AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 Comparison

The comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M presents a stark contrast in performance tiers, with the data indicating a decisive advantage for the desktop-oriented GTX 970. While both GPUs are end-of-life products from different eras, their benchmark scores, architectural designs, and target platforms place them in entirely different categories. The following analysis breaks down the head-to-head data, individual strengths, and specification differences to provide a clear picture of where each component stands.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark between the two GPUs is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are overwhelmingly one-sided. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 scores 29,982 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6,581 points. This translates to a delta of 355.6%, meaning the GTX 970 is roughly 4.5 times faster in raw compute performance. This is not a marginal difference; it is a generational gap that reflects the fundamental disparity in their design purposes and specifications.

To contextualize the GTX 970’s score, its average benchmark score across all tests is 7,157, placing it in the 39th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (average score 7,170, delta -0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE (average score 7,171, delta -0.2%). Interestingly, the GTX 970’s OpenCL score of 29,982 is far higher than its average, suggesting that this particular workload plays to its strengths, likely due to its high shading unit count and memory bandwidth. However, in the broader Passmark G3D test, it scores 9,638, which is a more balanced indicator of overall 3D rendering performance.

For the AMD Radeon HD 7730M, its average benchmark score of 6,581 is identical to its OpenCL score, as that is the only benchmark data available for it. This places it in the 38th percentile of all GPUs, just one percentile below the GTX 970. Its nearest rivals include the Intel UHD Graphics P750 (average score 6,554, delta 0.4%) and the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (average score 6,612, delta -0.5%). The fact that the HD 7730M is competitive with modern integrated graphics and low-end mobile GPUs highlights its position as an entry-level part from 2012, while the GTX 970, despite being from 2014, still holds its own against much newer hardware.

The deltaPct values in the head-to-head data are critical. The 355.6% advantage for the GTX 970 in OpenCL is the single largest margin recorded. For context, the GTX 970’s closest rival, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580, is only 0.2% behind its average score, and the HD 7730M’s closest rival, the Intel UHD Graphics P750, is only 0.4% ahead. This means that while both GPUs sit near the 38-39th percentile, the gap between them is enormous, equivalent to the difference between a discrete desktop card and a low-power mobile chip.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 wins in every measurable category where both have results. The single head-to-head benchmark is a clear win for the GTX 970, and its broader benchmark suite shows strengths across various DirectX versions and compute tasks. In the Passmark suite, it achieves scores of 143 in DirectX 9, 71 in DirectX 11, 46 in DirectX 10, and 41 in DirectX 12. These scores, while not directly comparable to the HD 7730M, indicate a well-rounded capability across legacy and modern APIs. Its Passmark G2D score of 764 and G3D score of 9,638 further solidify its position as a capable 2D and 3D performer.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M, having only one benchmark result, cannot be said to "win" in any specific use case based on the data. Its single OpenCL score of 6,581 is its only data point, and it is significantly lower than the GTX 970’s score in the same test. However, its low TDP of 25 W and lack of power connectors suggest it is designed for portable devices where power efficiency is paramount. The fact that its display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent" reinforces this, indicating it is a mobile-only part. Therefore, its "win" is not in performance but in its intended form factor and power envelope, though no specific performance wins can be cited from the data.

For the GTX 970, the wins are clear in raw compute and 3D rendering. Its high FP32 performance of 3.920 TFLOPS, compared to the HD 7730M’s 691.2 GFLOPS, is a 5.7x difference in theoretical compute. Its texture rate of 122.5 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 65.97 GPixel/s versus 10.80 GPixel/s further illustrate its dominance in fill-rate-bound scenarios. The GTX 970 also has a much higher memory bandwidth at 224.4 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s, making it vastly superior in bandwidth-sensitive workloads like high-resolution textures and anti-aliasing.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 than the AMD Radeon HD 7730M in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 970 scores 29,982 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, while the HD 7730M scores 6,581. This results in a 355.6% higher score for the GTX 970.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 has an average benchmark score of 7,157, placing it in the 39th percentile. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has an average score of 6,581, placing it in the 38th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970?

A: The nearest rivals are the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (average score 7,170, delta -0.2%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE (average score 7,171, delta -0.2%), and AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile (average score 7,203, delta -0.6%).

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the AMD Radeon HD 7730M?

A: The nearest rivals are the Intel UHD Graphics P750 (average score 6,554, delta 0.4%), AMD Radeon R7 M460 (average score 6,612, delta -0.5%), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (average score 6,513, delta 1%).

