Radeon RX 6500 vs HD 7970
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon HD 7970 with Radeon RX 6500, including specs and performance data.
RX 6500 outperforms HD 7970 by a considerable 47% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 375 | 271 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 2.38 | no data |
| Power efficiency | 3.78 | no data |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 (2011−2020) | no data |
| GPU code name | Tahiti | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop | Laptop |
| Design | reference | no data |
| Release date | 22 December 2011 (12 years ago) | no data (2024 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $549 | no data |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
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 | no data |
| Boost clock speed | 925 MHz | no data |
| Number of transistors | 4,313 million | no data |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | no data |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 300 Watt | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 118.4 | no data |
| Floating-point processing power | 3.789 TFLOPS | no data |
| ROPs | 32 | no data |
| TMUs | 128 | no 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).
| Bus support | PCIe 2.1 x16 | no data |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | no data |
| 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 | no data |
| Maximum RAM amount | 6 GB | no data |
| Memory bus width | 384 Bit | no data |
| Memory clock speed | 1375 MHz | no data |
| Memory bandwidth | 264 GB/s | no data |
| Shared memory | - | no data |
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 data |
| 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 | no data |
| Shader Model | 5.1 | no data |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | no data |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | no data |
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.
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.
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
−42.9%
| 150−160
+42.9%
|
| Full HD | 89
−46.1%
| 130−140
+46.1%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 30−35
−41.9%
|
40−45
+41.9%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
−47.7%
|
65−70
+47.7%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 27−30
−48.1%
|
40−45
+48.1%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
−43.8%
|
45−50
+43.8%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 35−40
−43.2%
|
50−55
+43.2%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 85−90
−38.2%
|
120−130
+38.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 24−27
−50%
|
35−40
+50%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 70−75
−37.1%
|
95−100
+37.1%
|
| Metro Exodus | 45−50
−41.3%
|
65−70
+41.3%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 35−40
−39.5%
|
50−55
+39.5%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 40−45
−50%
|
65−70
+50%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 70−75
−23%
|
90−95
+23%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 30−35
−41.9%
|
40−45
+41.9%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 40−45
−47.7%
|
65−70
+47.7%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 27−30
−48.1%
|
40−45
+48.1%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
−43.8%
|
45−50
+43.8%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 35−40
−43.2%
|
50−55
+43.2%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 85−90
−38.2%
|
120−130
+38.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 24−27
−50%
|
35−40
+50%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 70−75
−37.1%
|
95−100
+37.1%
|
| Metro Exodus | 45−50
−50%
|
65−70
+50%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 35−40
−39.5%
|
50−55
+39.5%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 40−45
−50%
|
65−70
+50%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 30−35
−36.4%
|
45−50
+36.4%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 70−75
−23%
|
90−95
+23%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 30−35
−41.9%
|
40−45
+41.9%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 27−30
−29.6%
|
35−40
+29.6%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 30−35
−43.8%
|
45−50
+43.8%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 85−90
−38.2%
|
120−130
+38.2%
|
| Hitman 3 | 24−27
−34.6%
|
35−40
+34.6%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 70−75
−42.9%
|
100−105
+42.9%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 40−45
−36.4%
|
60−65
+36.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 30−35
−36.4%
|
45−50
+36.4%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 70−75
−23%
|
90−95
+23%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 35−40
−44.7%
|
55−60
+44.7%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 24−27
−34.6%
|
35−40
+34.6%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 21−24
−42.9%
|
30−33
+42.9%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 14−16
−42.9%
|
20−22
+42.9%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 10−11
−80%
|
18−20
+80%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 14−16
−28.6%
|
18−20
+28.6%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 7−8
−57.1%
|
10−12
+57.1%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 16−18
−43.8%
|
21−24
+43.8%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 65−70
−59.4%
|
110−120
+59.4%
|
| Hitman 3 | 16−18
−31.3%
|
21−24
+31.3%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 27−30
−42.9%
|
40−45
+42.9%
|
| Metro Exodus | 21−24
−30.4%
|
30−33
+30.4%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 21−24
−30.4%
|
30−33
+30.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 14−16
−28.6%
|
18−20
+28.6%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 80−85
−39.3%
|
110−120
+39.3%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 21−24
−36.4%
|
30−33
+36.4%
|
4K
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 12−14
−38.5%
|
18−20
+38.5%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−11
−40%
|
14−16
+40%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
−66.7%
|
14−16
+66.7%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 65−70
−56.1%
|
100−110
+56.1%
|
| Metro Exodus | 12−14
−61.5%
|
21−24
+61.5%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 12−14
−66.7%
|
20−22
+66.7%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 8−9
−50%
|
12−14
+50%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 6−7
−66.7%
|
10−11
+66.7%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
−100%
|
4−5
+100%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 7−8
−57.1%
|
10−12
+57.1%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 18−20
−50%
|
27−30
+50%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 12−14
−33.3%
|
16−18
+33.3%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 5−6
−60%
|
8−9
+60%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 12−14
−33.3%
|
16−18
+33.3%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 65−70
+0%
|
65−70
+0%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 50−55
+0%
|
50−55
+0%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 21−24
+0%
|
21−24
+0%
|
| Hitman 3 | 21−24
+0%
|
21−24
+0%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 40−45
+0%
|
40−45
+0%
|
| Metro Exodus | 35−40
+0%
|
35−40
+0%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 30−35
+0%
|
30−35
+0%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 40−45
+0%
|
40−45
+0%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 35−40
+0%
|
35−40
+0%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30−33
+0%
|
30−33
+0%
|
4K
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10−12
+0%
|
10−12
+0%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 16−18
+0%
|
16−18
+0%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 21−24
+0%
|
21−24
+0%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 20−22
+0%
|
20−22
+0%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 14−16
+0%
|
14−16
+0%
|
This is how HD 7970 and RX 6500 compete in popular games:
- RX 6500 is 43% faster in 900p
- RX 6500 is 46% faster in 1080p
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 6500 is 100% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- RX 6500 is ahead in 52 tests (78%)
- there's a draw in 15 tests (22%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 13.60 | 20.01 |
RX 6500 has a 47.1% higher aggregate performance score.
The Radeon RX 6500 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 7970 in performance tests.
Be aware that Radeon HD 7970 is a desktop card while Radeon RX 6500 is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
Comparisons with similar GPUs
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
