Radeon HD 6970M vs GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon HD 6970M
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GeForce RTX 3060
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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. The Radeon HD 6970M is positioned at rank #121 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 6970M
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3060
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 is significantly newer (2021 vs 2011). The GeForce RTX 3060 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 6970M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 648.7% higher G3D Mark score and 500% more VRAM (12 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 6970M.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-648.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+648.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce RTX 3060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Although it costs $289 (vs $48), its significant performance lead justifies the premium, offering 24.3% better value per dollar than the Radeon HD 6970M.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+24.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($48) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($289) |
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 6970M and GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon HD 6970M
The Radeon HD 6970M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 4 2011. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 680 MHz. It has 960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,270 points.
GeForce RTX 3060
The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD 6970M scores 2,270 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 648.7%. The Radeon HD 6970M is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 40 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 960 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 1.306 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,270 | 16,995+649% |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 960 | 3584+273% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.306 TFLOPS | 12.74 TFLOPS+875% |
| ROPs | 32 | 48+50% |
| TMUs | 48 | 112+133% |
| L1 Cache | 0.19 MB | 3.5 MB+1742% |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 3 MB+500% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 6970M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 500% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 12 GB+500% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 360 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 192-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 3 MB+500% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6970M draws 75W versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 170W — a 77.6% difference. The Radeon HD 6970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W-56% | 170W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | — | 242mm |
| Height | — | 112mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 30.3 | 100.0+230% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6970M costs 83.4% less ($241 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 47.3 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 58.8 (GeForce RTX 3060) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 24.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $48-83% | $289 |
| Performance per Dollar | 47.3 | 58.8+24% |
| Codename | Blackcomb | GA106 |
| Release | January 4 2011 | January 12 2021 |
| Ranking | #654 | #114 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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