Radeon HD 6970M vs Radeon HD 5970
Radeon HD 6970M
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Radeon HD 5970
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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
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 5970 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.2% higher G3D Mark score. 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 | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | Standard Size (305mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 6970M offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 6970M holds the technical lead. Priced at $48 (vs $100), it costs 52% less, resulting in a 105.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+105.9%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($48) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($100) |
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 Radeon HD 5970
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.
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 Radeon HD 6970M scores 2,270 and the Radeon HD 5970 reaches 2,297 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6970M is built on TeraScale 2 while the Radeon HD 5970 uses TeraScale 2, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 960 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 1,600 (Radeon HD 5970). Raw compute: 1.306 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 2.32 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 5970).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,270 | 2,297+1% |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 960 | 1600 ×2+67% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.306 TFLOPS | 2.32 TFLOPS ×2+78% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 ×2 |
| TMUs | 48 | 80 ×2+67% |
| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 320 KB+67% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 2 GB of video memory. Bus width: System vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | Unknown |
| Bus Width | System | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6970M draws 75W versus the Radeon HD 5970's 294W — a 118.7% difference. The Radeon HD 6970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 650W (Radeon HD 5970). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W-74% | 294W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-46% | 650W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Length | — | 305mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 90 |
| Perf/Watt | 30.3+288% | 7.8 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6970M costs 52% less ($52 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 47.3 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 23.0 (Radeon HD 5970) — the Radeon HD 6970M offers 105.7% better value. The Radeon HD 6970M is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2009).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon HD 5970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $699 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $48-52% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 47.3+106% | 23.0 |
| Codename | Blackcomb | Hemlock |
| Release | January 4 2011 | November 18 2009 |
| Ranking | #654 | #651 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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