AMD
Radeon HD 7970 vs Radeon RX 5700 XT
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
RX 5700 XT
Aggregate performance score
We've compared HD 7970 and RX 5700 XT across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗RX 5700 XT outperforms HD 7970 by ~25% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+25%
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
Higher catalog score: Radeon HD 7970 (~5%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider HD 7970
- Higher catalog value index
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Reasons to consider RX 5700 XT
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- Lower stated power consumption
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · FSR
Catalog metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
AMDPerformance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
3645
4867
10040
5668
Graphics card ranking
Positions 113–118of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
Radeon RX 5700 XT
72 likesHead to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.
Radeon HD 7970
Price $40.00Based 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
36
45Better
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
32
39Better
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
30
36Better
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
48
67Better
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
45Better
43
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
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 cacheBetter
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 RX 5700 XT 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 7970RX 5700 XT
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
179 FPS
200 FPS
1080p Ultra
126 FPS
140 FPS
1440p Ultra
74 FPS
109 FPS
4K Ultra
25 FPS
40 FPS
Counter-Strike 2HD 7970179 FPSRX 5700 XT200 FPSHD 7970126 FPSRX 5700 XT140 FPSHD 797074 FPSRX 5700 XT109 FPSHD 797025 FPSRX 5700 XT40 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077HD 7970116 FPSRX 5700 XT129 FPSHD 7970100 FPSRX 5700 XT111 FPSHD 797054 FPSRX 5700 XT79 FPSHD 797017 FPSRX 5700 XT27 FPS
Forza Horizon 5HD 7970146 FPSRX 5700 XT163 FPSHD 797095 FPSRX 5700 XT105 FPSHD 797067 FPSRX 5700 XT98 FPSHD 797037 FPSRX 5700 XT59 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyHD 797095 FPSRX 5700 XT105 FPSHD 797079 FPSRX 5700 XT88 FPSHD 797048 FPSRX 5700 XT71 FPSHD 797017 FPSRX 5700 XT28 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100364522%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100385129%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100425221%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100566819%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100486733%
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 / 100455520%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100445420%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100425221%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100475821%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100425221%
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
DirectX11.112.1
Vulkan1.21.4
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedFSR
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 2.1
Architecture and release
ArchitectureGCN 1.0RDNA 1.0
Process node28 nm7 nmBetter
Release date20112019
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count4313 million10300 millionBetter
Die size352 mm²251 mm²Better
Shader units / cores20482560Better
Base clock925 MHz1605 MHzBetter
Boost clock925 MHz1755 MHzBetter
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 3x16PCIe 4x16
Length275 mm272 mmBetter
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU600 W550 WBetter
Power connector6+8 pin6+8 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 1.4aHDMI 2.0b
DisplayPortmini-DisplayPort 1.2DisplayPort 1.4a
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors44
Max resolution4096 × 21607680 × 4320
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM3 GB GDDR58 GB GDDR6Better
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR6
Memory bus384 bitBetter256 bit
TFLOPS3.7899.754Better
Other comparisons
RTX 2070NVIDIAReviews 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 (5)
- · Record updated: products
- · Record updated: products
- · Record changed: product_prices
- · 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: HD 7970 or RX 5700 XT?+
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?+
HD 7970 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?+
HD 7970 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?+
HD 7970 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?+
RX 5700 XT 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?+
RX 5700 XT 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.