Radeon HD 6970 vs GeForce GTX 560
Radeon HD 6970
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GeForce GTX 560
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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 6970 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.3% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (2 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 560.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (286mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 560 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 560 holds the technical lead. Priced at $30 (vs $100), it costs 70% less, resulting in a 225.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+225.9%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($100) | ✅More affordable ($30) |
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 6970 and GeForce GTX 560
Radeon HD 6970
The Radeon HD 6970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in December 14 2010. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The boost clock speed is 880 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,831 points. Launch price was $369.
GeForce GTX 560
The GeForce GTX 560 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 17 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 810 MHz. It has 336 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,768 points. Launch price was $199.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6970 scores 2,831 and the GeForce GTX 560 reaches 2,768 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6970 is built on TeraScale 3 while the GeForce GTX 560 uses Fermi 2.0, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (Radeon HD 6970) vs 336 (GeForce GTX 560). Raw compute: 2.703 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6970) vs 1.089 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 560).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,831+2% | 2,768 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | Fermi 2.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536+357% | 336 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.703 TFLOPS+148% | 1.089 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 96+71% | 56 |
| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 448 KB+133% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6970 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 560 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 6970 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+100% | 1 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: MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC (Radeon HD 6970) vs H.264 (GeForce GTX 560).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | — |
| Decoder | UVD 3.0 | — |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC | H.264 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6970 draws 250W versus the GeForce GTX 560's 150W — a 50% difference. The GeForce GTX 560 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (Radeon HD 6970) vs 500W (GeForce GTX 560). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 250W | 150W-40% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 500W-9% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 286mm | — |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 90 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 11.3 | 18.5+64% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6970 launched at $369 MSRP and currently averages $100, while the GeForce GTX 560 launched at $199 and now averages $30. The GeForce GTX 560 costs 70% less ($70 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 28.3 (Radeon HD 6970) vs 92.3 (GeForce GTX 560) — the GeForce GTX 560 offers 226.1% better value. The GeForce GTX 560 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2010).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970 | GeForce GTX 560 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $369 | $199-46% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $100 | $30-70% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.3 | 92.3+226% |
| Codename | Cayman | GF114 |
| Release | December 14 2010 | May 17 2011 |
| Ranking | #596 | #605 |
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