Radeon HD8970M vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Radeon HD8970M
Popular choices:
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Popular choices:
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 3050 8GB
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is significantly newer (2022 vs 2013). The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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 3050 8GB is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 272.1% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (8 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 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-272.1%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+272.1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (8 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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 3050 8GB
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 3050 8GB
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1552 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,535 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD8970M scores 3,369 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 12,535 — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB leads by 272.1%. The Radeon HD8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD8970M) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD8970M) vs 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1777 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,369 | 12,535+272% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 2560+100% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 9.098 TFLOPS+295% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 1777 MHz+97% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 | 80 |
| L1 Cache | 0.31 MB | 2.5 MB+706% |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 3050 8GB has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD8970M) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 224 GB/s |
| Bus Width | System | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD8970M draws 100W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 130W — a 26.1% difference. The Radeon HD8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD8970M) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-23% | 130W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-22% | 450W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 8-pin |
| Length | — | 242mm |
| Height | — | 112mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 66°C |
| Perf/Watt | 33.7 | 96.4+186% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $249 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $209 |
| Codename | Neptune | GA106 |
| Release | May 14 2013 | January 4 2022 |
| Ranking | #507 | #211 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon HD8970M and GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
