Iris Xe MAX Graphics vs Radeon HD 7970

Place in the ranking	380	624
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	2.45	no data
Power efficiency	3.73	14.04
Architecture	GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)	Generation 12.1 (2020−2021)
GPU code name	Tahiti	DG1
Market segment	Desktop	Laptop
Design	reference	no data
Release date	22 December 2011 (13 years ago)	31 October 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$549	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 cores	2048	768
Core clock speed	no data	300 MHz
Boost clock speed	925 MHz	1650 MHz
Number of transistors	4,313 million	no data
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	10 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	300 Watt	25 Watt
Texture fill rate	118.4	79.20
Floating-point processing power	3.789 TFLOPS	2.534 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	24
TMUs	128	48

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).

Bus support	PCIe 2.1 x16	no data
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x4
Length	274 mm	no data
Width	2-slot	no data
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin	no 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 type	GDDR5	LPDDR4X
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	4 GB
Memory bus width	384 Bit	128 Bit
Memory clock speed	1375 MHz	2133 MHz
Memory bandwidth	264 GB/s	68.26 GB/s
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 Connectors	1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort	No outputs
Eyefinity	+	-
HDMI	+	-

Supported technologies

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

CrossFire	+	-
FreeSync	+	-

API compatibility

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

DirectX	DirectX® 11	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	5.1	6.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	3.0
Vulkan	-	1.2

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.

HD 7970 13.62
+166%

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 5.12

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

HD 7970 5248
+166%

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 1971

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.

HD 7970 7770

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 8214
+5.7%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

HD 7970 6862
+8.4%

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 6333

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

HD 7970 43795
+18.4%

Iris Xe MAX Graphics 36993

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:

900p	105 +200%	35−40 −200%
Full HD	91 +237%	27 −237%
1440p	45−50 +165%	17 −165%
4K	35−40 +133%	15 −133%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	6.03	no data
1440p	12.20	no data
4K	15.69	no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

21−24
+16.7%

18−20

−16.7%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 +14.8%	27−30 −14.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 +15.8%	19 −15.8%
Battlefield 5	40−45 +22.2%	35−40 −22.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 +17.4%	21−24 −17.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +16.7%	18−20 −16.7%
Far Cry 5	30−35 +18.5%	27−30 −18.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	35−40 +15.6%	30−35 −15.6%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 +17.1%	75−80 −17.1%
Hitman 3	24−27 +8.3%	24 −8.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 +14.8%	60−65 −14.8%
Metro Exodus	45−50 −23.9%	57 +23.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2	35−40 +15.2%	33 −15.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 +18.9%	35−40 −18.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 +8.8%	65−70 −8.8%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 +14.8%	27−30 −14.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 +267%	6 −267%
Battlefield 5	40−45 +22.2%	35−40 −22.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 +17.4%	21−24 −17.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +16.7%	18−20 −16.7%
Far Cry 5	30−35 +18.5%	27−30 −18.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	35−40 +15.6%	30−35 −15.6%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 +17.1%	75−80 −17.1%
Hitman 3	24−27 +13%	23 −13%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 +14.8%	60−65 −14.8%
Metro Exodus	45−50 +7%	43 −7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	35−40 +18.8%	30−35 −18.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 +33.3%	33 −33.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +13.8%	27−30 −13.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 +8.8%	65−70 −8.8%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 +14.8%	27−30 −14.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 +22.2%	18−20 −22.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 +17.4%	21−24 −17.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +16.7%	18−20 −16.7%
Far Cry 5	30−35 +18.5%	27−30 −18.5%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 +17.1%	75−80 −17.1%
Hitman 3	24−27 +23.8%	21 −23.8%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 +169%	26 −169%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 +51.7%	29 −51.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +83.3%	18 −83.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 +8.8%	65−70 −8.8%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

35−40
+52%

−52%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	24−27 +18.2%	21−24 −18.2%
Far Cry New Dawn	21−24 +23.5%	16−18 −23.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14−16 +27.3%	10−12 −27.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	10−11 +25%	8−9 −25%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	14−16 +16.7%	12−14 −16.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	7−8 +16.7%	6−7 −16.7%
Far Cry 5	16−18 +23.1%	12−14 −23.1%
Forza Horizon 4	65−70 +27.8%	50−55 −27.8%
Hitman 3	16−18 +14.3%	14−16 −14.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	27−30 +21.7%	21−24 −21.7%
Metro Exodus	21−24 +27.8%	18−20 −27.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	21−24 +15%	20 −15%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	14−16 +27.3%	10−12 −27.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	80−85 +16.7%	70−75 −16.7%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

21−24
+15.8%

18−20

−15.8%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	12−14 +18.2%	10−12 −18.2%
Far Cry New Dawn	10−11 +25%	8−9 −25%
Hitman 3	9−10 +28.6%	7−8 −28.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	65−70 +26.9%	50−55 −26.9%
Metro Exodus	12−14 +30%	10−11 −30%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	12−14 +9.1%	11 −9.1%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	8−9 +14.3%	7−8 −14.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	6−7 +20%	5−6 −20%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	7−8 +40%	5−6 −40%
Cyberpunk 2077	2−3 +100%	1−2 −100%
Far Cry 5	7−8 +16.7%	6−7 −16.7%
Forza Horizon 4	18−20 +20%	14−16 −20%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	12−14 +9.1%	11 −9.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion	5−6 +25%	4−5 −25%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

12−14
+9.1%

10−12

−9.1%

This is how HD 7970 and Iris Xe MAX Graphics compete in popular games:

HD 7970 is 200% faster in 900p
HD 7970 is 237% faster in 1080p
HD 7970 is 165% faster in 1440p
HD 7970 is 133% faster in 4K

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

in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the HD 7970 is 267% faster.
in Metro Exodus, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the Iris Xe MAX Graphics is 24% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

HD 7970 is ahead in 71 test (99%)
Iris Xe MAX Graphics is ahead in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	13.62	5.12
Recency	22 December 2011	31 October 2020
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	4 GB
Chip lithography	28 nm	10 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	300 Watt	25 Watt

HD 7970 has a 166% higher aggregate performance score, and a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount.

Iris Xe MAX Graphics, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 8 years, a 180% more advanced lithography process, and 1100% lower power consumption.

The Radeon HD 7970 is our recommended choice as it beats the Iris Xe MAX Graphics in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon HD 7970 is a desktop card while Iris Xe MAX Graphics is a notebook one.

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