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AMD Radeon HD 6970M

The AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6970M (or sometimes called ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6970) is a high-end graphics card normally reserved for big and heavy laptops. It is based on the desktop HD 6850 graphics card and therefore features UVD3 video processing and Eyefinity+. The codename of this GPU is Blackcomb XT and it should have comparable power consumption results as the GeForce GTX 480M.

The 960 Stream processors are still based on the "old" 5D architecture similar to the 5000 series. Therefore, the number of shaders is not comparable to the 1D cores of current Nvidia GPUs. The Tessellation performance should be improved (like the desktop 6800 series) with the new cards. The Stream processors can be used with DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.1, DirectCompute 11 and OpenCL. With the latter two, the 6970M can also be used for general computations such as transcoding videos.

The 3D performance of this card lies between the GeForce GTX 470M and 485M, both of which are high-end notebook GPUs. In our tests, the 6970M is on average 33% faster than a GeForce GTX 480M, but the newer GTX 485M is still about 12% faster than the AMD card. Compared to the previous generation ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870, the Radeon 6970M is about 50% faster, but has greater power demands.

For gamers, this means that the Radeon HD 6970M is able to fluently display all most modern games in high detail settings. Only Crysis and Metro 2033 stutter in the highest detail settings at 1920x1080 resolution (see below).

The new UVD3 video decoder supports the decoding of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, Flash and now also Multi-View Codec (MVC) and MPEG-4 part 2 (DivX, xVid) HD videos on the graphics card.

Furthermore, the HD 6900M series integrates an HD audio controller to transmit HD Audio (TrueHD or DTS Master Audio) over HDMI and/or DisplayPort (e.g. for Blu-Ray videos).

The AMD HD3D Technology offers support for Blu-Ray 3D and 3D displays (integrated and external). However, the solution is not as mature as Nvidia's 3D Vision.

Thanks to Eyefinity, the graphics chip is able to theoretically drive up to 6 monitors simultaneously. However, this only works if the laptop features enough video outputs.

The power consumption of the 6790M should be similar to the Nvidia GeForce GTX 480M / 485M and is therefore at about 100 Watts when considering the MXM board and the 2 GB GDDR5 memory. Eurocom, for example, states that the TDP ranges from about 75-100 Watts. As a result, the card is only suited for large laptops with good cooling solutions.

Radeon HD 6900M Series

Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire compare 2240 @ 0.72 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire compare 1920 @ 0.68 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
Radeon HD 6990M compare 1120 @ 0.72 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
Radeon HD 6970M 960 @ 0.68 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
Radeon HD 6950M compare 960 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
CodenameBlackcomb XT
ArchitectureTerascale 2
Pipelines960 - unified
Core Speed680 MHz
Memory Speed900 MHz
Memory Bus Width256 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory2048 MB
Shared Memoryno
APIDirectX 11, Shader 5.0
Power Consumption75-100 Watt
Transistor Count1.7 Billion
technology40 nm
Notebook Sizelarge
Date of Announcement06.01.2011
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.amd.com

Benchmarks

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
min: 2983     avg: 3066     median: 3054 (4%)     max: 3143 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
min: 2774     avg: 2821     median: 2818.5 (2%)     max: 2874 Points
3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
min: 11091     avg: 12056     median: 11898 (3%)     max: 13412 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
min: 10895     avg: 11385     median: 11499 (7%)     max: 11645 Points
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings +
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06
min: 14047     avg: 17190     median: 17447 (23%)     max: 19907 Points
SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 snx-01
min: 9.25     avg: 9.9     median: 10.2 (6%)     max: 10.35 fps
specvp11 tcvis-02 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02
min: 4.13     avg: 5.7     median: 6.1 (3%)     max: 6.81 fps
specvp11 sw-02 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 sw-02
min: 16.02     avg: 21     median: 22.3 (17%)     max: 24.63 fps
specvp11 proe-05 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 proe-05
min: 1.45     avg: 1.9     median: 1.9 (2%)     max: 2.31 fps
specvp11 maya-03 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 maya-03
min: 7.66     avg: 10.8     median: 11.5 (9%)     max: 13.22 fps
specvp11 lightwave-01 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 lightwave-01
min: 20.59     avg: 25.2     median: 25.7 (28%)     max: 29.34 fps
specvp11 ensight-04 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 ensight-04
min: 17.64     avg: 18.8     median: 19.2 (9%)     max: 19.46 fps
specvp11 catia-03 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 catia-03
min: 5.34     avg: 6.9     median: 7.2 (4%)     max: 8.09 fps
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

