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AMD Radeon HD 7970 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£440
  • VRAM: 3 GB
  • Memory bus width: 384 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 250 W

AMD Radeon HD 7970 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.3

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.0

Technical Score

10.0%

7.0

User score

Poor
4.0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.2

Performance

24.0%

3.8

Memory

12.0%

7.1

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.0

Design

4.0%

7.0

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.0

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(38)
Amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(43)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(3)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 3.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.2
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.6
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.6
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.9
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The AMD Radeon HD 7970, launched in early 2012, was the world’s first graphics card based on the 28nm process and the GCN (Graphics Core Next) architecture, featuring 2,048 stream processors, a 925 MHz core clock, and 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM on a wide 384-bit memory interface. Its main pros included industry-leading compute performance for its time, excellent scaling in CrossFire configurations, and innovative energy-saving features like AMD ZeroCore Power. However, it faced some cons, such as a high 250W TDP requiring both 6-pin and 8-pin power connectors, a reference cooler that was often criticized for being loud under heavy load, and a relatively high launch price.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon HD 7970

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.2

Performance

24.0%

3.8

Memory

12.0%

7.1

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.0

Design

4.0%

7.0

Connectivity & Media

4.0
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a technical score of 3.96 points, which is lower than that of 89.9% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(38)
Amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(43)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(3)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.0
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a user score of 6.97 points, which is lower than that of 91.9% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
4.3
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a popularity of 4.3 points, which is higher than 59.3% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.3

Overall score

40.0%

8.2

Price

5.4
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 92.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

5,088 points
AMD Radeon HD 7970 scores 5088 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 69.6% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

3,032 points
AMD Radeon HD 7970 scores 3032 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 63.4% of graphics cards.
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

3.79 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon HD 7970 delivers 3.79 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 92.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

3 GB
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has 3 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
AMD Radeon HD 7970 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

384 bit
AMD Radeon HD 7970 uses a 384 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 89.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 7.3% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

264 GB/s
AMD Radeon HD 7970 reaches 264 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 79.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
AMD Radeon HD 7970 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

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OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

6
AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports up to 6 displays, which is more than 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 1.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

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DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

2
AMD Radeon HD 7970 offers 2 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 79.2% of graphics cards and equal to 10.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

250 W
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a TDP of 250 W, which is higher than that of 58.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 6.1% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

250 W
AMD Radeon HD 7970 draws 250 W under peak load, which is higher than 58.1% of graphics cards and equal to 5.3% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
AMD Radeon HD 7970 recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

250 W
AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a board power limit of 250 W, which is higher than that of 56.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.2% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

275 mm
AMD Radeon HD 7970 is 275 mm long, which is shorter than 56.6% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.3% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

111 mm
AMD Radeon HD 7970 is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
AMD Radeon HD 7970 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

994 g
AMD Radeon HD 7970 weighs 994 g, which is lighter than 50.3% of graphics cards and equal in weight to 0.3% of graphics cards.
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AMD Radeon HD 7970 vs the average graphics card

  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.384 bit vs 256 bit
  • 24x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (768 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (768 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.768 MB vs 32 MB
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
    When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 16 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111 mm vs 127 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).1:4 vs 1:64
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).
  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 24x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (768 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 2 more monitors per output type
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports more monitors per output type than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.

Total
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 51.8% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (925 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 82.1% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (29.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 68.6% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (118.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 83.4% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (3.8 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 56 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (128 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 8 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (32 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 55.4% lower PassMark score
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (5,088 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 83.6% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (3.8 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,304 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (2,048 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 71.1% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,500 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 41.1% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (264 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 21.4% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,375 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 12 older
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,011 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • 80.3% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (4,313 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Not VR ready
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 16.3% higher TDP
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (250 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 11 dB noisier under load
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (46 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 11 °C higher load temperature
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (78 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 7 °C higher idle temperature
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher idle temperature than the average graphics card (45 °C vs 38 °C). The average graphics card has an idle temperature of 38 °C.
  • No backplate
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.3 GB vs 12 GB
  • 51.8% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (925 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (925 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.925 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 82.1% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (29.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (29.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.29.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 68.6% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (118.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (118.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.118.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 71.1% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,500 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,500 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.5500 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
    What it is: Total number of render output units on the GPU
    When it matters: When you want more context on pixel output capacity, especially for high-resolution play and older raster-heavy engines.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 7970 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.32 vs 64
Total
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Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
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Power & Cooling
Design

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
38 Reviews
Amazon
5.0
1 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
43 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
3 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about AMD Radeon HD 7970?

