Radeon HD8970M vs UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)

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.

Radeon HD8970M vs UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Radeon HD8970M vs UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake): Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

Radeon HD8970M

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌2013 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 66.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
❌566.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 15W.

UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)

2021

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 66.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($50 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 15W instead of 100W, a 85W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2021 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD8970M is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.8% in PassMark G3D (3,369 vs 3,311), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon HD8970M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Radeon HD8970M has the stronger long-term case.

Radeon HD8970M vs UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)

The UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in March 30 2021. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

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Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD8970M scores 3,369 and the UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) reaches 3,311 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.

Feature	Radeon HD8970M	UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)
G3D Mark Score	3,369+2%	3,311
Process Node	28 nm	14 nm

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon HD8970M	UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)
Upscaling Tech	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	AMD Anti-Lag	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD8970M has 2 GB of VRAM, while the UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) carries 0 MB. Radeon HD8970M gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the Radeon HD8970M and System on the UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake).

Feature	Radeon HD8970M	UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	Shared	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	System	System
Bus Width	System	System

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Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD8970M draws 100W versus the UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)'s 15W — a 147.8% difference. The UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD8970M) vs 1W (UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Integrated.

Feature	Radeon HD8970M	UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)
TDP	100W	15W-85%
Recommended PSU	350W	1W-100%
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	Integrated
Perf/Watt	33.7	220.7+555%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake) (2021 vs 2013).

Feature	Radeon HD8970M	UHD Graphics 730 (Rocket Lake)
MSRP	—	$50
Codename	Neptune	Rocket Lake GT1
Release	May 14 2013	March 30 2021
Ranking	#507	#432

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