low 1024x768
61.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
64.7  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
35.1  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
26.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
76.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
64.2  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
59.5  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
30.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
193.4  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
132.1  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
89.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
64.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
95.1  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
72.2  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
52.9  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
24.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1280x720
60  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
59.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
54.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Alan Wake

Alan Wake

2012
low 1024x768
87  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
55  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
27.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic

2011
low 1024x768
70  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
53  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
43.5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Anno 2070

Anno 2070

2011
low 1024x768
med. 1366x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1280x720
med. 1366x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
263.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
136.1  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
99.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
63.8  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
med. 1366x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
96  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
88  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
71  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
35  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Fifa 12

Fifa 12

2011
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
high 1360x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
F1 2011

F1 2011

2011
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Dirt 3

Dirt 3

2011
low 800x600
224.7  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
104.8  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
78.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
33.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis 2

Crysis 2

2011
low 800x600
178.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
126.3  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
96.8  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
30.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
high 1360x768
ultra 1920x1080
61.9 74.5 ~ 68 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Fifa 11

Fifa 11

2010
low 800x600
301.2 715 ~ 508 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
229.7 421.2 ~ 325 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
154.5 200.6 ~ 178 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
168.3 171.4 ~ 170 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Mafia 2

Mafia 2

2010
low 800x600
71.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
69.8  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
67.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
52.3 55.9 ~ 54 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
178.7 222.6 ~ 201 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1360x768
high 1360x768
ultra 1920x1080
58 58.6 71.1 ~ 63 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 800x600
94.3 144 ~ 119 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1360x768
high 1600x900
47.9 52 71.4 ~ 57 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
18 18.3 24 ~ 20 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
med. 1366x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
47.6 49.7 ~ 49 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
67.1 76.9 ~ 72 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Risen

Risen

2009
low 800x600
97.6 134.2 ~ 116 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1024x768
77.9 78.3 ~ 78 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
43.7 45.2 46.8 ~ 45 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5

2009
low 800x600
102.6  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
80.1  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
75.7 80 ~ 78 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed Shift

2009
low 800x600
89.2  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
53.5 64.3 ~ 59 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
52.2 54.1 64.6 ~ 57 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Colin McRae: DIRT 2

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009
low 800x600
95.2 115 ~ 105 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
93.9 94.7 ~ 94 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
73.2  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
47.7 49.3 50.3 ~ 49 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
low 1024x768
133.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1280x1024
82.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
F.E.A.R. 2

F.E.A.R. 2

2009
low 800x600
156.5  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
106.3  fps    + Compare
high 1280x1024
101.1  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
85 86.8 ~ 86 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Left 4 Dead

Left 4 Dead

2008
low 640x480
157.3  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
120.5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2

2008
low 640x480
120.9  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
91.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
57.2 61.6 ~ 59 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

