GeForce RTX 4090 vs Radeon HD 6970M

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon HD 6970M with GeForce RTX 4090, including specs and performance data.

HD 6970M
2011
1 GB GDDR5, 75 Watt
5.89

RTX 4090 outperforms HD 6970M by a whopping 1598% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking5901
Place by popularitynot in top-1006
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data18.83
Power efficiency5.3815.23
ArchitectureTeraScale 2 (2009−2015)Ada Lovelace (2022−2024)
GPU code nameBlackcombAD102
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date4 January 2011 (13 years ago)20 September 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$1,599

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 cores96016384
Core clock speed680 MHz2235 MHz
Boost clock speedno data2520 MHz
Number of transistors1,700 million76,300 million
Manufacturing process technology40 nm5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)75 Watt450 Watt
Texture fill rate32.641,290
Floating-point processing power1.306 TFLOPS82.58 TFLOPS
ROPs32176
TMUs48512
Tensor Coresno data512
Ray Tracing Coresno data128

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
InterfaceMXM-B (3.0)PCIe 4.0 x16
Lengthno data304 mm
Widthno data3-slot
Supplementary power connectorsNone1x 16-pin

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 typeGDDR5GDDR6X
Maximum RAM amount1 GB24 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit384 Bit
Memory clock speed900 MHz1313 MHz
Memory bandwidth115.2 GB/s1.01 TB/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 ConnectorsNo outputs1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI-+

API compatibility

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

DirectX11.2 (11_0)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model5.06.8
OpenGL4.44.6
OpenCL1.23.0
VulkanN/A1.3
CUDA-8.9

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.

HD 6970M 5.89
RTX 4090 100.00
+1598%

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.

HD 6970M 2270
RTX 4090 38534
+1598%

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.

HD 6970M 2819
RTX 4090 104598
+3611%

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.

HD 6970M 11898
RTX 4090 137609
+1057%

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:

900p52
−1535%
850−900
+1535%
Full HD51
−408%
259
+408%
1440p10−12
−1900%
200
+1900%
4K8−9
−1688%
143
+1688%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data6.17
1440pno data8.00
4Kno data11.18

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
−2150%
225
+2150%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
−1467%
235
+1467%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 7−8
−4000%
287
+4000%
Battlefield 5 16−18
−1425%
240−250
+1425%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 12−14
−900%
120−130
+900%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
−2120%
222
+2120%
Far Cry 5 12−14
−808%
110−120
+808%
Far Cry New Dawn 16−18
−1156%
200−210
+1156%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−666%
290−300
+666%
Hitman 3 12−14
−975%
120−130
+975%
Horizon Zero Dawn 35−40
−878%
350−400
+878%
Metro Exodus 14−16
−933%
150−160
+933%
Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
−675%
120−130
+675%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 20−22
−2210%
450−500
+2210%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−214%
150−160
+214%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
−1253%
200−210
+1253%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 7−8
−3443%
248
+3443%
Battlefield 5 16−18
−1425%
240−250
+1425%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 12−14
−900%
120−130
+900%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
−2040%
214
+2040%
Far Cry 5 12−14
−808%
110−120
+808%
Far Cry New Dawn 16−18
−1156%
200−210
+1156%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−666%
290−300
+666%
Hitman 3 12−14
−975%
120−130
+975%
Horizon Zero Dawn 35−40
−878%
350−400
+878%
Metro Exodus 14−16
−933%
150−160
+933%
Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
−675%
120−130
+675%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 20−22
−2640%
548
+2640%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 18−20
−1168%
240−250
+1168%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−214%
150−160
+214%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
−1093%
179
+1093%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 7−8
−3043%
220
+3043%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 12−14
−900%
120−130
+900%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
−2000%
210
+2000%
Far Cry 5 12−14
−808%
110−120
+808%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−666%
290−300
+666%
Hitman 3 12−14
−975%
120−130
+975%
Horizon Zero Dawn 35−40
−994%
394
+994%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 20−22
−2605%
541
+2605%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 18−20
−1505%
305
+1505%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−212%
153
+212%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
−675%
120−130
+675%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 10−12
−1409%
160−170
+1409%
Far Cry New Dawn 9−10
−1144%
110−120
+1144%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 5−6
−3000%
155
+3000%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 1−2
−18200%
183
+18200%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 5−6
−1540%
80−85
+1540%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
−5033%
154
+5033%
Far Cry 5 7−8
−1100%
80−85
+1100%
Forza Horizon 4 16−18
−1494%
270−280
+1494%
Hitman 3 10−11
−1280%
130−140
+1280%
Horizon Zero Dawn 12−14
−2885%
388
+2885%
Metro Exodus 5−6
−2940%
152
+2940%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 1−2
−50300%
504
+50300%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5−6
−5260%
268
+5260%
Watch Dogs: Legion 35−40
−549%
240−250
+549%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
−1190%
120−130
+1190%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 5−6
−1660%
85−90
+1660%
Far Cry New Dawn 4−5
−1625%
65−70
+1625%
Hitman 3 2−3
−4050%
80−85
+4050%
Horizon Zero Dawn 14−16
−650%
105
+650%
Metro Exodus 3−4
−4633%
140−150
+4633%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2−3
−13950%
281
+13950%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 4−5
−2900%
120
+2900%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
−5900%
120
+5900%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2−3
−2500%
50−55
+2500%
Cyberpunk 2077 0−1 80
Far Cry 5 3−4
−1567%
50−55
+1567%
Forza Horizon 4 6−7
−4167%
250−260
+4167%
Watch Dogs: Legion 2−3
−5750%
117
+5750%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 6−7
−1750%
110−120
+1750%

4K
Ultra Preset

Shadow of the Tomb Raider 282
+0%
282
+0%

This is how HD 6970M and RTX 4090 compete in popular games:

  • RTX 4090 is 1535% faster in 900p
  • RTX 4090 is 408% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 4090 is 1900% faster in 1440p
  • RTX 4090 is 1688% faster in 4K

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

  • in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RTX 4090 is 50300% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • RTX 4090 is ahead in 70 tests (99%)
  • there's a draw in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.89 100.00
Recency 4 January 2011 20 September 2022
Maximum RAM amount 1 GB 24 GB
Chip lithography 40 nm 5 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 75 Watt 450 Watt

HD 6970M has 500% lower power consumption.

RTX 4090, on the other hand, has a 1597.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 11 years, a 2300% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 700% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 4090 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 6970M in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon HD 6970M is a notebook card while GeForce RTX 4090 is a desktop 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

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


AMD Radeon HD 6970M
Radeon HD 6970M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
GeForce RTX 4090

Comparisons with similar GPUs

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.


2.7 92 votes

Rate Radeon HD 6970M on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 14824 votes

Rate GeForce RTX 4090 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

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