GeForce GTX 580 vs Radeon HD 6970

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GTX 580 and HD 6970 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 580 outperforms HD 6970 by ~1% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+1%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Equal catalog scores

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider GTX 580

  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Lower recorded market price
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0 · Not supported

Reasons to consider HD 6970

  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
3434
Efficiency
4645
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
5656
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 259–264of 321
GTX 580not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
HD 6970not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

Radeon HD 6970

Price $18.00

Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryGTX 580HD 6970
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
34
34
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
31
31
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
28
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
46Better
45
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
43
43

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

SpecificationGTX 580HD 6970
HDMI
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
DirectX
USB Type-C
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Clock speedBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process node
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
LengthBetter
Die sizeBetter
Transistor countBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Memory cache
Vulkan
Upscaling
DisplayPort

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares GTX 580 and HD 6970 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 580HD 6970
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
173 FPS
173 FPS
1080p Ultra
118 FPS
118 FPS
1440p Ultra
65 FPS
64 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
24 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2GTX 580173 FPSHD 6970173 FPSGTX 580118 FPSHD 6970118 FPSGTX 58065 FPSHD 697064 FPSGTX 58023 FPSHD 697024 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077GTX 580111 FPSHD 6970112 FPSGTX 58093 FPSHD 697093 FPSGTX 58047 FPSHD 697047 FPSGTX 58015 FPSHD 697016 FPS
Forza Horizon 5GTX 580141 FPSHD 6970141 FPSGTX 58089 FPSHD 697089 FPSGTX 58058 FPSHD 697058 FPSGTX 58034 FPSHD 697035 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyGTX 58091 FPSHD 697091 FPSGTX 58074 FPSHD 697074 FPSGTX 58042 FPSHD 697042 FPSGTX 58016 FPSHD 697016 FPS
Average FPSGTX 580129 FPSHD 6970129 FPSGTX 58094 FPSHD 697094 FPSGTX 58053 FPSHD 697053 FPSGTX 58022 FPSHD 697023 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexGTX 580HD 6970Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10034340%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10036373%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10040400%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 10046452%

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.

IndexGTX 580HD 6970Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10044440%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10043430%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10040400%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10046460%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10040400%

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

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
DirectX11.011.0
VulkanVulkan 1.2 (driver support)Not supported
OpenGL4.64.4
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0OpenCL 1.2

Architecture and release

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
ArchitectureFermi 2.0TeraScale 3Better
Process node40 nm40 nm
Release date20102010
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
Transistor count3000 millionBetter2640 million
Die size520 mm²389 mm²Better
Shader units / cores5121536Better
Base clock722 MHz880 MHzBetter
Boost clock722 MHz880 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 2x16
Length267 mmBetter286 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU550 WBetter600 W
Power connector6+8 pin6+8 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
HDMImini-HDMI 1.3aHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortBoard dependentmini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors35
Max resolution2560 × 16004096 × 2160

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsGTX 580HD 6970
VRAM1,5 GB GDDR52 GB GDDR5Better
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus384 bitBetter256 bit
TFLOPS1.5812.703Better

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device AGTX 58043
Device BHD 697043
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

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

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 (6)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (4)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record updated: products
  4. · Record updated: products

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.

Report incorrect data

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 580 or HD 6970?

GTX 580 has the higher overall gaming score, while GTX 580 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GTX 580 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 580 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 580 offers more overall performance, while GTX 580 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GTX 580 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 580 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

GTX 580 leads in combined 1440p performance. GTX 580 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

GTX 580 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

GTX 580 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 580 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 580 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.