  • Groundbreaking single-GPU performance at launch, outperforming the Nvidia GTX 580
  • Excellent longevity (often called 'Fine Wine') due to the GCN architecture and 3GB VRAM
  • Strong overclocking potential, with many users reaching significant performance gains
  • High compute performance, making it useful for non-gaming tasks like crypto mining
  • Innovative ZeroCore Power technology reduces idle energy consumption to almost zero
  • Scales effectively in CrossFireX configurations for multi-GPU setups

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon HD 7970?

  • Reference cooler is notoriously loud under load, often compared to a vacuum cleaner
  • High power consumption and heat generation when gaming or overclocked
  • Expensive launch price, which some users found difficult to justify over mid-range options
  • Reference design lacked a backplate, which some enthusiasts found disappointing for a flagship
  • Bulky dual-slot design can block adjacent expansion slots on smaller motherboards
  • Drivers were initially unoptimized, though this improved significantly over time

Expert reviews

T
tomshardware.com
21/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970: Promising Performance, Paper-Launched | Tom's Hardware

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 marks a major architectural leap forward as the flagship GPU of the 28 nm "Southern Islands" family, introducing the brand-new Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. Boasting 4.31 billion transistors packed into a relatively compact 365 mm² die size, the Tahiti GPU significantly raises hardware specifications over its predecessor, the Cayman-based HD 6970. Key...Read more

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techpowerup.com
21/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 3 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 highlights the debut of the 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU and Graphics CoreNext (GCN) architecture, offering over 30% faster performance than the HD 6970 while consuming less power. Key advantages include 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, PCI-Express 3.0 support, and ZeroCore Power technology for reduced idle consumption. Drawbacks noted in...Read more

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techspot.com
27/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 Review | TechSpot

The TechSpot review identifies the AMD Radeon HD 7970 as the world's fastest single-GPU solution upon release, featuring 28nm "Tahiti" GCN architecture, 3GB GDDR5, and significant 40% performance gains over the HD 6970, with ZeroCore Power technology reducing idle consumption. Despite superior 2560x1600 performance over the GTX 580, the $549 card offers lower price-to-performance...Read more

I
impulsegamer.com
22/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 Hardware Review | Impulse Gamer Would you like to see a comparison of its benchmark results against other cards from that same era?...

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is a high-performance graphics card built on a 28nm fabrication process that houses 4.3 billion transistors and utilizes a novel Graphics Core Next Architecture to combine GPU and CPU capabilities. The testing configuration—comprising an Intel Core i7-3960X processor and 4GB of Corsair DDR3 memory—demonstrated that the card delivers exceptional gaming...Read more

O
overclockers.com
23/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 Graphics Card Review | Overclockers

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 review from Overclockers highlights the 28nm Tahiti GPU and Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture as a major leap, offering roughly 20% better performance than the HD 6970 and surpassing the GTX 580. The card boasts exceptional overclocking, with the core hitting 1125 MHz on stock voltage to match the dual-GPU HD 6990. However, the reference model carries a...Read more

W
wsgf.org
22/12/2011
AMD Radeon 7970 Review | WSGF

The WSGF review of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 highlights the card as a significant milestone, praising the 28nm GCN architecture for delivering exceptional Eyefinity 2.0 multi-monitor performance, which is 43% to 46% faster than the HD 6970. Key advantages include superior widescreen rendering, 3GB of VRAM, and ZeroCore technology that reduces idle power to under 3W. Conversely, the...Read more

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guru3d.com
21/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 review | Guru3D

The Guru3D review celebrates the AMD Radeon HD 7970 as a highly impressive flagship launch that firmly establishes AMD's competitive edge for the holiday season. Built on an innovative 28nm architecture codenamed "Tahiti," the card introduces a massive 3GB GDDR5 frame buffer on an upgraded 384-bit memory bus, intentionally optimized to handle high-resolution gaming and multi-monitor...Read more

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techpowerup.com
08/01/2012
ASUS Radeon HD 7970 CrossFire Review

