Radeon HD 5970 vs GeForce GTX 460
Radeon HD 5970
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GeForce GTX 460
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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
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 5970 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1% higher G3D Mark score and 166.7% more VRAM (2 GB vs 768 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 460.
| Insight | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / Fermi (2010−2014)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+166.7%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (305mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 460 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 460 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $100), it costs 75% less, resulting in a 296.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+296.2%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($100) | ✅More affordable ($25) |
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 HD 5970 and GeForce GTX 460
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.
GeForce GTX 460
The GeForce GTX 460 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 12 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 675 MHz. It has 336 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,275 points. Launch price was $229.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 5970 scores 2,297 and the GeForce GTX 460 reaches 2,275 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 5970 is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce GTX 460 uses Fermi, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 1,600 (Radeon HD 5970) vs 336 (GeForce GTX 460). Raw compute: 2.32 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 5970) vs 0.9072 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 460).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,297 | 2,275 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | Fermi |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1600 ×2+376% | 336 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.32 TFLOPS ×2+156% | 0.9072 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 ×2 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 ×2+43% | 56 |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 448 KB+40% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 5970 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 460 has 768 MB. The Radeon HD 5970 offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+167% | 0.75 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Media & Encoding
Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Radeon HD 5970) vs H.264 (GeForce GTX 460).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | — |
| Decoder | UVD 2.2 | — |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 5970 draws 294W versus the GeForce GTX 460's 160W — a 59% difference. The GeForce GTX 460 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 650W (Radeon HD 5970) vs 450W (GeForce GTX 460). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 294W | 160W-46% |
| Recommended PSU | 650W | 450W-31% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 305mm | — |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 90 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 7.8 | 14.2+82% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 5970 launched at $699 MSRP and currently averages $100, while the GeForce GTX 460 launched at $199 and now averages $25. The GeForce GTX 460 costs 75% less ($75 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 23.0 (Radeon HD 5970) vs 91.0 (GeForce GTX 460) — the GeForce GTX 460 offers 295.7% better value. The GeForce GTX 460 is the newer GPU (2010 vs 2009).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5970 | GeForce GTX 460 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $699 | $199-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $100 | $25-75% |
| Performance per Dollar | 23.0 | 91.0+296% |
| Codename | Hemlock | GF104 |
| Release | November 18 2009 | July 12 2010 |
| Ranking | #651 | #652 |
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