AMD Radeon 540 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains a single direct comparison between the AMD Radeon 540 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010, and it is a decisive victory for the NVIDIA card. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GT 1010 scores 6698, while the Radeon 540 trails at 6184. That represents a delta of 7.7% in favor of the NVIDIA part. This is not a marginal gap; it is a clear, measurable performance advantage in compute workloads that stress raw shader throughput.

The Radeon 540 does have an additional benchmark result in the database, a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9162. However, the GT 1010 has no recorded Vulkan result, so no cross-comparison can be made on that API. The absence of data is itself notable: the GT 1010 appears to have been tested only under OpenCL, while the Radeon 540 shows strength in Vulkan. If the Vulkan result is any indication of the card's broader compute capability, the Radeon 540 may be better suited for environments where Vulkan compute is the primary workload, but the direct head-to-head remains firmly in NVIDIA's favor.

Looking at the broader database context, the Radeon 540's average benchmark score is 7673, which places it at the 41st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (avg score 7723, delta of -0.6%), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 (avg score 7580, delta of 1.2%), the AMD Radeon R7 250 (avg score 7557, delta of 1.5%), and the Intel Arc A310 (avg score 7550, delta of 1.6%). This clustering suggests the Radeon 540 sits in a competitive mid-low tier, trading blows with cards that are generally considered more capable in gaming.

The GT 1010, meanwhile, has an average benchmark score of 6698, placing it at the 38th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (avg score 6764, delta of -1%), the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (avg score 6612, delta of 1.3%), the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (avg score 6581, delta of 1.8%), and the AMD FirePro M5100 (avg score 6830, delta of -1.9%). These are mostly older mobile or low-end desktop parts, indicating the GT 1010 is positioned at the very bottom of the performance spectrum, yet it still outpaces the Radeon 540 in the one test they share.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different architectural lineages, and the data reveals how those choices affect their characteristics. The AMD Radeon 540 is built on the GCN 4.0 architecture, using the Lexa chip, and belongs to the Polaris (RX 500) generation. It is fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,200 million transistors packed into a 103 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 21.4 million per square millimeter.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 uses the Pascal architecture, built around the GP108 chip, and is part of the GeForce 10 generation. It also uses a 14 nm process, but the foundry is Samsung. It contains 1,800 million transistors on a smaller 74 mm² die, resulting in a higher transistor density of 24.3 million per square millimeter. This is a direct point of comparison: NVIDIA packed more transistors per area, which often correlates with more efficient use of silicon.

The compute resources differ substantially. The Radeon 540 has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The GT 1010 has fewer of each: 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Despite having fewer cores, the GT 1010 achieves a higher OpenCL score, which suggests the Pascal architecture extracts more performance per shader, or that the memory subsystem plays a larger role.

Memory is a stark differentiator. The Radeon 540 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 32-bit bus, delivering 24.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GT 1010 doubles the capacity to 2 GB, doubles the bus width to 64-bit, and doubles the bandwidth to 48.06 GB/s. Memory clocks are similar (1500 MHz vs 1502 MHz, both at 6 Gbps effective), so the bandwidth advantage comes entirely from the wider bus. This is likely a major reason why the GT 1010 wins the compute test: it can feed its shaders twice as fast.

Clock speeds also differ. The Radeon 540 has no recorded base or boost clock in the database, only the memory clock. The GT 1010 has a base clock of 1228 MHz and a boost clock of 1468 MHz. The Radeon's lack of clock data makes it difficult to assess its peak frequency, but the GT 1010's boost behavior is documented.

The Radeon 540 offers FP16 at the same rate as FP32 (908.5 GFLOPS, 1:1 ratio), while the GT 1010 has no recorded FP16 capability. This could matter in workloads that leverage half-precision math, though the GT 1010's overall compute lead in OpenCL suggests it does not need FP16 to win.

Output capabilities also diverge. The Radeon 540 provides two DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the GT 1010 offers one DVI and one mini-HDMI 2.0. The Radeon's modern display outputs may be more relevant for current monitors, but the GT 1010's HDMI support is more consumer-friendly for basic HTPC use.

API support shows a split: the Radeon 540 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The GT 1010 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GT 1010 has a higher DirectX feature level and a newer Vulkan version, which could offer better compatibility with the latest titles and compute APIs.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data gives the GT 1010 a single, unambiguous win in OpenCL compute. This is a meaningful result for users who run general-purpose GPU workloads that rely on OpenCL, such as certain video encoding, physics simulation, or scientific computing tasks. The 7.7% lead is consistent and likely driven by the doubled memory bandwidth and wider bus.

