Contents:HighlightsSummaryGaming PerformanceBenchmark PerformanceTechnical SpecsRelated ComparisonsRelated GPUs
Performance
Radeon R9 290X1% better
16,167.515% of 104,598
GeForce GTX 970
16,03315% of 104,598
The Radeon R9 290X has 1% better performance than the GeForce GTX 970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
Performance per dollar
Radeon R9 290X
29.4518% of 161.45
GeForce GTX 97065% better
48.7330% of 161.45
The GeForce GTX 970 has 65% better value for the money than the Radeon R9 290X for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
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Summary
#
About the AMD Radeon R9 290X GPU
The AMD Radeon R9 290X is an end-of-life desktop graphics card that released in Q4 2013 with a MSRP of $549. It is built on the GCN 2.0 GPU microarchitecture (codename Hawaii) and is manufactured on a 28 nm process.
Memory
The R9 290X has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, with a 1,250 MHz memory clock and a 512 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 320 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 290X includes 2,816 stream processors (SPs), the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 1,000 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 176 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 64 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing.
Compatibility & Power Consumption
The R9 290X 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 290 W.
Benchmark Performance & Value
The R9 290X has the 137th best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 15.46% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 16,167.5 score and $549 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 29.45. This is the 80th best in value for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
About the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 GPU
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 is an end-of-life desktop graphics card that released in Q3 2014 with a MSRP of $329. It is built on the Maxwell 2.0 GPU microarchitecture (codename GM204) and is manufactured on a 28 nm process.
Memory
The GTX 970 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, with a 1,753 MHz memory clock and a 256 bit interface. This gives it a memory bandwidth of 224.4 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 GTX 970 includes 1,664 CUDA cores, the processing units for handling parallel computing tasks. The GPU operates at a core clock speed of 1,050 MHz and can dynamically boost its clock speed up to 1,178 MHz. Complementing the processing units are 104 texture mapping units (TMUs) for efficient texture filtering and 56 render output units (ROPs) for pixel processing.
Compatibility & Power Consumption
The GTX 970 occupies 2 PCIe expansion slots. It supports DVI, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2 display connections. NVIDIA recommends a power supply of at least 300 W to handle the GPU's thermal design power (TDP) of 148 W.
Benchmark Performance & Value
The GTX 970 has the 138th best 3DMark 11 Performance GPU score among the 543 benchmarked GPUs in our database. It achieves 15.33% of the performance of the best benchmarked GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. Its 16,033 score and $329 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 48.73. This is the 66th 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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | AMD | NVIDIA |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Maxwell 2.0 |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release Date | Q4 2013 | Q3 2014 |
| Launch Price (MSRP) | $549 | $329 |
| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |
| Shop | Check Price | Check Price |
Gaming Performance
#
Select a game to compare FPS metrics
Borderlands 3
Ghost Recon Breakpoint
FIFA 20
Control
F1 2019
Dirt Rally 2.0
Metro Exodus
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
Borderlands 3 | Radeon R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Low - 720p | -- | -- |
| Medium - 1080p | -- | 74 FPS |
| High - 1080p | -- | 49 FPS |
| Ultra - 1080p | -- | 37 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 R9 290X orGeForce GTX 970
| GPU | Frames Per Second | |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 5500 XT | 43 | +17% |
| Radeon RX 590 | 42.1 | +15% |
| GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER | 42 | +14% |
| Radeon RX 6500 XT | 41 | +12% |
| GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) | 39 | +6% |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 36.7 | |
| Radeon RX 570 | 35.2 | -4% |
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 30.1 | -18% |
| GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | 21.8 | -41% |
| GeForce GTX 1050 | 18.4 | -50% |
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 R9 290X orGeForce GTX 970
| GPU | Cost Per Frame | |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 590 | 6.63 | -26% |
| GeForce RTX 2070 | 6.84 | -24% |
| GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) | 7.67 | -14% |
| Radeon RX Vega 64 | 8.59 | -4% |
| Radeon VII | 8.86 | -1% |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 8.96 | |
| GeForce GTX 980 Ti | 12.18 | +36% |
Benchmark Performance
#
Performance
Radeon R9 290X1% better
16,167.515% of 104,598
GeForce GTX 970
16,03315% of 104,598
The Radeon R9 290X has 1% better performance than the GeForce GTX 970 for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
The Radeon R9 290X is ranked 137th with a score of 16,167.5, and the GeForce GTX 970 is ranked 138th with a score of 16,033.
