AMD Radeon HD 7950 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a stark generational contrast. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile is in a completely different performance class than the AMD Radeon HD 7950. The database shows the RTX 5090 Mobile achieving an average benchmark score of 45152, while the HD 7950 records 33951. That difference is substantial, but the gap becomes far more pronounced when examining individual test categories.

The RTX 5090 Mobile dominates every available metric in the database. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the NVIDIA part scores 5871 points, a result that reflects modern graphics architecture optimized for current API workloads. The HD 7950 has no comparable 3DMark result recorded, which limits direct comparison in that specific test. However, the Geekbench results tell a clearer story. The RTX 5090 Mobile posts 201834 in Geekbench OpenCL and 198405 in Geekbench Vulkan. The HD 7950 only has a Geekbench Metal score of 33951, which is a different API entirely, but the magnitude of difference (roughly 5.9 times higher for the NVIDIA part in raw numbers) indicates a massive compute advantage for the modern mobile GPU.

PassMark results reinforce this dominance. The RTX 5090 Mobile achieves a PassMark G3D score of 30034, while the HD 7950 has no G3D score listed; its only benchmark is the Geekbench Metal result. The NVIDIA GPU also records 13401 in PassMark GPU Compute, 1057 in PassMark G2D, and varying DirectX scores: 324 in DX9, 269 in DX11, 183 in DX10, and 138 in DX12. These numbers show a capable legacy API performer, though the DX12 result is notably lower than DX9, which is characteristic of newer architectures that prioritize modern rendering paths. The HD 7950's absence from all PassMark tests means the database cannot provide a direct score-for-score comparison there.

Looking at the nearest rivals contextualizes the RTX 5090 Mobile's standing. The database places the NVIDIA part at the 84th percentile among all GPUs. Its closest competitor is the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT with an average score of 45384, which is 0.5% higher than the RTX 5090 Mobile. The Intel Arc A730M trails by 1% at 45592, the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation is 1.8% behind at 45972, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is 0.8% lower at 44795. These deltas are all within roughly 2%, meaning the RTX 5090 Mobile sits in a tight competitive cluster with those desktop and workstation parts.

The HD 7950, by contrast, sits at the 78th percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 480 at 33997 (0.1% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 7700S at 33849 (0.3% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT at 34133 (0.5% higher), and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB at 34154 (0.6% higher). The HD 7950's average score of 33951 is remarkably close to these cards, all within 1% of each other. This indicates that while the HD 7950 is an old architecture, its single recorded benchmark places it in a performance band that includes much newer mid-range parts.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5090 Mobile wins in every category where both GPUs have recorded data. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5871 demonstrates strong modern API performance, and the Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores (201834 and 198405 respectively) show exceptional compute throughput for both general-purpose and graphics workloads. The PassMark suite reveals a balanced profile: the G3D score of 30034 indicates strong rasterization performance, while the GPU Compute score of 13401 shows respectable parallel processing capability. The G2D score of 1057 covers 2D desktop workloads, which is a minor but present advantage.

The HD 7950's only recorded benchmark is Geekbench Metal, scoring 33951. This means the database cannot confirm wins in any other category for the AMD part. However, its presence in the 78th percentile, with nearest rivals like the RX 480 and RX 7700S within 0.6%, suggests it remains competitive in specific legacy or Metal-based workloads. The Metal score itself is notable because it represents Apple's graphics API, and the HD 7950's ability to post a score similar to much newer cards in that environment is a point in its favor. Still, with only one data point, the HD 7950 cannot claim victory in any multi-test comparison.

The RTX 5090 Mobile's wins are quantitative and broad. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA part outperforms the HD 7950's Metal score by roughly 5.9 times. In Vulkan, the gap is similar. The 3DMark Steel Nomad result, while not directly comparable to any HD 7950 score, indicates that the modern GPU handles DX12 titles with far greater efficiency. The PassMark scores, though absent for the AMD card, provide a complete picture for the NVIDIA part across multiple DirectX versions and compute tasks.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile is the superior GPU by every measurable metric in the database. Its average benchmark score of 45152 is 33% higher than the HD 7950's 33951. The RTX 5090 Mobile also sits at a higher percentile (84th versus 78th) among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are modern workstation and high-end consumer cards, whereas the HD 7950's rivals are older or mid-range parts.

For users choosing between these two, the decision hinges on context. The RTX 5090 Mobile is a current-generation mobile GPU with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, 5 nm process, and 24 GB of GDDR7 memory. It is designed for modern gaming and compute workloads, with support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. The HD 7950 is an end-of-life desktop card from 2012, built on 28 nm GCN 1.0, with 3 GB of GDDR5. It supports DirectX 12 (11_1), Vulkan 1.2.170, and OpenGL 4.6. The RTX 5090 Mobile is the clear choice for anyone running contemporary applications.

