Radeon HD 6970M vs Radeon R9 M470
Radeon HD 6970M
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Radeon R9 M470
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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. The Radeon HD 6970M is positioned at rank 121 and the Radeon R9 M470 is on rank 428, so the Radeon HD 6970M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 6970M
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M470
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M470 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.7% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (4 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 | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 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 $80), it costs 40% less, resulting in a 62.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+62.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($48) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($80) |
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 R9 M470
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 R9 M470
The Radeon R9 M470 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 15 2016. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 900 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,331 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6970M scores 2,270 and the Radeon R9 M470 reaches 2,331 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6970M is built on TeraScale 2 while the Radeon R9 M470 uses GCN 2.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 960 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 768 (Radeon R9 M470). Raw compute: 1.306 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 1.536 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M470).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,270 | 2,331+3% |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | GCN 2.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 960+25% | 768 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.306 TFLOPS | 1.536 TFLOPS+18% |
| ROPs | 32+100% | 16 |
| TMUs | 48 | 48 |
| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 192 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB+100% | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
The Radeon HD 6970M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M470 has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M470 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 512 KB (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 256 KB (Radeon R9 M470) — the Radeon HD 6970M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | Unknown |
| Bus Width | System | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB+100% | 256 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6970M draws 75W versus the Radeon R9 M470's 75W — a 0% difference. The Radeon R9 M470 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M470). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Mobile.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W | 75W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Mobile |
| Perf/Watt | 30.3 | 31.1+3% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6970M costs 40% less ($32 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 47.3 (Radeon HD 6970M) vs 29.1 (Radeon R9 M470) — the Radeon HD 6970M offers 62.5% better value. The Radeon R9 M470 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M | Radeon R9 M470 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $350 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $48-40% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 47.3+63% | 29.1 |
| Codename | Blackcomb | Emerald |
| Release | January 4 2011 | May 15 2016 |
| Ranking | #654 | #649 |
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