AMD Radeon HD 7970M vs AMD Radeon RX 460 Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 460 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M represent two very different eras of AMD mobile and desktop graphics. The RX 460 is a modern, efficient entry-level card built on a 14 nm process, while the HD 7970M is a legacy high-end laptop part from a 28 nm generation. Benchmark data shows a single head-to-head comparison, with the RX 460 taking a narrow victory in OpenCL performance, though the HD 7970M holds its own in raw specification counts. This analysis breaks down what the numbers mean for each product.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the available benchmark data, the AMD Radeon RX 460 is the better performer in the one test where both cards appear: Geekbench OpenCL. The RX 460 scores 17,855 points, which is 4.9% higher than the HD 7970M’s 17,019 points. This is a decisive, if modest, win — the deltaPct is small enough that real-world differences would be minor, but the direction is clear. The RX 460 also holds a higher percentile rank among all GPUs at 62 compared to the HD 7970M’s 60, reinforcing its slight overall edge.

However, the HD 7970M is not obsolete. Its average benchmark score of 17,019 places it within 1.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (17,208) according to nearestRivals data, and it is only 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17,083). This suggests that despite its age, the HD 7970M remains competitive with much newer mainstream parts in compute workloads. For a user with an existing MXM-based laptop, the HD 7970M is still a viable option, but for any new build or upgrade path, the RX 460’s newer architecture and lower power draw make it the more sensible choice. The RX 460 wins the only direct comparison, so it takes the overall recommendation.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on completely different foundations. The RX 460 uses the Baffin chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It contains 3,000 million transistors on a die size of 123 mm², yielding a transistor density of 24.4 million per square millimeter. The HD 7970M, in contrast, uses the Wimbledon chip with GCN 1.0 architecture, built by TSMC on a 28 nm process. It packs 2,800 million transistors into a much larger 212 mm² die, resulting in a lower density of 13.2 million per square millimeter. The RX 460’s newer node allows it to fit more transistors per area, which is a key reason for its efficiency advantage.

Core configuration also differs significantly. The HD 7970M has more shading units (1,280 vs. 896), more texture mapping units (80 vs. 56), and double the render output units (32 vs. 16). This gives it a higher theoretical pixel rate of 27.20 GPixel/s compared to the RX 460’s 19.20 GPixel/s. However, the RX 460 counters with a slightly higher texture rate of 67.20 GTexel/s versus 68.00 GTexel/s for the HD 7970M — nearly identical. In raw FP32 compute, the HD 7970M edges ahead with 2.176 TFLOPS versus 2.150 TFLOPS. The RX 460 supports FP16 at 2.150 TFLOPS, while the HD 7970M has no listed FP16 capability.

Memory systems are another differentiator. Both cards have 2 GB of GDDR5, but the HD 7970M uses a 256-bit bus width, delivering 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 460 is limited to a 128-bit bus, yielding 112.0 GB/s. The HD 7970M’s wider bus is a clear advantage for bandwidth-intensive tasks. The RX 460’s memory runs at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective), while the HD 7970M runs at 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective), but the bus width difference overrides the clock speed advantage.