2007
low 800x600
188.5 312.9 ~ 251 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
117 203.1 ~ 160 fps    + Compare
high 1280x1024
103.4  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
107.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
67.6  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
57.9 76.7 ~ 67 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
24.6 25 ~ 25 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
137.5  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
65.5  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
55.8 74.1 ~ 65 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
22.8 23.3 ~ 23 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
81.3 83.3 ~ 82 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Max Payne 361.964.735.126.7
Dirt Showdown76.664.259.530.3
Diablo III193.4132.189.464.6
Risen 2: Dark Waters95.172.252.924.3
Mass Effect 36059.354.1
Alan Wake875527.2
Star Wars: The Old Republic705343.5
Anno 2070207.897.158.629.7
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim51.548.440.830.6
CoD: Modern Warfare 3263.6136.199.463.8
Battlefield 384.358.845.719
Batman: Arkham City96887135
Fifa 12377.1215.9176.3135.7
F1 2011131857145
Deus Ex Human Revolution174.7102.745.1
Dirt 3224.7104.878.733.2
Crysis 2178.9126.396.830.2
Call of Duty: Black Ops76.767.365.368
Fifa 11508325178170
Mafia 271.669.867.454
StarCraft 220166.165.563
Metro 203311977.25720
Battlefield: Bad Company 2132.5111.482.949
CoD Modern Warfare 2172.9105.294.972
Risen1167860.445
Resident Evil 5102.680.178
Need for Speed Shift89.25956.657
Colin McRae: DIRT 21059473.249
Anno 1404133.482.2
F.E.A.R. 2156.5106.3101.186
Left 4 Dead157.3120.5
Far Cry 2120.991.459
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare251160103.4
Crysis - GPU Benchmark107.667.66725
Crysis - CPU Benchmark137.565.56523
Call of Juarez Benchmark82
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark204.8
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Notebook reviews with AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics card

 

Review Samsung Series 7 Gamer 700G7A Notebook

Attack on the gaming elite. Alienware and Asus have to watch out: Samsung presents a serious opponent for the gaming leaders, M17x and G74SX, called 700G7A. In ...
Intel Core i7-2630QM | AMD Radeon HD 6970M | 17.30" | 4.1 kg
 

Review Eurocom Racer Gaming-Notebook (2720QM / HD 6970M)

A New Challenger. The Canadian manufacturer, Eurocom, is the first to combine a speedy Intel Sandy Bridge processor with a powerful AMD Radeon HD 6970M, housed ...
Intel Core i7-2720QM | AMD Radeon HD 6970M | 15.60" | 3.1 kg
 

Review AMD Radeon HD 6970M Graphics Card

ATI is dead! Long live AMD! After recently unveiling the new GeForce GTX 485M, Nvidia has shown who the boss is in the notebook GPU department. Now it's up AMD'...
Intel Core i7-740QM | AMD Radeon HD 6970M | 15.60" | 3.5 kg

Samsung 700G7A-S02RU: Intel Core i7-2670QM, 17.30", 3.8 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A-S02RU

Samsung 700G7A-S01UK: Intel Core i7-2670QM, 17.30", 3.5 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A-S01UK

Samsung 700G7A-S01SE: Intel Core i7-2670QM, 17.30", 3.5 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A-S01SE

Samsung 700G7A-S01FR: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 17.30", 3.5 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A-S01FR

Samsung 700G7A-S02: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 17.30", 4.1 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A-S02

Samsung 700G7A: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 17.30", 4.1 kg
  External Review » Samsung 700G7A

Rock Xtreme 685-I7-2820QM: Intel Core i7-2820QM, 15.60", 3 kg
  External Review » Rock Xtreme 685-I7-2820QM

Alienware M17x R3, Radeon 6970M, i7-2820: Intel Core i7-2820QM, 17.30", 4.3 kg
  External Review » Alienware M17x R3, Radeon 6970M, i7-2820

Eurocom Racer: Intel Core i7-2720QM, 15.60", 3.1 kg
  External Review » Eurocom Racer

Eurocom W860CU Cougar: Intel Core i7-740QM, 15.60", 3.5 kg
  External Review » Eurocom W860CU Cougar

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» Comparison of GPUs
Detailed list of all laptop GPUs sorted by class and performance.

» Benchmark List
Sort and restrict laptop GPUs based on performance in synthetic benchmarks.

» Notebook Gaming List
Playable games for each graphics card and their average FPS results.

Class 0

Arc A380

Class 1

Class 2

Radeon PRO W6600M *

Class 3

UHD Graphics 32EUs
UHD Graphics 750

Class 4

Class 5

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter