Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
AMD
G3D Mark
5,248
MSRP
$299
AVG Price
$40
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.
Overview
The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,248 points. Launch price was $299.
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 Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Counter-Strike 2
Dead by Daylight
Delta Force
Genshin Impact
League of Legends
Marvel Rivals
Naraka: Bladepoint
Palworld
Path of Exile 2
Team Fortress 2
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X scores 5,248 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Budget tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the GCN 1.0 (2012−2020) architecture (codename: Tahiti), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 2048 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 128 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 4.096 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1000 MHz.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 5,248 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | GCN 1.0 (2012−2020) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | Tahiti |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 2048 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 128 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 32 |
| Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load | 1000 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 4.096 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 128.0 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 4,313 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #404 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is equipped with 3 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 384-bit memory bus, delivering 264 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 3 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 384-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 264 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 512 kB |
| L2 Cache | 768 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X supports modern upscaling and frame generation technologies: FidelityFX Super Resolution — these can dramatically boost effective FPS by generating intermediate frames or upscaling from lower internal resolution. Graphics API support: DirectX 12 (11_1), Vulkan 1.2, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| FSR Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | ❌ Not Supported |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | ✅ Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12 (11_1) |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | 1.2 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.6 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | OpenCL 1.2 |
| Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support | 4-way CrossFire |
Display & Media
Display outputs: DVI-Ix 0, HDMI 1.4ax 1, mini-DisplayPort 1.2 x2x 2 — supports up to 6 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: VCE 1.0, decoder: UVD 3.2— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| 0 PortsNumber of 0 display connectors | DVI-Ix |
| 1 PortsNumber of 1 display connectors | HDMI 1.4ax |
| 2 PortsNumber of 2 display connectors | mini-DisplayPort 1.2 x2x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 6 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | VCE 1.0 |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | UVD 3.2 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X draws 250 Watt under load (TDP) — a 500W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 6-pin + 8-pin. Physical size: 275mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 994g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 40 C at idle, 80 C under load.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 250 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 500W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 275mm |
| Card Height | 111mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 994g |
| Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle | 40 C |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 80 C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $40 (MSRP: $299), the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X delivers 131 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #404 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $40 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #404 |
| Release Date | October 8 2013 |
| Release Year | 2013 |
Specifications Reference
Raw spec sheet for quick lookup. The analysis cards above explain what these fields mean in practice.
2 categories
Technical Specifications
20 specs
Technical Specifications
20 specs
| ROPs | 32 |
| TMUs | 128 |
| Vram | 3 GB |
| DLSS/FSR | FSR upscaling |
| L1 Cache | 512 kB |
| L2 Cache | 768 kB |
| Boost Clock | 1000 MHz |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps |
| Shading Units | 2048 |
| Upscaling Tech | AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 264 GB/s |
| Memory Bus Width | 384-bit |
| Transistor Count | 4,313 million |
| Frame Generation | FSR Frame Generation: No | AMD Fluid Motion Frames: No | FidelityFX Super Resolution: Yes |
| Texture Fill Rate | 128.0 |
| Manufacturing Process | 28 nm |
| Power Consumption (TDP) | 250 Watt |
| Floating Point Performance | 4.096 TFLOPS |
General Information
6 specs
General Information
6 specs
| Design | reference |
| Codename | Tahiti |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 (2012−2020) |
| Launch Price | $299 |
| Release Date | October 8 2013 |
| Performance Ranking Position | 404 |
Similar Performance
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Our Recommendation for Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
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