AMD Radeon 540 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two benchmark comparisons between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M and the AMD Radeon 540, and the results split cleanly along API lines. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 850M posts a score of 9,821 against the Radeon 540’s 6,184, a decisive 58.8% advantage. That is not a marginal gap; it is a generational-class difference in raw compute throughput for that workload. In Geekbench Vulkan, the situation reverses: the Radeon 540 scores 9,162, edging out the GTX 850M’s 8,782 by 4.1%. The Vulkan margin is modest, but it flips the overall head-to-head record to one win apiece.

Looking at the broader database context, the GTX 850M’s average benchmark score is 9,302, placing it at the 46th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals cluster tightly around it: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 averages 9,294 (0.1% behind), the AMD Radeon R7 M380 averages 9,313 (0.1% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 averages 9,273 (0.3% behind). The AMD Radeon Vega 8 sits at 9,221, 0.9% lower. The GTX 850M is therefore positioned in a dense pack of mid-range performers, where a few points of benchmark variance separate it from its peers. Its OpenCL strength is the outlier, while its Vulkan score is merely competitive.

The Radeon 540’s average benchmark score is 7,673, at the 41st percentile. Its nearest rivals tell a different story: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti averages 7,723 (0.6% ahead), while the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 averages 7,580 (1.2% behind). The AMD Radeon R7 250 averages 7,557 (1.5% behind), and the Intel Arc A310 averages 7,550 (1.6% behind). The Radeon 540 is thus at the bottom edge of its immediate cluster, trailing the GTX 1660 Ti by a small margin but leading the other three by 1.2% to 1.6%. Its Vulkan score is its standout result, pulling its average up; without that, it would sit even lower.

Interpreting the head-to-head numbers requires noting that OpenCL and Vulkan stress different parts of the architecture. The GTX 850M’s 58.8% OpenCL lead suggests a substantial advantage in general-purpose compute throughput, likely tied to its higher shading unit count and fill rates. The Radeon 540’s Vulkan win, though smaller in percentage, indicates better driver optimization or architectural efficiency for that modern API. Neither card dominates the other across both tests; the choice depends on which workload matters more.

A key observation from the data is that the GTX 850M’s average score is 1,629 points higher than the Radeon 540’s, a 21.2% gap. That difference is larger than any single benchmark delta between the two, which means the OpenCL result carries disproportionate weight in the overall average. The Radeon 540’s Vulkan score is its saving grace, but it cannot close the cumulative gap. For users prioritizing OpenCL compute, the GTX 850M is clearly superior. For Vulkan gaming or compute, the Radeon 540 holds a slight edge.

The percentile rankings reinforce this: 46th versus 41st puts the GTX 850M ahead of a larger fraction of the GPU population. However, both cards sit in the lower half of the database, indicating neither is a high-end part. Their nearest rivals are all mid-range or older enthusiast cards, and the delta percentages among those rivals are small, often under 2%. This is a segment where small architectural advantages translate into measurable, but not transformative, benchmark differences.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M wins Geekbench OpenCL with a score of 9,821 versus the AMD Radeon 540’s 6,184, a 58.8% advantage.

Q: Which GPU wins the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 wins Geekbench Vulkan with a score of 9,162 versus the GTX 850M’s 8,782, a 4.1% lead.

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

A: The GTX 850M averages 9,302, while the Radeon 540 averages 7,673. The GTX 850M’s average is 1,629 points higher.

Q: How do these GPUs rank relative to all GPUs in the database?

A: The GTX 850M sits at the 46th percentile, and the Radeon 540 sits at the 41st percentile. Both are in the lower half of all recorded GPUs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel rate?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 has a pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s, compared to the GTX 850M’s 14.43 GPixel/s.

Q: Which GPU has a higher texture rate?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M has a texture rate of 36.08 GTexel/s, while the Radeon 540 achieves 28.39 GTexel/s.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer DirectX version?

A: The AMD Radeon 540 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the GTX 850M supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different manufacturers, foundries, and architectural generations. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M uses the GM107 chip built on the Maxwell architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. It packs 1,870 million transistors into a 148 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.6 million per square millimeter. The AMD Radeon 540 uses the Lexa chip based on GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It contains 2,200 million transistors on a smaller 103 mm² die, yielding a higher transistor density of 21.4 million per square millimeter. The Radeon 540’s newer process node allows more transistors in less space, but the GTX 850M’s older node still delivers higher raw shader throughput.

The compute resources differ substantially. The GTX 850M has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The Radeon 540 has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 850M therefore has 66.7% more shading units and 66.7% more TMUs, while both share the same ROP count. This explains the GTX 850M’s higher texture rate of 36.08 GTexel/s against the Radeon 540’s 28.39 GTexel/s. The Radeon 540 compensates with a higher pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s versus 14.43 GPixel/s, which is unusual given equal ROP counts and likely reflects different clock behavior or memory subsystem efficiency.

Memory configurations are also quite different. The GTX 850M uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, running at 1001 MHz with 2 Gbps effective speed, delivering 32.03 GB/s of bandwidth. The Radeon 540 uses only 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 32-bit bus, running at 1500 MHz with 6 Gbps effective speed, delivering 24.00 GB/s. The GTX 850M has both more capacity and more bandwidth, despite using slower memory technology. The Radeon 540’s narrow 32-bit bus is a significant limitation, and its bandwidth deficit of 8.03 GB/s (25.1% lower) likely hurts in memory-intensive workloads.

