AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A and the AMD Radeon HD 7950 represent two very different eras of GPU design. The MX570 A is a modern, power-sipping mobile chip built for thin-and-light laptops, while the HD 7950 is a decade-old desktop behemoth that once anchored high-end gaming rigs. The database contains benchmark results for both, and the recorded data reveals a fascinating split: the MX570 A achieves a higher average benchmark score, but the HD 7950 has its own strengths in specific workload types. This analysis walks through the measured results, architectural differences, and the practical implications for each card.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A holds the overall performance crown. Its average benchmark score is 38,691, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 trails with an average of 33,951. This translates to a percentile ranking of 81 for the MX570 A versus 78 for the HD 7950 across all GPUs in the database. The MX570 A is the clear winner in raw compute throughput, which reflects its modern architecture and higher FP32 performance.

However, a closer look at the individual benchmark results shows the HD 7950 is not without merit. The database includes a Geekbench Metal result for the HD 7950 of 33,951, which indicates its continued viability in Apple-centric workflows. The MX570 A, by contrast, has no Metal benchmark recorded, but it posts strong scores in Geekbench OpenCL (39,780) and Geekbench Vulkan (37,601). For users who rely on OpenCL or Vulkan acceleration, the MX570 A is the superior choice. The HD 7950, with its older API support and no recorded Vulkan score, is better suited to legacy applications or Metal-based environments.

The wins break down by use case. For modern compute workloads, particularly those leveraging Vulkan or OpenCL, the MX570 A wins outright. For users locked into Metal-based software on older systems, the HD 7950 remains functional, though its score is lower than the MX570 A's average. In terms of raw performance per watt, the MX570 A is in a different league entirely, though the data does not include efficiency metrics directly. The MX570 A also wins on portability, being an integrated form factor with no power connectors, while the HD 7950 is a dual-slot desktop card requiring two 6-pin connectors and a 550 W power supply.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A uses the GA107SB chip built on Ampere architecture, fabricated on Samsung's 8 nm process. It packs 8,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 43.5 million per square millimeter. The AMD Radeon HD 7950, by contrast, uses the Tahiti chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, built on TSMC's 28 nm process. It contains 4,313 million transistors spread across a much larger 352 mm² die, resulting in a density of just 12.3 million per square millimeter.

The memory subsystems highlight the generational gap. The MX570 A uses 2 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD 7950 uses 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 240.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Despite having less total memory, the HD 7950's wider bus and higher bandwidth make it superior for memory-intensive tasks that fit within its 3 GB capacity. The MX570 A compensates with a much higher memory clock: 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) versus 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the HD 7950.

Compute resources also differ significantly. The MX570 A has 2,048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. It also includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores, features entirely absent from the HD 7950. The HD 7950 has 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Its pixel rate is 25.60 GPixel/s, while the MX570 A reaches 36.96 GPixel/s. However, the HD 7950's texture rate is 89.60 GTexel/s, which beats the MX570 A's 73.92 GTexel/s. The MX570 A's FP32 throughput is 4.731 TFLOPS, and it matches that in FP16 with a 1:1 ratio. The HD 7950's FP32 is 2.867 TFLOPS, with no recorded FP16 capability.

Power consumption is where the two diverge most dramatically. The MX570 A has a TDP of 25 W, making it suitable for integrated applications with no power connectors. The HD 7950 has a TDP of 200 W and requires two 6-pin power connectors. The MX570 A connects via PCIe 4.0 x8, while the HD 7950 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The MX570 A supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the HD 7950 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database does not include direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two GPUs. Instead, each card has its own recorded results, which can be compared indirectly. The MX570 A's Geekbench OpenCL score is 39,780, and its Vulkan score is 37,601. The HD 7950's only recorded benchmark is Geekbench Metal at 33,951. When comparing the MX570 A's OpenCL result to the HD 7950's Metal result, the MX570 A leads by 5,829 points, roughly 17% higher. Against the HD 7950's average, the MX570 A's OpenCL score is 5,829 points higher, and its Vulkan score is 3,650 points higher.

The MX570 A's average benchmark score of 38,691 places it 4,740 points ahead of the HD 7950's 33,951. This represents a difference of about 14%. The HD 7950's closest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 480, with an average score of 33,997 and a negligible delta of -0.1%, and the AMD Radeon RX 7700S at 33,849 with a delta of 0.3%. The MX570 A's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 580X at 38,706 (delta 0%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile at 38,349 (delta 0.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 at 38,299 (delta 1%).

