NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 460 SE vs Radeon HD 7970
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7970
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GTX 460 SE and HD 7970 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗HD 7970 outperforms GTX 460 SE by ~16% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+16%
Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?H2HBench Data Quality
Low confidenceSpecifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 15, 2026
Limited verified data
H2HBench Verdict
Higher catalog score: GeForce GTX 460 SE (~2%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider GTX 460 SE
- Lower stated power consumption
- Lower recorded market price
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.1 · Not supported
Reasons to consider HD 7970
- Higher catalog performance index
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Catalog metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
NVIDIA
AMDPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
3136
6948
100100
5656
Graphics card ranking
Positions 252–257of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
GeForce GTX 460 SE
102 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Overview
Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
31
36Better
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
29
32Better
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
26
30Better
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
69Better
48
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
46Better
45
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
HDMI
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
DirectX
OpenGL
Power consumptionBetter
TFLOPSBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
LengthBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
Vulkan
Upscaling
DisplayPort
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares GTX 460 SE and HD 7970 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.
GTX 460 SEHD 7970
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
156 FPS
179 FPS
1080p Ultra
108 FPS
126 FPS
1440p Ultra
62 FPS
74 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
25 FPS
Counter-Strike 2GTX 460 SE156 FPSHD 7970179 FPSGTX 460 SE108 FPSHD 7970126 FPSGTX 460 SE62 FPSHD 797074 FPSGTX 460 SE23 FPSHD 797025 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077GTX 460 SE101 FPSHD 7970116 FPSGTX 460 SE85 FPSHD 7970100 FPSGTX 460 SE45 FPSHD 797054 FPSGTX 460 SE15 FPSHD 797017 FPS
Forza Horizon 5GTX 460 SE127 FPSHD 7970146 FPSGTX 460 SE81 FPSHD 797095 FPSGTX 460 SE55 FPSHD 797067 FPSGTX 460 SE33 FPSHD 797037 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyGTX 460 SE82 FPSHD 797095 FPSGTX 460 SE67 FPSHD 797079 FPSGTX 460 SE40 FPSHD 797048 FPSGTX 460 SE16 FPSHD 797017 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100313615%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100333814%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100384210%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100694836%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
H2H AI workload indices
Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10042457%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10041447%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100384210%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10045474%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100384210%
These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.
Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling
DirectX11.011.1
VulkanVulkan 1.2 (driver support)1.2
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.1OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureFermiGCN 1.0
Process node40 nm28 nmBetter
Release date20102011
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count1950 million4313 millionBetter
Die size332 mm²Better352 mm²
Shader units / cores2882048Better
Base clock650 MHz925 MHzBetter
Boost clock650 MHz925 MHzBetter
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 3x16
Length210 mmBetter275 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU450 WBetter600 W
Power connector6+6 pin6+8 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMImini-HDMI 1.3aHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortBoard dependentmini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors34
Max resolution2560 × 16004096 × 2160
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM1 GB GDDR53 GB GDDR5Better
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit384 bitBetter
TFLOPS0.7493.789Better
Other comparisons
Reviews and questions
Explain this comparison
Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.
What AI will explain
Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.
Evidence details
Data coverage
- Verified gaming results
- 0
- Verified synthetic results
- 0
- Games with verified results
- 0
- Verified community results
- 0
- Estimated / unverified results
- 32
- Specifications
- 0 / 70
Calculated scores · How is this calculated?
Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.
clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)Price evidence · View sources (5)
Verified community results
No verified community benchmarks yet.
Reviewed by
No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.
Comparison history
Show recorded changes (8)
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
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Why you can trust this comparison
Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.
Owner experiences
Real builds, results, and community feedback.
Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges
Frequently asked comparison questions
Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.
01Which is better for gaming: GTX 460 SE or HD 7970?+
GTX 460 SE has the higher overall gaming score, while GTX 460 SE offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
GTX 460 SE is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.
03Which is better for Blender?+
GTX 460 SE is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
GTX 460 SE offers more overall performance, while GTX 460 SE offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
GTX 460 SE is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.
06Which is better for 1080p?+
GTX 460 SE is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
GTX 460 SE leads in combined 1440p performance. GTX 460 SE can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
GTX 460 SE is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
GTX 460 SE is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.
10Which is better without replacing the power supply?+
GTX 460 SE is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.
11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?+
Consider upgrading to GTX 460 SE if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.