AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 Comparison

The data in the FACT PACK compares two graphics cards from different eras: the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950. The benchmark results show a clear generational gap, with the RX 9070 XT dominating the head-to-head tests. This analysis breaks down the performance differences, architectural changes, and use-case scenarios based strictly on the provided numbers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between these two cards is limited to two benchmark tests, but the results are decisive. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 17,428 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 scores 15,662 points. This gives the RX 9070 XT an 11.3% advantage in raw compute performance, a solid but not overwhelming lead in this particular workload.

The Vulkan test tells a far more dramatic story. The RX 9070 XT posts a score of 65,879, compared to the GTX 950's 16,734. That is a 293.7% delta — the newer AMD card is nearly four times faster in this API. This massive gap reflects both the architectural advantages of RDNA 4.0 and the GTX 950's age, as Vulkan is a modern API that the older Maxwell architecture handles less efficiently.

The overall win count is 2-0 in favor of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT. The average benchmark score across all tests in the FACT PACK reinforces this, with the RX 9070 XT averaging 13,543 points versus 13,189 for the GTX 950. Interestingly, both cards sit in similar percentile ranges — the RX 9070 XT is in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 950 is in the 53rd percentile. This suggests that despite the massive Vulkan gap, the overall average performance places them in a comparable tier, though the RX 9070 XT holds a slight edge.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two cards is substantial. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is built on TSMC's 4 nm process node, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 uses a 28 nm node. This process advantage is reflected in transistor density: the RX 9070 XT packs 151.0 million transistors per square millimeter, versus just 12.9 million for the GTX 950. The RX 9070 XT has 53,900 million transistors on a 357 mm² die, while the GTX 950 has 2,940 million on a 228 mm² die.

The RX 9070 XT uses the RDNA 4.0 architecture, part of the Navi IV generation, while the GTX 950 uses Maxwell 2.0 from the GeForce 900 series. This is a fundamental shift in GPU design philosophy. The RX 9070 XT features 4,096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs. The GTX 950 has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The AMD card also includes 64 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the GTX 950.

Memory is another major differentiator. The RX 9070 XT comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 950 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, with 105.8 GB/s bandwidth. Clock speeds also differ significantly: the RX 9070 XT has a base clock of 1660 MHz and a boost of 2970 MHz, while the GTX 950 runs at 1024 MHz base and 1188 MHz boost.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT wins in every measured category. In Geekbench OpenCL, it leads by 11.3%, and in Vulkan, it is ahead by a massive 293.7%. The RX 9070 XT also wins on compute-heavy workloads, as shown by its Passmark GPU Compute score of 15,864, though the GTX 950 was not tested in that benchmark.

The GTX 950's strengths, such as they are, come from its efficiency and compatibility rather than raw performance. It has a TDP of 90 W compared to the RX 9070 XT's 304 W, making it a much lighter load on a power supply — it suggests a 250 W PSU versus 700 W for the AMD card. The GTX 950 also uses a single 6-pin power connector, while the RX 9070 XT requires two 8-pin connectors. For older systems with limited power delivery or for casual use where modern high-end performance isn't needed, the GTX 950's lower power draw is a practical advantage.

The GTX 950 is also smaller physically, with a length of 202 mm (8 inches), though the RX 9070 XT's dimensions are not listed in the FACT PACK. Both cards are dual-slot designs. The GTX 950's display outputs include DVI, HDMI 2.0, and three DisplayPort 1.2 connections, which may be more compatible with legacy monitors.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the superior card in every benchmark where they were compared. Its 293.7% lead in Vulkan and 11.3% lead in OpenCL are decisive. Anyone building a system for modern gaming or compute workloads should choose the RX 9070 XT without hesitation.

The RX 9070 XT's 16 GB of memory versus 2 GB is a critical factor for modern games and applications. Its 64 ray tracing cores provide hardware support for ray-traced effects, which the GTX 950 cannot handle. The 4 nm process node and RDNA 4.0 architecture deliver far better performance per clock, as evidenced by the benchmark scores.

However, the GTX 950 is not without its niche. For a secondary machine, a retro build, or a system with a weak power supply — the 90 W TDP and 250 W suggested PSU are minimal — it remains a functional option. Its 53rd percentile ranking shows it still outperforms a significant portion of the GPU landscape, and its 2 GB of GDDR5 memory is enough for older titles or light productivity.

The choice comes down to purpose. If the goal is modern gaming, content creation, or any GPU-accelerated workload, the RX 9070 XT is the only rational pick. If the need is for a low-power, legacy-compatible card for basic tasks, the GTX 950 fills that role, but it cannot compete on performance.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The RX 9070 XT scores 65,879 in Geekbench Vulkan, compared to 16,734 for the GTX 950. This is a 293.7% advantage for the AMD card.

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The RX 9070 XT has 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth from its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. The GTX 950 has 105.8 GB/s from 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus.

Q: Does the GTX 950 support ray tracing?

A: No. The GTX 950 has no ray tracing cores listed in its specifications. The RX 9070 XT includes 64 ray tracing cores.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The RX 9070 XT has a TDP of 304 W and suggests a 700 W power supply, using two 8-pin connectors. The GTX 950 has a TDP of 90 W, suggests a 250 W PSU, and uses a single 6-pin connector.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RX 9070 XT has an average benchmark score of 13,543, which is 2.7% higher than the GTX 950's 13,189 average.

Q: What process nodes are each card built on?

A: The RX 9070 XT is built on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The GTX 950 is built on TSMC's 28 nm process.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | RDNA 4.0 | Maxwell 2.0 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 53,900 million | 2,940 million |

| Die Size | 357 mm² | 228 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 151.0M / mm² | 12.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1660 MHz | 1024 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2970 MHz | 1188 MHz |

| Memory Size | 16 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | 256 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 644.6 GB/s | 105.8 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 4096 | 768 |

| TMUs | 256 | 48 |

| ROPs | 128 | 32 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 64 | None |

| FP32 Performance | 48.66 TFLOPS | 1.825 TFLOPS |

| Pixel Rate | 380.2 GPixel/s | 38.02 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 760.3 GTexel/s | 57.02 GTexel/s |

| TDP | 304 W | 90 W |

| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 700 W | 250 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_1) |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Launch MSRP | 599 USD | 159 USD |