The data indicates the MX570 A performs roughly on par with the AMD Radeon Pro 580X, a desktop-class workstation GPU, and slightly ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile. The HD 7950, on the other hand, sits in the same performance tier as the AMD Radeon RX 480, a much newer card, suggesting its age has not completely eroded its relevance. The MX570 A's modern architecture gives it a clear edge in raw compute, but the HD 7950's higher bandwidth and texture rate may benefit specific workloads, such as texture-heavy rendering or large data transfers.

The Verdict

For users seeking maximum compute performance in a modern, power-efficient package, the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 38,691 is significantly higher than the HD 7950's 33,951, and its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with current software. The MX570 A also offers ray tracing and tensor cores, features that are absent from the HD 7950 and that may become increasingly relevant in future applications.

The AMD Radeon HD 7950, while older and less powerful on average, still has a role for specific use cases. Its 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus provides 240.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than double the MX570 A's 96.00 GB/s. For workloads that are bandwidth-limited, such as certain data processing or legacy gaming at lower resolutions, the HD 7950 may hold an advantage. Its Metal benchmark score of 33,951 also indicates it remains functional in Apple-centric environments, where the MX570 A has no recorded Metal results.

The HD 7950's size and power requirements, however, are significant drawbacks. A 200 W TDP, dual-slot cooler, and 278 mm length make it unsuitable for compact builds. The MX570 A, with its 25 W TDP and integrated form factor, can fit into nearly any chassis. The data clearly favors the MX570 A for most users, but the HD 7950's higher bandwidth and texture rate ensure it is not entirely obsolete. The choice ultimately depends on whether raw compute or memory bandwidth is the priority.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A scores 38,691 on average, while the AMD Radeon HD 7950 scores 33,951. The MX570 A leads by 4,740 points.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon HD 7950 have any advantage over the MX570 A?

A: Yes, the HD 7950 has 240.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 96.00 GB/s for the MX570 A, and its texture rate of 89.60 GTexel/s exceeds the MX570 A's 73.92 GTexel/s.

Q: What benchmark results are recorded for each GPU?

A: The MX570 A has a Geekbench OpenCL score of 39,780 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 37,601. The HD 7950 has a Geekbench Metal score of 33,951.

Q: How do these GPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The MX570 A is within 1% of the AMD Radeon Pro 580X (delta 0%) and 0.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile. The HD 7950 is within 0.6% of the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB and 0.3% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7700S.

Q: Can the HD 7950 support modern APIs?

A: The HD 7950 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170, but lacks DirectX 12 Ultimate. The MX570 A supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The MX570 A has a 25 W TDP and requires no power connectors. The HD 7950 has a 200 W TDP and needs two 6-pin connectors, with a suggested power supply of 550 W.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every specification category. The MX570 A uses an 8 nm process from Samsung, while the HD 7950 uses a 28 nm process from TSMC. The MX570 A has 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, while the HD 7950 has 4,313 million transistors on a 352 mm² die. Transistor density is 43.5M per mm² for the MX570 A and 12.3M per mm² for the HD 7950.

Memory configurations diverge: the MX570 A has 2 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the HD 7950 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 240.0 GB/s bandwidth. Memory clocks are 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) for the MX570 A and 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the HD 7950.

Compute units differ in count and capability. The MX570 A has 2,048 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 16 RT cores, and 64 tensor cores. The HD 7950 has 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with no RT or tensor cores. Pixel rates are 36.96 GPixel/s for the MX570 A and 25.60 GPixel/s for the HD 7950. Texture rates are 73.92 GTexel/s and 89.60 GTexel/s, respectively. FP32 performance is 4.731 TFLOPS for the MX570 A versus 2.867 TFLOPS for the HD 7950. The MX570 A has 1:1 FP16 support, while the HD 7950 has no recorded FP16 capability.

Power and physical characteristics also differ. The MX570 A has a 25 W TDP and an integrated form factor with no power connectors. The HD 7950 has a 200 W TDP, a dual-slot design, two 6-pin connectors, and a suggested 550 W power supply. The MX570 A uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the HD 7950 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for the MX570 A, while the HD 7950 offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2. API support favors the MX570 A with DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, versus DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170 for the HD 7950. The HD 7950's launch MSRP was 449 USD.