Radeon HD 8970M vs Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
Radeon HD 8970M
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Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
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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 RX Vega M GL / 870 is on rank 206, 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 RX Vega M GL / 870
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 uses modern memory architecture. The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 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 Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 8970M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2018 / Vega (2017−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ FSR 3 / AFMF Support |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100+%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $150 versus $170 for the Radeon HD 8970M, it costs 12% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 14.7% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+14.7%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($170) | ✅More affordable ($150) |
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 RX Vega M GL / 870
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 RX Vega M GL / 870
The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2018. It features the Vega architecture. The core clock ranges from 931 MHz to 1011 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,922 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8970M scores 3,876 and the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 reaches 3,922 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 uses Vega, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 1,280 (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1011 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,876 | 3,922+1% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Vega |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 1280 |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 1011 MHz+12% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8970M comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 has 0 MB. The Radeon HD 8970M offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 1024-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | Shared System RAM |
| Memory Type | Shared | HBM2 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 179.2 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 1024-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8970M draws 100W versus the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870's 65W — a 42.4% difference. The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 1W (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W | 65W-35% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 1W-100% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Integrated |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80 |
| Perf/Watt | 38.8 | 60.3+55% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 costs 11.8% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 22.8 (Radeon HD 8970M) vs 26.1 (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870) — the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 offers 14.5% better value. The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8970M | Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $170 | $150-12% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 26.1+14% |
| Codename | Neptune | Vega Kaby Lake-G |
| Release | May 14 2013 | January 7 2018 |
| Ranking | #507 | #427 |
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