AMD Radeon 540 vs AMD Radeon R7 M350 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data splits the decision cleanly by workload. The AMD Radeon 540 is the stronger choice for Vulkan-based applications, delivering a 61.8% higher score in the geekbench_vulkan test (9162 vs 5662). The AMD Radeon R7 M350 counters in OpenCL compute, leading the geekbench_opencl test by 11.5% (6991 vs 6184). Users prioritizing modern graphics APIs should select the Radeon 540; those whose workloads rely on legacy OpenCL compute should favor the R7 M350. The Radeon 540 also sits higher in the overall database ranking, at the 41st percentile versus the 36th percentile for the R7 M350, with an average benchmark score of 7673 against 6327.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Radeon 540 uses the Lexa chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, part of the Polaris (RX 500) generation, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The AMD Radeon R7 M350 uses the Meso chip with GCN 3.0 architecture, part of the Gem System (R7 M300) generation, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process difference is substantial, with the Radeon 540 achieving a transistor density of 21.4M per mm² versus 12.4M per mm² for the R7 M350. The Radeon 540 packs 2,200 million transistors on a 103 mm² die, while the R7 M350 contains 1,550 million transistors on a larger 125 mm² die. The newer 14 nm node allows the Radeon 540 to operate with a 50 W TDP and no power connectors, whereas the database records no TDP figure for the R7 M350. Both cards support DirectX 12 (12_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3 while the R7 M350 is limited to Vulkan 1.2.170.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two benchmark tests in the database show opposite outcomes. In geekbench_vulkan, the AMD Radeon 540 scores 9162 against 5662 for the R7 M350, a decisive 61.8% advantage. This margin is the largest recorded between the two cards and reflects the architectural maturity of GCN 4.0 in handling modern graphics workloads. In geekbench_opencl, the R7 M350 takes the lead with 6991 versus 6184 for the Radeon 540, an 11.5% edge. The OpenCL result is notable because the R7 M350 achieves this higher score with fewer raw resources in some areas: it has only 8 ROPs compared to 16 on the Radeon 540, and its texture rate is 24.36 GTexel/s versus 28.39 GTexel/s. The R7 M350 compensates with a larger 4 GB memory pool and higher core clocks (1000 MHz base, 1015 MHz boost) compared to the unspecified base and boost clocks of the Radeon 540. The data shows a clear split, with each card winning one test by a wide margin.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every major specification field. The Radeon 540 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 32 bit bus, yielding 24.00 GB/s bandwidth. The R7 M350 uses 4 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64 bit bus, yielding only 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 540 has double the ROP count (16 vs 8), which directly explains its much higher pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s versus 8.12 GPixel/s. The Radeon 540 also has a slight edge in texture rate (28.39 vs 24.36 GTexel/s) and FP32 throughput (908.5 vs 779.5 GFLOPS). Both cards have 384 shading units and 24 TMUs, but the R7 M350 operates at a higher base clock (1000 MHz vs unspecified for the Radeon 540). The Radeon 540 has a 50 W TDP, a single-slot form factor, no power connectors, a suggested PSU of 250 W, and 2x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The R7 M350 has no recorded TDP, slot width, power connector, or display output data. The Radeon 540 uses a 14 nm process with 2,200 million transistors; the R7 M350 uses 28 nm with 1,550 million. The Radeon 540 was released approximately two years later (2017 vs 2015). Production status for both is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in Vulkan performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 is significantly faster, scoring 9162 in geekbench_vulkan versus 5662 for the R7 M350, a 61.8% advantage.

Q: Does the R7 M350 beat the Radeon 540 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the R7 M350 wins the geekbench_opencl test with a score of 6991 against 6184 for the Radeon 540, an 11.5% lead.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The Radeon 540 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 32 bit bus with 24.00 GB/s bandwidth. The R7 M350 has 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64 bit bus with only 16.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The Radeon 540 has a pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s, more than double the 8.12 GPixel/s of the R7 M350, due to its 16 ROPs versus 8.

Q: What is the difference in overall database ranking?

A: The Radeon 540 sits at the 41st percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 7673, while the R7 M350 is at the 36th percentile with an average score of 6327.

Q: Do both cards support the same graphics APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (12_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3 while the R7 M350 supports only Vulkan 1.2.170.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 540 wins in scenarios that depend on modern graphics API performance. Its Vulkan score of 9162 puts it 61.8% ahead of the R7 M350, making it the clear choice for Vulkan-based games and compute workloads. Its pixel rate advantage (18.93 vs 8.12 GPixel/s) indicates stronger rasterization throughput, and its higher texture rate (28.39 vs 24.36 GTexel/s) further supports graphics-heavy tasks. The Radeon 540 also benefits from a more advanced 14 nm process, which yields higher transistor density (21.4M per mm² vs 12.4M) and a lower 50 W TDP with no external power connectors. Its FP32 throughput of 908.5 GFLOPS exceeds the R7 M350's 779.5 GFLOPS, giving it a raw compute edge that is evident in the Vulkan benchmark.

The AMD Radeon R7 M350 wins in OpenCL compute workloads. Its geekbench_opencl score of 6991 beats the Radeon 540's 6184 by 11.5%, despite having a lower FP32 rating. The R7 M350's 4 GB memory capacity is four times larger than the Radeon 540's 1024 MB, which can benefit tasks that require larger working sets, even though its bandwidth is lower (16.00 vs 24.00 GB/s). The R7 M350 also operates at a higher base clock (1000 MHz vs unspecified for the Radeon 540), which may contribute to its OpenCL performance. For users with legacy OpenCL pipelines, the R7 M350 is the better fit. The data shows a balanced split, with each card winning one of the two recorded benchmarks by a substantial margin.