Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X vs Tesla K80

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 Tesla K80

#117

L40

MSRP: $31000|Avg: $8174

98%

#328

Tesla K20m

MSRP: $3199|Avg: $55

13807%

#343

Tesla K80

MSRP: $5000|Avg: $50

100%

#344

GRID M10-4Q

MSRP: $2805|Avg: $340

99%

#346

GRID M10-8Q

MSRP: $2500|Avg: $500

97%

#347

FirePro V8700

MSRP: $1499|Avg: $170

96%

#348

Quadro FX 3800

MSRP: $799|Avg: $20

96%

#350

GRID K520

MSRP: $3599|Avg: $50

92%

#351

GRID P40-12Q

MSRP: $5699|Avg: $5699

91%

#352

FirePro 2270

MSRP: $149|Avg: $30

89%

#353

FirePro 2460

MSRP: $180|Avg: $10

88%

#355

FirePro 3D V5700

MSRP: $599|Avg: $25

85%

#356

Quadro FX 580

MSRP: $199|Avg: $500

85%

#358

GRID M60-1B

MSRP: $2500|Avg: $120

84%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Tesla K80 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.2% 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.

Insight	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.2%)	✅Leading raw performance (+2.2%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler 2.0 (2013−2015))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	✅ More VRAM (+33.3%)
Efficiency	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt	⚡ Higher Power Consumption
Case Fit	Standard Size (275mm)	—

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $50), it costs 20% less, resulting in a 22.3% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+22.3%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($40)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50)

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

Tesla K80 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X and Tesla K80

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.

Tesla K80

The Tesla K80 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 17 2014. It features the Kepler 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 562 MHz to 824 MHz. It has 2496 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,363 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X scores 5,248 and the Tesla K80 reaches 5,363 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is built on GCN 1.0 while the Tesla K80 uses Kepler 2.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 2,496 (Tesla K80). Raw compute: 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 4.113 TFLOPS ×2 (Tesla K80). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 824 MHz.

Feature	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
G3D Mark Score	5,248	5,363+2%
Architecture	GCN 1.0	Kepler 2.0
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2048	2496 ×2+22%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.096 TFLOPS	4.113 TFLOPS ×2
Boost Clock	1000 MHz+21%	824 MHz
ROPs	32	48 ×2+50%
TMUs	128	208 ×2+63%
L1 Cache	512 KB+146%	208 KB
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	1.5 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
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	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the Tesla K80 has 4 GB. The Tesla K80 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 384-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 1.5 MB (Tesla K80) — the Tesla K80 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	4 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	384-bit+200%	128-bit
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	1.5 MB+100%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X draws 200W versus the Tesla K80's 300W — a 40% difference. The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 350W (Tesla K80). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X	Tesla K80
TDP	200W-33%	300W
Recommended PSU	500W	350W-30%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	275mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	80 C	—
Perf/Watt	26.2+46%	17.9

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X launched at $299 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the Tesla K80 launched at $5000 and now averages $50. The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X costs 20% less ($10 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 131.2 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X) vs 107.3 (Tesla K80) — the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X offers 22.3% better value. The Tesla K80 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2013).