AMD Radeon HD 7970 vs AMD Radeon R9 M295X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 scores 34,541 points, while the AMD Radeon R9 M295X scores 22,858 points. That gives the HD 7970 a 51.1% advantage, a massive gap for two GPUs with the same 2,048 shading units and 128 texture mapping units.

This is not a close contest. In OpenCL compute workloads, the HD 7970 outperforms the R9 M295X by more than half its own score. The R9 M295X would need to improve by over 50 percent just to tie. Looking at the nearest rivals for each card puts the margin in perspective. The HD 7970 sits between the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB (34,561, just 0.1% ahead) and the NVIDIA TITAN V (34,355, 0.5% behind). The R9 M295X, by contrast, lands near the AMD Radeon RX 570 (28,766, 0.6% behind) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (28,874, 1% behind). The HD 7970 is competing in a higher performance neighborhood entirely.

The R9 M295X does have additional benchmark entries in the database for Metal and Vulkan, but the HD 7970 has no corresponding scores in those APIs, so no cross-comparison is possible. The only shared metric is OpenCL, and there the older card wins outright.

Where Each One Wins

The HD 7970 wins the only head-to-head benchmark, so it takes the compute crown. OpenCL is a general-purpose GPU compute API, and the HD 7970's 3.789 TFLOPS FP32 throughput versus the R9 M295X's 2.961 TFLOPS shows why. That is a 28% raw compute advantage, and it shows up directly in the 51.1% benchmark margin. The HD 7970 also has higher pixel rate (29.60 GPixel/s vs 23.14 GPixel/s) and texture rate (118.4 GTexel/s vs 92.54 GTexel/s), so it should win in rasterization-heavy tasks as well, assuming the rest of the system can feed it.

The R9 M295X wins in portability and API support. It is an MXM module, meaning it is designed for laptops and compact systems where a full-length dual-slot card like the HD 7970 (275 mm, 10.8 inches long) will not fit. The R9 M295X also supports DirectX 12 (12_0) fully, while the HD 7970 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_1). For Vulkan, both support 1.2.170, and OpenGL is 4.6 on both. The R9 M295X has 4 GB of memory versus 3 GB, which helps in texture-heavy scenarios at high resolutions, though its 256-bit bus and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth are significantly narrower than the HD 7970's 384-bit bus and 264.0 GB/s.

In short: the HD 7970 is the compute and raw performance winner, while the R9 M295X is the mobile-friendly option with a newer DirectX feature level and more memory capacity.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The HD 7970 has an average benchmark score of 34,541, placing it in the 79th percentile of all GPUs. The R9 M295X averages 28,580, which is the 74th percentile.

Q: How much faster is the HD 7970 in OpenCL?

A: The HD 7970 scores 34,541 versus 22,858, a 51.1% lead. That is the only shared benchmark between the two cards.

Q: Does the R9 M295X support any APIs that the HD 7970 lacks?

A: The R9 M295X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the HD 7970 only supports DirectX 12 (11_1). Both cards support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The HD 7970 has 264.0 GB/s over a 384-bit bus, while the R9 M295X has 160.0 GB/s over a 256-bit bus. The HD 7970 also has faster memory at 5.5 Gbps effective versus 5 Gbps.

Q: Are both cards the same physical size?

A: No. The HD 7970 is a dual-slot card measuring 275 mm (10.8 inches) long, 111 mm (4.4 inches) high, and 38 mm (1.5 inches) wide. The R9 M295X is an MXM module with no listed dimensions, designed for portable devices.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor count?

A: The R9 M295X has 5,000 million transistors on a 366 mm² die, while the HD 7970 has 4,313 million on a 352 mm² die. Despite this, the HD 7970 delivers higher compute throughput.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification except shading units, TMUs, ROPs, TDP, and manufacturing process.

