Radeon HD 8970M vs Radeon R9 M390X
Radeon HD 8970M
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Radeon R9 M390X
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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 Radeon R9 M390X is on rank 416, 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 Radeon R9 M390X
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M390X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.5% 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.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) |
| 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
The Radeon R9 M390X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M390X holds the technical lead. Priced at $120 (vs $170), it costs 29% less, resulting in a 42.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+42.4%) |
| 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 8970M and Radeon R9 M390X
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.
Radeon R9 M390X
The Radeon R9 M390X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 5 2015. 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 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,895 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8970M scores 3,876 and the Radeon R9 M390X reaches 3,895 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon R9 M390X uses GCN 3.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 M390X). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 2.961 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M390X).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,876 | 3,895 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 3.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 2048+60% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 2.961 TFLOPS+29% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 | 128+60% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 512 KB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| 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: System vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Radeon R9 M390X's 75W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon R9 M390X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M390X). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Mobile.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W | 75W-25% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Mobile |
| Perf/Watt | 38.8 | 51.9+34% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 M390X costs 29.4% less ($50 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 22.8 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 32.5 (Radeon R9 M390X) — the Radeon R9 M390X offers 42.5% better value. The Radeon R9 M390X is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon R9 M390X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $550 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $170 | $120-29% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 32.5+43% |
| Codename | Neptune | Amethyst |
| Release | May 14 2013 | May 5 2015 |
| Ranking | #507 | #504 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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