The HD 7950, however, is not without merit in historical or specific-use contexts. Its Geekbench Metal score of 33951 places it within 1% of the RX 480, RX 7700S, RX 560 XT, and RTX A2000 12 GB. That is a remarkable result for a card of its age, and it suggests the HD 7950 can still handle certain Metal-based workloads respectably. But with no other benchmark data recorded, the HD 7950's overall standing is based on a single test, making it far less versatile.

The verdict is straightforward. Pick the RTX 5090 Mobile for any modern workload, whether gaming, content creation, or compute. Pick the HD 7950 only if the task specifically requires a legacy card with proven Metal performance, or if the system constraints demand a dual-slot, 2x 6-pin powered desktop card with a 550 W suggested PSU. Those are narrow conditions, and the data does not support any other conclusion.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile than the AMD Radeon HD 7950 in average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5090 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 45152, while the HD 7950 scores 33951. That is a 33% higher average score for the NVIDIA part.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon HD 7950 beat the RTX 5090 Mobile in any benchmark?

A: The database records only one benchmark for the HD 7950: Geekbench Metal with a score of 33951. The RTX 5090 Mobile has no Metal score, so no direct comparison exists. In all other recorded categories, the RTX 5090 Mobile has scores and the HD 7950 does not.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the RTX 5090 Mobile according to the database?

A: The nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (0.5% higher average score), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (0.8% lower), Intel Arc A730M (1% lower), and NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation (1.8% lower).

Q: What is the closest rival to the HD 7950?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 480 is the closest, with an average score 0.1% higher than the HD 7950. The RX 7700S is 0.3% lower, the RX 560 XT is 0.5% higher, and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB is 0.6% higher.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the AMD Radeon HD 7950?

A: The launch MSRP is 449 USD. The RTX 5090 Mobile has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The RTX 5090 Mobile ranks in the 84th percentile, while the HD 7950 ranks in the 78th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from entirely different eras of graphics design. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile uses the GB203 chip based on Blackwell 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It contains 45,600 million transistors on a 378 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 120.6 million per mm². The HD 7950 uses the Tahiti chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, also from TSMC but on a 28 nm process. It packs 4,313 million transistors on a 352 mm² die, with a density of 12.3 million per mm². The density difference (roughly 9.8 times) reflects the process node advancement.

The RTX 5090 Mobile features 10496 shading units, 328 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output pipelines. It also includes 82 ray tracing cores and 328 tensor cores, making it a fully featured modern GPU for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI workloads. The HD 7950 has 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with no ray tracing or tensor cores. This means the NVIDIA part has roughly 5.9 times the shading units, 2.9 times the TMUs, and 3.5 times the ROPs.

Clock speeds differ markedly. The RTX 5090 Mobile runs at a base clock of 990 MHz and a boost clock of 1515 MHz. The HD 7950 has no base or boost clock recorded in the database. Memory clocks also differ: the RTX 5090 Mobile uses 1750 MHz with 28 Gbps effective, while the HD 7950 uses 1250 MHz with 5 Gbps effective.

The API support reflects their generations. The RTX 5090 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. The HD 7950 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), Vulkan 1.2.170, and OpenGL 4.6. The NVIDIA part also has a 1:1 FP16 to FP32 ratio, with both at 31.80 TFLOPS, while the HD 7950 has no FP16 data recorded.

Specification Differences

Memory configuration is a major differentiator. The RTX 5090 Mobile has 24 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD 7950 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, providing 240.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA part has 8 times the memory capacity and 3.7 times the bandwidth.

Compute throughput is similarly lopsided. The RTX 5090 Mobile achieves 31.80 TFLOPS FP32, 169.7 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 496.9 GTexel/s texture rate. The HD 7950 achieves 2.867 TFLOPS FP32, 25.60 GPixel/s, and 89.60 GTexel/s. The RTX 5090 Mobile is 11.1 times faster in FP32, 6.6 times faster in pixel throughput, and 5.5 times faster in texture throughput.

Power and physical specifications differ. The RTX 5090 Mobile has a TDP of 95 W, is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors, and uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface. The HD 7950 has a 200 W TDP, is dual-slot, requires 2x 6-pin power connectors, suggests a 550 W PSU, and uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The HD 7950 measures 278 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 38 mm in width. The RTX 5090 Mobile has no dimensions recorded.

Display outputs also differ. The RTX 5090 Mobile is portable device dependent, meaning outputs vary by laptop design. The HD 7950 offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2. Production status shows the RTX 5090 Mobile as active with a release date of 2025-03-26, while the HD 7950 is end-of-life with a release date of 2012-01-30. The HD 7950's predecessor is Northern Islands and successor is Sea Islands; the RTX 5090 Mobile's predecessor is GeForce 40 Mobile with no successor listed.