The Radeon 540, however, has a Vulkan score of 9162. While there is no direct comparison, this number is substantially higher than the GT 1010's OpenCL score, suggesting that the Radeon 540 may be the better choice for Vulkan-based applications, including many modern games and compute frameworks that use Vulkan. The Radeon also supports FP16 at full rate, which is absent on the GT 1010, making it potentially more flexible for mixed-precision workloads.

The Radeon 540's display outputs (two DisplayPort 1.4a) are more aligned with multi-monitor setups or professional display connectivity, while the GT 1010's DVI and mini-HDMI are more typical of a basic office or media PC. The GT 1010's 147 mm length (5.8 inches) is a documented physical dimension, while the Radeon 540 has no recorded length, so the GT 1010 may be easier to fit in compact cases.

Power consumption is another differentiator. The Radeon 540 has a TDP of 50 W and a suggested PSU of 250 W. The GT 1010 draws only 30 W and recommends a 200 W PSU. For low-power builds or systems with limited PSU headroom, the GT 1010 is clearly the more efficient option. Both are single-slot cards with no power connectors, so installation is straightforward, but the GT 1010's lower requirement is a practical advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 scores 6698, which is 7.7% higher than the AMD Radeon 540's 6184.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The GT 1010 has 48.06 GB/s of bandwidth, exactly double the Radeon 540's 24.00 GB/s.

Q: Does the Radeon 540 support FP16 compute?

A: Yes, it offers 908.5 GFLOPS of FP16, at a 1:1 ratio with FP32. The GT 1010 has no recorded FP16 capability.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The GT 1010 has 24.3 million transistors per square millimeter, compared to 21.4 million for the Radeon 540.

Q: What are the TDP requirements for each card?

A: The Radeon 540 has a TDP of 50 W and suggests a 250 W PSU. The GT 1010 has a TDP of 30 W and suggests a 200 W PSU.

Q: Which card has a better Vulkan version?

A: The GT 1010 supports Vulkan 1.4, while the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3.

The Verdict

The data points to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 as the stronger card in the only direct benchmark comparison available. Its 7.7% lead in OpenCL, combined with double the memory bandwidth, a wider bus, and lower power consumption, makes it the logical choice for users prioritizing compute performance per watt. The GT 1010 also has a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 12_0) and a newer Vulkan version.

However, the Radeon 540 is not without merit. Its Vulkan score of 9162 is the highest single benchmark number in this comparison, and its FP16 support could be decisive for specific workloads. The dual DisplayPort outputs are more suited to modern multi-monitor professional setups. The Radeon also has a higher average benchmark score (7673 versus 6698), though that average includes its Vulkan result, which has no counterpart on the GT 1010.

For a general-purpose low-end GPU, the GT 1010 appears to be the safer choice based on the head-to-head result and its superior memory subsystem. For users who specifically need Vulkan compute or FP16 capability, the Radeon 540 is worth consideration, provided they accept the higher power draw and the loss in OpenCL performance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon 540 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Pascal |

| Chip | Lexa | GP108 |

| Generation | Polaris (RX 500) | GeForce 10 |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Samsung |

| Transistors | 2,200 million | 1,800 million |

| Die Size | 103 mm² | 74 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 21.4M / mm² | 24.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | Not recorded | 1228 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not recorded | 1468 MHz |

| Memory Size | 1024 MB | 2 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 32 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 24.00 GB/s | 48.06 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 256 |

| TMUs | 24 | 16 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 18.93 GPixel/s | 11.74 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 28.39 GTexel/s | 23.49 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 908.5 GFLOPS | 751.6 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 908.5 GFLOPS (1:1) | Not recorded |

| TDP | 50 W | 30 W |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 200 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |

| Display Outputs | 2x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 2.0 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.4 |

| Length | Not recorded | 147 mm (5.8 inches) |

| Release Date | 2017-04-19 | 2021-01-12 |

| Predecessor | Arctic Islands | GeForce 900 |

| Successor | Vega | GeForce 20 |

| Geekbench OpenCL Score | 6184 | 6698 |

| Geekbench Vulkan Score | 9162 | Not recorded |

| Average Benchmark Score | 7673 | 6698 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 41 | 38 |