GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023Core: 2310 MHzBoost: 2535 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

2012Core: 850 MHz

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

  • +248% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
  • More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
  • Draws 160W instead of 200W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

2012

Why buy it

  • Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,000 vs 17,400).
  • Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
  • 25% higher power demand at 200W vs 160W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU better than Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 17,400 vs 5,000 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is a 2012 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2012, 248.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 2 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 248.0% higher G3D Mark. G3D-per-dollar is basically tied between them. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire still makes more sense on price alone, but the performance trade-off is much harder to justify by current standards.
Is Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to an unclear MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

Games Benchmarks

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 9800X3D 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low177 FPS98 FPS
medium162 FPS81 FPS
high142 FPS62 FPS
ultra124 FPS37 FPS
1440p
low143 FPS84 FPS
medium118 FPS69 FPS
high101 FPS48 FPS
ultra93 FPS27 FPS
4K
low93 FPS27 FPS
medium79 FPS26 FPS
high66 FPS17 FPS
ultra59 FPS14 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low409 FPS95 FPS
medium344 FPS66 FPS
high280 FPS48 FPS
ultra223 FPS32 FPS
1440p
low261 FPS53 FPS
medium217 FPS31 FPS
high180 FPS22 FPS
ultra147 FPS16 FPS
4K
low112 FPS18 FPS
medium91 FPS11 FPS
high76 FPS9 FPS
ultra59 FPS7 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low783 FPS225 FPS
medium626 FPS180 FPS
high522 FPS150 FPS
ultra392 FPS112 FPS
1440p
low587 FPS169 FPS
medium470 FPS135 FPS
high392 FPS112 FPS
ultra294 FPS84 FPS
4K
low392 FPS112 FPS
medium313 FPS90 FPS
high261 FPS75 FPS
ultra196 FPS56 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low775 FPS159 FPS
medium626 FPS130 FPS
high522 FPS115 FPS
ultra392 FPS89 FPS
1440p
low587 FPS116 FPS
medium470 FPS96 FPS
high392 FPS86 FPS
ultra294 FPS66 FPS
4K
low374 FPS66 FPS
medium313 FPS52 FPS
high261 FPS43 FPS
ultra196 FPS31 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU and Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.

AMD

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU scores 17,400 versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 5,000 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU leads by 248%. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire uses GCN, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 2,560 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire).

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
G3D Mark Score
17,400+248%
5,000
Architecture
Ada Lovelace
GCN
Process Node
5 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
4352+70%
2560

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) — a 66.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit x2.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+300%
2 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
256 GB/s+67%
153.6 GB/s x2
Bus Width
128-bit
256-bit x2+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU draws 160W versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 200W — a 22.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire). Power connectors: Mobile vs 1x 6-pin.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPURadeon HD 7970M Crossfire
TDP
160W-20%
200W
Recommended PSU
650W
350W-46%
Power Connector
Mobile
1x 6-pin
Slots
0
Temp (Load)
80°C
Perf/Watt
108.8+335%
25.0