AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs AMD Radeon RX 560 XT Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 560 XT and the AMD Radeon HD 7950 are separated by seven years of architecture, yet their average benchmark scores place them within a hair of each other. The RX 560 XT averages 34,133, while the HD 7950 averages 33,951, a gap of just 0.5% in favor of the newer card. This near-tie makes the choice entirely dependent on what you are doing, as each card brings different strengths to the table.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 560 XT wins on raw compute throughput and modern API support. Its FP32 performance is 4.394 TFLOPS, which is 53% higher than the HD 7950's 2.867 TFLOPS. That advantage shows up in its Geekbench OpenCL score of 31,387 and Vulkan score of 36,879. The HD 7950 has no Vulkan or OpenCL scores in the data, but its single Geekbench Metal score of 33,951 shows it can still hold its own in that specific API. The RX 560 XT also has a higher pixel rate at 39.23 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s, and a higher texture rate at 137.3 GTexel/s versus 89.60 GTexel/s. For any workload that stresses shaders or texture fill, the RX 560 XT is the clear winner.

The HD 7950 wins on memory bandwidth and board footprint. Its 384-bit bus delivers 240.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is 7% higher than the RX 560 XT's 224.0 GB/s from a 256-bit bus. That extra bandwidth can help in scenarios where data transfers dominate, such as high-resolution texture streaming. The HD 7950 also has more physical memory capacity at 3 GB, though the RX 560 XT counters with 4 GB. In terms of physical size, the HD 7950 is longer at 278 mm (10.9 inches) and taller at 111 mm (4.4 inches), while the RX 560 XT is more compact at 241 mm (9.5 inches). The HD 7950 also has a wider profile at 38 mm (1.5 inches), which may affect case compatibility.

The architecture generation gap is stark. The RX 560 XT uses GCN 4.0 on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the HD 7950 uses GCN 1.0 on a 28 nm process from TSMC. That process shrink allows the RX 560 XT to pack 5,700 million transistors into a 232 mm² die, achieving a density of 24.6M / mm². The HD 7950 has 4,313 million transistors on a much larger 352 mm² die, with a density of just 12.3M / mm². The RX 560 XT is more efficient in every metric, but the HD 7950 still has the bandwidth advantage.

The Verdict

If you prioritize compute performance, modern API compatibility, and efficiency, the RX 560 XT is the data-backed choice. Its 4.394 TFLOPS FP32, Vulkan 1.3 support, and DirectX 12 (12_0) capability make it more future-proof for modern games and GPGPU tasks. The 0.5% average score lead over the HD 7950 is negligible, but the wins in pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 are substantial. The RX 560 XT also requires only one 6-pin power connector and a 450 W suggested PSU, compared to the HD 7950's two 6-pin connectors and 550 W suggested PSU.

If you need maximum memory bandwidth or a card that performs well in Metal-based workloads, the HD 7950 is the pick. Its 240.0 GB/s bandwidth is a real advantage, and its Geekbench Metal score of 33,951 shows it is still competitive in that specific API. The HD 7950 also has a higher average score than the RX 560 XT in one rival comparison: the HD 7950 is 0.5% ahead of the RX 560 XT in its own nearestRivals list, while the RX 560 XT is 0.5% ahead of the HD 7950 in its list. That symmetry highlights how close they are.

For most users, the RX 560 XT is the safer recommendation. It offers better compute, lower power draw, and a smaller footprint. The HD 7950 is only worth choosing if you specifically need that 384-bit memory bus or are locked into a Metal-only environment. Neither card is a bad choice, but the RX 560 XT's architectural advantages are hard to ignore.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark array is empty, so there are no direct same-test comparisons. However, the aggregate data provides clear signals. The RX 560 XT's average score of 34,133 places it 0.5% above the HD 7950's 33,951. In the RX 560 XT's nearestRivals list, the HD 7950 appears with a deltaPct of 0.5%, meaning the RX 560 XT is 0.5% faster on average. In the HD 7950's nearestRivals list, the RX 560 XT appears with a deltaPct of -0.5%, meaning the HD 7950 is 0.5% slower. These two numbers confirm the aggregate tie.

The real separation comes from individual metrics. The RX 560 XT's FP32 of 4.394 TFLOPS is 1.527 TFLOPS higher than the HD 7950's 2.867 TFLOPS, a 53% advantage. The pixel rate difference is 13.63 GPixel/s in favor of the RX 560 XT (39.23 vs 25.60), and the texture rate difference is 47.7 GTexel/s in favor of the RX 560 XT (137.3 vs 89.60). These are not marginal gains; they are category-level wins.

The HD 7950's counterattack is memory bandwidth. Its 240.0 GB/s is 16.0 GB/s higher than the RX 560 XT's 224.0 GB/s, a 7% advantage. The HD 7950 also has a wider bus at 384-bit versus 256-bit, which can reduce latency in memory-bound tasks. In the Geekbench Metal test, the HD 7950 scores 33,951, which is actually higher than the RX 560 XT's OpenCL score of 31,387, though the tests are not directly comparable. The RX 560 XT's Vulkan score of 36,879 is the highest single benchmark number in the dataset for either card.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher raw compute performance?

