CD or instructions for downloading the newest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
- Adapters: To ensure power supply compatibility, the box may include additional power adapters or connectors depending on the model’s power needs.
- Logo: Users can optionally apply manufacturer logo stickers or decals to their computer case.
Gaming performance
The Radeon R9 270 balances performance and price for 1080p gaming. It can run popular games from its release period and some recent ones at medium to high settings. Budget-conscious players seeking a great gaming experience will appreciate the card’s performance given its price point. AMD’s Radeon R9 270 relies on GCN’s efficiency and scalability. The GPU’s 1280 stream processors make it ideal for gaming and video processing. 2 GB of GDDR5 RAM on a 256-bit interface provides bandwidth and capacity. This configuration lets the card easily handle data-intensive jobs, improving its versatility.
Radeon R9 270 Clock Speeds
R9 270 has a basic 900 MHz clock. However, overclocking is a card highlight. Fans can boost clock speeds for greater game and application performance. R9 270 gamers who prefer to tweak their hardware will welcome its versatility.
Features
- AMD’s GCN architecture powers the Radeon R9 270’s fast and scalable graphics processing for gaming and multimedia creation.
- The R9 270’s 1280 stream processors provide parallel processing, improving graphics rendering and graphics-intensive application performance.
- 2GB of GDDR5 video memory with 256-bit interface is on the graphics card. This setup provides great bandwidth and capacity for intensive graphics operations.
- The R9 270’s basic clock speed is roughly 900 MHz, ensuring robust graphics processing. The card offers configurable boost clock rates, so users can overclock to improve performance.
- The R9 270 supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.4 for the latest gaming and multimedia apps.
- AMD’s Eyefinity technology enables multi-monitor configurations for immersive gaming and productivity. R9 270 may not be the best option for intense multi-monitor gaming, but it can expand display real estate.
- AMD created Mantle, a low-level graphics API. Although not widely adopted, Mantle gave game developers direct GPU access to improve performance in approved titles.
- The card often has DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs for flexible display arrangements.
Pros and Cons Of Radeon R9 270
| PROS | CONS |
| Budget-conscious users like the R9 270’s strong performance and low pricing. | Uses the older GCN architecture, which is less efficient than current GPUs. |
| Ideal for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings for a range of games. | Has 2GB of VRAM, which may be insufficient for modern games and apps. |
| Overclocking allows enthusiasts to boost performance, giving hardware tweakers flexibility. | |
| Supports AMD Eyefinity for multi-monitor setups for more immersive gaming and productivity. | |
| Mantle, a low-level graphics API, may improve performance in supported titles by directly accessing the GPU. |
Should I buy it R9 270?
Budget graphics cards that can support 1080p gaming at decent settings include the R9 270. The earlier R9 270 may be cheaper to use. If it meets your performance criteria and is affordable, it may be a good buy. If you’re not playing AAA games at high settings, the R9 270 can handle 1080p. Overclockers may like the R9 270’s overclocking and hardware optimization.
Final Thoughts & Comparison
At its introduction, budget-conscious gamers and multimedia creators chose the Radeon R9 270 for its good performance and low price. At medium to high settings, the R9 270 handled popular games well in 1080p. The card’s overclocking potential lets enthusiasts boost its performance, demonstrating AMD’s commitment to hardware customization. Eyefinity for multi-monitor setups, Mantle for game performance enhancements, and TrueAudio for aural immersion enhanced the package.
Comparison to Modern Options:
- The R9 270 may perform poorly compared to newer midrange graphics cards. Modern games perform better on newer models because of their architectures, VRAM, and features.
- Newer GPUs have ray tracing, AI-driven features, and graphics API compatibility, however the R9 270 does not. Its compatibility and performance in new games may suffer.
- Process technology improves power efficiency in modern graphics cards. Recent GPUs on lesser nodes may be more power-efficient than the R9 270’s 28nm technology.
- The R9 270 may not perform as well as the latest GPUs, but its second-hand price may appeal to budget-conscious users.
Conclusion
Budget-conscious gamers and film creators who seek a high-performance graphics card will like the Radeon R9 270. Though it can’t compete with today’s GPUs, it shows AMD’s commitment to making powerful hardware affordable and accessible. Radeon R9 270 is a great intermediate option for budget-conscious PC gamers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year did AMD Radeon R9 270 release?
AMD released the Radeon R9 270 mid-range graphics card on November 13, 2013.
What power supply does R9 270 need?
On average, AMD R9 270 demands a 500-watt power supply. On average, AMD R9 270 Crossfire cards demand a 700-watt power supply.
The R9 270 launched at what price?
The launch price for Radeon R9 270 is $179.
