Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire vs GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB

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GTX 1050 GTX 1050 Ti GTX 1060 3 GB GTX 1060 3 GB GP104 GTX 1060 5 GB GTX 1060 6 GB GTX 1070 GTX 1070 Ti GTX 1080 GTX 1080 Ti GTX 1650 GTX 1660 Super
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Radeon HD 8210 Radeon HD 8210E Radeon HD 8550G Radeon HD 8570M Radeon HD 8610G Radeon HD 8650G Radeon HD 8670M Radeon HD 8750M Radeon HD 8790M Radeon HD 8950M Radeon HD 8970M Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB with Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire, including specs and performance data.

GTX 1060 3 GB
2016
3 GB GDDR5, 120 Watt
24.85
+32.7%

GTX 1060 3 GB outperforms HD 8970M Crossfire by a substantial 33% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Contents

GTX 1060 3 GB GTX 1060 3 GB
HD 8970M Crossfire HD 8970M Crossfire

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking216292
Place by popularity26not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation22.50no data
Power efficiency14.446.53
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)GCN (2012−2015)
GPU code nameGP106Neptune CF
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date18 August 2016 (8 years ago)1 May 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$199 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores11522560
Core clock speed1506 MHz850 MHz
Boost clock speed1708 MHz900 MHz
Number of transistors4,400 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt200 Watt
Texture fill rate123.0no data
Floating-point processing power3.935 TFLOPSno data
ROPs48no data
TMUs72no data

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datalarge
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16no data
Length250 mmno data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pinno data

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount3 GBno data
Memory bus width192 Bit2x 256 Bit
Memory clock speed2002 MHz4800 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.2 GB/sno data
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPortno data
HDMI+-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)11.1
Shader Model6.4no data
OpenGL4.6no data
OpenCL1.2no data
Vulkan+-
CUDA6.1-

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD90−95
+32.4%
68
−32.4%

Cost per frame, $

1080p2.21no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Battlefield 5 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Far Cry 5 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%
Hitman 3 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+0%
90−95
+0%
Metro Exodus 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+0%
85−90
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Battlefield 5 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Far Cry 5 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%
Hitman 3 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+0%
90−95
+0%
Metro Exodus 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+0%
85−90
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Far Cry 5 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%
Hitman 3 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+0%
90−95
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+0%
85−90
+0%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Far Cry 5 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%
Hitman 3 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Metro Exodus 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Hitman 3 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 95−100
+0%
95−100
+0%
Metro Exodus 20−22
+0%
20−22
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
Far Cry 5 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%

This is how GTX 1060 3 GB and HD 8970M Crossfire compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1060 3 GB is 32% faster in 1080p

All in all, in popular games:

  • there's a draw in 72 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score 24.85 18.72
Recency 18 August 2016 1 May 2012
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 200 Watt

GTX 1060 3 GB has a 32.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 66.7% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is a desktop card while Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is a notebook one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
AMD Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
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Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

GTX 1060 3 GB GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
vs
R9 FURY X Radeon R9 FURY X
HD 8970M Crossfire Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
vs
RTX 2050 Mobile GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile
GTX 1060 3 GB GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
vs
R9 Fury Radeon R9 Fury
R9 M395 Radeon R9 M395
vs
HD Graphics 4000 HD Graphics 4000
RX Vega 6 (Ryzen 4000/5000) Radeon RX Vega 6 (Ryzen 4000/5000)
vs
R9 M375 Radeon R9 M375
FX 5700 Ultra GeForce FX 5700 Ultra
vs
RX 6400 Radeon RX 6400
GTX 780 GeForce GTX 780
vs
Pro 570 Radeon Pro 570
FirePro S9100 FirePro S9100
vs
Iris Plus Graphics 940 Iris Plus Graphics 940
GTX 750 Ti GeForce GTX 750 Ti
vs
HD 6630M Radeon HD 6630M
HD 7450M Radeon HD 7450M
vs
HD 6450 Radeon HD 6450
Quadro P2000 Quadro P2000
vs
Radeon 760M Radeon 760M
GT 545 GeForce GT 545
vs
GT 1030 DDR4 GeForce GT 1030 DDR4
GTX 780 GeForce GTX 780
vs
R5 340 OEM Radeon R5 340 OEM

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.

4.2 8656 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB on a scale of 1 to 5:

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  • 5
4.8 4 votes

Rate Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
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  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.