Radeon HD 7970 vs GeForce GTX 470

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared HD 7970 and GTX 470 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

HD 7970 outperforms GTX 470 by ~13% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+13%

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

Higher catalog score: Radeon HD 7970 (~7%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider HD 7970

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported

Reasons to consider GTX 470

  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Lower recorded market price
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0 · 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
3632
Efficiency
4850
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 252–257of 321
HD 7970not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
GTX 470not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon HD 7970

53 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

GeForce GTX 470

Price $29.00

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

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryHD 7970GTX 470
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
36Better
32
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
32Better
29
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
30Better
27
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
48
50Better
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
45Better
42

Specifications

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

SpecificationHD 7970GTX 470
HDMI
DisplayPort
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
TFLOPSBetter
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
Power consumptionBetter
Clock speedBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
LengthBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares HD 7970 and GTX 470 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.

HD 7970GTX 470
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
179 FPS
159 FPS
1080p Ultra
126 FPS
109 FPS
1440p Ultra
74 FPS
62 FPS
4K Ultra
25 FPS
23 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2HD 7970179 FPSGTX 470159 FPSHD 7970126 FPSGTX 470109 FPSHD 797074 FPSGTX 47062 FPSHD 797025 FPSGTX 47023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077HD 7970116 FPSGTX 470103 FPSHD 7970100 FPSGTX 47086 FPSHD 797054 FPSGTX 47045 FPSHD 797017 FPSGTX 47015 FPS
Forza Horizon 5HD 7970146 FPSGTX 470130 FPSHD 797095 FPSGTX 47082 FPSHD 797067 FPSGTX 47056 FPSHD 797037 FPSGTX 47034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyHD 797095 FPSGTX 47084 FPSHD 797079 FPSGTX 47068 FPSHD 797048 FPSGTX 47040 FPSHD 797017 FPSGTX 47016 FPS
Average FPSHD 7970134 FPSGTX 470119 FPSHD 7970100 FPSGTX 47086 FPSHD 797061 FPSGTX 47051 FPSHD 797024 FPSGTX 47022 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexHD 7970GTX 470Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100363212%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100383411%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10042397%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 10048504%

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.

IndexHD 7970GTX 470Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10045435%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10044417%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10042397%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10047454%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10042397%

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

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
DirectX11.111.0
Vulkan1.2Vulkan 1.2 (driver support)
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0

Architecture and release

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
ArchitectureGCN 1.0Fermi
Process node28 nmBetter40 nm
Release date20112010
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
Transistor count4313 millionBetter3100 million
Die size352 mm²Better529 mm²
Shader units / cores2048Better448
Base clock925 MHzBetter608 MHz
Boost clock925 MHzBetter608 MHz

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
InterfacePCIe 3x16PCIe 2x16
Length275 mm241 mmBetter
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU600 W550 WBetter
Power connector6+8 pin6+6 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
HDMIHDMI 1.4amini-HDMI 1.3a
DisplayPortmini-DisplayPort 1.2Board dependent
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors43
Max resolution4096 × 21602560 × 1600

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsHD 7970GTX 470
VRAM3 GB GDDR5Better1,25 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus384 bitBetter320 bit
TFLOPS3.789Better1.089

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device AHD 797045
Device BGTX 47042
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: HD 7970 or GTX 470?

HD 7970 has the higher overall gaming score, while HD 7970 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GTX 470 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 470 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

HD 7970 offers more overall performance, while HD 7970 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GTX 470 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

HD 7970 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

HD 7970 leads in combined 1440p performance. HD 7970 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

HD 7970 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

GTX 470 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 470 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 HD 7970 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.