The TechPowerUp ASUS Radeon HD 7970 CrossFire review highlights extreme 2560x1600 gaming performance from the 28nm "Tahiti" dual-GPU setup, featuring ASUS-specific GPU Tweak software and enhanced aesthetics. Key advantages include AMD’s ZeroCore technology, which drops the idle secondary card to just 1 Watt, though the setup commands a high $1,100 price point. Conversely, the review...Read more

G
guru3d.com
22/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970 review

The Guru3D review of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 establishes the card as the new single-GPU performance king at its December 2011 launch, dominating its main competitor, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580. Built on a pioneering 28nm process node, the card features the brand-new Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, packing 4.3 billion transistors, 2,048 stream processors, and a substantial 3 GB...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
21/12/2011
AMD Radeon HD 7970: Promising Performance, Paper Launch

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 introduces the brand-new Tahiti GPU architecture, which utilizes a 384-bit memory interface paired with 1,375 MHz GDDR5 memory to deliver an impressive 264 GB/s of bandwidth—roughly 100 GB/s more than the previous generation. Equipped with 2,048 ALUs running at a 925 MHz core clock, the card manages 3.8 TFLOPS of single-precision processing power. A major...Read more

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tweakpc.de
09/01/2012
XFX AMD Radeon HD 7970 Black Edition im Test 💡 Note: These articles focus specifically on the original AMD Radeon HD 7970 (Tahiti XT) launched in Dec...

The ⁠TweakPC review showcases the XFX AMD Radeon HD 7970 Black Edition Overclocked 1000M, a premium retail variant of AMD’s flagship Southern Islands architecture. A major pro highlighted in the review is its exquisite aesthetic and premium build quality, which shifts away from standard black plastics toward a sleek, minimalist chassis made of brushed aluminium, accented with red...Read more

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geeknetic.es
25/06/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7970 1GHz Edition

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 1GHz Edition review by Javier Rodríguez on Geeknetic evaluates AMD’s counterattack to Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 680. This refreshed model features optimized PCB power delivery and an improved manufacturing process, allowing the core GPU clock to increase from 925MHz to a nominal 1000MHz (1GHz), with a dynamic boost reaching up to 1050MHz. Memory bandwidth also...Read more

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hardzone.es
29/06/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7970: Analizada con distintas versiones de controladores

This hardware review by HardZone evaluates the long-term performance evolution of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics card by benchmarking it across nine different chronological versions of AMD Catalyst drivers, spanning from the initial retail release (Catalyst 11.12) to the newer Catalyst 12.7 Beta. Utilizing a robust test bench equipped with an Intel Core i7-2600K processor and an...Read more

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X
xataka.com
30/01/2012
AMD 7970, análisis Xataka

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 evaluation model review by Xataka highlights it as a highly capable, next-generation graphics card built on an innovative 28-nanometer fabrication process. Tested on a Windows 7 system with an Intel Core i7 920 processor, the GPU delivers excellent high-end performance at a 1920x1080 resolution across demanding benchmarks like 3DMark 11 and Unigine 2.5, as...Read more

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E
elchapuzasinformatico.com
31/07/2012
Gigabyte HD 7970 WindForce 5X Superoverclock a examen

The El Chapuzas Informático review of the Gigabyte HD 7970 Windforce 5X SuperOverclock highlights an enthusiast-grade GPU utilizing the AMD Tahiti XT architecture and a unique Windforce 5X cooler with five 40mm fans. Key pros include a substantial factory overclock of 1080 MHz and a custom PCB with high-capacity capacitors, though the specialized triple-slot cooler can be loud under...Read more

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N
nexthardware.com
22/06/2012
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition - Recensione

The NextHardware review identifies the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, based on the 28nm "Tahiti XT2" architecture, as a high-performance card designed to compete with the Nvidia GTX 680. Featuring PowerTune with Boost, the card delivers 1050 MHz core speeds and 6000 MHz memory, offering top-tier performance at 2560x1600 with a 3GB frame buffer. While providing excellent raw power,...Read more

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tweakers.net
30/06/2026
Snelle HD 7800- en 7900-kaarten

This 2012 review from Tweakers evaluates custom-cooled AMD Radeon HD 7800 and 7900 series graphics cards from Club3D, Asus, MSI, and XFX, comparing their performance, acoustics, and power efficiency. In benchmark tests like 3DMark 11, Unigine Heaven, and demanding titles such as Battlefield 3, the AMD HD 7970 GHz Edition benchmarks as the fastest overall stock card. Among the custom...Read more

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