AMD Radeon HD 8970M vs AMD Radeon RX 560X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a single direct comparison between these two mobile graphics solutions: the Geekbench OpenCL test. The results reveal a decisive victory for the older AMD Radeon HD 8970M, which scored 21,237 points against the AMD Radeon RX 560X's 17,020 points. This translates to a 24.8% performance advantage for the HD 8970M, a substantial margin that flips the expected narrative of newer hardware automatically outperforming its predecessor.

Contextualizing this score within the broader database rankings clarifies its significance. The HD 8970M's OpenCL result places it at the 66th percentile among all GPUs, while the RX 560X sits at the 62nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the HD 8970M include the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile at 21,379 points (a 0.7% deficit for the HD 8970M) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL at 21,153 points (a 0.4% lead for the HD 8970M). The RX 560X, by contrast, finds itself clustered near the AMD FirePro D500 at 18,533 points (a 0.5% deficit) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT at 18,685 points (a 0.3% deficit). The 24.8% separation between the two compared cards is far larger than the typical gaps seen among their respective nearest rivals, indicating that this is not a marginal difference but a fundamental performance tier gap.

The data also shows that the RX 560X does have a Vulkan benchmark score of 20,231, a test that was not run on the HD 8970M. This absence of comparative data prevents a direct head-to-head analysis in that API, but the OpenCL result remains the sole recorded metric where both cards were subjected to identical conditions. The win tally reflects this: one win for the HD 8970M, zero for the RX 560X.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent distinct generations of AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture, and the recorded specifications highlight the evolutionary leap between them. The HD 8970M is built on GCN 1.0, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the RX 560X employs GCN 4.0 on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This process shrink is significant: the newer card packs more transistors into a smaller area. The HD 8970M contains 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die, yielding a density of 13.2 million transistors per square millimeter. The RX 560X houses 3,000 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, achieving 24.4 million per square millimeter. This near-doubling of transistor density is a direct consequence of the smaller fabrication node.

The chip designs themselves differ fundamentally. The HD 8970M uses the Neptune chip, while the RX 560X uses Polaris 21. These are not iterative tweaks but distinct silicon layouts. The HD 8970M allocates its resources with 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. The RX 560X, despite having more transistors overall, configures them as 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. This is a striking divergence: the newer card has fewer of every execution unit type, yet achieves higher raw throughput in some metrics due to its elevated clock speeds. The HD 8970M runs at a base clock of 850 MHz and a boost of 900 MHz, whereas the RX 560X runs at 1,175 MHz base and 1,275 MHz boost. The clock advantage of roughly 325 to 375 MHz compensates for the reduced unit counts in certain workloads.

Memory architecture also differs substantially. Both cards feature 4 GB of GDDR5, but the HD 8970M utilizes a 256-bit bus width, delivering 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth at an effective memory clock of 4.8 Gbps. The RX 560X uses a narrower 128-bit bus, achieving 112.0 GB/s at 7 Gbps effective. The HD 8970M thus enjoys 37% more memory bandwidth, a critical advantage for texture-heavy and bandwidth-sensitive workloads. The RX 560X's higher effective memory speed partially compensates, but the wider bus of the older card remains a decisive specification difference.

API support follows the generational split. The HD 8970M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The RX 560X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The newer card offers a more modern DirectX feature level and a newer Vulkan revision, which may enable better driver optimization in current titles. However, the recorded benchmark data shows no scenario where this API advantage translates into a performance win.

The Verdict

The recorded data tells a clear story: the AMD Radeon HD 8970M is the faster GPU in the only benchmark where both were measured. Its 24.8% OpenCL lead over the RX 560X is not a marginal edge but a dominant one, placing it in a higher performance tier as reflected by its 66th percentile ranking versus the RX 560X's 62nd percentile. For compute-oriented tasks that stress OpenCL, the HD 8970M is the unequivocal choice.

However, the verdict is not entirely one-sided. The RX 560X offers advantages that the benchmark score does not capture. Its 14 nm process node and higher transistor density suggest better architectural efficiency. Its lower TDP of 75 W versus the HD 8970M's 100 W indicates that it achieves its performance with less power draw, which is a meaningful consideration for mobile platforms where thermal headroom and battery life matter. The RX 560X also supports newer API versions, including DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, which may provide future compatibility benefits. The HD 8970M's Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 11_1 are older revisions.

The RX 560X also has a recorded Vulkan benchmark score of 20,231, which is higher than its OpenCL score of 17,020. This suggests that the newer architecture may perform relatively better under Vulkan, though no comparable HD 8970M Vulkan score exists to confirm this. The HD 8970M's average benchmark score is 21,237 (from its single OpenCL run), while the RX 560X averages 18,626 across its two recorded tests. Even accounting for the RX 560X's stronger Vulkan showing, the HD 8970M's OpenCL dominance remains the headline statistic.

