Radeon HD 6950 vs GeForce GT 1030

Speed and memory

In our performance index the Radeon HD 6950 scores 3 and the GeForce GT 1030 scores 2.5, which makes the Radeon HD 6950 about 20% faster. That is a visible but modest gap, usually 5 to 10 fps in a game that runs at 60.

Both cards have 2 GB of video memory, so memory will not separate them.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Call of Duty (5 against 4 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (8 against 7 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The Radeon HD 6950 is rated at 200 W and the GeForce GT 1030 at 30 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 550 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 170 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the Radeon HD 6950 cost $299 and the GeForce GT 1030 $79. Per dollar, the GeForce GT 1030 gave more performance (3.2 points per $100 against 1.0). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the Radeon HD 6950 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce GT 1030 if the price gap matters more than the 20% speed difference, or if you want lower power draw and a quieter PC. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.