Quadro K3100M vs Radeon HD 5970

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.

Quadro K3100M vs Radeon HD 5970 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.

Quadro K3100M vs Radeon HD 5970: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Quadro K3100M

2013

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Draws 75W instead of 294W, a 219W reduction.
✅More future proof: Kepler (2012−2018) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon HD 5970 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2013 hardware with 4 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 3.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $699 MSRP).

Radeon HD 5970

2009

Why buy it

✅18.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 3.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2009 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌292% higher power demand at 294W vs 75W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD 5970 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 18.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.6% in PassMark G3D (2,297 vs 2,283), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

Quadro K3100M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM, a 28nm process instead of 40nm, and a newer 2013 generation instead of 2009. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon HD 5970 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon HD 5970 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro K3100M has the stronger long-term case.

Quadro K3100M vs Radeon HD 5970 Technical Specifications

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

Quadro K3100M

The Quadro K3100M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 23 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 706 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,283 points. Launch price was $1,999.

Radeon HD 5970

The Radeon HD 5970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 18 2009. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1600 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 294W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,297 points. Launch price was $699.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Quadro K3100M scores 2,283 and the Radeon HD 5970 reaches 2,297 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro K3100M is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 5970 uses TeraScale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 768 (Quadro K3100M) vs 1,600 (Radeon HD 5970). Raw compute: 1.084 TFLOPS (Quadro K3100M) vs 2.32 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 5970).

Feature	Quadro K3100M	Radeon HD 5970
G3D Mark Score	2,283	2,297
Architecture	Kepler	TeraScale 2
Process Node	28 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	768	1600 ×2+108%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.084 TFLOPS	2.32 TFLOPS ×2+114%
ROPs	32	32 ×2
TMUs	64	80 ×2+25%
L1 Cache	64 KB	320 KB+400%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Quadro K3100M	Radeon HD 5970
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Quadro K3100M has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 5970 carries 2 GB. Quadro K3100M gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the Quadro K3100M and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 5970.

Feature	Quadro K3100M	Radeon HD 5970
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro K3100M draws 75W versus the Radeon HD 5970's 294W — a 118.7% difference. The Quadro K3100M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro K3100M) vs 650W (Radeon HD 5970). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	Quadro K3100M	Radeon HD 5970
TDP	75W-74%	294W
Recommended PSU	350W-46%	650W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	—	305mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	—	90
Perf/Watt	30.4+290%	7.8

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Quadro K3100M (2013 vs 2009).

Feature	Quadro K3100M	Radeon HD 5970
MSRP	—	$699
Codename	GK104	Hemlock
Release	July 23 2013	November 18 2009
Ranking	#653	#651

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