AMD Radeon 610M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The GeForce GTX 580M and the Radeon 610M do not trade blows across a suite of tests; the database records only one head-to-head benchmark in OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The GTX 580M scores 6389 points against the Radeon 610M's 4535 points, a 40.9% advantage for the older NVIDIA part. That is not a marginal lead, it is a category gap. In this single measured comparison, the GTX 580M wins the only head-to-head test, giving it a 1-0 record in the database's win tally.

The size of that delta matters when placed against each card's standing in the broader GPU field. The GTX 580M sits at the 37th percentile of all GPUs, while the Radeon 610M sits at the 32nd percentile. A five-percentile gap in overall positioning aligns with the 40.9% OpenCL delta, reinforcing that the GTX 580M is not merely faster in one synthetic test but occupies a higher tier in the database's aggregate rankings.

However, the Radeon 610M has a second recorded benchmark that the GTX 580M lacks: a Geekbench Vulkan score of 6353 points. The GTX 580M has no Vulkan result in the database, and its OpenGL API support is listed as 4.6, while its DirectX support is 12 (11_0). The Radeon 610M, by contrast, lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4. That extra Vulkan score of 6353 is notable because it exceeds the GTX 580M's OpenCL score of 6389 by only 36 points, meaning the Radeon 610M is competitive with the GTX 580M when measured under a modern low-level API, despite being far behind in OpenCL compute.

The database does not provide a Vulkan score for the GTX 580M, so a direct comparison in that test is impossible. What the data does show is that the Radeon 610M's Vulkan result (6353) is nearly identical to the GTX 580M's OpenCL result (6389). This suggests that the Radeon's architecture is better suited to the Vulkan API than to OpenCL, while the GTX 580M's Fermi design is comparatively stronger in OpenCL. For users relying on Vulkan-based workloads, the Radeon 610M is within 0.6% of the GTX 580M's best recorded score, which is a statistical tie. For OpenCL compute, the GTX 580M is the clear victor.

# Where Each One Wins

The GTX 580M wins in raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 6389 places it 40.9% ahead of the Radeon 610M, and that lead is consistent with its hardware specifications. The GTX 580M carries 384 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, while the Radeon 610M has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. The GTX 580M's pixel rate is 9.920 GPixel/s versus 7.600 GPixel/s for the Radeon, and its texture rate is 39.68 GTexel/s versus 15.20 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute figure for the GTX 580M is 952.3 GFLOPS, nearly double the Radeon 610M's 486.4 GFLOPS. Every throughput metric in the database favors the GTX 580M by a wide margin.

The Radeon 610M wins in architectural modernity and API compatibility. It is built on RDNA 2.0, supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), Vulkan 1.4, and offers FP16 compute at 972.8 GFLOPS (2:1), a feature the GTX 580M does not list. The Radeon also includes 2 ray tracing cores, which the GTX 580M lacks entirely. Its Vulkan score of 6353 demonstrates that, despite lower raw FP32 throughput, the Radeon can reach near-parity with the GTX 580M in a modern API workload. The Radeon's power envelope is also far smaller at 15 W TDP versus 100 W for the GTX 580M, making it suitable for thin-and-light portable devices where the GTX 580M's MXM module would be impractical.

For use cases defined by compute density, the GTX 580M is the winner. For scenarios that prioritize modern API support, ray tracing capability, and power efficiency, the Radeon 610M has the edge. The database shows no game-specific benchmarks, but the API support difference (12_2 versus 12 (11_0)) suggests the Radeon is better positioned for newer titles that leverage DirectX 12 Ultimate features.

# FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6389 points in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 40.9% higher than the AMD Radeon 610M's 4535 points.

Q: Does the Radeon 610M beat the GTX 580M in any benchmark?

A: The Radeon 610M has a Vulkan score of 6353 points, which exceeds the GTX 580M's OpenCL score of 6389 by a negligible margin in practical terms, but the GTX 580M has no recorded Vulkan score, so a direct head-to-head comparison in Vulkan is not possible.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two GPUs?

A: The GTX 580M contains 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, while the database does not list a transistor count for the Radeon 610M, though its die size is 100 mm².

Q: Which GPU supports ray tracing?

A: The AMD Radeon 610M includes 2 ray tracing cores, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has no ray tracing cores listed.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The GTX 580M has a TDP of 100 W, while the Radeon 610M has a TDP of 15 W, making the Radeon significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which GPU has better API support for modern games?

A: The Radeon 610M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 580M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, giving the Radeon broader compatibility with modern graphics features.

