AMD Radeon 540 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE Comparison

The AMD Radeon 540 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE represent two very different eras of GPU design, and the benchmark data captures a fascinating generational clash. While the Radeon 540 is a modern, power-efficient entry-level part built on a 14nm process, the GTX 560 SE is an older, larger, and more power-hungry card from the Fermi era. The data shows a single head-to-head benchmark result, and it is a decisive one for the older card, despite the Radeon's architectural advantages.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are surprisingly one-sided. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE scores 7171, while the AMD Radeon 540 scores 6184. This represents a delta of -13.8% for the AMD card, meaning the GTX 560 SE outperforms the Radeon 540 by a substantial margin in this compute-oriented workload. This is a significant win for a card released several years earlier, suggesting that raw architectural efficiency did not translate into immediate performance superiority in this specific test.

Looking at the broader context from the nearest rivals, the GTX 560 SE's score of 7171 places it in a competitive group. It is essentially tied with the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580, which scores 7170 (deltaPct of 0), and it is just 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970. The Radeon 540's score of 6184, however, places it in a different tier. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, which scores 7723, a delta of -0.6% for the Radeon. This indicates that the 540's performance level is closer to that of a GTX 1660 Ti than to the GTX 560 SE, yet it still loses decisively to the older card in this benchmark. The data implies that while the Radeon 540 might be more comparable to a GTX 1660 Ti in overall standing, its OpenCL execution is notably weaker than the GTX 560 SE's.

The single benchmark result is a clear victory for the GTX 560 SE, with a 13.8% performance lead. This is not a marginal difference; it is a substantial gap that would be noticeable in any application leveraging OpenCL. The Radeon 540's average benchmark score across all tests is 7673, which is higher than its OpenCL score, suggesting it performs better in other workloads, such as Vulkan, where it scores 9162. However, in this direct head-to-head comparison, the older NVIDIA card takes the crown.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is vast, explaining the performance dynamics. The AMD Radeon 540 is built on the GCN 4.0 architecture, using the Lexa chip, and is fabricated on a 14nm process by GlobalFoundries. This modern process allows for a highly dense design, with 2,200 million transistors packed into a die size of just 103 mm², yielding a transistor density of 21.4M / mm². In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE uses the older Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF114 chip, built on a 40nm process by TSMC. This results in a much larger die at 332 mm², yet it houses fewer transistors (1,950 million), leading to a significantly lower transistor density of just 5.9M / mm². This stark difference in manufacturing technology is a core reason for the Radeon's much lower power consumption.

The memory subsystems also diverge sharply. The Radeon 540 has a 32-bit memory bus, which is incredibly narrow, paired with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory running at 6 Gbps effective. This configuration results in a memory bandwidth of just 24.00 GB/s. The GTX 560 SE, on the other hand, features a much wider 192-bit bus, also with 1024 MB of GDDR5, but running at a slower 3.8 Gbps effective. The wider bus gives it a massive bandwidth advantage at 91.87 GB/s, which is nearly four times that of the Radeon. This difference is likely a major factor in the GTX 560 SE's superior OpenCL performance, as compute workloads often rely heavily on memory throughput.

The compute configurations are also distinct. The Radeon 540 has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Its texture rate is 28.39 GTexel/s, and its pixel rate is 18.93 GPixel/s, with FP32 performance of 908.5 GFLOPS. The GTX 560 SE has fewer shading units at 288, but more TMUs (48) and ROPs (24). Its texture rate is higher at 35.33 GTexel/s, but its pixel rate is much lower at 8.832 GPixel/s, and its FP32 performance is slightly lower at 847.9 GFLOPS. The Radeon also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, while the GTX 560 SE has no FP16 support listed. Furthermore, the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0), while the GTX 560 SE has no Vulkan support and only DirectX 12 (11_0). These feature differences highlight the Radeon's modern software capabilities.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is the clear winner in the OpenCL compute workload, which is the only direct comparison available. Its high memory bandwidth appears to be a decisive advantage in this scenario. However, the AMD Radeon 540 shows its strength in other areas, particularly in its overall average benchmark score. With an average of 7673, it is significantly higher than its OpenCL score of 6184, suggesting that its Vulkan performance (9162) is a strong point. This indicates that the Radeon 540 might be better suited for modern graphics APIs that can leverage its architecture more effectively.

The Radeon 540 also wins decisively in power efficiency and physical footprint. Its TDP is just 50 W, compared to the GTX 560 SE's 150 W, and it requires no power connectors, whereas the GTX 560 SE needs two 6-pin connectors. The suggested power supply for the Radeon is 250 W, while the GTX 560 SE recommends a 450 W unit. This makes the Radeon 540 a viable option for small, low-power systems, while the GTX 560 SE demands a more robust platform. The Radeon 540 is also a single-slot card, while the GTX 560 SE is dual-slot, and it connects via PCIe 3.0 x8, compared to the older PCIe 2.0 x16 interface.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture for potential users. If the primary workload is OpenCL compute, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is the superior choice, offering a 13.8% performance advantage over the Radeon 540. Its high memory bandwidth makes it a formidable, albeit old, compute card. However, the GTX 560 SE's age is a significant drawback. It consumes three times the power, requires a larger power supply, and lacks modern API support like Vulkan. Its 40nm process and large die size are relics of a previous era.

The AMD Radeon 540, despite losing the direct head-to-head, presents a more balanced profile for a modern system. Its higher average benchmark score and strong Vulkan performance suggest it handles newer graphics workloads better. Its minimal power draw and small footprint make it an ideal candidate for embedded systems, HTPCs, or basic office machines where low power consumption is critical. The data indicates that the Radeon 540 is not a compute powerhouse, but it is a modern, efficient GPU. The GTX 560 SE is a performance relic for compute tasks, while the Radeon 540 is a modern, efficient solution for general use, with the caveat that its compute performance lags behind the older card.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU performs better in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE performs better, scoring 7171 compared to the AMD Radeon 540's 6184, a difference of -13.8% for the Radeon.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two cards?

A: The GTX 560 SE has a 192-bit memory bus with 91.87 GB/s bandwidth, while the Radeon 540 has a 32-bit bus with only 24.00 GB/s, giving the NVIDIA card a nearly 4x advantage.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Radeon 540 has a TDP of 50 W and requires no power connectors, while the GTX 560 SE has a TDP of 150 W and requires two 6-pin connectors.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon 540 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3. The GTX 560 SE does not have Vulkan support listed in its specifications.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 has an average benchmark score of 7673, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE has an average of 7171.

Q: Which card has a higher FP32 performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 is slightly higher, with 908.5 GFLOPS, compared to the GTX 560 SE's 847.9 GFLOPS.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon 540 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Fermi 2.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 40 nm |

| Die Size | 103 mm² | 332 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 21.4M / mm² | 5.9M / mm² |

| Memory Bus Width | 32 bit | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 24.00 GB/s | 91.87 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 288 |

| TMUs | 24 | 48 |

| ROPs | 16 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 18.93 GPixel/s | 8.832 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 28.39 GTexel/s | 35.33 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 908.5 GFLOPS | 847.9 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 908.5 GFLOPS (1:1) | null |

| TDP | 50 W | 150 W |

| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 450 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 2.0 x16 |

| DirectX Support | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | null |

| Display Outputs | 2x DisplayPort 1.4a | 2x DVI1x mini-HDMI 1.3a |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | Dual-slot |