Iris Xe Graphics G7 vs Radeon HD8970M

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.

Iris Xe Graphics G7 vs Radeon HD8970M 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.

Iris Xe Graphics G7 vs Radeon HD8970M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 16.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 100W, a 70W reduction.
✅More future proof: Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2020 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Radeon HD8970M

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
✅Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD8970M is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2013 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 16.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌233.3% higher power demand at 100W vs 30W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD8970M is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.8% in PassMark G3D (3,369 vs 3,311), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

Radeon HD8970M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Iris Xe Graphics G7 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, Iris Xe Graphics G7 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Radeon HD8970M has the stronger long-term case.

Iris Xe Graphics G7 vs Radeon HD8970M Technical Specifications

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

Iris Xe Graphics G7

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in August 15 2020. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. It has 96 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

Radeon HD8970M

The Radeon HD8970M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 14 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,369 points.

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Graphics Performance

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 scores 3,311 and the Radeon HD8970M reaches 3,369 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is built on Gen. 11 Ice Lake while the Radeon HD8970M uses GCN 1.0, both on 10 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 96 (Iris Xe Graphics G7) vs 1,280 (Radeon HD8970M).

Feature	Iris Xe Graphics G7	Radeon HD8970M
G3D Mark Score	3,311	3,369+2%
Architecture	Gen. 11 Ice Lake	GCN 1.0
Process Node	10 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	96	1280+1233%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Iris Xe Graphics G7	Radeon HD8970M
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD8970M carries 2 GB. Radeon HD8970M gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the Iris Xe Graphics G7 and System on the Radeon HD8970M.

Feature	Iris Xe Graphics G7	Radeon HD8970M
VRAM Capacity	Shared System RAM	2 GB
Memory Type	Shared	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	System	System
Bus Width	System	System

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Power & Dimensions

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 draws 30W versus the Radeon HD8970M's 100W — a 107.7% difference. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Iris Xe Graphics G7) vs 350W (Radeon HD8970M). Power connectors: Integrated vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	Iris Xe Graphics G7	Radeon HD8970M
TDP	30W-70%	100W
Recommended PSU	1W-100%	350W
Power Connector	Integrated	PCIe-powered
Temp (Load)	85°C	—
Perf/Watt	110.4+228%	33.7

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is Iris Xe Graphics G7 (2020 vs 2013).

Feature	Iris Xe Graphics G7	Radeon HD8970M
MSRP	$200	—
Codename	Tiger Lake Xe	Neptune
Release	August 15 2020	May 14 2013
Ranking	#493	#507

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