AMD Radeon 610M vs NVIDIA GeForce 930A Comparison

The AMD Radeon 610M and NVIDIA GeForce 930A represent two very different generations of mobile graphics, separated by seven years of silicon evolution. The data shows a clear split: the older 930A wins the only direct benchmark comparison, yet the 610M packs modern features and efficiency that the Maxwell-era part cannot match. This analysis breaks down where each GPU holds an advantage, using only the benchmark scores, architectural specifications, and performance percentiles provided.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a straightforward picture for raw compute performance. The NVIDIA GeForce 930A wins the sole head-to-head test, the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, with a score of 5317 against the AMD Radeon 610M’s 4535. That is a 14.7% deficit for the AMD part. However, the story shifts when looking at the broader benchmark suite. The Radeon 610M also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 6353, a test the 930A did not participate in, indicating the AMD GPU is the better choice for workloads leveraging modern graphics APIs. The 610M’s average benchmark score of 5444 also edges out the 930A’s 5317, suggesting that across multiple test scenarios, the AMD part is more balanced.

For gaming and general-purpose compute, the 930A’s OpenCL advantage is meaningful, but it comes with a caveat. The 930A’s DirectX support is listed as 12 (11_0), while the 610M supports 12 Ultimate (12_2). This means the 610M is better positioned for titles that require newer DirectX 12 Ultimate features, even if its raw OpenCL score is lower. The 610M also wins on efficiency: its 15 W TDP is less than half of the 930A’s 33 W, making it the superior choice for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are critical. The 930A, with its higher TDP, is better suited for scenarios where sustained OpenCL compute is the priority, such as older game engines or specific OpenCL-based applications.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The AMD Radeon 610M uses the RDNA 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 100 mm². This is a modern, efficient design that powers the Mendocino chip. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce 930A uses the Maxwell architecture, built on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC, with a die size of 77 mm² and 1,020 million transistors. The process node difference is stark: 6 nm versus 28 nm, which explains the significant TDP gap (15 W vs 33 W) despite the 930A having more shading units.

The core configurations differ substantially. The 610M has 128 shading units, 8 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 4 render output units (ROPs). It also features 2 ray tracing cores, a capability entirely absent from the 930A. The 930A, meanwhile, has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This gives the NVIDIA part a theoretical raw throughput advantage, reflected in its higher FP32 performance of 722.7 GFLOPS versus the 610M’s 486.4 GFLOPS. However, the 610M supports FP16 with a 2:1 ratio, delivering 972.8 GFLOPS, while the 930A has no listed FP16 capability. This makes the AMD GPU more versatile for mixed-precision workloads.

Memory architecture also diverges. The 610M uses system-shared memory, with its bandwidth described as “System Dependent,” meaning performance scales with the host system’s RAM. The 930A has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 16.02 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a critical difference: dedicated VRAM provides consistent performance, while shared memory is cheaper but relies on system memory speed. The 610M also supports PCIe 4.0 x8, while the 930A is limited to PCIe 3.0 x8, offering double the theoretical bandwidth for data transfers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the NVIDIA GeForce 930A decisively wins. The 930A scores 5317, while the AMD Radeon 610M scores 4535, resulting in a delta of -14.7% for the AMD part. This is a significant margin, indicating that in pure OpenCL compute, the older Maxwell GPU is substantially faster. This result aligns with the 930A’s higher shading unit count (384 vs 128) and higher FP32 throughput (722.7 GFLOPS vs 486.4 GFLOPS). The 930A’s dedicated memory also likely contributes to this advantage, as it does not compete with the CPU for system memory bandwidth.

However, the 610M counters with its Vulkan score of 6353, which is higher than the 930A’s OpenCL score of 5317. While these are different APIs and not directly comparable, the data suggests the 610M is capable of strong performance in modern, low-level graphics APIs. The 610M’s average benchmark score of 5444 is also higher than the 930A’s 5317, indicating that when multiple benchmarks are considered, the AMD part is more competitive. The 930A’s nearest rivals include the GeForce 840M (avg score 5322, delta -0.1%) and the GeForce GTX 980M (avg score 5308, delta 0.2%), showing it sits in a narrow performance band. The 610M, by contrast, is near the Radeon R7 M365X (avg score 5416, delta 0.5%) and the Quadro M4000 (avg score 5467, delta -0.4%), suggesting a similar performance tier despite the different benchmark results.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The process node is the most obvious: the 610M uses 6 nm, while the 930A uses 28 nm. The 610M has a die size of 100 mm², versus 77 mm² for the 930A, and the 930A has a listed transistor count of 1,020 million, while the 610M’s is not provided. Clock speeds also diverge: the 610M has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1900 MHz, while the 930A runs at a base of 928 MHz and a boost of 941 MHz. The 930A’s memory clock is 1001 MHz (2 Gbps effective), whereas the 610M’s memory is system-shared with no dedicated clock.

Core counts are vastly different. The 930A has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, while the 610M has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. The 610M counters with 2 ray tracing cores, which the 930A lacks entirely. Pixel rates are nearly identical: 7.600 GPixel/s for the 610M and 7.528 GPixel/s for the 930A. Texture rates differ, with the 930A achieving 22.58 GTexel/s versus 15.20 GTexel/s for the 610M. FP32 performance favors the 930A (722.7 GFLOPS vs 486.4 GFLOPS), but the 610M has FP16 capability (972.8 GFLOPS) that the 930A does not list.

Memory size is a major differentiator: the 930A has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3, while the 610M relies on system-shared memory. Bus width is 64-bit for the 930A, versus system-shared for the 610M, and bandwidth is 16.02 GB/s versus system-dependent. TDP is 15 W for the 610M and 33 W for the 930A. Bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8 for the 610M and PCIe 3.0 x8 for the 930A. API support also differs: the 610M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the 930A is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4. Finally, the 610M was released on 2022-09-19, while the 930A was released on 2015-03-12.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon 610M has an average benchmark score of 5444, which is higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 930A’s 5317.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon 610M support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the 610M includes 2 ray tracing cores, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930A has no ray tracing cores listed.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon 610M has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930A has a TDP of 33 W, making the 610M more than twice as power-efficient.

Q: Which GPU has dedicated video memory?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 930A has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 16.02 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon 610M uses system-shared memory.

Q: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, what is the score difference?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 930A scores 5317, while the AMD Radeon 610M scores 4535, giving the 930A a 14.7% lead.

Q: Which GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: The AMD Radeon 610M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2). The NVIDIA GeForce 930A only supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

The Verdict

The data indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce 930A is the stronger choice for raw OpenCL compute performance. Its dedicated 2 GB of VRAM, 384 shading units, and higher FP32 throughput deliver a decisive 14.7% win in the only head-to-head benchmark. For users running legacy OpenCL applications or games that rely on older graphics APIs, the 930A is the safer bet. Its percentile rank of 31 versus the 610M’s 32 is nearly identical, but the 930A’s dedicated memory provides consistent performance without depending on system RAM.

The AMD Radeon 610M, however, is the forward-looking option. Its 6 nm process, 15 W TDP, and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and ray tracing make it the superior choice for modern workloads and battery-conscious devices. The 610M’s Vulkan score of 6353 suggests it excels in contemporary APIs, and its higher average benchmark score (5444 vs 5317) indicates broader overall capability. The lack of dedicated memory is a drawback, but for integrated graphics in thin laptops, the efficiency and feature set are more compelling. Users prioritizing modern features and power efficiency should choose the 610M; those needing maximum OpenCL compute in a legacy context should pick the 930A.