Radeon RX 5500M vs HD 7970

Place in the ranking	380	364
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	2.45	no data
Power efficiency	3.73	11.64
Architecture	GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)	RDNA 1.0 (2019−2020)
GPU code name	Tahiti	Navi 14
Market segment	Desktop	Laptop
Design	reference	no data
Release date	22 December 2011 (13 years ago)	7 October 2019 (5 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	1408
Core clock speed	no data	1375 MHz
Boost clock speed	925 MHz	1645 MHz
Number of transistors	4,313 million	6,400 million
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	300 Watt	85 Watt
Texture fill rate	118.4	144.8
Floating-point processing power	3.789 TFLOPS	4.632 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	128	88

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 size	no data	medium sized
Bus support	PCIe 2.1 x16	no data
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x8
Length	274 mm	no data
Width	2-slot	no data
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin	None

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	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	4 GB
Memory bus width	384 Bit	128 Bit
Memory clock speed	1375 MHz	1750 MHz
Memory bandwidth	264 GB/s	224.0 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	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	2.0
Vulkan	-	1.2.131

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

RX 5500M 14.43
+5.9%

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

RX 5500M 5559
+5.9%

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

RX 5500M 16476
+112%

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

RX 5500M 12276
+78.9%

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

RX 5500M 50946
+16.3%

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 −4.8%	110−120 +4.8%
Full HD	91 +56.9%	58 −56.9%
1440p	55−60 −10.9%	61 +10.9%
4K	24−27 −8.3%	26 +8.3%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	6.03	no data
1440p	9.98	no data
4K	22.88	no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

21−24

−162%

55
+162%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 −38.7%	43 +38.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 −155%	56 +155%
Battlefield 5	40−45 −4.5%	45−50 +4.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 −96.3%	53 +96.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 −105%	43 +105%
Far Cry 5	30−35 −3.1%	30−35 +3.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	35−40 −5.4%	35−40 +5.4%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 −4.5%	90−95 +4.5%
Hitman 3	24−27 −123%	58 +123%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 −109%	146 +109%
Metro Exodus	45−50 −4.3%	45−50 +4.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2	35−40 −50%	57 +50%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 −4.5%	45−50 +4.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 −128%	169 +128%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 −6.5%	30−35 +6.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 −18.2%	26 +18.2%
Battlefield 5	40−45 +29.4%	34 −29.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 −77.8%	48 +77.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 −57.1%	33 +57.1%
Far Cry 5	30−35 −3.1%	30−35 +3.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	35−40 −5.4%	35−40 +5.4%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 −4.5%	90−95 +4.5%
Hitman 3	24−27 −123%	58 +123%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 −106%	144 +106%
Metro Exodus	45−50 +27.8%	36 −27.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	35−40 −36.8%	52 +36.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 −86.4%	82 +86.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 −3%	30−35 +3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 −127%	168 +127%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 +0%	31 +0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	21−24 +57.1%	14 −57.1%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 +3.8%	26 −3.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 −42.9%	30 +42.9%
Far Cry 5	30−35 −3.1%	30−35 +3.1%
Forza Horizon 4	85−90 −4.5%	90−95 +4.5%
Hitman 3	24−27 −92.3%	50 +92.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	70−75 +1.4%	69 −1.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	40−45 −63.6%	72 +63.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 −36.4%	45 +36.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion	70−75 +236%	22 −236%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

35−40

−42.1%

54
+42.1%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	24−27 −108%	54 +108%
Far Cry New Dawn	21−24 −4.8%	21−24 +4.8%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14−16 +0%	14−16 +0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	10−11 +0%	10 +0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	14−16 −7.1%	14−16 +7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	7−8 +0%	7−8 +0%
Far Cry 5	16−18 +0%	16−18 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	65−70 −5.8%	70−75 +5.8%
Hitman 3	16−18 −106%	33 +106%
Horizon Zero Dawn	27−30 −96.4%	55 +96.4%
Metro Exodus	21−24 −104%	47 +104%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	21−24 −8.7%	24−27 +8.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	14−16 −7.1%	14−16 +7.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion	80−85 −94%	163 +94%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

21−24

−81.8%

40
+81.8%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	12−14 −123%	29 +123%
Far Cry New Dawn	10−11 +0%	10−11 +0%
Hitman 3	9−10 +0%	9 +0%
Horizon Zero Dawn	65−70 +1.5%	65 −1.5%
Metro Exodus	12−14 −115%	28 +115%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	12−14 −8.3%	12−14 +8.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	8−9 +0%	8−9 +0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	6−7 −16.7%	7−8 +16.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	7−8 +0%	7−8 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	2−3 +0%	2−3 +0%
Far Cry 5	7−8 −14.3%	8−9 +14.3%
Forza Horizon 4	18−20 −5.6%	18−20 +5.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	12−14 −8.3%	12−14 +8.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	5−6 −20%	6−7 +20%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

12−14

−66.7%

20
+66.7%

This is how HD 7970 and RX 5500M compete in popular games:

RX 5500M is 5% faster in 900p
HD 7970 is 57% faster in 1080p
RX 5500M is 11% faster in 1440p
RX 5500M is 8% faster in 4K

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

in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 7970 is 236% faster.
in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1080p resolution and the Low Preset, the RX 5500M is 162% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

HD 7970 is ahead in 7 tests (10%)
RX 5500M is ahead in 55 tests (76%)
there's a draw in 10 tests (14%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	13.62	14.43
Recency	22 December 2011	7 October 2019
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	4 GB
Chip lithography	28 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	300 Watt	85 Watt

HD 7970 has a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount.

RX 5500M, on the other hand, has a 5.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, a 300% more advanced lithography process, and 252.9% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Radeon HD 7970 and Radeon RX 5500M.

Be aware that Radeon HD 7970 is a desktop card while Radeon RX 5500M is a notebook one.

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