Radeon RX 6500 vs GeForce GTX 970M

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 970M and Radeon RX 6500, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 970M
2014
3 GB GDDR5
14.88

RX 6500 outperforms GTX 970M by a substantial 37% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking356276
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Power efficiency12.67no data
ArchitectureMaxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)no data
GPU code nameGM204no data
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date7 October 2014 (10 years ago)no data
Launch price (MSRP)$2,560.89 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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 cores1280no data
Core clock speed924 MHzno data
Boost clock speed1038 MHzno data
Number of transistors5,200 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology28 nmno data
Power consumption (TDP)unknownno data
Texture fill rate83.04no data
Floating-point processing power2.657 TFLOPSno data
ROPs48no data
TMUs80no data

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 sizelargeno data
Bus supportPCI Express 3.0no data
InterfaceMXM-B (3.0)no data
Supplementary power connectorsNoneno data
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 typeGDDR5no data
Maximum RAM amount3 GBno data
Memory bus width192 Bitno data
Memory clock speed2500 MHzno data
Memory bandwidth120 GB/sno data
Shared memory-no data

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 ConnectorsNo outputsno data
VGA аnalog display support+no data
DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support+no data
HDMI+-
G-SYNC support+-

Supported technologies

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

GameStream+-
GeForce ShadowPlay+-
GPU Boost2.0no data
GameWorks+-
H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder+-
Optimus+-
BatteryBoost+-
Ansel+-

API compatibility

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

DirectX12 (12_1)no data
Shader Model6.4no data
OpenGL4.5no data
OpenCL1.1no data
Vulkan1.1.126-
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 970M 14.88
RX 6500 20.34
+36.7%

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 970M 5718
RX 6500 7817
+36.7%

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:

900p136
−32.4%
180−190
+32.4%
Full HD56
−33.9%
75−80
+33.9%
1440p25
−20%
30−35
+20%
4K22
−36.4%
30−35
+36.4%

Cost per frame, $

1080p45.73no data
1440p102.44no data
4K116.40no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 24−27
−20%
30−33
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 27−30
−37.9%
40−45
+37.9%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 46
−39.1%
60−65
+39.1%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
−20%
30−33
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 27−30
−37.9%
40−45
+37.9%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
−39.3%
85−90
+39.3%
Forza Horizon 5 35−40
−38.5%
50−55
+38.5%
Metro Exodus 41
−34.1%
55−60
+34.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−27.8%
45−50
+27.8%
Valorant 60−65
−36.7%
80−85
+36.7%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 46
−39.1%
60−65
+39.1%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
−20%
30−33
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 27−30
−37.9%
40−45
+37.9%
Dota 2 33
−115%
70−75
+115%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−21.8%
65−70
+21.8%
Fortnite 59
−81.4%
100−110
+81.4%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
−39.3%
85−90
+39.3%
Forza Horizon 5 35−40
−38.5%
50−55
+38.5%
Grand Theft Auto V 49
−44.9%
70−75
+44.9%
Metro Exodus 29
−86.2%
50−55
+86.2%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 149
+10.4%
130−140
−10.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−27.8%
45−50
+27.8%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 44
−45.5%
60−65
+45.5%
Valorant 60−65
−36.7%
80−85
+36.7%
World of Tanks 190−200
−20.7%
230−240
+20.7%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 40
−60%
60−65
+60%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
−20%
30−33
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 27−30
−37.9%
40−45
+37.9%
Dota 2 50−55
−31.5%
70−75
+31.5%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−21.8%
65−70
+21.8%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
−39.3%
85−90
+39.3%
Forza Horizon 5 35−40
−28.2%
50−55
+28.2%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 38
−255%
130−140
+255%
Valorant 60−65
−33.3%
80−85
+33.3%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 21−24
−36.4%
30−33
+36.4%
Grand Theft Auto V 21−24
−50%
30−35
+50%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 130−140
−36.4%
180−190
+36.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
−38.5%
18−20
+38.5%
World of Tanks 100−110
−34.6%
140−150
+34.6%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 27
−51.9%
40−45
+51.9%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−29%
40−45
+29%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−12
−45.5%
16−18
+45.5%
Far Cry 5 35−40
−52.8%
55−60
+52.8%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−40.5%
50−55
+40.5%
Forza Horizon 5 21−24
−30.4%
30−33
+30.4%
Metro Exodus 25
−20%
30−33
+20%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 20−22
−35%
27−30
+35%
Valorant 35−40
−35.1%
50−55
+35.1%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 10−11
−20%
12−14
+20%
Dota 2 33
−36.4%
45−50
+36.4%
Grand Theft Auto V 33
−3%
30−35
+3%
Metro Exodus 7
−114%
14−16
+114%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 38
−31.6%
50−55
+31.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
−30%
12−14
+30%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 33
−3%
30−35
+3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 13
−53.8%
20−22
+53.8%
Counter-Strike 2 10−11
−20%
12−14
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
−50%
6−7
+50%
Dota 2 24−27
−30.8%
30−35
+30.8%
Far Cry 5 18−20
−36.8%
24−27
+36.8%
Fortnite 15
−20%
18−20
+20%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−42.9%
30−33
+42.9%
Forza Horizon 5 10−12
−27.3%
14−16
+27.3%
Valorant 16−18
−31.3%
21−24
+31.3%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Far Cry 5 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Fortnite 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 130−140
+0%
130−140
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Fortnite 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Metro Exodus 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Valorant 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%

1440p
Epic Preset

Fortnite 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%

4K
High Preset

Valorant 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Fortnite 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%

This is how GTX 970M and RX 6500 compete in popular games:

  • RX 6500 is 32% faster in 900p
  • RX 6500 is 34% faster in 1080p
  • RX 6500 is 20% faster in 1440p
  • RX 6500 is 36% faster in 4K

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

  • in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 970M is 10% faster.
  • in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 6500 is 255% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 970M is ahead in 1 test (2%)
  • RX 6500 is ahead in 41 test (77%)
  • there's a draw in 11 tests (21%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 14.88 20.34

RX 6500 has a 36.7% higher aggregate performance score.

The Radeon RX 6500 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 970M in performance tests.


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 970M
GeForce GTX 970M
AMD Radeon RX 6500
Radeon RX 6500

Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.2 314 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 970M on a scale of 1 to 5:

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3.1 42 votes

Rate Radeon RX 6500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.