Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
VS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X vs GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X

2013Boost: 1000 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 4060•RTX 3060•RTX 4060 Ti•RTX 3070•GTX 1650•RTX 3060 Ti•RTX 4070•RTX 3050•RX 7600•RTX 4070 Ti
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

2018Core: 1152 MHzBoost: 1417 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 4060•RTX 3060•RTX 4060 Ti•RTX 3070•GTX 1650•RTX 3060 Ti•RTX 4070•RTX 3050•RX 7600•RTX 4070 Ti

Performance Spectrum - GPU

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
200
5,248
0.0%
brand logoRadeon R7 260
brand logoRadeon RX 550 (móvel)
brand logoRadeon HD 7800-serie
brand logoRadeon R9 Nano
brand logoRadeon R9 Fury
brand logoRadeon RX 6600 LE
brand logoRadeon 8060S
brand logoRadeon RX 6800
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
75
5,310
+1.2%
brand logoGeForce GTX 675MX
brand logoGeForce GTX 870M
brand logoGeForce GTX 880M SLI
brand logoGeForce GTX 580
brand logoGeForce GTX 780 Ti
brand logoTitan X Pascal
brand logoGeForce GTX 1070 SLI (móvel)
brand logoRTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop 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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

#6
Radeon RX 550X (móvel)
MSRP: $35|Avg: $35
123%
#8
GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150
111%
#9
GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100
111%
#13
GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50
101%
#14
Radeon RX 6300
MSRP: $60|Avg: $40
100%
#15
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#18
Radeon RX 560X (móvel)
MSRP: $55|Avg: $55
99%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design uses modern memory architecture. The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.2% higher G3D Mark score and 33.3% more VRAM (4 GB vs 3 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X.

InsightRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
Performance
❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%)
✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%)
Longevity
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2018 / Pascal (2016−2021))
Ecosystem
Supports FSR Upscaling
Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM
❌ Less VRAM capacity
✅ More VRAM (+33.3%)
Efficiency
⚡ Higher Power Consumption
💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit
Standard Size (275mm)
—

💎 Value Proposition

While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.

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.

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080p
low129 FPS
medium91 FPS
high72 FPS
ultra52 FPS
1440p
low83 FPS
medium58 FPS
high47 FPS
ultra33 FPS
4K
low36 FPS
medium28 FPS
high23 FPS
ultra15 FPS
Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080p
low157 FPS
medium113 FPS
high89 FPS
ultra64 FPS
1440p
low101 FPS
medium73 FPS
high58 FPS
ultra40 FPS
4K
low31 FPS
medium24 FPS
high20 FPS
ultra13 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p
low202 FPS
medium158 FPS
high124 FPS
ultra74 FPS
1440p
low106 FPS
medium88 FPS
high63 FPS
ultra40 FPS
4K
low42 FPS
medium31 FPS
high24 FPS
ultra17 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p
low134 FPS
medium97 FPS
high74 FPS
ultra51 FPS
1440p
low71 FPS
medium55 FPS
high34 FPS
ultra24 FPS
4K
low27 FPS
medium19 FPS
high13 FPS
ultra9 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080p
low236 FPS
medium189 FPS
high157 FPS
ultra118 FPS
1440p
low177 FPS
medium142 FPS
high118 FPS
ultra89 FPS
4K
low118 FPS
medium94 FPS
high79 FPS
ultra59 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080p
low239 FPS
medium191 FPS
high159 FPS
ultra119 FPS
1440p
low179 FPS
medium143 FPS
high119 FPS
ultra90 FPS
4K
low84 FPS
medium77 FPS
high69 FPS
ultra50 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080p
low131 FPS
medium113 FPS
high86 FPS
ultra64 FPS
1440p
low82 FPS
medium72 FPS
high51 FPS
ultra39 FPS
4K
low45 FPS
medium37 FPS
high22 FPS
ultra16 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080p
low145 FPS
medium124 FPS
high102 FPS
ultra79 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS
medium120 FPS
high92 FPS
ultra67 FPS
4K
low69 FPS
medium58 FPS
high36 FPS
ultra26 FPS
Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X and GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

AMD

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,248 points. Launch price was $299.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1152 MHz to 1417 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,310 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X scores 5,248 and the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design reaches 5,310 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 768 (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design). Raw compute: 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 2.177 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 1417 MHz.

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
G3D Mark Score
5,248
5,310+1%
Architecture
GCN 1.0
Pascal
Process Node
28 nm
14 nm
Shading Units
2048+167%
768
Compute (TFLOPS)
4.096 TFLOPS+88%
2.177 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1000 MHz
1417 MHz+42%
ROPs
32
32
TMUs
128+167%
48
L1 Cache
512 KB+78%
288 KB
L2 Cache
0.75 MB
1 MB+33%
✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
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 7970 / R9 280X comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 264 GB/s (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 112 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design) — a 135.7% advantage for the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X. Bus width: 384-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 1 MB (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design) — the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
VRAM Capacity
3 GB
4 GB+33%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
264 GB/s+136%
112 GB/s
Bus Width
384-bit+200%
128-bit
L2 Cache
0.75 MB
1 MB+33%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_1) (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 4.

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
DirectX
12 (11_1)
12 (12_1)
Vulkan
1.2
1.3+8%
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
6+50%
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs NVENC (6th Gen) (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design). Decoder: UVD 3.2 vs NVDEC (3rd Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9 (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design).

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
Encoder
VCE 1.0
NVENC (6th Gen)
Decoder
UVD 3.2
NVDEC (3rd Gen)
Codecs
H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4
H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X draws 200W versus the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design's 75W — a 90.9% difference. The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 80 C vs 70°C.

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
TDP
200W
75W-63%
Recommended PSU
500W
350W-30%
Power Connector
6-pin + 8-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
275mm
—
Height
111mm
—
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
80 C
70°C-13%
Perf/Watt
26.2
70.8+170%
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2013).

FeatureRadeon HD 7970 / R9 280XGeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q Design
MSRP
$299
—
Avg Price (30d)
$40
—
Codename
Tahiti
GP107
Release
October 8 2013
January 3 2018
Ranking
#404
#429