Radeon HD 8970M vs GeForce RTX 2060

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. The Radeon HD 8970M is positioned at rank #78 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 8970M

#25

Radeon RX 7600M XT

MSRP: $329|Avg: $300

92%

#68

Radeon RX 550X (móvel)

MSRP: $35|Avg: $35

224%

#70

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150

203%

#71

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100

203%

#75

GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50

184%

#76

Radeon RX 6300

MSRP: $60|Avg: $40

183%

#78

Radeon HD 8970M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $170

100%

#82

Arc 7-Core iGPU

MSRP: $199|Avg: N/A

97%

#87

Radeon RX 560 (móvel)

MSRP: $99|Avg: $50

94%

#92

Radeon RX 550 (móvel)

MSRP: $79|Avg: $40

91%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The GeForce RTX 2060 is significantly newer (2019 vs 2013). The GeForce RTX 2060 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 8970M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The GeForce RTX 2060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 264.1% higher G3D Mark score and 50% more VRAM (6 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 8970M.

Insight	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-264.1%)	✅Leading raw performance (+264.1%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))	Turing (2018−2022) (12nm)
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	🎮 High Capacity (6 GB)
Efficiency	⚡ Higher Power Consumption	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit	—	📏 Compact / SFF Friendly

💎 Value Proposition

The GeForce RTX 2060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $120 versus $170 for the Radeon HD 8970M, it costs 29% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 415.9% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
Cost Efficiency	❌Lower cost efficiency	✅Better overall value (+415.9%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($170)	✅More affordable ($120)

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 8970M Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 2060 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 8970M and GeForce RTX 2060

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 RTX 2060

The GeForce RTX 2060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 7 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1680 MHz. It has 1920 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 14,114 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD 8970M scores 3,876 versus the GeForce RTX 2060's 14,114 — the GeForce RTX 2060 leads by 264.1%. The Radeon HD 8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce RTX 2060 uses Turing, both on 28 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 1,920 (GeForce RTX 2060). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 6.451 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2060). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1680 MHz.

Feature	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
G3D Mark Score	3,876	14,114+264%
Architecture	GCN 1.0	Turing
Process Node	28 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	1280	1920+50%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.304 TFLOPS	6.451 TFLOPS+180%
Boost Clock	900 MHz	1680 MHz+87%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	80	120+50%
L1 Cache	0.31 MB	1.9 MB+513%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	3 MB+500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
Upscaling Tech	FSR 1.0 (Software)	DLSS 2.0
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible)
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	AMD Anti-Lag	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD 8970M comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 2060 has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 2060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 2060) — the GeForce RTX 2060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	6 GB+50%
Memory Type	Shared	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	System	336 GB/s
Bus Width	System	192-bit
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	3 MB+500%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 8970M draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 2060's 160W — a 46.2% difference. The Radeon HD 8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 2060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin.

Feature	Radeon HD 8970M	GeForce RTX 2060
TDP	100W-38%	160W
Recommended PSU	350W-30%	500W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	—	229mm
Height	—	113mm
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	—	72
Perf/Watt	38.8	88.2+127%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 2060 costs 29.4% less ($50 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 22.8 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 117.6 (GeForce RTX 2060) — the GeForce RTX 2060 offers 415.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 2060 is the newer GPU (2019 vs 2013).