• Chip and architecture: HD 7970 uses Tahiti (GCN 1.0, Southern Islands generation). R9 M295X uses Amethyst (GCN 3.0, Gem System generation).
• Transistors: HD 7970 has 4,313 million. R9 M295X has 5,000 million.
• Die size: HD 7970 is 352 mm². R9 M295X is 366 mm².
• Transistor density: HD 7970 is 12.3M / mm². R9 M295X is 13.7M / mm².
• Memory size: HD 7970 has 3 GB. R9 M295X has 4 GB.
• Memory clock: HD 7970 runs at 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective). R9 M295X runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective).
• Memory bus width: HD 7970 has 384 bit. R9 M295X has 256 bit.
• Memory bandwidth: HD 7970 has 264.0 GB/s. R9 M295X has 160.0 GB/s.
• Pixel rate: HD 7970 is 29.60 GPixel/s. R9 M295X is 23.14 GPixel/s.
• Texture rate: HD 7970 is 118.4 GTexel/s. R9 M295X is 92.54 GTexel/s.
• FP32 performance: HD 7970 is 3.789 TFLOPS. R9 M295X is 2.961 TFLOPS.
• FP16 performance: HD 7970 has no listed FP16. R9 M295X has 2.961 TFLOPS (1:1).
• Slot width: HD 7970 is dual-slot. R9 M295X is an MXM module.
• Power connectors: HD 7970 requires 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. R9 M295X has none (portable device).
• Suggested PSU: HD 7970 recommends 600 W. R9 M295X has no suggestion.
• Bus interface: HD 7970 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. R9 M295X uses MXM-B (3.0).
• Display outputs: HD 7970 has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.2. R9 M295X is portable device dependent.
• DirectX support: HD 7970 is 12 (11_1). R9 M295X is 12 (12_0).
• Release date: HD 7970 released 2012-01-08. R9 M295X released 2014-11-22.
• Launch MSRP: HD 7970 was 549 USD. R9 M295X has no launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

Both cards use TSMC's 28 nm process, but they represent different generations of Graphics Core Next. The HD 7970 is GCN 1.0, the first iteration of the architecture, built on the Tahiti chip. The R9 M295X is GCN 3.0, a more refined design on the Amethyst chip. GCN 3.0 brought architectural improvements, including better geometry processing and a revised memory controller, but the specific gains are not documented in the database.

The transistor counts tell an interesting story. The R9 M295X packs 5,000 million transistors versus 4,313 million, a 16% increase, yet its FP32 throughput is lower (2.961 TFLOPS vs 3.789 TFLOPS). The R9 M295X also has a smaller memory bus (256 bit vs 384 bit) and lower bandwidth (160.0 GB/s vs 264.0 GB/s). The architectural efficiency of GCN 3.0 does not translate into raw performance wins here; it appears the R9 M295X was designed with power and mobility constraints in mind, not maximum throughput.

The R9 M295X does support FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, meaning it can process half-precision data at the same rate as full precision. The HD 7970 has no FP16 figure listed, which likely means it lacks dedicated FP16 throughput. This matters for workloads that use half-precision arithmetic, but the OpenCL benchmark, which is FP32-oriented, still favors the HD 7970 heavily.

Both cards have identical shading unit counts (2,048), TMU counts (128), and ROP counts (32). The difference is in clock speeds and memory configuration. The HD 7970's memory runs at 1375 MHz versus 1250 MHz, and its wider bus more than compensates for the R9 M295X's larger frame buffer. The 3 GB versus 4 GB capacity difference matters only when a workload exceeds 3 GB, which is uncommon for the era but possible with high-resolution textures.

The HD 7970 is a desktop card with standard PCIe 3.0 x16 connectivity and a 250 W TDP. The R9 M295X is an MXM module with the same 250 W TDP but no power connectors and no suggested PSU, because it is meant to be powered through the host system. This makes the R9 M295X a drop-in upgrade for compatible laptops, while the HD 7970 requires a full desktop slot and external power.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. If you need raw compute performance, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 is the clear choice. It leads by 51.1% in OpenCL, has 28% higher FP32 throughput, and offers 65% more memory bandwidth. It also sits in the 79th percentile of all GPUs, five points above the R9 M295X. The HD 7970's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB and TITAN V, which places it in solid professional territory.

The R9 M295X is not without merit, but its advantages are contextual. It has 4 GB of memory, supports DirectX 12 (12_0), and comes in an MXM form factor for portable systems. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 570 and RX 6800M, which are more recent mainstream parts. If you are upgrading a laptop with an MXM slot and need a drop-in replacement, the R9 M295X is the only one of the two that fits. If you are building a desktop or have a PCIe slot available, the HD 7970 is faster in every measurable way.

The R9 M295X's newer architecture (GCN 3.0) and higher transistor count do not overcome the HD 7970's clock and memory advantages. The HD 7970 is older (2012 vs 2014), but it was a high-end desktop part, while the R9 M295X was a mobile part with power delivery constraints. The launch MSRP of 549 USD for the HD 7970 reflects its original flagship positioning, though both cards are now end-of-life.

For compute workloads, gaming at high resolutions, or any task that benefits from memory bandwidth, the HD 7970 is the better card. For portable systems, DirectX 12 Ultimate compatibility, or scenarios where 4 GB of VRAM is required, the R9 M295X is the only choice. The database records one head-to-head result, and the winner is not close.