Radeon RX 5500 vs Radeon HD 6970

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared RX 5500 and HD 6970 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

RX 5500 outperforms HD 6970 by ~9% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+9%

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 RX 5500 (~21%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider RX 5500

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • More graphics memory
  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · FSR

Reasons to consider HD 6970

  • Lower recorded market price
  • 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
3734
Efficiency
8245
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
6056
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 161–166of 321
RX 5500not 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.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon RX 5500

115 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

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.

CategoryRX 5500HD 6970
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
37Better
34
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
33Better
31
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
31Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
82Better
45
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
52Better
43

Specifications

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

SpecificationRX 5500HD 6970
Device class
Upscaling
HDMI
DisplayPort
USB Type-C
Recommended PSU
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Compute API
Launch price
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
Thickness

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares RX 5500 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.

RX 5500HD 6970
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
189 FPS
173 FPS
1080p Ultra
133 FPS
118 FPS
1440p Ultra
77 FPS
64 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
24 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2RX 5500189 FPSHD 6970173 FPSRX 5500133 FPSHD 6970118 FPSRX 550077 FPSHD 697064 FPSRX 550023 FPSHD 697024 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077RX 5500122 FPSHD 6970112 FPSRX 5500105 FPSHD 697093 FPSRX 550056 FPSHD 697047 FPSRX 550015 FPSHD 697016 FPS
Forza Horizon 5RX 5500154 FPSHD 6970141 FPSRX 550099 FPSHD 697089 FPSRX 550070 FPSHD 697058 FPSRX 550034 FPSHD 697035 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRX 550099 FPSHD 697091 FPSRX 550083 FPSHD 697074 FPSRX 550050 FPSHD 697042 FPSRX 550016 FPSHD 697016 FPS
Average FPSRX 5500141 FPSHD 6970129 FPSRX 5500105 FPSHD 697094 FPSRX 550063 FPSHD 697053 FPSRX 550022 FPSHD 697023 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexRX 5500HD 6970Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10037348%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100443717%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100444010%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10060567%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100824558%

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.

IndexRX 5500HD 6970Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10048449%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10046437%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100444010%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10050468%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100444010%

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

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
DirectX12.111.0
Vulkan1.4Not supported
OpenGL4.64.4
UpscalingFSRNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 2.1OpenCL 1.2

Architecture and release

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
ArchitectureRDNA 1.0TeraScale 3Better
Process node7 nmBetter40 nm
Release date20192010
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
Transistor count6400 millionBetter2640 million
Die size158 mm²Better389 mm²
Shader units / cores14081536Better
Base clock1500 MHzBetter880 MHz
Boost clock1845 MHzBetter880 MHz

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
InterfacePCIe 4x8PCIe 2x16
LengthVaries by board286 mm
ThicknessVaries by boardDual-slot
Recommended PSUVaries by board600 W
Power connector8 pin6+8 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
HDMIHDMI 2.0bHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4mini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitorsVaries by board5
Max resolution7680 × 43204096 × 2160

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsRX 5500HD 6970
VRAM4 GB GDDR6Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory bus128 bit256 bitBetter
TFLOPS5.196Better2.703

Other comparisons

6

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device ARX 550052
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: RX 5500 or HD 6970?

RX 5500 has the higher overall gaming score, while RX 5500 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

RX 5500 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?

RX 5500 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

RX 5500 offers more overall performance, while RX 5500 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

RX 5500 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

RX 5500 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

RX 5500 leads in combined 1440p performance. RX 5500 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

RX 5500 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

RX 5500 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 5500 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 RX 5500 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.