Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire vs GeForce GTX 1070 SLI

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1070 SLI with Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire, including specs and performance data.

GTX 1070 SLI
2016
2x 8 GB GDDR5, 300 Watt
38.09
+137%

GTX 1070 SLI outperforms HD 7970M Crossfire by a whopping 137% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking122337
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Power efficiency8.765.53
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)GCN (2012−2015)
GPU code namePascal GP104 SLIWimbledon XT
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date16 August 2016 (8 years ago)1 May 2012 (12 years ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores38402560
Core clock speed1506 MHz850 MHz
Boost clock speed1683 MHzno data
Number of transistors14400 Millionno data
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)300 Watt200 Watt

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datalarge
SLI options+-

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount2x 8 GBno data
Memory bus width256 Bit2x 256 Bit
Memory clock speed8000 MHz4800 MHz
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

G-SYNC support+-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

VR Ready+no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12_111.1
Vulkan+-
CUDA+-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1070 SLI 38.09
+137%
HD 7970M Crossfire 16.04

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1070 SLI 42691
+284%
HD 7970M Crossfire 11119

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p300−350
+127%
132
−127%
Full HD118
+16.8%
101
−16.8%
4K60
+150%
24−27
−150%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 75−80
+182%
27−30
−182%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+161%
30−35
−161%
Elden Ring 130−140
+171%
45−50
−171%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
+98.1%
50−55
−98.1%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
+182%
27−30
−182%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+161%
30−35
−161%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+177%
65−70
−177%
Metro Exodus 90−95
+109%
40−45
−109%
Red Dead Redemption 2 75−80
+92.3%
35−40
−92.3%
Valorant 150−160
+138%
60−65
−138%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
+98.1%
50−55
−98.1%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
+182%
27−30
−182%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+161%
30−35
−161%
Dota 2 58
+1.8%
55−60
−1.8%
Elden Ring 130−140
+171%
45−50
−171%
Far Cry 5 95−100
+65.5%
55−60
−65.5%
Fortnite 160−170
+90.9%
85−90
−90.9%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+177%
65−70
−177%
Grand Theft Auto V 87
+52.6%
55−60
−52.6%
Metro Exodus 90−95
+109%
40−45
−109%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 190−200
+73.7%
110−120
−73.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2 75−80
+92.3%
35−40
−92.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 130−140
+173%
45−50
−173%
Valorant 150−160
+138%
60−65
−138%
World of Tanks 270−280
+37.4%
200−210
−37.4%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 100−110
+98.1%
50−55
−98.1%
Counter-Strike 2 75−80
+182%
27−30
−182%
Cyberpunk 2077 80−85
+161%
30−35
−161%
Dota 2 120−130
+111%
55−60
−111%
Far Cry 5 95−100
+65.5%
55−60
−65.5%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+177%
65−70
−177%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 190−200
+73.7%
110−120
−73.7%
Valorant 150−160
+138%
60−65
−138%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 70−75
+192%
24−27
−192%
Elden Ring 75−80
+208%
24−27
−208%
Grand Theft Auto V 70−75
+192%
24−27
−192%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 170−180
+17.4%
140−150
−17.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+171%
14−16
−171%
World of Tanks 240−250
+118%
110−120
−118%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
+122%
30−35
−122%
Counter-Strike 2 35−40
+171%
14−16
−171%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
+217%
12−14
−217%
Far Cry 5 120−130
+208%
40−45
−208%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
+173%
40−45
−173%
Metro Exodus 80−85
+137%
35−40
−137%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 65−70
+210%
21−24
−210%
Valorant 110−120
+195%
40−45
−195%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 35−40
+225%
12−14
−225%
Dota 2 81
+189%
27−30
−189%
Elden Ring 35−40
+227%
10−12
−227%
Grand Theft Auto V 81
+200%
27−30
−200%
Metro Exodus 30−35
+191%
10−12
−191%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 120−130
+162%
45−50
−162%
Red Dead Redemption 2 24−27
+150%
10−11
−150%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 81
+200%
27−30
−200%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 40−45
+193%
14−16
−193%
Counter-Strike 2 35−40
+225%
12−14
−225%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+300%
4−5
−300%
Dota 2 70−75
+164%
27−30
−164%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+180%
20−22
−180%
Fortnite 41
+128%
18−20
−128%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
+174%
21−24
−174%
Valorant 60−65
+244%
18−20
−244%

This is how GTX 1070 SLI and HD 7970M Crossfire compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1070 SLI is 127% faster in 900p
  • GTX 1070 SLI is 17% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1070 SLI is 150% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1070 SLI is 300% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, GTX 1070 SLI surpassed HD 7970M Crossfire in all 63 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 38.09 16.04
Recency 16 August 2016 1 May 2012
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 300 Watt 200 Watt

GTX 1070 SLI has a 137.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, and a 75% more advanced lithography process.

HD 7970M Crossfire, on the other hand, has 50% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1070 SLI is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1070 SLI is a desktop card while Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

Other comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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