NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 590 vs Radeon HD 6950
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 6950
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GTX 590 and HD 6950 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗GTX 590 outperforms HD 6950 by ~15% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+15%
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 6, 2026
Limited verified data
H2HBench Verdict
Equal catalog scores
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider GTX 590
- Higher catalog performance index
- Lower recorded market price
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0 · Not supported
Reasons to consider HD 6950
- Lower stated power consumption
- 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
3833
3555
100100
5656
Graphics card ranking
Positions 256–261of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
Radeon HD 6950
117 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Radeon HD 6950
Price $35.00Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.
Overview
Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
38Better
33
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
34Better
30
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
31Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
35
55Better
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
44
44
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
DisplayPort
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Memory frequencyBetter
Power connector
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Process node
Recommended PSUBetter
LengthBetter
Die sizeBetter
Transistor countBetter
Memory cache
Upscaling
Vulkan
HDMI
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares GTX 590 and HD 6950 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 590HD 6950
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
179 FPS
169 FPS
1080p Ultra
126 FPS
115 FPS
1440p Ultra
82 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
34 FPS
23 FPS
Counter-Strike 2GTX 590179 FPSHD 6950169 FPSGTX 590126 FPSHD 6950115 FPSGTX 59082 FPSHD 695063 FPSGTX 59034 FPSHD 695023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077GTX 590115 FPSHD 6950109 FPSGTX 59099 FPSHD 695091 FPSGTX 59060 FPSHD 695046 FPSGTX 59023 FPSHD 695016 FPS
Forza Horizon 5GTX 590145 FPSHD 6950138 FPSGTX 59094 FPSHD 695087 FPSGTX 59074 FPSHD 695057 FPSGTX 59049 FPSHD 695034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyGTX 59094 FPSHD 695089 FPSGTX 59079 FPSHD 695072 FPSGTX 59053 FPSHD 695041 FPSGTX 59023 FPSHD 695016 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100383314%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10038358%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100433910%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100355544%
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 / 10046437%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10045427%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100433910%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10048456%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10043407%
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
DirectX11.011.0
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
ArchitectureFermi 2.0TeraScale 3Better
Process node40 nm40 nm
Release date20112010
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count3000 millionBetter2640 million
Die size520 mm²389 mm²Better
Shader units / cores5121408Better
Base clock607 MHz800 MHzBetter
Boost clock607 MHz800 MHzBetter
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 2x16
Length279 mmBetter286 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU750 W550 WBetter
Power connector8+8 pin6+6 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIBoard dependentHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortmini-DisplayPortmini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors45
Max resolution4096 × 21604096 × 2160
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM3 GB GDDR5Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus384x2 bitBetter256 bit
TFLOPS1.2442.253Better
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 (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)
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
- · 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.
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 590 or HD 6950?+
GTX 590 has the higher overall gaming score, while GTX 590 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.
02Which is better for streaming?+
GTX 590 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 590 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 590 offers more overall performance, while GTX 590 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
GTX 590 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 590 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.
07Which is better for 1440p?+
GTX 590 leads in combined 1440p performance. GTX 590 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
GTX 590 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
HD 6950 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?+
HD 6950 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 590 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.