# Specification Differences

The GTX 580M and Radeon 610M differ in nearly every hardware specification recorded. The GTX 580M uses a 40 nm process node, while the Radeon 610M uses a 6 nm node, both fabricated by TSMC. The GTX 580M has a die size of 332 mm² and 1,950 million transistors, while the Radeon's die is 100 mm² with no listed transistor count. The GTX 580M's memory configuration is 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Radeon 610M uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The GTX 580M's memory clock is 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective), but it has no listed base or boost clock. The Radeon 610M has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1900 MHz, with system shared memory. Compute resources are heavily skewed toward the GTX 580M: 384 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs versus the Radeon's 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. The GTX 580M also has 2 ray tracing cores, a feature the GTX 580M lacks.

Throughput rates favor the GTX 580M: 9.920 GPixel/s pixel rate and 39.68 GTexel/s texture rate versus 7.600 GPixel/s and 15.20 GTexel/s for the Radeon. FP32 performance is 952.3 GFLOPS for the GTX 580M and 486.4 GFLOPS for the Radeon, while FP16 performance is only listed for the Radeon at 972.8 GFLOPS (2:1). Power consumption is dramatically different: 100 W for the GTX 580M versus 15 W for the Radeon. The GTX 580M uses an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface and comes as an MXM Module, while the Radeon is an IGP with PCIe 4.0 x8.

# Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies from different eras. The GTX 580M is based on the GF114 chip using NVIDIA's Fermi 2.0 architecture, part of the GeForce 500M generation. The Radeon 610M uses the Mendocino chip with AMD's RDNA 2.0 architecture, part of the Navi II IGP generation. The GTX 580M was released on 2011-06-27 and is now end-of-life, while the Radeon 610M was released on 2022-09-19 and is also end-of-life.

The process node difference is stark: 40 nm for the GTX 580M versus 6 nm for the Radeon 610M, both from TSMC. This explains the die size disparity: 332 mm² for the GTX 580M versus 100 mm² for the Radeon. The GTX 580M's transistor density is 5.9M per mm², while the Radeon's density is not listed. The GTX 580M's predecessor is the GeForce 400M and its successor is the GeForce 600M, while the Radeon 610M's predecessor is the Vega II IGP and its successor is the Navi III IGP.

API support diverges significantly. The GTX 580M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and has no listed Vulkan support. The Radeon 610M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Radeon also includes 2 ray tracing cores, a feature absent from the GTX 580M. The GTX 580M has no listed FP16 capability, while the Radeon 610M lists FP16 at 972.8 GFLOPS (2:1), indicating a 2:1 ratio relative to FP32. Both GPUs have no tensor cores, and both have portable device dependent display outputs. The GTX 580M's power connector is listed as "None" and the Radeon 610M's is also "None".

# The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for compute workloads: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M is the faster GPU. Its OpenCL score of 6389 beats the Radeon 610M's 4535 by 40.9%, and its FP32 throughput of 952.3 GFLOPS is nearly double the Radeon's 486.4 GFLOPS. The GTX 580M also leads in pixel rate (9.920 versus 7.600 GPixel/s), texture rate (39.68 versus 15.20 GTexel/s), and every core count metric. For users whose priority is raw computational density, particularly in OpenCL workloads, the GTX 580M is the clear choice from the recorded data.

The Radeon 610M wins on architectural features and efficiency. Its Vulkan score of 6353 approaches the GTX 580M's OpenCL score, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GTX 580M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support. The Radeon includes 2 ray tracing cores, FP16 compute at 972.8 GFLOPS, and a 15 W TDP that is a fraction of the GTX 580M's 100 W. Its 6 nm process node and 100 mm² die size demonstrate a far more modern design.

Who should pick which? Users running OpenCL-heavy applications, older DirectX 11 titles, or workloads that benefit from the GTX 580M's larger memory bus (256-bit) and higher bandwidth (96.00 GB/s) should choose the GTX 580M. Users who need modern API support, ray tracing, Vulkan compatibility, or who are constrained by power consumption and physical space should choose the Radeon 610M. The GTX 580M's MXM Module form factor and 100 W TDP make it unsuitable for most modern thin laptops, while the Radeon 610M's IGP design is built for integrated portable systems. The database's percentile rankings reflect this split: the GTX 580M at the 37th percentile and the Radeon 610M at the 32nd percentile, with the GTX 580M holding a modest overall edge in the aggregate benchmark score (6389 versus 5444 average). The final choice depends on whether the workload demands compute throughput (GTX 580M) or modern feature support and efficiency (Radeon 610M).