Contents:HighlightsSummaryGaming PerformanceBenchmark PerformanceTechnical SpecsRelated ComparisonsRelated GPUs
Performance
Radeon HD 7970
7,7707% of 104,598
Radeon R9 280X39% better
10,79210% of 104,598
The Radeon R9 280X has 39% better performance than the Radeon HD 7970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
Performance per dollar
Radeon HD 7970
14.159% of 161.45
Radeon R9 280X155% better
36.0922% of 161.45
The Radeon R9 280X has 155% better value for the money than the Radeon HD 7970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
Shop Radeon HD 7970
Shop Radeon R9 280X
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Summary
#
About the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GPU
The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is an end-of-life desktop graphics card that released in Q1 2012 with a MSRP of $549. It is built on the GCN 1.0 GPU microarchitecture (codename Tahiti) and is manufactured on a 28 nm process.
Memory
The HD 7970 has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory, with a 1,375 MHz memory clock and a 384 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 264 Gb/s, which affects how fast it can transfer data to and from memory. GPU memory stores temporary data that helps the GPU with complex math and graphics operations. More memory is generally better, as not having enough can cause performance bottlenecks.
Cores and Clock Speeds
The HD 7970 includes 2,048 stream processors (SPs), the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 925 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 128 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 32 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing.
Compatibility & Power Consumption
The HD 7970 occupies 2 PCIe expansion slots. It supports DVI, HDMI 1.4a, mini-DisplayPort 1.2 display connections. AMD recommends a power supply of at least 600 W to handle the GPU's thermal design power (TDP) of 250 W.
Benchmark Performance & Value
The HD 7970 has the 211th best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 7.43% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 7,770 score and $549 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 14.15. This is the 92nd best in value for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
About the AMD Radeon R9 280X GPU
The AMD Radeon R9 280X is an end-of-life desktop graphics card that released in Q4 2013 with a MSRP of $299. It is built on the GCN 1.0 GPU microarchitecture (codename Tahiti) and is manufactured on a 28 nm process.
Memory
The R9 280X has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory, with a 1,500 MHz memory clock and a 384 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 288 Gb/s, which affects how fast it can transfer data to and from memory. GPU memory stores temporary data that helps the GPU with complex math and graphics operations. More memory is generally better, as not having enough can cause performance bottlenecks.
Cores and Clock Speeds
The R9 280X includes 2,048 stream processors (SPs), the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 850 MHz and can dynamically boost its clock speed up to 1,000 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 128 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 32 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing.
Compatibility & Power Consumption
The R9 280X occupies 2 PCIe expansion slots. It supports DVI, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 display connections. AMD recommends a power supply of at least 600 W to handle the GPU's thermal design power (TDP) of 250 W.
Benchmark Performance & Value
The R9 280X has the 171st best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 10.32% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 10,792 score and $299 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 36.09. This is the 73rd best in value for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
General Info
General overview of the GPU, including details like its manufacturer, release date, launch price, and current production status.
| Info | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | AMD | AMD |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release Date | Q1 2012 | Q4 2013 |
| Launch Price (MSRP) | $549 | $299 |
| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |
| Shop | Check Price | Check Price |
Gaming Performance
#
Select a game to compare FPS metrics
Fortnite
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Dota 2 - Reborn
The Witcher 3
GTA V
FPS Benchmarks
This table showcases the average frame rate (FPS) achieved both GPUs in at various resolutions. Frame rate is a crucial indicator of how smoothly the GPU can run the game. A higher FPS generally translates to a smoother gameplay experience.
- Frames Per Second
Fortnite | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Low - 720p | -- | -- |
| Medium - 1080p | -- | 158 FPS |
| High - 1080p | -- | 60 FPS |
| Ultra - 1080p | -- | 48 FPS |
| QHD - 1440p | -- | -- |
| 4K UHD - 2160p | -- | -- |
FPS Source: Notebookcheck
Compare Frames Per Second (FPS)
The average frame rate (FPS) in can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative performance. Generally, higher FPS results in a smoother gameplay experience.
Choose Baseline GPU:Radeon HD 7970 orRadeon R9 280X
| GPU | Frames Per Second | |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 570 | 72 | +52% |
| Radeon RX 480 | 64.5 | +36% |
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 61 | +28% |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 60 | +26% |
| Radeon RX 470 | 58.9 | +24% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 47.5 | |
| GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | 44.8 | -6% |
| GeForce GTX 1050 | 42 | -12% |
| Radeon R7 370 | 30.2 | -36% |
| GeForce GT 1030 | 24.5 | -48% |
Compare Cost Per Frame
The average cost per frame in can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative value. Generally, a lower cost per frame implies better value for your money.
Choose Baseline GPU:Radeon HD 7970 orRadeon R9 280X
| GPU | Cost Per Frame | |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) | 3.29 | -48% |
| Radeon RX 480 | 3.55 | -44% |
| Radeon R7 370 | 4.93 | -22% |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 5.48 | -13% |
| GeForce GTX 980 | 6.01 | -5% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 6.29 | |
| Radeon R9 FURY | 7.63 | +21% |
Benchmark Performance
#
Performance
Radeon HD 7970
7,7707% of 104,598
Radeon R9 280X39% better
10,79210% of 104,598
The Radeon R9 280X has 39% better performance than the Radeon HD 7970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
The Radeon HD 7970 is ranked 211th with a score of 7,770, and the Radeon R9 280X is ranked 171st with a score of 10,792.
