Radeon HD8970M vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Radeon HD8970M
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GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
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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 GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is significantly newer (2022 vs 2013). The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD8970M lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 290.9% 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 RTX 3060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-290.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+290.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (6 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 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 RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
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 RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,170 points.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD8970M scores 3,369 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 13,170 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 290.9%. The Radeon HD8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD8970M) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD8970M) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1777 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,369 | 13,170+291% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 3584+180% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 12.74 TFLOPS+453% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 1777 MHz+97% |
| ROPs | 32 | 48+50% |
| TMUs | 80 | 112+40% |
| L1 Cache | 0.31 MB | 3.5 MB+1029% |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 3 MB+500% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| 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 HD8970M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 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 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 6 GB+200% |
| 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 HD8970M draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 170W — a 51.9% difference. The Radeon HD8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD8970M) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Mobile.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-41% | 170W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-30% | 500W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | Mobile |
| Temp (Load) | — | 75°C |
| Perf/Watt | 33.7 | 77.5+130% |
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