GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB vs Radeon HD 8970M

When comparing GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and Radeon HD 8970M, we look primarily at benchmarks and game tests. But it is not only about the numbers. Often you can find third-party models with higher clock speeds, better cooling, or a customizable RGB lighting. Not all of them will have all the features you need. Another thing to consider is the port selection. Most graphics cards have at least one DisplayPort and HDMI interface, but some monitors require DVI. Before you buy, check the TDP of the graphics card - this characteristic will help you estimate the consumption of the graphics card. You may even have to upgrade your PSU to meet its requirements. An important factor when choosing between GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and Radeon HD 8970M is the price. Does the additional cost justify the performance hit? Our comparison should help you make the right decision.

GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB

Radeon HD 8970M Check Price

Radeon HD 8970M is a Laptop Graphics Card

Note: Radeon HD 8970M is only used in laptop graphics. It has lower GPU clock speed compared to the desktop variant, which results in lower power consumption, but also 10-30% lower gaming performance. Check available laptop models with Radeon HD 8970M here:

Radeon HD 8970M Laptops

Main Specs

	GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB	Radeon HD 8970M
Power consumption (TDP)	120 Watt	100 Watt
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin
Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	3 GB	4 GB
Display Connectors	1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	No outputs
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GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB has 20% more power consumption, than Radeon HD 8970M.
Both video cards are using PCIe 3.0 x16 interface connection to a motherboard.
Radeon HD 8970M has 1 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is used in Desktops, and Radeon HD 8970M - in Laptops.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is build with Pascal architecture, and Radeon HD 8970M - with GCN.
Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is 656 MHz higher, than Radeon HD 8970M.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is manufactured by 16 nm process technology, and Radeon HD 8970M - by 28 nm process technology.
Memory clock speed of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is 3208 MHz higher, than Radeon HD 8970M.

Game benchmarks


high / 1080p	50−55	20−22
ultra / 1080p	30−35	12−14
QHD / 1440p	24−27	6−7
4K / 2160p	14−16	5−6
low / 720p	75−80	35−40
medium / 1080p	60−65	24−27
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 144% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	75−80	30−35
ultra / 1080p	70−75	27−30
QHD / 1440p	50−55	10−12
4K / 2160p	27−30	7−8
low / 720p	130−140	65−70
medium / 1080p	85−90	35−40
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Battlefield 5 is 150% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	45−50	50−55
QHD / 1440p	45−50	0−1
The average gaming FPS of Radeon HD 8970M in Call of Duty: Warzone is 10% more, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
low / 768p	250−260	230−240
medium / 768p	230−240	200−210
ultra / 1080p	−	110−120
QHD / 1440p	150−160	85−90
4K / 2160p	100−110	45−50
high / 768p	220−230	160−170
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 31% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	70−75	60−65
ultra / 1080p	−	50−55
medium / 1080p	50−55	55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Cyberpunk 2077 is 3% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	120−130	120−130
medium / 768p	110−120	100−110
ultra / 1080p	110−120	75−80
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Dota 2 is 15% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	60−65	24−27
ultra / 1080p	60−65	21−24
QHD / 1440p	40−45	18−20
4K / 2160p	21−24	7−8
low / 720p	100−110	50−55
medium / 1080p	65−70	24−27
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Far Cry 5 is 140% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	90−95	30−35
ultra / 1080p	70−75	24−27
QHD / 1440p	45−50	14−16
4K / 2160p	21−24	−
low / 720p	220−230	120−130
medium / 1080p	140−150	70−75
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Fortnite is 114% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	85−90	30−35
ultra / 1080p	65−70	24−27
QHD / 1440p	45−50	12−14
4K / 2160p	30−35	12−14
low / 720p	130−140	65−70
medium / 1080p	90−95	35−40
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Forza Horizon 4 is 148% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	160−170	100−110
medium / 768p	150−160	90−95
high / 1080p	95−100	40−45
ultra / 1080p	45−50	16−18
QHD / 1440p	40−45	6−7
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Grand Theft Auto V is 94% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	35−40	12−14
ultra / 1080p	30−35	10−11
QHD / 1440p	24−27	−
4K / 2160p	14−16	2−3
low / 720p	90−95	35−40
medium / 1080p	50−55	16−18
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Metro Exodus is 187% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	120−130	120−130
medium / 1080p	−	110−120
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and Radeon HD 8970M have the same average FPS in Minecraft.
high / 1080p	75−80	−
ultra / 1080p	55−60	14−16
4K / 2160p	18−20	−
low / 720p	120−130	70−75
medium / 1080p	85−90	18−20
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 157% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
high / 1080p	35−40	14−16
ultra / 1080p	21−24	10−11
QHD / 1440p	16−18	1−2
4K / 2160p	10−11	1−2
low / 720p	90−95	35−40
medium / 1080p	55−60	20−22
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 178% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	180−190	70−75
medium / 768p	120−130	45−50
high / 1080p	70−75	24−27
ultra / 1080p	40−45	14−16
4K / 2160p	24−27	8−9
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 172% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.
low / 768p	120−130	90−95
medium / 768p	−	60−65
ultra / 1080p	65−70	40−45
high / 768p	−	55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB in World of Tanks is 43% more, than Radeon HD 8970M.

Full Specs

	GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB	Radeon HD 8970M
Architecture	Pascal	GCN
Code name	GP106	Neptune
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Release date	18 August 2016	15 May 2013
Pipelines	1152	1280
Core clock speed	1506 MHz	850 MHz
Boost Clock	1708 MHz	900 MHz
Transistor count	4,400 million	2,800 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	28 nm
Texture fill rate	123.0	72.00
Floating-point performance	3,935 gflops	2,304 gflops
Length	250 mm
Memory bus width	192 Bit	256 Bit
Memory clock speed	8008 MHz	4800 MHz
Memory bandwidth	192.2 GB/s	153.6 GB/s
Shared memory		-
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (11_1)
Shader Model	6.4	5.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	+	1.2.131
CUDA	6.1
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)		273 Mh/s
Laptop size		large
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto)	19 Mh/s
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GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB vs Radeon HD 8970M

Radeon HD 8970M is a Laptop Graphics Card

Main Specs

Game benchmarks

Full Specs

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