Radeon HD 6970M vs HD 7870M
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon HD 7870M and Radeon HD 6970M, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
HD 6970M outperforms HD 7870M by an impressive 51% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 701 | 590 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Power efficiency | 5.95 | 5.38 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 (2011−2020) | TeraScale 2 (2009−2015) |
| GPU code name | Heathrow | Blackcomb |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Release date | 24 April 2012 (12 years ago) | 4 January 2011 (13 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 cores | 640 | 960 |
| Core clock speed | 800 MHz | 680 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 1,500 million | 1,700 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 45 Watt | 75 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | 32.00 | 32.64 |
| Floating-point processing power | 1.024 TFLOPS | 1.306 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16 | 32 |
| TMUs | 40 | 48 |
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 size | large | large |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | MXM-B (3.0) |
| Supplementary power connectors | no data | None |
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 type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Memory bus width | 128 Bit | 256 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 1000 MHz | 900 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 64 GB/s | 115.2 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 Connectors | No outputs | No outputs |
API compatibility
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 11.2 (11_0) |
| Shader Model | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | 1.2.131 | N/A |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
| 900p | 30−35
−73.3%
| 52
+73.3%
|
| Full HD | 30−35
−70%
| 51
+70%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−12
−36.4%
|
14−16
+36.4%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
−133%
|
7−8
+133%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 9−10
−77.8%
|
16−18
+77.8%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 8−9
−62.5%
|
12−14
+62.5%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−12
−45.5%
|
16−18
+45.5%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24
−65.2%
|
35−40
+65.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
−33.3%
|
35−40
+33.3%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7−8
−114%
|
14−16
+114%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
−60%
|
16−18
+60%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
−33.3%
|
20−22
+33.3%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
−16.7%
|
45−50
+16.7%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−12
−36.4%
|
14−16
+36.4%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
−133%
|
7−8
+133%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 9−10
−77.8%
|
16−18
+77.8%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 8−9
−62.5%
|
12−14
+62.5%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−12
−45.5%
|
16−18
+45.5%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24
−65.2%
|
35−40
+65.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
−33.3%
|
35−40
+33.3%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7−8
−114%
|
14−16
+114%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
−60%
|
16−18
+60%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
−33.3%
|
20−22
+33.3%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
−16.7%
|
45−50
+16.7%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−12
−36.4%
|
14−16
+36.4%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 3−4
−133%
|
7−8
+133%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 8−9
−62.5%
|
12−14
+62.5%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24
−65.2%
|
35−40
+65.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
−33.3%
|
12−14
+33.3%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
−33.3%
|
35−40
+33.3%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
−33.3%
|
20−22
+33.3%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 40−45
−16.7%
|
45−50
+16.7%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
−60%
|
16−18
+60%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 7−8
−57.1%
|
10−12
+57.1%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 6−7
−50%
|
9−10
+50%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 3−4
−66.7%
|
5−6
+66.7%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 3−4
−66.7%
|
5−6
+66.7%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
−50%
|
3−4
+50%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 4−5
−75%
|
7−8
+75%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 4−5
−325%
|
16−18
+325%
|
| Hitman 3 | 8−9
−25%
|
10−11
+25%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 9−10
−44.4%
|
12−14
+44.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 3−4
−66.7%
|
5−6
+66.7%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 24−27
−54.2%
|
35−40
+54.2%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 8−9
−25%
|
10−11
+25%
|
4K
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 2−3
−150%
|
5−6
+150%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 2−3
−100%
|
4−5
+100%
|
| Hitman 3 | 0−1 | 2−3 |
| Metro Exodus | 0−1 | 3−4 |
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 3−4
−33.3%
|
4−5
+33.3%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 1−2
−100%
|
2−3
+100%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 2−3
−50%
|
3−4
+50%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 2−3
−200%
|
6−7
+200%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 1−2
−100%
|
2−3
+100%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 5−6
−20%
|
6−7
+20%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 1−2
+0%
|
1−2
+0%
|
| Metro Exodus | 5−6
+0%
|
5−6
+0%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1−2
+0%
|
1−2
+0%
|
4K
High Preset
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 14−16
+0%
|
14−16
+0%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2−3
+0%
|
2−3
+0%
|
This is how HD 7870M and HD 6970M compete in popular games:
- HD 6970M is 73% faster in 900p
- HD 6970M is 70% faster in 1080p
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Forza Horizon 4, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 6970M is 325% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- HD 6970M is ahead in 62 tests (91%)
- there's a draw in 6 tests (9%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 3.91 | 5.89 |
| Recency | 24 April 2012 | 4 January 2011 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Chip lithography | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 45 Watt | 75 Watt |
HD 7870M has an age advantage of 1 year, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 42.9% more advanced lithography process, and 66.7% lower power consumption.
HD 6970M, on the other hand, has a 50.6% higher aggregate performance score.
The Radeon HD 6970M is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7870M in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
Comparisons with similar GPUs
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
