FirePro W7170M vs Radeon HD 7970M
FirePro W7170M
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Radeon HD 7970M
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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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The FirePro W7170M is positioned at rank 22 and the Radeon HD 7970M is on rank 133, so the FirePro W7170M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro W7170M
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 7970M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 7970M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the FirePro W7170M.
| Insight | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon HD 7970M remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
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 W7170M and Radeon HD 7970M
FirePro W7170M
The FirePro W7170M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 2 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 723 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,605 points.
Radeon HD 7970M
The Radeon HD 7970M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,663 points.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro W7170M scores 3,605 and the Radeon HD 7970M reaches 3,663 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro W7170M is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon HD 7970M uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (FirePro W7170M) vs 1,280 (Radeon HD 7970M). Raw compute: 2.961 TFLOPS (FirePro W7170M) vs 2.176 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7970M).
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,605 | 3,663+2% |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048+60% | 1280 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.961 TFLOPS+36% | 2.176 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 128+60% | 80 |
| L1 Cache | 512 KB+60% | 320 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: 64-bit vs System.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | System |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (FirePro W7170M) vs 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7970M). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 6.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 (11_1) |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 3 | 6+100% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 3.1 (FirePro W7170M) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 7970M). Decoder: UVD 6.0 vs UVD 3. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC (FirePro W7170M) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 7970M).
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 3.1 | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | UVD 6.0 | UVD 3 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro W7170M draws 100W versus the Radeon HD 7970M's 100W — a 0% difference. The Radeon HD 7970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro W7170M) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7970M). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | Radeon HD 7970M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W | 100W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 0mm | — |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 85°C |
| Perf/Watt | 36.0 | 36.6+2% |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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