AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs AMD Radeon RX 570 Comparison

AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs AMD Radeon RX 570

The database shows a clear generational shift between these two AMD graphics cards. The older AMD Radeon HD 7950, built on the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Tahiti chip, and the much newer AMD Radeon RX 570, based on the GCN 4.0 architecture with the Polaris 20 chip, are separated by over five years of development. While the HD 7950 holds a respectable 78th percentile ranking among all GPUs, the RX 570 sits slightly lower at the 74th percentile. However, the actual benchmark results tell a more nuanced story, with the newer card taking a decisive lead in the only directly comparable test. The data reveals that architectural maturity and process improvements matter more than raw transistor count or die size.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is the Geekbench Metal test, and the results are unambiguous. The AMD Radeon RX 570 scores 39,349 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 scores 33,951 points. This translates to a 13.7% lead for the RX 570, a substantial margin that reflects the five-year gap in architectural design between the two cards.

This single head-to-head result is the foundation for the entire comparison. The RX 570 wins the only shared test, giving it a 1-0 record in direct competition. The HD 7950 does not secure a win in any benchmark category. Looking at the broader database context, the HD 7950's average benchmark score of 33,951 places it in a tight cluster with the AMD Radeon RX 480 (33,997, a 0.1% difference), the AMD Radeon RX 7700S (33,849, a 0.3% difference), and the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT (34,133, a 0.5% difference). This proximity suggests the HD 7950 is competitive with mid-range cards from several generations later.

The RX 570's average benchmark score of 28,766 is dragged down by its inclusion of multiple tests beyond Geekbench Metal. Its individual scores show impressive variety: 42,752 in Geekbench Vulkan, 39,349 in Geekbench Metal, 32,084 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 880 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The Vulkan score is particularly strong, indicating the card's newer architecture handles modern APIs more efficiently. The HD 7950, by contrast, only has the single Metal score recorded.

In the nearest rival comparison, the RX 570 sits close to the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (28,874, a 0.4% difference) and the AMD Radeon RX 470 (28,996, a 0.8% difference). This placement suggests the RX 570 performs similarly to both a mobile flagship and its direct predecessor, reinforcing its position as a solid mid-range option from its era.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: the AMD Radeon RX 570 is the superior card. Its 13.7% advantage in the Geekbench Metal test is decisive, and it offers additional API support that the older card cannot match. The RX 570's newer architecture delivers better performance across the board, even though the HD 7950 holds a higher percentile ranking overall.

The HD 7950 is not without merit. Its 78th percentile ranking versus the RX 570's 74th percentile shows that the older card still holds its own in the broader database context. This is likely due to its 384-bit memory bus and 3 GB of GDDR5 memory, which provide strong bandwidth for its era. However, the direct comparison leaves no room for doubt: the RX 570 wins where it matters.

For users upgrading from the HD 7950 era, the RX 570 represents a meaningful performance jump. The newer card also brings modern feature support, including DirectX 12 (12_0) versus the HD 7950's DirectX 12 (11_1), and Vulkan 1.3 versus Vulkan 1.2.170. These API differences translate to better compatibility with contemporary games and applications.

The RX 570's lower power requirements (150 W TDP versus 200 W) and single 6-pin power connector (versus dual 6-pin) make it easier to install in a wider range of systems. Its smaller physical footprint (241 mm length versus 278 mm) also improves case compatibility. The data clearly favors the newer card for anyone building or upgrading a system today.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 570 wins in every direct comparison available. Its Geekbench Metal score of 39,349 versus 33,951 gives it a clear performance advantage. The card also demonstrates versatility across multiple benchmark types, with strong showings in Vulkan (42,752) and OpenCL (32,084), suggesting it handles diverse workloads effectively.

The RX 570's architectural advantages translate to real-world benefits. Its 2,048 shading units and 128 texture mapping units outnumber the HD 7950's 1,792 and 112, respectively. The newer card also achieves higher pixel rate (39.81 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s) and texture rate (159.2 GTexel/s versus 89.60 GTexel/s). Its FP32 performance of 5.095 TFLOPS nearly doubles the HD 7950's 2.867 TFLOPS.

The AMD Radeon HD 7950, despite losing the head-to-head, retains some advantages in the database. Its 384-bit memory bus provides 240.0 GB/s of bandwidth, slightly exceeding the RX 570's 224.0 GB/s on a 256-bit bus. The HD 7950 also has a higher transistor density advantage in terms of die size ratio, though this does not translate to performance. Its 78th percentile ranking suggests it remains relevant in specific legacy workloads.

The HD 7950's 3 GB of memory, while smaller than the RX 570's 4 GB, was generous for its time. The card's 28 nm process node and 352 mm² die size reflect the design constraints of its era. For users running older software that predates modern API requirements, the HD 7950 still functions adequately, as evidenced by its competitive standing near the RX 480 and RX 560 XT.

FAQ

Q: Which card performs better in the Geekbench Metal benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570 scores 39,349 points, which is 13.7% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7950's 33,951 points. This is the only directly comparable benchmark in the database.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon HD 7950 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The HD 7950's average score of 33,951 places it within 0.6% of the AMD Radeon RX 480, AMD Radeon RX 7700S, AMD Radeon RX 560 XT, and NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB, showing competitive performance against much newer hardware.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two cards?

A: The HD 7950 has a 384-bit memory bus providing 240.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 570 has a 256-bit bus providing 224.0 GB/s. Despite the older card's higher bandwidth, the RX 570 still wins in overall performance.

Q: Which card supports newer graphics APIs?

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

Q: How do the power requirements differ between these cards?

A: The HD 7950 has a 200 W TDP and requires two 6-pin power connectors, while the RX 570 has a 150 W TDP and requires a single 6-pin connector. The RX 570 also recommends a 450 W power supply versus 550 W for the HD 7950.

Q: What are the physical size differences between the two cards?

A: The HD 7950 measures 278 mm in length, while the RX 570 measures 241 mm. The HD 7950 is also 38 mm wide and 111 mm tall, while the RX 570's height and width are not recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two cards is substantial. The AMD Radeon HD 7950 uses the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Tahiti chip, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This older design packs 4,313 million transistors into a 352 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.3 million per square millimeter. The card operates with a memory clock of 1250 MHz, delivering 5 Gbps effective speed on its 3 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 384-bit bus.

The AMD Radeon RX 570 represents a significant leap forward with the GCN 4.0 architecture and Polaris 20 chip. Built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, this newer design contains 5,700 million transistors in a much smaller 232 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 24.6 million per square millimeter. The RX 570 features base and boost clocks of 1168 MHz and 1244 MHz respectively, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus carrying 4 GB of GDDR5.

The compute capabilities show the generational improvement clearly. The RX 570's 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs outpace the HD 7950's 1,792 shading units and 112 TMUs. Both cards have 32 ROPs, but the RX 570 achieves higher pixel and texture rates due to its higher clocks. The FP32 performance nearly doubles: 5.095 TFLOPS versus 2.867 TFLOPS. The RX 570 also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio (5.095 TFLOPS), while the HD 7950 has no recorded FP16 capability.

The manufacturing improvements are evident in efficiency. The RX 570 delivers superior performance while consuming 150 W versus the HD 7950's 200 W. The newer card also offers more modern display outputs, including HDMI 2.0b and three DisplayPort 1.4a connections, compared to the HD 7950's HDMI 1.4a and two mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. Both cards use PCIe 3.0 x16 interfaces and are dual-slot designs. Production status for both is end-of-life, with the HD 7950 releasing in January 2012 and the RX 570 in April 2017.