
FirePro 3D V9800 vs Radeon HD 6970

FirePro 3D V9800
Popular choices:

Radeon HD 6970
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The FirePro 3D V9800 is positioned at rank #365 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro 3D V9800
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6970 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.7% higher G3D Mark score. However, the FirePro 3D V9800 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | Standard Size (286mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The FirePro 3D V9800 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the FirePro 3D V9800 holds the technical lead. Priced at $80 (vs $100), it costs 20% less, resulting in a 24.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+24.2%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($80) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($100) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FirePro 3D V9800 and Radeon HD 6970

FirePro 3D V9800
The FirePro 3D V9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 24 2011. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,812 points.

Radeon HD 6970
The Radeon HD 6970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in December 14 2010. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The boost clock speed is 880 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,831 points. Launch price was $369.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro 3D V9800 scores 2,812 and the Radeon HD 6970 reaches 2,831 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro 3D V9800 is built on TeraScale 3 while the Radeon HD 6970 uses TeraScale 3, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 1,280 (FirePro 3D V9800) vs 1,536 (Radeon HD 6970). Raw compute: 1.856 TFLOPS (FirePro 3D V9800) vs 2.703 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6970).
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,812 | 2,831 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | TeraScale 3 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 1536+20% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.856 TFLOPS | 2.703 TFLOPS+46% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 | 96+20% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB+67% | 192 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The FirePro 3D V9800 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6970 has 2 GB. The FirePro 3D V9800 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (FirePro 3D V9800) vs 11.0 (Radeon HD 6970). Vulkan: None vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 6.
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2+2% | 11.0 |
| Vulkan | None | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Max Displays | 6 | 6 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (FirePro 3D V9800) vs None (Radeon HD 6970). Decoder: UVD 2.3 vs UVD 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (FirePro 3D V9800) vs MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC (Radeon HD 6970).
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | None |
| Decoder | UVD 2.3 | UVD 3.0 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro 3D V9800 draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 6970's 250W — a 50% difference. The FirePro 3D V9800 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro 3D V9800) vs 550W (Radeon HD 6970). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 286mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 90 vs 90.
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W-40% | 250W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 286mm |
| Height | 111mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 90 | 90 |
| Perf/Watt | 18.7+65% | 11.3 |
Value Analysis
The FirePro 3D V9800 launched at $3499 MSRP and currently averages $80, while the Radeon HD 6970 launched at $369 and now averages $100. The FirePro 3D V9800 costs 20% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 35.1 (FirePro 3D V9800) vs 28.3 (Radeon HD 6970) — the FirePro 3D V9800 offers 24% better value. The FirePro 3D V9800 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2010).
| Feature | FirePro 3D V9800 | Radeon HD 6970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3499 | $369-89% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-20% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 35.1+24% | 28.3 |
| Codename | Cayman | Cayman |
| Release | May 24 2011 | December 14 2010 |
| Ranking | #656 | #596 |
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