GeForce GTX 960M vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire and GeForce GTX 960M, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
HD 7970M Crossfire outperforms GTX 960M by an impressive 83% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 348 | 503 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Power efficiency | 5.50 | 8.01 |
| Architecture | GCN (2012−2015) | Maxwell (2014−2017) |
| GPU code name | Wimbledon XT | GM107 |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Release date | 1 May 2012 (12 years ago) | 13 March 2015 (9 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 | 2560 | 640 |
| Core clock speed | 850 MHz | 1096 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | no data | 1176 MHz |
| Number of transistors | no data | 1,870 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 200 Watt | 75 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | no data | 47.04 |
| Floating-point processing power | no data | 1.505 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | no data | 16 |
| TMUs | no data | 40 |
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 | medium sized |
| Bus support | no data | PCI Express 3.0 |
| Interface | no data | MXM-B (3.0) |
| 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 type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | no data | 4 GB |
| Memory bus width | 2x 256 Bit | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 4800 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | no data | 80 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 data | No outputs |
| VGA аnalog display support | no data | + |
| DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support | no data | + |
| HDMI | - | + |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| GameStream | - | + |
| GeForce ShadowPlay | - | + |
| GPU Boost | no data | 2.0 |
| GameWorks | - | + |
| H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder | - | + |
| Optimus | - | + |
| BatteryBoost | - | + |
| Ansel | - | + |
API and SDK compatibility
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 11.1 | 12 (11_0) |
| Shader Model | no data | 5.1 |
| OpenGL | no data | 4.5 |
| OpenCL | no data | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | - | 1.1.126 |
| 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.
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.
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 | 132
+38.9%
| 95
−38.9%
|
| Full HD | 102
+191%
| 35
−191%
|
| 1440p | 27−30
+80%
| 15
−80%
|
| 4K | 24−27
+71.4%
| 14
−71.4%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Atomic Heart | 35−40
+90%
|
20−22
−90%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 27−30
+68.8%
|
16−18
−68.8%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30−35
+82.4%
|
16−18
−82.4%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Atomic Heart | 35−40
+90%
|
20−22
−90%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 65−70
+71.1%
|
38
−71.1%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 27−30
+68.8%
|
16−18
−68.8%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30−35
+82.4%
|
16−18
−82.4%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 50−55
+82.1%
|
28
−82.1%
|
| Fortnite | 80−85
−17.9%
|
99
+17.9%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 60−65
+80%
|
35
−80%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 40−45
+105%
|
20−22
−105%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 55−60
+57.1%
|
35
−57.1%
|
| Valorant | 120−130
+48.2%
|
80−85
−48.2%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 35−40
+90%
|
20−22
−90%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 65−70
+110%
|
31
−110%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 27−30
+68.8%
|
16−18
−68.8%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 200−210
+56.3%
|
120−130
−56.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30−35
+82.4%
|
16−18
−82.4%
|
| Dota 2 | 90−95
+51.6%
|
60−65
−51.6%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 50−55
+104%
|
25
−104%
|
| Fortnite | 80−85
+110%
|
40
−110%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 60−65
+103%
|
31
−103%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 40−45
+105%
|
20−22
−105%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 55−60
+83.9%
|
31
−83.9%
|
| Metro Exodus | 30−35
+158%
|
12
−158%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 55−60
+89.7%
|
29
−89.7%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 40−45
+70.8%
|
24
−70.8%
|
| Valorant | 120−130
+48.2%
|
80−85
−48.2%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 65−70
+150%
|
26
−150%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 27−30
+68.8%
|
16−18
−68.8%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30−35
+82.4%
|
16−18
−82.4%
|
| Dota 2 | 90−95
+51.6%
|
60−65
−51.6%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 50−55
+122%
|
23
−122%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 60−65
+152%
|
25
−152%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 40−45
+105%
|
20−22
−105%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 55−60
+206%
|
18
−206%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 40−45
+193%
|
14
−193%
|
| Valorant | 120−130
+48.2%
|
80−85
−48.2%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 80−85
+171%
|
31
−171%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Counter-Strike 2 | 16−18
+88.9%
|
9−10
−88.9%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 110−120
+76.2%
|
60−65
−76.2%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 24−27
+118%
|
10−12
−118%
|
| Metro Exodus | 18−20
+138%
|
8−9
−138%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 140−150
+247%
|
40−45
−247%
|
| Valorant | 150−160
+64.5%
|
90−95
−64.5%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
+147%
|
17
−147%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 12−14
+85.7%
|
7−8
−85.7%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
+120%
|
15
−120%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 35−40
+106%
|
18
−106%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 27−30
+92.9%
|
14−16
−92.9%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 24−27
+84.6%
|
12−14
−84.6%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 30−35
+83.3%
|
18
−83.3%
|
4K
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 12−14
+71.4%
|
7−8
−71.4%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 7−8
+250%
|
2−3
−250%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 27−30
+40%
|
20
−40%
|
| Metro Exodus | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 21−24
+110%
|
10
−110%
|
| Valorant | 80−85
+97.6%
|
40−45
−97.6%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 21−24
+633%
|
3
−633%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 7−8
+250%
|
2−3
−250%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 6−7
+100%
|
3−4
−100%
|
| Dota 2 | 50−55
+76.7%
|
30−33
−76.7%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 16−18
+129%
|
7
−129%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 24−27
+100%
|
12−14
−100%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 12−14
+117%
|
6−7
−117%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 14−16
+75%
|
8−9
−75%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 14−16
+200%
|
5
−200%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−12
+0%
|
10−12
+0%
|
This is how HD 7970M Crossfire and GTX 960M compete in popular games:
- HD 7970M Crossfire is 39% faster in 900p
- HD 7970M Crossfire is 191% faster in 1080p
- HD 7970M Crossfire is 80% faster in 1440p
- HD 7970M Crossfire is 71% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Battlefield 5, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 7970M Crossfire is 633% faster.
- in Fortnite, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the GTX 960M is 18% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- HD 7970M Crossfire is ahead in 65 tests (97%)
- GTX 960M is ahead in 1 test (1%)
- there's a draw in 1 test (1%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 13.78 | 7.53 |
| Recency | 1 May 2012 | 13 March 2015 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 200 Watt | 75 Watt |
HD 7970M Crossfire has a 83% higher aggregate performance score.
GTX 960M, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 years, and 166.7% lower power consumption.
The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 960M in performance tests.
Other comparisons
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
