GeForce GTX 570 vs Radeon HD 6970

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 570 and the Radeon HD 6970 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GTX 570 has 1 GB of video memory and the Radeon HD 6970 has 2 GB. That difference matters at 1440p and in new games at High textures, and it can outweigh a small speed advantage as the card ages.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (42 against 58 fps), and the smallest is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (42 against 58 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTX 570 is rated at 219 W and the Radeon HD 6970 at 250 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 650 W for the first and 650 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

At launch the GeForce GTX 570 cost $349 and the Radeon HD 6970 $369. Per dollar, the GeForce GTX 570 gave more performance (1.0 points per $100 against 0.9). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 570 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 1 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon HD 6970 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.