Radeon R9 280 vs Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
Radeon R9 280
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Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
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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. 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
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.9% higher G3D Mark score and 33.3% more VRAM (4 GB vs 3 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 280.
| Insight | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Terascale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+33.3%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 280 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 280 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $150), it costs 73% less, resulting in a 268% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+268%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($40) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($150) |
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 R9 280 and Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
Radeon R9 280
The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.
Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 6 2011. It features the Terascale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 680 MHz. It has 1920 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,637 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 280 scores 5,532 and the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire reaches 5,637 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 280 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire uses Terascale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 280) vs 1,920 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire).
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,532 | 5,637+2% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Terascale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1792 | 1920+7% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon R9 280 comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire has 4 GB. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 240 GB/s (Radeon R9 280) vs 115.2 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) — a 108.3% advantage for the Radeon R9 280. Bus width: 384-bit vs 256-bit x2.
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB | 4 GB+33% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 240 GB/s+108% | 115.2 GB/s x2 |
| Bus Width | 384-bit+50% | 256-bit x2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 280 draws 200W versus the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire's 50W — a 120% difference. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon R9 280) vs 350W (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 50W-75% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 350W-30% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 1mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Perf/Watt | 27.7 | 112.7+307% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 280 launched at $279 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire launched at $150 and now averages $150. The Radeon R9 280 costs 73.3% less ($110 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 138.3 (Radeon R9 280) vs 37.6 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) — the Radeon R9 280 offers 267.8% better value. The Radeon R9 280 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $279 | $150-46% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-73% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 138.3+268% | 37.6 |
| Codename | Tahiti | Blackcomb XT |
| Release | March 4 2014 | January 6 2011 |
| Ranking | #415 | #537 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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