GeForce RTX 4060 vs Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060

2023Core: 1830 MHzBoost: 2460 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

2012Core: 850 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 4060

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

  • +291% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
  • More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

2012

Why buy it

  • Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,000 vs 19,548).
  • Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire?
Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 5,000 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is a 2012 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2012, 291.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 2 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce RTX 4060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $299 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 291.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.
Is Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low167 FPS98 FPS
medium152 FPS81 FPS
high134 FPS62 FPS
ultra115 FPS37 FPS
1440p
low137 FPS84 FPS
medium114 FPS69 FPS
high99 FPS48 FPS
ultra90 FPS27 FPS
4K
low86 FPS27 FPS
medium74 FPS26 FPS
high62 FPS17 FPS
ultra55 FPS14 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low392 FPS95 FPS
medium334 FPS66 FPS
high268 FPS48 FPS
ultra211 FPS32 FPS
1440p
low240 FPS53 FPS
medium209 FPS31 FPS
high169 FPS22 FPS
ultra137 FPS16 FPS
4K
low119 FPS18 FPS
medium98 FPS11 FPS
high82 FPS9 FPS
ultra63 FPS7 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low812 FPS225 FPS
medium642 FPS180 FPS
high551 FPS150 FPS
ultra440 FPS112 FPS
1440p
low535 FPS169 FPS
medium443 FPS135 FPS
high379 FPS112 FPS
ultra329 FPS84 FPS
4K
low365 FPS112 FPS
medium297 FPS90 FPS
high234 FPS75 FPS
ultra186 FPS56 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
1080p
low746 FPS159 FPS
medium613 FPS130 FPS
high536 FPS115 FPS
ultra440 FPS89 FPS
1440p
low594 FPS116 FPS
medium486 FPS96 FPS
high421 FPS86 FPS
ultra330 FPS66 FPS
4K
low358 FPS66 FPS
medium308 FPS52 FPS
high285 FPS43 FPS
ultra220 FPS31 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire

The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 scores 19,548 versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 5,000 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 291%. The GeForce RTX 4060 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire uses GCN, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 2,560 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire).

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
G3D Mark Score
19,548+291%
5,000
Architecture
Ada Lovelace
GCN
Process Node
5 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
3072+20%
2560

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire) — a 77.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit x2.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+300%
2 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
272 GB/s+77%
153.6 GB/s x2
Bus Width
128-bit
256-bit x2+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 draws 115W versus the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire's 200W — a 54% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin.

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
TDP
115W-43%
200W
Recommended PSU
550W
350W-36%
Power Connector
8-pin
1x 6-pin
Length
240mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
73°C
Perf/Watt
170.0+580%
25.0
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2012).

FeatureGeForce RTX 4060Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire
MSRP
$299
Codename
AD107
Wimbledon XT
Release
May 18 2023
May 1 2012
Ranking
#84
#395