The FP32 compute figures align with the shading unit counts. The GTX 850M delivers 1,154.6 GFLOPS, while the Radeon 540 delivers 908.5 GFLOPS. The GTX 850M is 27.1% ahead in FP32 throughput. The Radeon 540 also lists FP16 at 908.5 GFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, meaning it does not gain a throughput advantage in half-precision. The GTX 850M’s FP16 field is null, so no comparison is possible there. Power consumption is close: the GTX 850M is rated at 45 W TDP, the Radeon 540 at 50 W. Both use no external power connectors, though the Radeon 540 lists a suggested PSU of 250 W.

Interface and output differences are notable. The GTX 850M connects via PCIe 3.0 x16, while the Radeon 540 uses PCIe 3.0 x8. The GTX 850M has display outputs described as portable device dependent, reflecting its mobile IGP form factor. The Radeon 540 is a single-slot card with 2x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. API support differs in DirectX version: the GTX 850M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), the Radeon 540 supports DirectX 12 (12_0). Both share OpenGL 4.6, but the GTX 850M supports Vulkan 1.4 while the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3.

Release timing and product lineage also separate them. The GTX 850M was released on March 11, 2014, as part of the GeForce 800M generation, succeeding GeForce 700M and preceding GeForce 900M. The Radeon 540 was released on April 19, 2017, in the Polaris (RX 500) generation, succeeding Arctic Islands and preceding Vega. Both are marked as end-of-life in production status. The GTX 850M’s transistor count of 1,870 million is lower than the Radeon 540’s 2,200 million, but the GTX 850M achieves higher FP32 output with fewer transistors, indicating better architectural efficiency per transistor in that metric.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but workload-dependent conclusion. For OpenCL compute, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M is the unambiguous choice, with a 58.8% benchmark advantage that is difficult to overstate. Its average score of 9,302 versus 7,673 also favors it overall. The GTX 850M offers more shading units, more TMUs, higher FP32 throughput, more memory capacity, and more memory bandwidth. If the primary use case involves general-purpose compute or older API workloads, the GTX 850M wins decisively.

For Vulkan-based workloads, the AMD Radeon 540 takes the edge, though by a smaller margin of 4.1%. Its API support for DirectX 12 (12_0) is more modern, and its pixel rate is higher at 18.93 GPixel/s. The Radeon 540 also benefits from a newer 14 nm process and higher transistor density, which may translate to better efficiency in specific tasks. Users who prioritize Vulkan gaming or modern API compute should consider the Radeon 540, but they should be aware that its average benchmark score is 1,629 points lower overall.

The percentile rankings settle the broader question: the GTX 850M at the 46th percentile outperforms the Radeon 540 at the 41st percentile across the entire GPU database. Neither card is a top performer, but the GTX 850M sits higher in the distribution. Its nearest rivals include the GTX 465 and GTX 960, both within 0.3%, while the Radeon 540’s nearest rivals include the GTX 1660 Ti, which leads it by only 0.6%. The GTX 850M’s rivals are generally closer in score, indicating it is well-positioned within its tier.

The verdict for buyers depends on the dominant workload. The GTX 850M is the safer all-around pick based on average score, FP32 compute, and memory subsystem. The Radeon 540 is the pick for Vulkan-specific tasks and newer DirectX 12 feature levels. The Radeon 540’s higher pixel rate and modern architecture are real advantages, but they do not overcome the GTX 850M’s substantial OpenCL lead. For a balanced assessment, the GTX 850M wins on overall performance, while the Radeon 540 wins on API modernity and Vulkan efficiency.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The GTX 850M uses the GM107 chip on Maxwell architecture, while the Radeon 540 uses Lexa on GCN 4.0. Process nodes differ: 28 nm (TSMC) versus 14 nm (GlobalFoundries). Transistor counts are 1,870 million versus 2,200 million, with die sizes of 148 mm² versus 103 mm², yielding transistor densities of 12.6M/mm² versus 21.4M/mm².

Memory configurations diverge sharply. The GTX 850M has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 1001 MHz clock and 2 Gbps effective speed, achieving 32.03 GB/s. The Radeon 540 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 32-bit bus with 1500 MHz clock and 6 Gbps effective speed, achieving 24.00 GB/s. The GTX 850M leads in capacity and bandwidth; the Radeon 540 uses faster memory technology but on a much narrower bus.

Compute units differ: 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs for the GTX 850M; 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 16 ROPs for the Radeon 540. Pixel rates are 14.43 GPixel/s versus 18.93 GPixel/s. Texture rates are 36.08 GTexel/s versus 28.39 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 1,154.6 GFLOPS versus 908.5 GFLOPS. The Radeon 540 lists FP16 at 908.5 GFLOPS (1:1), while the GTX 850M has no FP16 data.

Power and physical attributes differ: TDP is 45 W versus 50 W. The GTX 850M is an IGP slot width with no power connectors and portable device dependent outputs. The Radeon 540 is single-slot with no power connectors, a suggested PSU of 250 W, and 2x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 versus PCIe 3.0 x8. API support differs in DirectX (12 (11_0) versus 12 (12_0)) and Vulkan (1.4 versus 1.3), while both share OpenGL 4.6. Release dates are March 11, 2014, versus April 19, 2017, with generations GeForce 800M versus Polaris (RX 500), and predecessors GeForce 700M versus Arctic Islands.