Q: Does the AMD Radeon HD 7730M have a higher score than the GTX 970 in any benchmark?

A: No. In the only shared benchmark (Geekbench OpenCL), the GTX 970 scores 29,982 versus the HD 7730M’s 6,581, and the HD 7730M has no other benchmark results to compare.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two GPUs?

A: The GTX 970 has a memory bandwidth of 224.4 GB/s, while the HD 7730M has a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. The GTX 970’s bandwidth is approximately 7.8 times higher.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between these two GPUs are extensive and highlight their disparate market positions. The GTX 970 is built on the GM204 chip using the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, while the HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip with GCN 1.0 architecture. Both use a 28 nm process from TSMC, but the GTX 970 packs 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die, yielding a density of 13.1M / mm². The HD 7730M has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, with a density of 12.2M / mm². This means the GTX 970 has over three times the transistor count and a larger die.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The GTX 970 has a base clock of 1050 MHz and a boost clock of 1178 MHz, while the HD 7730M runs at a base of 575 MHz and a boost of 675 MHz. Memory configurations are also vastly different: the GTX 970 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, while the HD 7730M has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus. This leads to the massive bandwidth gap mentioned earlier. The GTX 970 has 1,664 shading units, 104 texture units, and 56 ROPs, whereas the HD 7730M has 512 shading units, 32 texture units, and 16 ROPs.

Power and physical requirements also differ. The GTX 970 has a TDP of 148 W, requires a dual-slot cooler, and uses 2x 6-pin power connectors with a suggested PSU of 300 W. The HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W and no power connectors, as it is designed for portable devices. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for the GTX 970 versus PCIe 2.0 x16 for the HD 7730M. Display outputs also differ, with the GTX 970 offering 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 3x DisplayPort 1.2, while the HD 7730M is listed as "Portable Device Dependent."

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between Maxwell 2.0 and GCN 1.0 is significant. The GTX 970’s Maxwell 2.0 architecture is designed for high efficiency and performance, featuring a large pool of 1,664 shading units operating at high clocks. The HD 7730M’s GCN 1.0 architecture is an older design, with 512 shading units at much lower clocks. The GTX 970 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the HD 7730M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. This means the GTX 970 has a higher feature level for DirectX 12 and a newer Vulkan version.

The GTX 970 has a pixel rate of 65.97 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 122.5 GTexel/s, whereas the HD 7730M has a pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s. These are not just differences; they are order-of-magnitude gaps. The GTX 970’s FP32 performance is 3.920 TFLOPS, compared to the HD 7730M’s 691.2 GFLOPS. Neither GPU has dedicated RT or Tensor cores, as these are pre-ray tracing architectures. The GTX 970 also has a higher transistor density (13.1M / mm²) despite the older node, indicating a more complex design.

The release dates are also telling: the GTX 970 was released on 2014-09-18, while the HD 7730M came out on 2012-04-23. This two-and-a-half-year gap explains the architectural advancements. The GTX 970 is the successor to the GeForce 700 series and was succeeded by the GeForce 10 series, while the HD 7730M is part of the London generation and succeeded the Vancouver series. These are not just different chips; they are products of different design philosophies and market eras.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 is in a completely different performance class than the AMD Radeon HD 7730M. In the only shared benchmark, the GTX 970 is 355.6% faster, and its average benchmark score is 8.8% higher despite the HD 7730M having only one data point. The GTX 970’s specifications—4 GB of GDDR5, 1,664 shading units, and a 224.4 GB/s bandwidth—are far superior to the HD 7730M’s 2 GB of DDR3, 512 shading units, and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Who should pick the GTX 970? Anyone needing a desktop GPU for 3D rendering, gaming, or compute workloads. Its high FP32 performance, large memory bandwidth, and support for modern APIs make it suitable for tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and DirectX 12 gaming. Its 148 W TDP and dual-slot design require a desktop system with a 300 W PSU, but the performance payoff is substantial. Its percentile ranking of 39th shows it is still competitive with modern mid-range parts.

Who should pick the HD 7730M? Only those with a specific need for a low-power mobile GPU. Its 25 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it ideal for laptops where battery life and heat are primary concerns. However, its performance is only comparable to modern integrated graphics like the Intel UHD Graphics P750, which is 0.4% ahead of it. For any demanding 3D workload, the GTX 970 is the only viable choice based on the data. The HD 7730M’s single benchmark score of 6,581 in OpenCL is its only claim to functionality, and it is far below the GTX 970’s capabilities in every measurable way.