CPU
GPU
Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Popular choices:
Radeon R9 M295X
Popular choices:
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 7970M Crossfire is positioned at rank 280 and the Radeon R9 M295X is on rank 273, so the Radeon R9 M295X 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 7970M Crossfire
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M295X
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M295X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3% 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 7970M Crossfire.
| Insight | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN (2012−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon R9 M295X 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire and Radeon R9 M295X
Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.
Radeon R9 M295X
The Radeon R9 M295X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 23 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 723 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,150 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire scores 5,000 and the Radeon R9 M295X reaches 5,150 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is built on GCN while the Radeon R9 M295X uses GCN 3.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 M295X).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,000 | 5,150+3% |
| Architecture | GCN | GCN 3.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2560+25% | 2048 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7970M Crossfire comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M295X has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M295X offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) vs 176 GB/s (Radeon R9 M295X) — a 14.6% advantage for the Radeon R9 M295X. Bus width: 256-bit x2 vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 153.6 GB/s x2 | 176 GB/s+15% |
| Bus Width | 256-bit x2 | 256-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire draws 200W versus the Radeon R9 M295X's 250W — a 22.2% difference. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M295X). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Mobile.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W-20% | 250W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Mobile |
| Length | — | 1mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Perf/Watt | 25.0+21% | 20.6 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 M295X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire | Radeon R9 M295X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $300 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $150 |
| Codename | Wimbledon XT | Amethyst |
| Release | May 1 2012 | November 23 2014 |
| Ranking | #395 | #437 |
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