FirePro W9000 vs Radeon HD 7970

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Aggregate performance score

HD 7970
2011
6 GB GDDR5, 300 Watt
13.59

FirePro W9000 outperforms Radeon HD 7970 by a moderate 17% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in performance ranking355316
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation4.003.36
ArchitectureGCN (2011−2017)GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)
GPU code nameTahiti XTTahiti
Market segmentDesktopWorkstation
Designreferenceno data
Release date22 December 2011 (12 years ago)14 June 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$549 $3,999
Current price$89 (0.2x MSRP)$877 (0.2x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

HD 7970 has 19% better value for money than FirePro W9000.

Detailed specifications

General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores20482048
Core clock speedno data975 MHz
Boost clock speed925 MHzno data
Number of transistors4,313 million4,313 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)300 Watt350 Watt
Texture fill rate118.4124.8
Floating-point performance3,789 gflops3,994 gflops

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 supportPCIe 2.1 x16PCIe 3.0
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Length274 mm279 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Form factorno datafull height / full length
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-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 typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount6 GB6 GB
Memory bus width384 Bit384 Bit
Memory clock speed1375 MHz5500 MHz
Memory bandwidth264 GB/s264 GB/s
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 Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort6x mini-DisplayPort, 1x SDI
Eyefinity+no data
HDMI+no data
DisplayPort support-no data
StereoOutput3Dno data1
Dual-link DVI supportno data1

Supported technologies

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

AppAcceleration-no data
CrossFire1no data
Enduro-no data
FreeSync1no data
HD3D-no data
PowerTune-no data
TrueAudio-no data
ZeroCore-no data

API compatibility

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

DirectXDirectX® 1112 (11_1)
Shader Model5.15.1
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.21.2
Vulkanno data1.2.131
Mantle-no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

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


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance 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 7970 13.59
FirePro W9000 15.89
+16.9%

FirePro W9000 outperforms Radeon HD 7970 by 17% based on our aggregate benchmark results.


Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. 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.

Benchmark coverage: 25%

HD 7970 5248
FirePro W9000 6138
+17%

FirePro W9000 outperforms Radeon HD 7970 by 17% in Passmark.

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:

900p105
−14.3%
120−130
+14.3%
Full HD103
−16.5%
120−130
+16.5%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
−14.3%
24−27
+14.3%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
−9.1%
24−27
+9.1%
Battlefield 5 40−45
−13.6%
50−55
+13.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
−11.1%
30−33
+11.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
−14.3%
24−27
+14.3%
Far Cry 5 30−35
−9.4%
35−40
+9.4%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
−8.1%
40−45
+8.1%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
−15.4%
75−80
+15.4%
Hitman 3 24−27
−15.4%
30−33
+15.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
−9.1%
60−65
+9.1%
Metro Exodus 45−50
−11.1%
50−55
+11.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−5.3%
40−45
+5.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 40−45
−7.1%
45−50
+7.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−11.1%
50−55
+11.1%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
−9.1%
24−27
+9.1%
Battlefield 5 40−45
−13.6%
50−55
+13.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
−11.1%
30−33
+11.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
−14.3%
24−27
+14.3%
Far Cry 5 30−35
−9.4%
35−40
+9.4%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
−8.1%
40−45
+8.1%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
−15.4%
75−80
+15.4%
Hitman 3 24−27
−15.4%
30−33
+15.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
−9.1%
60−65
+9.1%
Metro Exodus 45−50
−11.1%
50−55
+11.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−5.3%
40−45
+5.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 40−45
−7.1%
45−50
+7.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−11.1%
50−55
+11.1%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
−9.1%
24−27
+9.1%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
−11.1%
30−33
+11.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
−14.3%
24−27
+14.3%
Far Cry 5 30−35
−9.4%
35−40
+9.4%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
−15.4%
75−80
+15.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
−9.1%
60−65
+9.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 40−45
−7.1%
45−50
+7.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
−11.1%
50−55
+11.1%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
−5.3%
40−45
+5.3%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 24−27
−15.4%
30−33
+15.4%
Far Cry New Dawn 24−27
−12.5%
27−30
+12.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
−14.3%
16−18
+14.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
−12.5%
18−20
+12.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
−14.3%
8−9
+14.3%
Far Cry 5 21−24
−9.1%
24−27
+9.1%
Forza Horizon 4 24−27
−15.4%
30−33
+15.4%
Hitman 3 16−18
−12.5%
18−20
+12.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
−7.1%
30−33
+7.1%
Metro Exodus 21−24
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 21−24
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 14−16
−14.3%
16−18
+14.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
−12.5%
9−10
+12.5%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
−9.1%
24−27
+9.1%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 12−14
−7.7%
14−16
+7.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Hitman 3 9−10
−11.1%
10−11
+11.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 14−16
−14.3%
16−18
+14.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 8−9
−12.5%
9−10
+12.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
−16.7%
14−16
+16.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 8−9
−12.5%
9−10
+12.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
−16.7%
7−8
+16.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 7−8
−14.3%
8−9
+14.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Far Cry 5 7−8
−14.3%
8−9
+14.3%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
−16.7%
21−24
+16.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn 14−16
−14.3%
16−18
+14.3%
Metro Exodus 12−14
−7.7%
14−16
+7.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
−16.7%
14−16
+16.7%

This is how HD 7970 and FirePro W9000 compete in popular games:

  • FirePro W9000 is 14% faster in 900p
  • FirePro W9000 is 17% faster in 1080p

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 13.59 15.89
Recency 22 December 2011 14 June 2012
Cost $549 $3999
Power consumption (TDP) 300 Watt 350 Watt

The FirePro W9000 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7970 in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon HD 7970 is a desktop card while FirePro W9000 is a workstation 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 7970
Radeon HD 7970
AMD FirePro W9000
FirePro W9000

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.


4 292 votes

Rate Radeon HD 7970 on a scale of 1 to 5:

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3.4 5 votes

Rate FirePro W9000 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.