NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 vs AMD Radeon R9 390X
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the GTX 970 and the R9 390X with real FPS across the most popular games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus specs, launch price and AI upscaling support (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). See at a glance which is better for your resolution and budget.
The R9 390X is ~11% faster than the GTX 970 on average at 1080p. On top of that, the GTX 970 is 23% cheaper (launch price).
GTX 970
- Index (1080p)
- 17/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $329 · ≈ €303
- Upscaling
- FSR
R9 390X
- Index (1080p)
- 19/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $429 · ≈ €395
- Upscaling
- FSR
Average FPS by resolution
Estimated average FPS for each graphics card across the most popular games. The gap usually shows at 1080p and 1440p; at 4K both lose smoothness and upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps.
| Resolution | GTX 970 | R9 390X | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 19 | 21 | +11% |
| 1440p | 13 | 14 | +8% |
| 4K | 5 | 5 | = |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the GTX 970 and R9 390X: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | GTX 970 | R9 390X |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NVIDIA | AMD |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| TDP | 145W | 275W |
| Tier | Mid-range | High-end |
| Score 1080p | 17 | 19 |
| Score 1440p | 13 | 14 |
| Score 4K | 6 | 7 |
| Price (MSRP) | $329 | $429 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | GTX 970 | R9 390X | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 20FPS | 22FPS | R9 390X |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 15FPS | 17FPS | R9 390X |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 19FPS | 21FPS | R9 390X |
| Marathon | 19FPS | 21FPS | R9 390X |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 17FPS | 19FPS | R9 390X |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 21FPS | 23FPS | R9 390X |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 19FPS | 21FPS | R9 390X |
| 007 First Light | 19FPS | 21FPS | R9 390X |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 16FPS | 18FPS | R9 390X |
| Pathologic 3 | 24FPS | 26FPS | R9 390X |
Verdict
AMD Radeon R9 390X wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend AMD Radeon R9 390X as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the GTX 970 with the R9 390X.
Which is better, the GTX 970 or the R9 390X?
On average at 1080p, the R9 390X is 11% faster than the GTX 970. The best one for you depends on your resolution, budget and whether you prioritise ray tracing or price.
Which is better at 4K?
At 4K Ultra, the GTX 970 averages 5 FPS and the R9 390X 5 FPS across the most popular games. For smooth 4K, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps on both.
Is it worth paying more for the faster one?
At 1080p or 1440p the FPS gap may not justify the extra cost; at 4K or with ray tracing the faster card matters more. Check the by-resolution table to decide.
Which has better ray tracing and upscaling?
AI upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel) raises FPS on both; for ray tracing, GeForce RTX cards usually lead. See each card’s support above.
How big is the FPS difference between them?
On average across top games, the gap is around 11% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.