GeForce GTX 960 vs Radeon HD 7970

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 960 and the Radeon HD 7970 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 960 has 2 GB of video memory and the Radeon HD 7970 has 3 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 Red Dead Redemption 2 (11 against 15 fps), and the smallest is in Red Dead Redemption 2 (11 against 15 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 960 is rated at 120 W and the Radeon HD 7970 at 250 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 650 W for the second. A gap of 130 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTX 960 cost $199 and the Radeon HD 7970 $549. Per dollar, the GeForce GTX 960 gave more performance (2.5 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 960 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 2 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 7970 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.