GeForce RTX 4070 vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

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.

GeForce RTX 4070 vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 4070 vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅319.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

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 average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 44.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 319.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 438.4% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 5,000), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM, native frame generation with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire has no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, and 46 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 4070 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 4070 vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

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.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4070 scores 26,919 versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 5,000 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 438.4%. The GeForce RTX 4070 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire uses GCN, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 2,560 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
G3D Mark Score	26,919+438%	5,000
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	5888+130%	2560

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon 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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4070 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire carries 2 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 500% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) — a 228.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070 and 256-bit x2 on the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+500%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	504 GB/s+228%	153.6 GB/s x2
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit x2+33%

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4070 draws 200W versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 200W — a 0% difference. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (GeForce RTX 4070) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
TDP	200W	200W
Recommended PSU	650W	350W-46%
Power Connector	8-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	304mm	—
Height	137mm	—
Slots	3	—
Temp (Load)	80°C	—
Perf/Watt	134.6+438%	25.0

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2012).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4070	Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
MSRP	$599	—
Codename	AD104	Wimbledon XT
Release	April 12 2023	May 1 2012
Ranking	#32	#395

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