Feature support shows the generational gap. The RX 460 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7970M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The RX 460 also has a much lower TDP of 75 W versus 100 W for the HD 7970M, and it uses a standard PCIe 3.0 x8 interface with no power connectors, while the HD 7970M is an MXM-B (3.0) module designed for portable devices. The RX 460 is a dual-slot card measuring 170 mm (6.7 inches) with display outputs including DVI, HDMI 2.0b, and DisplayPort 1.4a, whereas the HD 7970M’s display outputs are portable-device dependent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL. In this test, the RX 460 scores 17,855, and the HD 7970M scores 17,019. The deltaPct is 4.9% in favor of the RX 460. This is a meaningful but not overwhelming margin — it indicates that the RX 460 is roughly 5% faster in general-purpose compute workloads. Given that the HD 7970M has a theoretical FP32 advantage (2.176 vs. 2.150 TFLOPS) and significantly more memory bandwidth, this result is somewhat surprising. It suggests that the RX 460’s newer GCN 4.0 architecture and higher memory clock (7 Gbps effective vs. 4.8 Gbps) more than compensate for its narrower bus and fewer cores in this specific workload.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the RX 460’s average benchmark score across all tests is 18,373, which includes Geekbench Metal (17,065) and Geekbench Vulkan (20,198) results. The HD 7970M only has the single OpenCL score, so its average of 17,019 is identical to that one result. The RX 460’s Vulkan score of 20,198 is particularly strong, suggesting excellent modern API performance. The HD 7970M’s nearestRivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17,037, deltaPct -0.1), meaning the HD 7970M is essentially tied with that dual-GPU flagship. For the RX 460, its nearestRivals include the Intel Arc A770M (18,383, deltaPct -0.1), which is a much newer high-end mobile part, showing how close the RX 460 comes to that level.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RX 460 has an average benchmark score of 18,373, while the HD 7970M has an average of 17,019. The RX 460’s score is 7.9% higher.

Q: How much faster is the RX 460 in the OpenCL test?

A: The RX 460 scores 17,855 versus 17,019 for the HD 7970M, a deltaPct of 4.9% in favor of the RX 460.

Q: Does the HD 7970M have any advantages in specifications?

A: Yes. The HD 7970M has more shading units (1,280 vs. 896), more TMUs (80 vs. 56), more ROPs (32 vs. 16), a wider memory bus (256-bit vs. 128-bit), and higher memory bandwidth (153.6 GB/s vs. 112.0 GB/s). It also has a higher pixel rate of 27.20 GPixel/s and slightly higher FP32 compute at 2.176 TFLOPS.

Q: Which card supports newer APIs?

A: The RX 460 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7970M supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The RX 460 has a TDP of 75 W with a suggested PSU of 250 W and no power connectors. The HD 7970M has a TDP of 100 W and no listed suggested PSU. The RX 460 is a dual-slot PCIe card, while the HD 7970M is an MXM Module.

Q: How do these cards compare to other GPUs in their respective rival groups?

A: The RX 460 is within 0.1% of the Intel Arc A770M (18,383) and 1.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18,159). The HD 7970M is within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17,037) and 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17,083).

Where Each One Wins

The RX 460 wins in the direct comparison and in overall benchmark averages. Its strengths lie in modern API support (Vulkan 1.3, DirectX 12 (12_0)), higher memory clock speed (7 Gbps effective), and lower power consumption (75 W TDP). It is the better choice for a desktop system where efficiency and compatibility with current software are priorities. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 20,198 is particularly notable, indicating strong performance in modern graphics APIs. The RX 460’s small form factor (170 mm length, dual-slot) and display outputs (DVI, HDMI 2.0b, DisplayPort 1.4a) make it easy to integrate into standard systems.

The HD 7970M wins in theoretical raw specifications. It has more shading units, more TMUs, more ROPs, a wider memory bus, and higher memory bandwidth. Its FP32 compute of 2.176 TFLOPS is slightly higher than the RX 460’s 2.150 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate of 27.20 GPixel/s is significantly higher. This makes it potentially better suited for tasks that are bandwidth-limited or that scale well with raw core counts, despite its lower benchmark scores. The HD 7970M’s MXM-B (3.0) form factor also makes it the only option for users with compatible laptop chassis, where the RX 460 cannot be used at all.

For gaming, the data is mixed. The RX 460’s higher OpenCL score and much higher Vulkan score suggest it handles newer game engines better. The HD 7970M’s superior texture rate (68.00 GTexel/s vs. 67.20 GTexel/s) is nearly identical, so neither has an edge there. However, the HD 7970M’s bandwidth advantage (153.6 GB/s vs. 112.0 GB/s) could help in older titles or high-resolution textures. For compute workloads like OpenCL, the RX 460 is 4.9% faster. For users who prioritize power efficiency and modern features, the RX 460 is the clear winner. For users who need an MXM module or who rely on raw memory bandwidth, the HD 7970M remains relevant despite its age.