A: The RX 560 XT. Its FP32 throughput is 4.394 TFLOPS, while the HD 7950 delivers 2.867 TFLOPS. That is a 53% advantage for the RX 560 XT.

Q: Does the HD 7950 have any advantage in memory?

A: Yes. The HD 7950 has a 384-bit bus providing 240.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the RX 560 XT uses a 256-bit bus for 224.0 GB/s. The HD 7950's bandwidth is 7% higher.

Q: Which card supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The RX 560 XT. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The HD 7950 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RX 560 XT averages 34,133, and the HD 7950 averages 33,951. The RX 560 XT is 0.5% ahead.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient?

A: The RX 560 XT. It has a 150 W TDP and requires a 450 W suggested PSU with one 6-pin connector. The HD 7950 has a 200 W TDP and requires a 550 W suggested PSU with two 6-pin connectors.

Q: What are the memory capacities of each card?

A: The RX 560 XT has 4 GB of GDDR5, and the HD 7950 has 3 GB of GDDR5.

Architecture Differences

The RX 560 XT is built on GCN 4.0, codenamed Ellesmere, part of the Polaris (RX 500) generation. It uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 5,700 million transistors into a 232 mm² die. The HD 7950 is built on GCN 1.0, codenamed Tahiti, part of the Southern Islands (HD 7900) generation. It uses a 28 nm process from TSMC, with 4,313 million transistors on a 352 mm² die. The transistor density difference is significant: 24.6M / mm² for the RX 560 XT versus 12.3M / mm² for the HD 7950.

The architecture generations differ in API support. The RX 560 XT supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7950 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The RX 560 XT also has FP16 performance rated at 4.394 TFLOPS (1:1), while the HD 7950 has no listed FP16 capability. The RX 560 XT's shading units (1,792), TMUs (112), and ROPs (32) are identical to the HD 7950's, but the newer architecture extracts more performance from each unit.

The display outputs differ as well. The RX 560 XT has 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the HD 7950 has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2. The RX 560 XT's newer display standard supports higher resolutions and refresh rates. The production status for both is end-of-life, but the RX 560 XT was released on 2019-03-12, while the HD 7950 was released on 2012-01-30.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two cards:

• Process Node: 14 nm (RX 560 XT) vs 28 nm (HD 7950)
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries (RX 560 XT) vs TSMC (HD 7950)
• Transistors: 5,700 million (RX 560 XT) vs 4,313 million (HD 7950)
• Die Size: 232 mm² (RX 560 XT) vs 352 mm² (HD 7950)
• Transistor Density: 24.6M / mm² (RX 560 XT) vs 12.3M / mm² (HD 7950)
• Base Clock: 1074 MHz (RX 560 XT) vs not listed (HD 7950)
• Boost Clock: 1226 MHz (RX 560 XT) vs not listed (HD 7950)
• Memory Clock: 1750 MHz / 7 Gbps effective (RX 560 XT) vs 1250 MHz / 5 Gbps effective (HD 7950)
• Memory Size: 4 GB (RX 560 XT) vs 3 GB (HD 7950)
• Memory Bus Width: 256 bit (RX 560 XT) vs 384 bit (HD 7950)
• Memory Bandwidth: 224.0 GB/s (RX 560 XT) vs 240.0 GB/s (HD 7950)
• Pixel Rate: 39.23 GPixel/s (RX 560 XT) vs 25.60 GPixel/s (HD 7950)
• Texture Rate: 137.3 GTexel/s (RX 560 XT) vs 89.60 GTexel/s (HD 7950)
• FP32: 4.394 TFLOPS (RX 560 XT) vs 2.867 TFLOPS (HD 7950)
• FP16: 4.394 TFLOPS (RX 560 XT) vs not listed (HD 7950)
• TDP: 150 W (RX 560 XT) vs 200 W (HD 7950)
• Power Connectors: 1x 6-pin (RX 560 XT) vs 2x 6-pin (HD 7950)
• Suggested PSU: 450 W (RX 560 XT) vs 550 W (HD 7950)
• Display Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a (RX 560 XT) vs 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2 (HD 7950)
• DirectX Support: 12 (12_0) (RX 560 XT) vs 12 (11_1) (HD 7950)
• Vulkan Support: 1.3 (RX 560 XT) vs 1.2.170 (HD 7950)
• Dimensions: 241 mm / 9.5 inches length (RX 560 XT) vs 278 mm / 10.9 inches length, 111 mm / 4.4 inches height, 38 mm / 1.5 inches width (HD 7950)
• Release Date: 2019-03-12 (RX 560 XT) vs 2012-01-30 (HD 7950)
• Launch MSRP: Not listed (RX 560 XT) vs 449 USD (HD 7950)