CPU
GPU
Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
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Radeon TM
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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 8970M Crossfire is positioned at rank 264 and the Radeon TM is on rank 55, so the Radeon TM 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 8970M Crossfire
Performance Per Dollar Radeon TM
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon TM is significantly newer (2024 vs 2012). The Radeon TM likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon TM 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 8970M Crossfire.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN (2012−2015)) | RDNA 3.5 (2024−2025) (4nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon TM 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 8970M Crossfire and Radeon TM
Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.
Radeon TM
The Radeon TM is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 15 2024. It features the RDNA 3.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 400 MHz to 2900 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 16 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,564 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire scores 5,500 and the Radeon TM reaches 5,564 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is built on GCN while the Radeon TM uses RDNA 3.5, both on 28 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) vs 1,024 (Radeon TM). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 2900 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,500 | 5,564+1% |
| Architecture | GCN | RDNA 3.5 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 4 nm |
| Shading Units | 2560+150% | 1024 |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 2900 MHz+222% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: 256-bit x2 vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 256-bit x2+100% | 128-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire draws 200W versus the Radeon TM's 15W — a 172.1% difference. The Radeon TM is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) vs 350W (Radeon TM). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 15W-93% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Perf/Watt | 27.5 | 370.9+1249% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon TM is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2012).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire | Radeon TM |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75 | — |
| Codename | Neptune CF | Strix Point |
| Release | May 1 2012 | July 15 2024 |
| Ranking | #350 | #312 |
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