AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs AMD Radeon Pro 570X Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench Metal score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 570X scores 40,066 in Geekbench Metal, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 scores 33,951. The Pro 570X leads by 15.3% in this specific benchmark.

Q: How do the two cards compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The HD 7950 has an average benchmark score of 33,951, while the Pro 570X averages 32,176 across its three benchmark tests. Despite winning the Metal test, the Pro 570X's average is dragged down by lower OpenCL and Vulkan scores.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two GPUs?

A: The HD 7950 packs 4,313 million transistors on a 352 mm² die, while the Pro 570X contains 5,700 million transistors on a much smaller 232 mm² die. The Pro 570X achieves a transistor density of 24.6M per mm² versus 12.3M per mm² for the HD 7950.

Q: Which GPU supports newer API versions?

A: The Pro 570X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7950 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both cards support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each card?

A: The HD 7950 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 240.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Pro 570X has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 217.0 GB/s bandwidth. The HD 7950 has the higher bandwidth, while the Pro 570X has more capacity.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare for each GPU?

A: The HD 7950's closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 480, with a delta of -0.1%. The Pro 570X's nearest rival is the AMD FirePro S10000, with a delta of -0.7%. Both cards sit within roughly 1% of their closest competitors.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture. The HD 7950 uses GCN 1.0, built on the Tahiti chip, and belongs to the Southern Islands (HD 7900) generation. The Pro 570X uses GCN 4.0, built on the Ellesmere chip, and belongs to the Radeon Pro Mac (500X Series) generation.

The manufacturing process represents a critical divergence. The HD 7950 was fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, while the Pro 570X was produced by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm node. This process shrink explains the density difference: the HD 7950 has 4,313 million transistors spread across 352 mm², whereas the Pro 570X crams 5,700 million transistors into just 232 mm². The Pro 570X achieves 24.6M transistors per mm², exactly double the HD 7950's 12.3M per mm².

Shading unit and texture mapping unit counts are identical between the two cards — both have 1,792 shading units and 112 TMUs. Both also feature 32 ROPs. The architectural improvements in GCN 4.0 manifest primarily through clock speeds and efficiency rather than raw unit counts.

The Pro 570X has explicit base and boost clocks of 1000 MHz and 1105 MHz respectively, while the HD 7950's base and boost clocks are not listed in the data. The Pro 570X also supports FP16 compute at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, whereas the HD 7950 has no FP16 data listed. The Pro 570X supports Vulkan 1.3, a newer version than the HD 7950's 1.2.170.

The HD 7950 is a dual-slot card requiring 2x 6-pin power connectors and a 550 W suggested PSU. The Pro 570X is an integrated GPU (IGP) with no power connectors and no suggested PSU listed. The HD 7950 measures 278 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 38 mm in width, while the Pro 570X has no listed dimensions due to its portable-device integration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark between these two cards is Geekbench Metal, and the results are unambiguous. The Pro 570X scores 40,066, while the HD 7950 scores 33,951. This gives the Pro 570X a 15.3% advantage, a substantial margin in GPU benchmark terms.

To contextualize this Metal score, the HD 7950 sits at the 78th percentile of all GPUs, while the Pro 570X sits at the 76th percentile. Despite winning the head-to-head Metal test, the Pro 570X's overall percentile ranking is actually two points lower. This apparent contradiction resolves when examining the Pro 570X's other benchmark results.

The Pro 570X also has Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores that are not shared with the HD 7950. Its OpenCL score of 27,604 and Vulkan score of 28,859 are both notably lower than its Metal score of 40,066. These lower scores pull the Pro 570X's average down to 32,176, which is below the HD 7950's 33,951 average. The HD 7950 has only the single Metal benchmark listed, so its average equals that score.

The deltaPct between the two cards in Metal is -15.3%, with the negative sign indicating the HD 7950 is the loser by that margin. The wins tally confirms this: the Pro 570X wins 1 benchmark, the HD 7950 wins 0.

