AMD
Radeon RX 9070 vs Radeon HD 7970
Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks
AMD
HD 7970
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon RX 9070 and HD 7970 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.
↗Radeon RX 9070 outperforms HD 7970 by ~81% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+81%
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 RX 9070 (~56%)
The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.
Reasons to consider Radeon RX 9070
- Higher catalog performance index
- More graphics memory
- Lower stated power consumption
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.2 · FSR
Reasons to consider HD 7970
- Lower recorded market price
- Higher catalog value index
- Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Catalog metrics radar
Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
6536
9848
74100
8856
Graphics card ranking
Positions 18–23of 321
Which should you choose?
Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.
Radeon RX 9070
92 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
65Better
36
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
53Better
32
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
51Better
30
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
98Better
48
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
70Better
45
Specifications
The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
Upscaling
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
ArchitectureBetter
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Gaming FPS
Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.
The Gaming FPS section compares Radeon RX 9070 and HD 7970 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.
Radeon RX 9070HD 7970
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2
1080p High
268 FPS
179 FPS
1080p Ultra
188 FPS
126 FPS
1440p Ultra
146 FPS
74 FPS
4K Ultra
73 FPS
25 FPS
Counter-Strike 2Radeon RX 9070268 FPSHD 7970179 FPSRadeon RX 9070188 FPSHD 7970126 FPSRadeon RX 9070146 FPSHD 797074 FPSRadeon RX 907073 FPSHD 797025 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077Radeon RX 9070173 FPSHD 7970116 FPSRadeon RX 9070149 FPSHD 7970100 FPSRadeon RX 9070106 FPSHD 797054 FPSRadeon RX 907049 FPSHD 797017 FPS
Forza Horizon 5Radeon RX 9070218 FPSHD 7970146 FPSRadeon RX 9070141 FPSHD 797095 FPSRadeon RX 9070132 FPSHD 797067 FPSRadeon RX 9070107 FPSHD 797037 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRadeon RX 9070141 FPSHD 797095 FPSRadeon RX 9070118 FPSHD 797079 FPSRadeon RX 907095 FPSHD 797048 FPSRadeon RX 907050 FPSHD 797017 FPS
H2H workload indices
Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100653657%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100713861%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100714251%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100885644%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100984868%
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 / 100754550%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100744451%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100714251%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100784750%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100724253%
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
DirectX12.211.1
Vulkan1.41.2
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingFSRNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 2.2OpenCL 1.2
Architecture and release
ArchitectureRDNA 4.0BetterGCN 1.0
Process node5 nmBetter28 nm
Release date20252011
Device classDesktopDesktop
GPU cores, die and clocks
Transistor count53900 millionBetter4313 million
Die size357 mm²352 mm²Better
Shader units / cores3072Better2048
Base clock1330 MHzBetter925 MHz
Boost clock2520 MHzBetter925 MHz
Board size, power and compatibility
InterfacePCIe 5x16PCIe 3x16
LengthVaries by board275 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU550 WBetter600 W
Power connector8+8 pin6+8 pin
Display outputs and limits
HDMIHDMI 2.1bHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortDisplayPort 2.1amini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors44
Max resolution7680 × 43204096 × 2160
Memory and compute throughput
VRAM16 GB GDDR6Better3 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit384 bitBetter
TFLOPS36.13Better3.789
Other comparisons
Arc B770IntelVS
Radeon RX 9070AMDOpen comparisonRadeon RX 9070AMDVSRX 9070 GRE 12GBAMDOpen comparisonRX 7900 XTXAMDVSRadeon RX 9070AMDOpen comparisonRadeon RX 9070AMDVS
RTX 4080 SUPERNVIDIAOpen comparisonRadeon RX 9070AMDVSRX 7900 GREAMDOpen comparisonRadeon RX 9070AMDVSRX 9060 XT 16GBAMDOpen comparisonReviews 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 (3)
- · 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: Radeon RX 9070 or HD 7970?+
Radeon RX 9070 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?+
Radeon RX 9070 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?+
Radeon RX 9070 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.
04Which is better for video editing?+
Radeon RX 9070 offers more overall performance, while Radeon RX 9070 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.
05Which is better for neural networks and AI?+
Radeon RX 9070 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?+
Radeon RX 9070 leads in combined 1440p performance. Radeon RX 9070 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.
08Which is better for 4K?+
Radeon RX 9070 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.
09Which is better for a quiet PC?+
Radeon RX 9070 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?+
Radeon RX 9070 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 Radeon RX 9070 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.