Radeon HD 7970 vs GeForce GTX 590

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 590 and Radeon HD 7970, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 590
2011
3072 MB (1536 MB per GPU) GDDR5, 365 Watt
8.67

HD 7970 outperforms GTX 590 by an impressive 57% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking504387
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.782.46
Power efficiency1.633.75
ArchitectureFermi 2.0 (2010−2014)GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)
GPU code nameGF110Tahiti
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Designno datareference
Release date24 March 2011 (13 years ago)22 December 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$699 $549

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

The higher the performance-to-price ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices for comparison.

HD 7970 has 215% better value for money than GTX 590.

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 cores1024 ×22048
Core clock speed607 MHzno data
Boost clock speedno data925 MHz
Number of transistors3,000 million4,313 million
Manufacturing process technology40 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)365 Watt300 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature97 °Cno data
Texture fill rate38.91 ×2118.4
Floating-point processing power1.244 TFLOPS ×23.789 TFLOPS
ROPs48 ×232
TMUs64 ×2128

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).

Bus support16x PCI-E 2.0PCIe 2.1 x16
InterfacePCIe 2.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Length279 mm274 mm
Height4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)no data
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors2x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
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 amount3072 MB (1536 MB per GPU) ×26 GB
Memory bus width768-bit (384-bit per GPU) ×2384 Bit
Memory clock speed1707 MHz1375 MHz
Memory bandwidth327.7 GB/s ×2264 GB/s
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.

Display ConnectorsThree Dual Link DVI-IMini DisplayPort1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort
Multi monitor support+no data
Eyefinity-+
HDMI++
Maximum VGA resolution2048x1536no data
Audio input for HDMIInternalno data

Supported technologies

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

CrossFire-+
FreeSync-+

API and SDK compatibility

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

DirectX12 (11_0)DirectX® 11
Shader Model5.15.1
OpenGL4.24.6
OpenCL1.11.2
VulkanN/A-
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.

GTX 590 8.67
HD 7970 13.62
+57.1%

  • Other tests
    • Passmark
    • 3DMark 11 Performance GPU
    • 3DMark Vantage Performance
    • 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 590 3341
HD 7970 5248
+57.1%

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 590 9167
+18%
HD 7970 7770

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 590 25720
+3.9%
HD 7970 24757

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 590 6680
HD 7970 6862
+2.7%

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:

900p47
−123%
105
+123%
Full HD111
+19.4%
93
−19.4%
1200p112
−51.8%
170−180
+51.8%

Cost per frame, $

1080p6.30
−6.7%
5.90
+6.7%
  • HD 7970 has 7% lower cost per frame in 1080p

FPS performance in popular games

  • Full HD
    Low Preset
  • Full HD
    Medium Preset
  • Full HD
    High Preset
  • Full HD
    Ultra Preset
  • Full HD
    Epic Preset
  • 1440p
    High Preset
  • 1440p
    Ultra Preset
  • 1440p
    Epic Preset
  • 4K
    High Preset
  • 4K
    Ultra Preset
  • 4K
    Epic Preset
Atomic Heart 20−22
−60%
30−35
+60%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−43.8%
21−24
+43.8%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−52.9%
24−27
+52.9%
Atomic Heart 20−22
−60%
30−35
+60%
Battlefield 5 35−40
−55.6%
55−60
+55.6%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−43.8%
21−24
+43.8%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−52.9%
24−27
+52.9%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−65.4%
40−45
+65.4%
Fortnite 45−50
−51%
70−75
+51%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−50%
50−55
+50%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−70%
30−35
+70%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−58.6%
45−50
+58.6%
Valorant 80−85
−34.1%
110−120
+34.1%
Atomic Heart 20−22
−60%
30−35
+60%
Battlefield 5 35−40
−55.6%
55−60
+55.6%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−43.8%
21−24
+43.8%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 120−130
−65.6%
212
+65.6%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−52.9%
24−27
+52.9%
Dota 2 60−65
−37.7%
80−85
+37.7%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−65.4%
40−45
+65.4%
Fortnite 45−50
−51%
70−75
+51%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−50%
50−55
+50%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−70%
30−35
+70%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−33
−63.3%
45−50
+63.3%
Metro Exodus 16−18
−62.5%
24−27
+62.5%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−58.6%
45−50
+58.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
−61.9%
30−35
+61.9%
Valorant 80−85
−34.1%
110−120
+34.1%
Battlefield 5 35−40
−55.6%
55−60
+55.6%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−43.8%
21−24
+43.8%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−52.9%
24−27
+52.9%
Dota 2 60−65
−37.7%
80−85
+37.7%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−65.4%
40−45
+65.4%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−50%
50−55
+50%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−70%
30−35
+70%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−58.6%
45−50
+58.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
−61.9%
30−35
+61.9%
Valorant 80−85
−34.1%
110−120
+34.1%
Fortnite 45−50
−51%
70−75
+51%
Counter-Strike 2 10−11
−50%
14−16
+50%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 60−65
−52.4%
95−100
+52.4%
Grand Theft Auto V 10−12
−81.8%
20−22
+81.8%
Metro Exodus 8−9
−87.5%
14−16
+87.5%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 45−50
−129%
100−110
+129%
Valorant 90−95
−47.8%
130−140
+47.8%
Battlefield 5 18−20
−94.4%
35−40
+94.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
−57.1%
10−12
+57.1%
Far Cry 5 16−18
−64.7%
27−30
+64.7%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
−63.2%
30−35
+63.2%
Forza Horizon 5 14−16
−64.3%
21−24
+64.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
−66.7%
20−22
+66.7%
Fortnite 16−18
−64.7%
27−30
+64.7%
Atomic Heart 7−8
−42.9%
10−11
+42.9%
Counter-Strike 2 2−3
−150%
5−6
+150%
Grand Theft Auto V 18−20
−26.3%
24−27
+26.3%
Metro Exodus 3−4
−200%
9−10
+200%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 8−9
−113%
16−18
+113%
Valorant 40−45
−64.3%
65−70
+64.3%
Battlefield 5 9−10
−100%
18−20
+100%
Counter-Strike 2 2−3
−150%
5−6
+150%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
−66.7%
5−6
+66.7%
Dota 2 30−33
−53.3%
45−50
+53.3%
Far Cry 5 8−9
−62.5%
12−14
+62.5%
Forza Horizon 4 12−14
−69.2%
21−24
+69.2%
Forza Horizon 5 6−7
−66.7%
10−11
+66.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 8−9
−50%
12−14
+50%
Fortnite 8−9
−50%
12−14
+50%

This is how GTX 590 and HD 7970 compete in popular games:

  • HD 7970 is 123% faster in 900p
  • GTX 590 is 19% faster in 1080p
  • HD 7970 is 52% faster in 1200p

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

  • in Metro Exodus, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the HD 7970 is 200% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, HD 7970 surpassed GTX 590 in all 67 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.67 13.62
Recency 24 March 2011 22 December 2011
Maximum RAM amount 3072 MB (1536 MB per GPU) 6 GB
Chip lithography 40 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 365 Watt 300 Watt

HD 7970 has a 57.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 months, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 42.9% more advanced lithography process, and 21.7% lower power consumption.

The Radeon HD 7970 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 590 in performance tests.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590
GeForce GTX 590
AMD Radeon HD 7970
Radeon HD 7970

Other comparisons

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Community ratings

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3.8
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