Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire vs GeForce GTX 960

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 960 with Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire, including specs and performance data.

GTX 960
2015
4 GB GDDR5, 120 Watt
15.75

HD 7970M Crossfire outperforms GTX 960 by a minimal 2% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking338331
Place by popularity59not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation8.85no data
Power efficiency9.135.57
ArchitectureMaxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)GCN (2012−2015)
GPU code nameGM206Wimbledon XT
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date22 January 2015 (9 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 cores10242560
Core clock speed1127 MHz850 MHz
Boost clock speed1178 MHzno data
Number of transistors2,940 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology28 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt200 Watt
Texture fill rate75.39no data
Floating-point processing power2.413 TFLOPSno data
ROPs32no data
TMUs64no 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
Bus supportPCI Express 3.0no data
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16no data
Length241 mmno data
Height4.376" (11.1 cm)no data
Width2-slotno data
Recommended system power (PSU)400 Wattno data
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pinno data
SLI options+-

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 amount4 GBno data
Memory bus width128 Bit2x 256 Bit
Memory clock speed7.0 GB/s4800 MHz
Memory bandwidth112 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 ConnectorsDual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2no data
Multi monitor support4 displaysno data
HDMI+-
HDCP+-
Maximum VGA resolution2048x1536no data
G-SYNC support+-
Audio input for HDMIInternalno data

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

GameStream+-
GeForce ShadowPlay+-
GPU Boost2.0no data
GameWorks+-

API compatibility

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

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

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 960 15.75
HD 7970M Crossfire 16.01
+1.7%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 960 10768
HD 7970M Crossfire 11119
+3.3%

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 960 30751
HD 7970M Crossfire 31127
+1.2%

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:

900p120−130
−10%
132
+10%
Full HD60
−58.3%
95
+58.3%
4K31
+3.3%
30−35
−3.3%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Battlefield 5 50−55
−3.9%
50−55
+3.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Far Cry 5 35−40
−2.7%
35−40
+2.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 40−45
−2.3%
40−45
+2.3%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
−2%
100−110
+2%
Hitman 3 30−33
−3.3%
30−35
+3.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 75−80
−2.5%
80−85
+2.5%
Metro Exodus 50−55
−1.9%
55−60
+1.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−2.3%
40−45
+2.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
−3.9%
50−55
+3.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 80−85
−1.3%
80−85
+1.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Battlefield 5 50−55
−3.9%
50−55
+3.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Far Cry 5 35−40
−2.7%
35−40
+2.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 40−45
−2.3%
40−45
+2.3%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
−2%
100−110
+2%
Hitman 3 30−33
−3.3%
30−35
+3.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 75−80
−2.5%
80−85
+2.5%
Metro Exodus 50−55
−1.9%
55−60
+1.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−2.3%
40−45
+2.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
−3.9%
50−55
+3.9%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 131
+245%
35−40
−245%
Watch Dogs: Legion 80−85
−1.3%
80−85
+1.3%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Far Cry 5 35−40
−2.7%
35−40
+2.7%
Forza Horizon 4 100−110
−2%
100−110
+2%
Hitman 3 30−33
−3.3%
30−35
+3.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 75−80
−2.5%
80−85
+2.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
−3.9%
50−55
+3.9%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 28
−35.7%
35−40
+35.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 80−85
−1.3%
80−85
+1.3%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−2.3%
40−45
+2.3%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 30−33
−3.3%
30−35
+3.3%
Far Cry New Dawn 24−27
−4.2%
24−27
+4.2%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 8−9
−12.5%
9−10
+12.5%
Far Cry 5 18−20
−5.6%
18−20
+5.6%
Forza Horizon 4 80−85
−3.6%
85−90
+3.6%
Hitman 3 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 30−35
−3.1%
30−35
+3.1%
Metro Exodus 27−30
−3.6%
27−30
+3.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 27−30
−3.4%
30−33
+3.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 95−100
−2.1%
95−100
+2.1%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
−6.7%
16−18
+6.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Hitman 3 10−12
−9.1%
12−14
+9.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 75−80
−2.5%
80−85
+2.5%
Metro Exodus 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
−12.5%
9−10
+12.5%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
−4.8%
21−24
+4.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%

This is how GTX 960 and HD 7970M Crossfire compete in popular games:

  • HD 7970M Crossfire is 10% faster in 900p
  • HD 7970M Crossfire is 58% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 960 is 3% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 960 is 245% faster.
  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 7970M Crossfire is 36% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 960 is ahead in 1 test (1%)
  • HD 7970M Crossfire is ahead in 42 tests (58%)
  • there's a draw in 29 tests (40%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 15.75 16.01
Recency 22 January 2015 1 May 2012
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 200 Watt

GTX 960 has an age advantage of 2 years, and 66.7% lower power consumption.

HD 7970M Crossfire, on the other hand, has a 1.7% higher aggregate performance score.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 960 is a desktop card while Radeon HD 7970M 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

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
GeForce GTX 960
AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

Comparisons with similar GPUs

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

Community ratings

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


4 3747 votes

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2.1 19 votes

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Questions & comments

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