Radeon R9 M390X vs Radeon HD 8970M
Radeon R9 M390X
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 8970M
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Radeon R9 M390X is positioned at rank 416 and the Radeon HD 8970M is on rank 78, so the Radeon HD 8970M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M390X
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 8970M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M390X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.5% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 8970M.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 M390X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M390X holds the technical lead. Priced at $120 (vs $170), it costs 29% less, resulting in a 42.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+42.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($120) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($170) |
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 M390X and Radeon HD 8970M
Radeon R9 M390X
The Radeon R9 M390X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 5 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 723 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,895 points.
Radeon HD 8970M
The Radeon HD 8970M 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: 3,876 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 M390X scores 3,895 and the Radeon HD 8970M reaches 3,876 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 M390X is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon HD 8970M uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 1,280 (Radeon HD 8970M). Raw compute: 2.961 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8970M).
| Feature | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,895 | 3,876 |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048+60% | 1280 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.961 TFLOPS+29% | 2.304 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 128+60% | 80 |
| L1 Cache | 512 KB+60% | 320 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: 256-bit vs System.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | 160 GB/s | System |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | System |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 M390X draws 75W versus the Radeon HD 8970M's 100W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon R9 M390X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8970M). Power connectors: Mobile vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W-25% | 100W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Mobile | 1x 6-pin |
| Perf/Watt | 51.9+34% | 38.8 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 M390X costs 29.4% less ($50 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 32.5 (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 22.8 (Radeon HD 8970M) — the Radeon R9 M390X offers 42.5% better value. The Radeon R9 M390X is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon R9 M390X | Radeon HD 8970M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $550 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $120-29% | $170 |
| Performance per Dollar | 32.5+43% | 22.8 |
| Codename | Amethyst | Neptune |
| Release | May 5 2015 | May 14 2013 |
| Ranking | #504 | #507 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon R9 M390X and Radeon HD 8970M
