AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M scores 18,946 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 scores 3,977 points. This represents a 376.4% advantage for the NVIDIA part, a margin that places the two products in entirely different performance tiers. The GTX 970M's score is nearly five times higher, and this single data point sets the tone for the entire comparison.

Looking at the broader database context, the GTX 970M sits at the 27th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 4,628 across multiple tests. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M (average score 4,621, a 0.2% difference) and the AMD Radeon R5 M320 (average score 4,657, a 0.6% deficit). The AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2, by contrast, holds the 24th percentile with an average score of 3,977, placing it near the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 (3,964, a 0.3% difference) and the NVIDIA GeForce 830M (3,957, a 0.5% gap). The percentile gap is only 3 points, but the raw score gap is substantial.

The GTX 970M's OpenCL result is 376.4% above the HD 6850 X2, which is not a marginal improvement but a generational leap. The HD 6850 X2's single benchmark score of 3,977 is below the GTX 970M's average score of 4,628, meaning the AMD part does not even reach the NVIDIA card's typical performance level across all tests. In the head-to-head tally, the GTX 970M wins 1 benchmark, and the HD 6850 X2 wins 0. There is no test in the database where the AMD card outperforms the NVIDIA card.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 970M dominates every measurable category in this comparison. In compute workloads, represented by Geekbench OpenCL, it is the clear winner with a 376.4% lead. The database also shows strong DirectX performance for the GTX 970M: it scores 99 in Passmark DirectX 9, 42 in DirectX 11, 28 in DirectX 10, and 24 in DirectX 12. Its Passmark G3D score is 5,704, and its GPU compute score is 2,289. These figures indicate a card that can handle legacy DirectX 9 titles with near-maximum scores, while still delivering playable results in modern DirectX 11 and 12 workloads.

The HD 6850 X2 has no recorded wins in any benchmark. Its only score is the Geekbench OpenCL result of 3,977, which is 376.4% behind the GTX 970M. The AMD card's architecture, TeraScale 2, lacks support for Vulkan and has a DirectX 11.2 (11_0) API level, while the GTX 970M supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This means the HD 6850 X2 cannot even run Vulkan workloads, a significant limitation for modern titles. The GTX 970M, by contrast, has a complete API stack, making it the only viable option for current-generation games and compute applications.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the GTX 970M is the only choice. Its FP32 performance is 2.657 TFLOPS, compared to the HD 6850 X2's 1.536 TFLOPS. The pixel rate is 49.82 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 83.04 GTexel/s versus 38.40 GTexel/s. Every throughput metric favors the NVIDIA card by a factor of roughly 1.7 to 2.2. The GTX 970M also has a higher transistor count (5,200 million versus 1,700 million) and a smaller process node (28 nm versus 40 nm), which explains its efficiency advantage.

Architecture Differences

The GTX 970M is built on the GM204 chip using Maxwell 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.1M per mm². The HD 6850 X2 uses the Barts chip with TeraScale 2 architecture, also from TSMC, but on a 40 nm process. It packs 1,700 million transistors on a 255 mm² die, with a density of 6.7M per mm². The process node difference is significant: 28 nm versus 40 nm, which directly impacts power efficiency and clock speeds.

The GTX 970M has 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. The HD 6850 X2 has 960 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The NVIDIA card has 33% more shading units, 67% more TMUs, and 50% more ROPs. These hardware counts translate directly into the throughput advantages seen in the benchmark data. The GTX 970M's memory subsystem uses 6 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 120.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD 6850 X2 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 134.4 GB/s. Despite the wider bus, the HD 6850 X2's bandwidth advantage is only 11.7%, which is insufficient to overcome the NVIDIA card's compute advantage.

Clock speeds differ as well. The GTX 970M has a base clock of 924 MHz and a boost clock of 1,038 MHz. The HD 6850 X2 has no recorded base or boost clocks in the database. Memory clocks are 1,253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) on the GTX 970M versus 1,050 MHz (4.2 Gbps effective) on the HD 6850 X2. The GTX 970M's higher memory clock partially compensates for its narrower bus.

The API support is another major differentiator. The GTX 970M supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The HD 6850 X2 supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, with no Vulkan support. This makes the HD 6850 X2 incompatible with modern Vulkan-based titles, while the GTX 970M can run the full spectrum of current APIs. The GTX 970M also has a newer bus interface, MXM-B (3.0), versus the HD 6850 X2's PCIe 2.0 x16. The GTX 970M's form factor is an MXM Module with no power connectors, while the HD 6850 X2 is a dual-slot card requiring 2x 8-pin power connectors and a 600 W suggested PSU.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M is the superior product in every measurable way. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 18,946 is 376.4% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2's 3,977. The GTX 970M also holds a higher average benchmark score (4,628 versus 3,977) and a higher percentile rank (27th versus 24th). For any workload that relies on compute performance, the GTX 970M is the only rational choice.