Specification Differences

The following specification fields differ between the two cards:

• Process Node: HD 8970M is 28 nm (TSMC); RX 560X is 14 nm (GlobalFoundries)
• Transistors: HD 8970M has 2,800 million; RX 560X has 3,000 million
• Die Size: HD 8970M is 212 mm²; RX 560X is 123 mm²
• Transistor Density: HD 8970M is 13.2M / mm²; RX 560X is 24.4M / mm²
• Base Clock: HD 8970M is 850 MHz; RX 560X is 1,175 MHz
• Boost Clock: HD 8970M is 900 MHz; RX 560X is 1,275 MHz
• Memory Clock: HD 8970M is 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective); RX 560X is 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective)
• Memory Bus Width: HD 8970M is 256 bit; RX 560X is 128 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: HD 8970M is 153.6 GB/s; RX 560X is 112.0 GB/s
• Shading Units: HD 8970M has 1,280; RX 560X has 1,024
• Texture Mapping Units: HD 8970M has 80; RX 560X has 64
• Render Output Units: HD 8970M has 32; RX 560X has 16
• Pixel Rate: HD 8970M is 28.80 GPixel/s; RX 560X is 20.40 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: HD 8970M is 72.00 GTexel/s; RX 560X is 81.60 GTexel/s
• FP32 Performance: HD 8970M is 2.304 TFLOPS; RX 560X is 2.611 TFLOPS
• FP16 Performance: HD 8970M is null; RX 560X is 2.611 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: HD 8970M is 100 W; RX 560X is 75 W
• Slot Width: HD 8970M is MXM Module; RX 560X is Dual-slot
• Power Connectors: HD 8970M is null; RX 560X is None
• Suggested PSU: HD 8970M is null; RX 560X is 250 W
• Bus Interface: HD 8970M is PCIe 3.0 x16; RX 560X is PCIe 3.0 x8
• Display Outputs: HD 8970M is Portable Device Dependent; RX 560X is 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a
• DirectX Support: HD 8970M is 12 (11_1); RX 560X is 12 (12_0)
• Vulkan Support: HD 8970M is 1.2.170; RX 560X is 1.3
• Release Date: HD 8970M is 2013-05-13; RX 560X is 2018-04-10
• Chip: HD 8970M is Neptune; RX 560X is Polaris 21
• Architecture: HD 8970M is GCN 1.0; RX 560X is GCN 4.0
• Generation: HD 8970M is Solar System (HD 8900M); RX 560X is Polaris (RX 500X)
• Predecessor: HD 8970M is London; RX 560X is Polaris
• Successor: HD 8970M is Gem System; RX 560X is Vega
• Length: HD 8970M is null; RX 560X is 170 mm (6.7 inches)

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21,237 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 24.8% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 560X's score of 17,020.

Q: How do their transistor densities compare?

A: The RX 560X has a density of 24.4 million transistors per square millimeter, nearly double the HD 8970M's 13.2 million per square millimeter, due to its smaller 14 nm die (123 mm² versus 212 mm²).

Q: Does the RX 560X have any benchmark advantage?

A: The RX 560X has a recorded Vulkan score of 20,231, which is higher than its own OpenCL score. However, the HD 8970M was not tested in Vulkan, so no direct comparison exists.

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The HD 8970M has 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth thanks to its 256-bit bus, versus 112.0 GB/s for the RX 560X with its 128-bit bus.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The RX 560X has a TDP of 75 W, while the HD 8970M has a TDP of 100 W, making the newer card more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which card supports newer APIs?

A: The RX 560X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 8970M supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon HD 8970M wins in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 21,237 versus 17,020 gives it a 24.8% lead, and its 66th percentile ranking versus the RX 560X's 62nd percentile confirms the gap. The HD 8970M also offers superior memory bandwidth (153.6 GB/s versus 112.0 GB/s) and higher pixel rate (28.80 GPixel/s versus 20.40 GPixel/s), which likely benefits fill-rate-bound workloads. Its 32 ROPs and 80 TMUs double the RX 560X's counts in those categories, suggesting a design intent toward high-resolution rendering and heavy texture filtering. The wider 256-bit memory bus is a significant advantage for large data sets.

AMD Radeon RX 560X wins in efficiency and modern platform integration. Its 75 W TDP is 25 W lower than the HD 8970M's 100 W, making it a better fit for thermally constrained laptops. The 14 nm process and 24.4M / mm² transistor density indicate a more modern, compact design. Its higher clocks (1,275 MHz boost versus 900 MHz) and greater FP32 throughput (2.611 TFLOPS versus 2.304 TFLOPS) show that the architecture extracts more compute per execution unit. The RX 560X also has dedicated display outputs (1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a) rather than being dependent on the portable device, and it supports PCIe 3.0 x8, which is less bandwidth than the HD 8970M's x16 but may be sufficient for the card's capabilities. Its Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0) support make it more future-proof for software that leverages newer API features.

The decision hinges on the workload. For pure compute throughput as measured in OpenCL, the HD 8970M is the clear winner. For a modern, power-conscious mobile system with a need for flexible display connectivity and newer API support, the RX 560X offers a more balanced package. The database's limited comparative data leaves the Vulkan question open, but the one recorded head-to-head result is unambiguous in favor of the older chip.