Performance per dollar
Radeon R9 290X
29.4518% of 161.45
GeForce GTX 97065% better
48.7330% of 161.45
The GeForce GTX 970 has 65% better value for the money than the Radeon R9 290X for the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark.
The Radeon R9 290X is ranked 80th with a performance per dollar of 29.45, and the GeForce GTX 970 is ranked 66th with a performance per dollar of 48.73.
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 R9 290X or
| GPU | Benchmark Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 980 | 17,604.5 | +9% |
| Radeon R9 FURY | 17,543 | +9% |
| GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) | 17,401 | +8% |
| Radeon R9 Nano | 17,282 | +7% |
| Radeon R9 290X | 16,167.5 | |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 16,033 | -1% |
| GeForce GTX 780 Ti | 15,619 | -3% |
| GeForce GTX 1650 | 13,645 | -16% |
| Radeon R9 380 | 12,191 | -25% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 10,792 | -33% |
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 R9 290X or
| GPU | Performance Per Dollar | |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 960 | 54.11 | +84% |
| GeForce GTX 950 | 52.52 | +78% |
| GeForce GTX 970 | 48.73 | +65% |
| Radeon R9 390X | 41.83 | +42% |
| Radeon R9 280X | 36.09 | +23% |
| GeForce GTX 760 | 31.98 | +9% |
| Radeon R9 FURY | 31.95 | +9% |
| Radeon R9 290X | 29.45 | |
| GeForce GTX 660 Ti | 28.14 | -4% |
| Radeon R9 Nano | 26.63 | -10% |
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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics | 4,003 (+12.95%) | 3,544 |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 4,114 (+11.4%) | 3,693 |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics | 73,987 (+1.6%) | 72,819 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics | 11,717 | 11,954 (+2.02%) |
| 3DMark 11 Performance Score | 13,415 (+1.25%) | 13,249 |
| Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit | 142 (+0.28%) | 141.6 |
| PassMark G3D Mark | 8,623 | 9,638 (+11.77%) |
| PassMark G2D Mark | 765 | 767 (+0.26%) |
| Unigine Heaven 3.0 DirectX 11 | 140 | -- |
| Unigine Heaven 3.0 OpenGL | 111 | -- |
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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Codename | Hawaii | GM204 |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Maxwell 2.0 |
| Process Size | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Transistors | 6,200 million | 5,200 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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 Gb/s | 224.4 Gb/s |
| Memory Clock | 1,250 MHz | 1,753 MHz |
| Memory Interface | 512 bit | 256 bit |
| L1 Cache | 16 KB | 48 KB |
| L2 Cache | 1,024 KB | 2 MB |
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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 290 W | 148 W |
| Suggested PSU | 600 W | 300 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Outputs | DVI, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2 | DVI, HDMI 2.0, 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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Processors (SP) | 2,816 | -- |
| CUDA Cores | -- | 1,664 |
| Compute Units (CU) | 44 | -- |
| Texture Mapping Units (TMU) | 176 | 104 |
| Render Output Units (ROP) | 64 | 56 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1,000 MHz | 1,050 MHz |
| Core Clock Speed (Boost) | -- | 1,178 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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Fill Rate | 64 GPixel/s | 65.97 GPixel/s |
| Texture Fill Rate | 176 GTexel/s | 122.5 GTexel/s |
| FP32 Performance | 5.63 TFLOPS | 3.92 TFLOPS |
| FP64 Performance | 704 GFLOPS | 122.5 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 R9 290X | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (12_1) |
| OpenCL | 2.1 | 3.0 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Shader Model | 6.5 | 6.8 |
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* Performance rating, performance per dollar, and rankings are based on the 3DMark 11 Performance GPU benchmark and MSRP.