
RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 vs GeForce 6500

RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
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GeForce 6500
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 6500
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is significantly newer (2025 vs 2012). The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce 6500 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 10.5% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (512 MB vs 256 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 6500.
| Insight | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+10.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-10.5%) |
| Longevity | RDNA 4.0 (2025) (4nm) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 6500 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $5 versus $30 for the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700, it costs 83% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 442.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+442.9%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($30) | ✅More affordable ($5) |
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 RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 and GeForce 6500

RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 23 2025. It features the RDNA 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1660 MHz to 2920 MHz. It has 4096 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 64 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 42 points. Launch price was $1,299.

GeForce 6500
The GeForce 6500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 6 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 1058 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38 points. Launch price was $109.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 scores 42 versus the GeForce 6500's 38 — the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 leads by 10.5%. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is built on RDNA 4.0 while the GeForce 6500 uses Kepler, both on 4 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 4,096 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 384 (GeForce 6500). Raw compute: 47.84 TFLOPS (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 0.8125 TFLOPS (GeForce 6500).
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 42+11% | 38 |
| Architecture | RDNA 4.0 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 4 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 4096+967% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 47.84 TFLOPS+5788% | 0.8125 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 128+700% | 16 |
| TMUs | 256+700% | 32 |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 0.25 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce 6500 has 256 MB. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 8 MB (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 0.25 MB (GeForce 6500) — the RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB+100% | 0.25 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 0.25 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 9.0 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 9.0c (GeForce 6500). Vulkan: N/A vs None. OpenGL: 2.0 vs 2.1. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 9.0 | 9.0c |
| Vulkan | N/A | None |
| OpenGL | 2.0 | 2.1+5% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs No (GeForce 6500). Decoder: VideoShader vs PureVideo. Supported codecs: MPEG-2 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs MPEG-2 (GeForce 6500).
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | No |
| Decoder | VideoShader | PureVideo |
| Codecs | MPEG-2 | MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 draws 300W versus the GeForce 6500's 65W — a 128.8% difference. The GeForce 6500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 350W (GeForce 6500). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy. Card length: 175mm vs 168mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 70 vs 65°C.
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 300W | 65W-78% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | Legacy |
| Length | 175mm | 168mm |
| Height | 100mm | 100mm |
| Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | 70 | 65°C-7% |
| Perf/Watt | 0.1 | 0.6+500% |
Value Analysis
The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 launched at $0 MSRP and currently averages $30, while the GeForce 6500 launched at $100 and now averages $5. The GeForce 6500 costs 83.3% less ($25 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 1.4 (RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700) vs 7.6 (GeForce 6500) — the GeForce 6500 offers 442.9% better value. The RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2012).
| Feature | RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $0-100% | $100 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $5-83% |
| Performance per Dollar | 1.4 | 7.6+443% |
| Codename | Navi 48 | GK107 |
| Release | July 23 2025 | September 6 2012 |
| Ranking | #23 | #719 |
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