The GTX 970M wins the head-to-head tally 1 to 0, with no benchmark in the database favoring the AMD card. The HD 6850 X2's only recorded score is 3,977, which is below the GTX 970M's average. Even the GTX 970M's Passmark DirectX 9 score of 99 indicates near-maximum performance in legacy titles, a level the HD 6850 X2 cannot approach given its lack of DirectX 12 support and Vulkan capability.

Users with modern software requirements should choose the GTX 970M. Its Maxwell 2.0 architecture supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the HD 6850 X2's TeraScale 2 architecture is limited to DirectX 11.2 and OpenGL 4.4. The GTX 970M's 6 GB memory capacity is three times the HD 6850 X2's 2 GB, which matters for high-resolution textures and larger datasets. The NVIDIA card also has a higher transistor count (5,200 million versus 1,700 million), which directly correlates with its superior shading unit, TMU, and ROP counts.

The HD 6850 X2 is a legacy product from the Northern Islands generation, released in 2011, while the GTX 970M is from the GeForce 900M generation, released in 2014. The GTX 970M's process node advantage (28 nm versus 40 nm) means it achieves higher performance with fewer power requirements, despite the HD 6850 X2's 254 W TDP. The GTX 970M has no recorded TDP, but its MXM module form factor with no power connectors indicates a far lower power draw than the dual-slot, 2x 8-pin HD 6850 X2.

For any user comparing these two cards, the GTX 970M is the clear winner. The performance gap is not marginal but massive, and the architectural advantages are systemic. The HD 6850 X2 cannot compete in any benchmark, API support, or feature set. The verdict is straightforward: the GTX 970M wins decisively, and the HD 6850 X2 should only be considered if legacy compatibility with TeraScale 2 is an absolute requirement.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M than the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 970M scores 18,946 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 376.4% higher than the HD 6850 X2's score of 3,977.

Q: Which card has better DirectX support?

A: The GTX 970M supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the HD 6850 X2 supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0). This means the GTX 970M can run newer DirectX 12 titles.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 support Vulkan?

A: No, the HD 6850 X2 has no Vulkan support in the database. The GTX 970M supports Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The GTX 970M has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the HD 6850 X2 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. The GTX 970M offers three times the capacity.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor count?

A: The GTX 970M has 5,200 million transistors, while the HD 6850 X2 has 1,700 million transistors.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each card?

A: The GTX 970M has an average benchmark score of 4,628, while the HD 6850 X2 has an average score of 3,977. The GTX 970M ranks at the 27th percentile, and the HD 6850 X2 ranks at the 24th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every specification field. The GTX 970M uses the GM204 chip with Maxwell 2.0 architecture, while the HD 6850 X2 uses the Barts chip with TeraScale 2 architecture. The process node is 28 nm for the GTX 970M and 40 nm for the HD 6850 X2. Transistor counts are 5,200 million versus 1,700 million, and die sizes are 398 mm² versus 255 mm². Transistor density is 13.1M per mm² versus 6.7M per mm².

The GTX 970M has a base clock of 924 MHz and a boost clock of 1,038 MHz, with a memory clock of 1,253 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The HD 6850 X2 has no recorded base or boost clocks, and its memory clock is 1,050 MHz (4.2 Gbps effective). Memory capacity is 6 GB versus 2 GB, with bus widths of 192 bit versus 256 bit. Bandwidth is 120.3 GB/s versus 134.4 GB/s.

Shader units, TMUs, and ROPs all favor the GTX 970M: 1,280 versus 960, 80 versus 48, and 48 versus 32, respectively. Pixel rates are 49.82 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s, and texture rates are 83.04 GTexel/s versus 38.40 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 2.657 TFLOPS versus 1.536 TFLOPS.

The HD 6850 X2 has a TDP of 254 W, while the GTX 970M has no recorded TDP. Slot width is MXM Module for the GTX 970M and Dual-slot for the HD 6850 X2. Power connectors are None for the GTX 970M and 2x 8-pin for the HD 6850 X2. The suggested PSU is 600 W for the HD 6850 X2, with none listed for the GTX 970M. Bus interfaces are MXM-B (3.0) versus PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs are Portable Device Dependent for the GTX 970M versus 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.1 for the HD 6850 X2.

API support differs: DirectX 12 (12_1) versus DirectX 11.2 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6 versus 4.4, and Vulkan 1.4 versus none. Release dates are 2014-10-06 for the GTX 970M and 2011-09-18 for the HD 6850 X2. Predecessors are GeForce 800M versus Evergreen, and successors are GeForce 10 Mobile versus Southern Islands.