Radeon HD 7970 vs R9 390X

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Aggregate performance score

R9 390X
2015
0 MB GDDR5, 275 Watt
24.42
+79.8%

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by an impressive 80% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in performance ranking206355
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation12.624.00
ArchitectureGCN (2011−2017)GCN (2011−2017)
GPU code nameGrenada XTTahiti XT
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Designreferencereference
Release date16 June 2015 (9 years ago)22 December 2011 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$429 $549
Current price$19.99 (0x MSRP)$89 (0.2x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

R9 390X has 216% better value for money than HD 7970.

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 cores28162048
Boost clock speed1050 MHz925 MHz
Number of transistors6,200 million4,313 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)275 Watt300 Watt
Texture fill rate184.8118.4
Floating-point performance5,914 gflops3,789 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 3.0PCIe 2.1 x16
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Length275 mm274 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
Bridgeless CrossFire1no data

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
High bandwidth memory (HBM)-no data
Maximum RAM amount0 MB6 GB
Memory bus width512 Bit384 Bit
Memory clock speed1050 MHz1375 MHz
Memory bandwidth384 GB/s264 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 Connectors2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort
Eyefinity++
Number of Eyefinity displays6no data
HDMI++
DisplayPort support+-

Supported technologies

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

AppAcceleration--
CrossFire11
Enduro--
FreeSync11
HD3D--
PowerTune+-
TrueAudio+-
ZeroCore--
VCE+no data
DDMA audio+no data

API compatibility

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

DirectXDirectX® 12DirectX® 11
Shader Model6.35.1
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL2.01.2
Vulkan+no data
Mantle+-

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.

R9 390X 24.42
+79.8%
HD 7970 13.58

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 80% 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%

R9 390X 9439
+79.9%
HD 7970 5248

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 80% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

R9 390X 17944
+131%
HD 7970 7770

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 131% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

R9 390X 35807
+44.6%
HD 7970 24757

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 45% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

R9 390X 12389
+80.5%
HD 7970 6862

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 81% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

R9 390X 74351
+69.8%
HD 7970 43795

R9 390X outperforms HD 7970 by 70% in 3DMark Cloud Gate GPU.

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:

900p180−190
+71.4%
105
−71.4%
Full HD91
−7.7%
98
+7.7%
4K46
+91.7%
24−27
−91.7%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+90.5%
21−24
−90.5%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 45−50
+71.4%
27−30
−71.4%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
+90.9%
21−24
−90.9%
Battlefield 5 80−85
+81.8%
40−45
−81.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+86.2%
27−30
−86.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+90.5%
21−24
−90.5%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+55.3%
35−40
−55.3%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
+73.7%
35−40
−73.7%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+69.6%
45−50
−69.6%
Hitman 3 55−60
+90.3%
30−35
−90.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 80−85
+88.6%
40−45
−88.6%
Metro Exodus 70−75
+73.2%
40−45
−73.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+71.1%
35−40
−71.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 70−75
+94.7%
35−40
−94.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
+84%
24−27
−84%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 45−50
+71.4%
27−30
−71.4%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
+90.9%
21−24
−90.9%
Battlefield 5 80−85
+81.8%
40−45
−81.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+86.2%
27−30
−86.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+90.5%
21−24
−90.5%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+55.3%
35−40
−55.3%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
+73.7%
35−40
−73.7%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+69.6%
45−50
−69.6%
Hitman 3 55−60
+90.3%
30−35
−90.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 80−85
+88.6%
40−45
−88.6%
Metro Exodus 70−75
+73.2%
40−45
−73.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+71.1%
35−40
−71.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 70−75
+94.7%
35−40
−94.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 76
+171%
27−30
−171%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
+84%
24−27
−84%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 45−50
+71.4%
27−30
−71.4%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
+90.9%
21−24
−90.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+86.2%
27−30
−86.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+90.5%
21−24
−90.5%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+55.3%
35−40
−55.3%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
+69.6%
45−50
−69.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn 80−85
+88.6%
40−45
−88.6%
Metro Exodus 70−75
+73.2%
40−45
−73.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 41
+46.4%
27−30
−46.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion 45−50
+84%
24−27
−84%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+71.1%
35−40
−71.1%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 45−50
+76.9%
24−27
−76.9%
Far Cry New Dawn 50−55
+117%
24−27
−117%
Hitman 3 35−40
+84.2%
18−20
−84.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 18−20
+80%
10−11
−80%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+85.7%
14−16
−85.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+140%
10−11
−140%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 30−35
+106%
16−18
−106%
Cyberpunk 2077 14−16
+114%
7−8
−114%
Far Cry 5 40−45
+90.9%
21−24
−90.9%
Forza Horizon 4 45−50
+84.6%
24−27
−84.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn 50−55
+78.6%
27−30
−78.6%
Metro Exodus 45−50
+100%
21−24
−100%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
+130%
21−24
−130%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 27−30
+107%
14−16
−107%
Watch Dogs: Legion 18−20
+125%
8−9
−125%

4K
High Preset

Far Cry 5 45−50
+53.3%
30−33
−53.3%
Far Cry New Dawn 27−30
+115%
12−14
−115%
Hitman 3 18−20
+111%
9−10
−111%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+100%
14−16
−100%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 16−18
+113%
8−9
−113%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 29
+142%
12−14
−142%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
+87.5%
8−9
−87.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 12−14
+117%
6−7
−117%
Battlefield 5 27−30
+107%
14−16
−107%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 20−22
+122%
9−10
−122%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+200%
2−3
−200%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
+83.3%
18−20
−83.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+100%
14−16
−100%
Metro Exodus 24−27
+84.6%
12−14
−84.6%
Watch Dogs: Legion 10−12
+120%
5−6
−120%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+75%
12−14
−75%

This is how R9 390X and HD 7970 compete in popular games:

  • R9 390X is 71% faster in 900p
  • HD 7970 is 8% faster in 1080p
  • R9 390X is 92% faster in 4K

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

  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the R9 390X is 200% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, R9 390X surpassed HD 7970 in all 72 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 24.42 13.58
Recency 16 June 2015 22 December 2011
Cost $429 $549
Power consumption (TDP) 275 Watt 300 Watt

The Radeon R9 390X is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7970 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Radeon R9 390X
Radeon R9 390X
AMD Radeon HD 7970
Radeon HD 7970

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.


4.3 242 votes

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4 292 votes

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