Radeon HD8970M vs GeForce RTX 3060
Radeon HD8970M
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GeForce RTX 3060
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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
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3060 is significantly newer (2021 vs 2013). The GeForce RTX 3060 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 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 404.5% higher G3D Mark score and 500% more VRAM (12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-404.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+404.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🔮Strong Longevity (Ampere / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (12 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3060 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
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
The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. 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: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the Radeon HD8970M scores 3,369 versus the GeForce RTX 3060's 16,995 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 404.5%. The Radeon HD8970M is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce RTX 3060 uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon HD8970M) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD8970M) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1777 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,369 | 16,995+404% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 500% 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) — the GeForce RTX 3060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 12 GB+500% |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | System | 360 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's 170W — a 51.9% difference. The Radeon HD8970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD8970M) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-41% | 170W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 8-pin |
| Length | — | 242mm |
| Height | — | 112mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 33.7 | 100.0+197% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3060 is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD8970M | GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $289 |
| Codename | Neptune | GA106 |
| Release | May 14 2013 | January 12 2021 |
| Ranking | #507 | #114 |
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