
Radeon HD8970M vs GeForce GTX 1060

Radeon HD8970M
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GeForce GTX 1060
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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. The Radeon HD8970M is positioned at rank #154 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD8970M
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 1060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 198.7% higher G3D Mark score and 200% more VRAM (6 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD8970M.
| Insight | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-198.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+198.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / Pascal (2016−2021)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+200%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce GTX 1060 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 HD8970M and GeForce GTX 1060

Radeon HD8970M
The Radeon HD8970M 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: 3,369 points.

GeForce GTX 1060
The GeForce GTX 1060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 27 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1607 MHz to 1733 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,064 points. Launch price was $599.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD8970M scores 3,369 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 198.7%. The Radeon HD8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD8970M) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD8970M) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1733 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,369 | 10,064+199% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Pascal |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 16 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 2560+100% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 8.873 TFLOPS+285% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 1733 MHz+93% |
| ROPs | 32 | 64+100% |
| TMUs | 80 | 160+100% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 960 KB+200% |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
The Radeon HD8970M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD8970M) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 6 GB+200% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 192 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 192-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD8970M draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 57.1% difference. The Radeon HD8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD8970M) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-44% | 180W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-13% | 400W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 6-pin |
| Length | — | 173mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Perf/Watt | 33.7 | 55.9+66% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $249 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $60 |
| Codename | Neptune | GP104 |
| Release | May 14 2013 | May 27 2016 |
| Ranking | #507 | #137 |
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