
Radeon HD 8970M vs GeForce GTX 780M

Radeon HD 8970M
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GeForce GTX 780M
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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 is positioned at rank 78 and the GeForce GTX 780M is on rank 212, so the Radeon HD 8970M 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
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 780M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8970M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.8% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 780M.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.8%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.8%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 780M offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 780M holds the technical lead. Priced at $60 (vs $170), it costs 65% less, resulting in a 181.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+181.1%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($170) | ✅More affordable ($60) |
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 and GeForce GTX 780M

Radeon HD 8970M
The Radeon HD 8970M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 14 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,876 points.

GeForce GTX 780M
The GeForce GTX 780M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 11 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 823 MHz to 797 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 122W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,845 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8970M scores 3,876 and the GeForce GTX 780M reaches 3,845 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 780M uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 1,536 (GeForce GTX 780M). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 2.448 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 780M). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 797 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,876 | 3,845 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 1536+20% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 2.448 TFLOPS+6% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz+13% | 797 MHz |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 | 128+60% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB+150% | 128 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: System vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 160 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 256-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8970M draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 780M's 122W — a 19.8% difference. The Radeon HD 8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 780M). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-18% | 122W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 38.8+23% | 31.5 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 780M costs 64.7% less ($110 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 22.8 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 64.1 (GeForce GTX 780M) — the GeForce GTX 780M offers 181.1% better value.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | GeForce GTX 780M |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Price (30d) | $170 | $60-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 64.1+181% |
| Codename | Neptune | GK104 |
| Release | May 14 2013 | May 11 2013 |
| Ranking | #507 | #511 |
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