When comparing to their respective nearest rivals, both cards perform similarly against their competition. The HD 7950 is essentially tied with the RX 480 (delta of -0.1%) and sits 0.3% ahead of the RX 7700S. The Pro 570X is 0.7% behind the FirePro S10000 and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Arc Pro A30M. These narrow deltas suggest both cards are well-positioned within their performance tiers.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two cards:

• Process Node: 28 nm (HD 7950) versus 14 nm (Pro 570X)
• Foundry: TSMC versus GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: 4,313 million versus 5,700 million
• Die Size: 352 mm² versus 232 mm²
• Transistor Density: 12.3M / mm² versus 24.6M / mm²
• Base Clock: Not listed versus 1000 MHz
• Boost Clock: Not listed versus 1105 MHz
• Memory Clock: 1250 MHz / 5 Gbps effective versus 1695 MHz / 6.8 Gbps effective
• Memory Size: 3 GB versus 4 GB
• Memory Bus Width: 384 bit versus 256 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 240.0 GB/s versus 217.0 GB/s
• Pixel Rate: 25.60 GPixel/s versus 35.36 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 89.60 GTexel/s versus 123.8 GTexel/s
• FP32: 2.867 TFLOPS versus 3.960 TFLOPS
• FP16: Not listed versus 3.960 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: 200 W versus 150 W
• Slot Width: Dual-slot versus IGP
• Power Connectors: 2x 6-pin versus None
• Suggested PSU: 550 W versus Not listed
• Display Outputs: 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2 versus Portable Device Dependent
• DirectX Support: 12 (11_1) versus 12 (12_0)
• Vulkan Support: 1.2.170 versus 1.3
• Dimensions: 278 mm x 111 mm x 38 mm versus Not listed
• Release Date: 2012-01-30 versus 2019-03-17
• Launch MSRP: 449 USD versus Not listed

Where Each One Wins

The Pro 570X wins in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 rating of 3.960 TFLOPS is 38% higher than the HD 7950's 2.867 TFLOPS. Pixel rate favors the Pro 570X at 35.36 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s, a 38% advantage. Texture rate also favors the Pro 570X at 123.8 GTexel/s versus 89.60 GTexel/s, a 38% lead. The Pro 570X wins the Metal benchmark by 15.3% and offers double the memory capacity at 4 GB versus 3 GB. It also supports newer API versions, including DirectX 12_0 and Vulkan 1.3, and adds FP16 compute capability. The Pro 570X consumes 50 W less power (150 W versus 200 W) and requires no external power connectors.

The HD 7950 wins in memory bandwidth, delivering 240.0 GB/s over a 384-bit bus, 11% higher than the Pro 570X's 217.0 GB/s over a 256-bit bus. The HD 7950 has a higher average benchmark score at 33,951 versus 32,176, a 5.5% advantage. It also ranks higher in percentile among all GPUs (78th versus 76th). The HD 7950 provides dedicated display outputs including DVI, HDMI 1.4a, and two mini-DisplayPort 1.2 connections, whereas the Pro 570X's outputs are dependent on the portable device. The HD 7950 has a lower transistor count but achieves its performance on a larger, less dense die, which may have different thermal characteristics. The HD 7950 also carries a launch MSRP of 449 USD.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between these two cards. For users prioritizing peak compute throughput and modern API support, the AMD Radeon Pro 570X is the stronger choice. Its 38% higher FP32 rating, 38% higher pixel rate, and 38% higher texture rate give it a decisive edge in compute-heavy workloads. The 15.3% Metal benchmark victory, 4 GB memory capacity, and support for DirectX 12_0 and Vulkan 1.3 reinforce its position as the more capable modern GPU. Its 150 W TDP with no external power connectors also makes it suitable for integrated systems.

For users prioritizing memory bandwidth and overall consistency, the AMD Radeon HD 7950 has merits. Its 240.0 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Pro 570X by 11%, which can benefit memory-intensive applications. Its average benchmark score of 33,951 is 5.5% higher than the Pro 570X's 32,176, and its 78th percentile ranking edges out the Pro 570X's 76th. The HD 7950's dedicated display outputs make it a practical choice for multi-monitor setups.

The verdict depends on the use case. The Pro 570X wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark and dominates in theoretical compute metrics. The HD 7950 counters with higher memory bandwidth and a better average score, though this average is based on a single benchmark for the HD 7950 versus three for the Pro 570X. Users needing maximum Metal performance and modern feature support should choose the Pro 570X. Users needing memory bandwidth and a card with standalone display connectivity should choose the HD 7950. The Pro 570X's newer architecture, higher transistor density, and lower power draw make it the more technically advanced product, but the HD 7950's memory subsystem and higher average score keep it competitive in specific scenarios.