GeForce RTX 3060 vs Radeon HD 8970M

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon HD 8970M with GeForce RTX 3060, including specs and performance data.

HD 8970M
2013
4 GB GDDR5, 100 Watt
10.08

RTX 3060 outperforms HD 8970M by a whopping 341% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking45182
Place by popularitynot in top-1004
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data70.21
Power efficiency6.9518.03
ArchitectureGCN 1.0 (2011−2020)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameNeptuneGA106
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date14 May 2013 (11 years ago)12 January 2021 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$329

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 cores12803584
Core clock speed850 MHz1320 MHz
Boost clock speed900 MHz1777 MHz
Number of transistors2,800 million12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)100 Watt170 Watt
Texture fill rate72.00199.0
Floating-point processing power2.304 TFLOPS12.74 TFLOPS
ROPs3248
TMUs80112
Tensor Coresno data112
Ray Tracing Coresno data28

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
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
Lengthno data242 mm
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1x 12-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 typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount4 GB12 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed1200 MHz1875 MHz
Memory bandwidth153.6 GB/s360.0 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 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.

DirectX12 (11_1)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model5.16.7
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.23.0
Vulkan1.2.1311.3
CUDA-8.6

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 8970M 10.08
RTX 3060 44.45
+341%

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 8970M 3876
RTX 3060 17085
+341%

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 8970M 6818
RTX 3060 28375
+316%

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 8970M 18667
RTX 3060 79706
+327%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

HD 8970M 5039
RTX 3060 21379
+324%

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

HD 8970M 31027
RTX 3060 120745
+289%

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:

Full HD51
−135%
120
+135%
1440p16−18
−344%
71
+344%
4K10−12
−380%
48
+380%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data2.74
1440pno data4.63
4Kno data6.85

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−465%
95−100
+465%
Cyberpunk 2077 20−22
−295%
79
+295%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 30−35
−236%
110−120
+236%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−471%
97
+471%
Cyberpunk 2077 20−22
−285%
77
+285%
Forza Horizon 4 40−45
−465%
226
+465%
Forza Horizon 5 24−27
−396%
124
+396%
Metro Exodus 27−30
−344%
120
+344%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27−30
−215%
85−90
+215%
Valorant 35−40
−362%
180−190
+362%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 30−35
−236%
110−120
+236%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−388%
83
+388%
Cyberpunk 2077 20−22
−260%
72
+260%
Dota 2 26
−462%
146
+462%
Far Cry 5 40−45
−156%
105
+156%
Fortnite 55−60
−217%
180−190
+217%
Forza Horizon 4 40−45
−350%
180
+350%
Forza Horizon 5 24−27
−284%
96
+284%
Grand Theft Auto V 39
−262%
141
+262%
Metro Exodus 27−30
−222%
87
+222%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 75−80
−168%
200−210
+168%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27−30
−215%
85−90
+215%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−33
−440%
160−170
+440%
Valorant 35−40
−362%
180−190
+362%
World of Tanks 148
−88.5%
270−280
+88.5%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 30−35
−236%
110−120
+236%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
−324%
72
+324%
Cyberpunk 2077 20−22
−200%
60
+200%
Dota 2 35−40
−308%
147
+308%
Far Cry 5 40−45
−151%
100−110
+151%
Forza Horizon 4 40−45
−285%
154
+285%
Forza Horizon 5 24−27
−216%
79
+216%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 75−80
−168%
200−210
+168%
Valorant 35−40
−362%
180−190
+362%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 12−14
−523%
81
+523%
Grand Theft Auto V 14−16
−479%
81
+479%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 45−50
−265%
170−180
+265%
Red Dead Redemption 2 8−9
−475%
45−50
+475%
World of Tanks 70−75
−290%
280−290
+290%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 18−20
−311%
75−80
+311%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−35.5%
42
+35.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 8−9
−363%
37
+363%
Far Cry 5 21−24
−550%
140−150
+550%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−400%
115
+400%
Forza Horizon 5 14−16
−313%
62
+313%
Metro Exodus 18−20
−368%
89
+368%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
−523%
80−85
+523%
Valorant 24−27
−492%
140−150
+492%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 4−5
−1100%
45−50
+1100%
Dota 2 20−22
−310%
82
+310%
Grand Theft Auto V 20−22
−310%
82
+310%
Metro Exodus 5−6
−540%
32
+540%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−407%
140−150
+407%
Red Dead Redemption 2 6−7
−400%
30−33
+400%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 20−22
−310%
82
+310%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 9−10
−489%
50−55
+489%
Counter-Strike 2 4−5
−1100%
45−50
+1100%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
−467%
17
+467%
Dota 2 20−22
−475%
115
+475%
Far Cry 5 12−14
−475%
65−70
+475%
Fortnite 10−12
−500%
65−70
+500%
Forza Horizon 4 12−14
−415%
67
+415%
Forza Horizon 5 7−8
−414%
36
+414%
Valorant 10−11
−690%
75−80
+690%

This is how HD 8970M and RTX 3060 compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3060 is 135% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3060 is 344% faster in 1440p
  • RTX 3060 is 380% faster in 4K

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

  • in Counter-Strike 2, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RTX 3060 is 1100% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, RTX 3060 surpassed HD 8970M in all 64 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 10.08 44.45
Recency 14 May 2013 12 January 2021
Maximum RAM amount 4 GB 12 GB
Chip lithography 28 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 100 Watt 170 Watt

HD 8970M has 70% lower power consumption.

RTX 3060, on the other hand, has a 341% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, a 200% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 250% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 8970M in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon HD 8970M is a notebook card while GeForce RTX 3060 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 8970M
Radeon HD 8970M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce RTX 3060

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.


4.4 46 votes

Rate Radeon HD 8970M on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 29718 votes

Rate GeForce RTX 3060 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.