The graphics accelerator AMD Radeon HD 7470 is a budget graphics card. The main scope of its use is entry-level personal computers. Most often, such computing systems are used to implement the simplest software tasks. It is this model of the graphic accelerator that this review will be devoted to.
Appointment
The extremely low speed significantly limits the possible areas of use of the AMD Radeon HD 7470. Such an accelerator only slightly outperforms integrated video cards. Therefore, only the least demanding toys such an adapter allows you to run. Also, he is also able to perform simpler tasks. These include, for example, office suites, multimedia players or browsers.
Therefore, the only case when the use of such an accelerator is justified is when the built-in video card has broken down and it is urgently necessary to restore the PC to working capacity with minimal investment. In this case, the owner of the computing system acquires the most affordable discrete adapter and uses it to display graphic information. In all other cases, it is not practical to use such an accelerator model.
Equipment
The AMD Radeon HD 7470 delivery list includes these key elements:
- Graphics Accelerator.
- The instruction manual, which also provides detailed parameters of the device and basic recommendations for its operation.
- Digital media. On it you can find not only drivers, but also various control utilities for this accelerator model. You can also find a user manual on this device.
- Warranty card.
The above list is sufficient for installing and first launching such a graphic device. In addition, there is no need to purchase any elements in this case.
GPU specifications
This adapter is based on the Caicos microprocessor. This chip is made using 40 nanometer technology and should operate at a frequency of 750 MHz in nominal mode. It also includes 160 stream processors, 16 modules for performing raster operations, 8 blocks for implementing texture operations, and 4 ROP devices.
The characteristics of the AMD Radeon HD 7470 indicate that its thermal package should not exceed 27 watts. Therefore, such accelerators are equipped with a single-slot cooling system. Its capabilities are quite enough to remove heat from such a video card. The recommended power of the personal computer power supply in this case should not be less than 400 watts.
RAM
The maximum RAM capacity for the AMD Radeon HD 7470 is 2Gb. But since this is a budget accelerator, manufacturers sought to save on the production of such adapters. Therefore, most often, such accelerators were equipped with only 1 GB of RAM.
Also, according to the specifications, such a video card should function in combination with chips of the GDDR5 standard. But in order to save money, such accelerators were equipped with slower DDR3 chips. Moreover, their clock frequency was 3200 MHz. The width of the RAM connection bus is 64 bits.
Communications
This model of the accelerator is designed to be installed in the expansion slot of the PCI Ex motherboard in version 16x. Its recommended version is 2.1. You can also install such an adapter in the expansion slot 3.0, but in this case the communication slot will be underloaded. In all other cases, the speed of the accelerator will decrease.
For connecting to a monitor, this accelerator is equipped with three ports. One of them transmits data in an analog format, and it is designated as VGA. The other two are digital. At the same time, one of them is DVI, and the second is Display Port. It is with the help of the latter that it is recommended to display the image on the monitor screen.
Setting procedure
This accelerator model is put into operation as follows:
- Dismantle the side panels from the system unit housing.
- We take the accelerator and packaging.
- We remove the plug on the back cover of the case in the place where the adapter will be installed.
- Install in the expansion slot. We fix using a screw in the PC case.
- Putting the computer case back.
- We connect the monitor to the accelerator output.
- Turn on the PC and monitor.
- After the loading of the computing system is completed, we install digital media into the drive. After that, install the AMD Radeon HD 7470 driver using its menu.
- We reboot the PC.
- On the monitor, using the “AUTO” button, adjust the image location.
After that, the adapter is fully configured and ready for further operation as part of a computer system.
Cost
A very affordable device is this modification of the graphics accelerator. Although this adapter was introduced a long time ago by the standards of computing technology, it can still be found on the market. In addition, in a new condition. Its cost is 1100-1200 rubles. Again, you should not expect high speed from such devices. But the low speed in this case is compensated by the corresponding price. Therefore, such a cost for this model of accelerators is quite justified today.
Reviews
The AMD Radeon HD 7470 graphics card has these main advantages:
- Low power consumption.
- Compact cooling system.
- Affordable cost.
- Acceptable performance for an entry-level accelerator.
The main disadvantage of this device is its speed, which is comparable to the speed of modern integrated graphics subsystems. Well, since almost all microprocessors are equipped with a video card, it is not advisable to purchase such an accelerator. Only in the case of an integrated accelerator can it be bought.
Conclusion
As part of this review, the video card model AMD Radeon HD 7470 was considered. This is an entry-level device. Its main competitors are integrated adapters. Since such accelerators are now installed in almost every microprocessor, it is advisable to buy such an accelerator only if the integrated video system breaks down. The rest is a decent entry-level graphics card.