Performance per dollar
Radeon HD 7970
14.159% of 161.45
Radeon R9 280X155% better
36.0922% of 161.45
The Radeon R9 280X has 155% better value for the money than the Radeon HD 7970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
The Radeon HD 7970 is ranked 92nd with a performance per dollar of 14.15, and the Radeon R9 280X is ranked 73rd with a performance per dollar of 36.09.
Relative Performance
The average score in the benchmark test can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative performance. Generally, powerful GPUs tend to have higher scores.
Choose Baseline GPU:Radeon HD 7970 or
| GPU | Benchmark Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 13,645 | +76% |
| Radeon R9 380 | 12,191 | +57% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 10,792 | +39% |
| GeForce GTX 960 | 10,767.5 | +39% |
| GeForce GTX 680 | 10,216.5 | +31% |
| GeForce GTX 950 | 8,351 | +7% |
| GeForce GTX 760 | 7,962 | +2% |
| Radeon HD 7970 | 7,770 | |
| Radeon HD 7870 (GHz Edition) | 6,194 | -20% |
| GeForce GTX 750 Ti | 5,378 | -31% |
Relative Value For Money
The average performance per dollar in the benchmark test can be compared to similar GPUs to assess relative value. A higher score implies a better value for your money.
Choose Baseline GPU:Radeon HD 7970 or
| GPU | Performance Per Dollar | |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon R9 390X | 41.83 | +196% |
| GeForce GTX 750 Ti | 36.09 | +155% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 36.09 | +155% |
| GeForce GTX 980 | 32.07 | +127% |
| GeForce GTX 760 | 31.98 | +126% |
| Radeon HD 7870 (GHz Edition) | 17.75 | +25% |
| Radeon HD 6870 | 17.65 | +25% |
| Radeon HD 7970 | 14.15 | |
| GeForce GTX 590 | 13.11 | -7% |
| GeForce GTX 470 | 12.44 | -12% |
Benchmark Scores
This table showcases the average performance scores achieved by both GPUs across industry-standard benchmark tests. These scores provide a valuable insight into overall performance. Powerful GPUs tend to have higher scores.
- Popular
| Benchmark | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics | -- | 2,210 |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | -- | 2,393 |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics | 43,795 | 52,117 (+19%) |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics | 6,862 | 8,343 (+21.58%) |
| 3DMark 11 Performance Score | 7,323 | 10,241 (+39.85%) |
| PassMark G3D Mark | 5,248 | 6,178 (+17.72%) |
| PassMark G2D Mark | 738 (+7.58%) | 686 |
| Unigine Heaven 3.0 DirectX 11 | 77.8 | 95.2 (+22.37%) |
Benchmarks Source: Notebookcheck
Technical Specs
#
Graphics Processor
General information about the graphics processing unit like their architecture, manufacturing process size, and transistor count. Newer GPU architectures generally bring efficiency improvements and may introduce technologies that enhance graphical capabilities.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Codename | Tahiti | Tahiti |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Size | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Transistors | 4,313 million | 4,313 million |
Memory Details
Memory specifications like their capacity, bandwidth, and clock speeds. GPU memory stores graphics data like frames, textures, and shadows which helps display rendered images. These specs are crucial for graphics-intense applications like gaming and 3D modeling.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Size | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 264 Gb/s | 288 Gb/s |
| Memory Clock | 1,375 MHz | 1,500 MHz |
| Memory Interface | 384 bit | 384 bit |
| L1 Cache | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB | 768 KB |
Board Compatibility
Compatibility information like their slot size, bus interface, power consumption, and display support. These specs are useful for verifying compatibility with your motherboard, power supply, and monitor.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 250 W | 250 W |
| Suggested PSU | 600 W | 600 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Outputs | DVI, HDMI 1.4a, mini-DisplayPort 1.2 | DVI, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 |
Cores & Clock Speeds
Processing power information like its cores and clock speed. These specs impact how fast they can process graphics. Each type of core or component serves a specific computational purpose.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Processors (SP) | 2,048 | 2,048 |
| Compute Units (CU) | 32 | 32 |
| Texture Mapping Units (TMU) | 128 | 128 |
| Render Output Units (ROP) | 32 | 32 |
| Core Clock Speed | 925 MHz | 850 MHz |
| Core Clock Speed (Boost) | -- | 1,000 MHz |
Theoretical Performance
Theoretical performance numbers derived from the raw specifications of the different components like core count and clock speeds. While these provide a glimpse into peak processing power, they do not represent real-world performance.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Fill Rate | 29.6 GPixel/s | 32 GPixel/s |
| Texture Fill Rate | 118.4 GTexel/s | 128 GTexel/s |
| FP32 Performance | 3.79 TFLOPS | 4.1 TFLOPS |
| FP64 Performance | 947.2 GFLOPS | 1,024 GFLOPS |
API Support
Graphics API versions supported by these graphics cards. APIs evolve over time, introducing new features and functionalities. Older GPUs may not support recent versions.
| Spec | Radeon HD 7970 | Radeon R9 280X |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 12 (11_1) |
| OpenCL | 2.1 (1.2) | 2.1 (1.2) |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Shader Model | 6.5 (5.1) | 6.5 (5.1) |
Check out these comparisons for similar GPUs:
Looking for alternatives? Check out these similar GPUs:
* Performance rating, performance per dollar, and rankings are based on the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark and MSRP.