AMD Radeon 740M vs AMD Radeon 860M Comparison

AMD Radeon 740M and AMD Radeon 860M are both integrated graphics solutions from AMD, but they serve distinctly different performance tiers within the mobile and compact desktop segments. The database shows the 860M is the clear performance leader, winning both recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the 740M sits in a lower performance bracket closer to older discrete GPUs. This analysis breaks down where each chip excels, their architectural differences, and what the recorded data indicates about their relative capabilities.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 860M wins every benchmark comparison recorded in the database, making it the unambiguous choice for users prioritizing raw graphics performance. It wins both the Geekbench OpenCL test and the Geekbench Vulkan test, with a decisive lead in each. The 860M’s average benchmark score of 26,401 places it at the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, while the 740M’s average score of 12,870 lands at the 53rd percentile. This represents a substantial gap in overall compute capability.

The AMD Radeon 740M, while losing the direct comparisons, still holds its own against older discrete graphics cards. Its average score of 12,870 places it within 0.4% of the AMD Radeon RX 580, a dedicated desktop GPU from a previous generation. The 740M also sits within 0.3% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 and AMD Radeon Pro 455, and within 0.2% of the AMD FirePro W5100. This suggests the 740M is a capable integrated solution for lighter workloads, but the 860M operates in a completely different performance class.

For use cases, the data indicates the 860M is suited for more demanding integrated graphics tasks, such as modern games at lower settings or GPU-accelerated content creation. The 740M, by contrast, is better matched to everyday computing, older titles, and light media work where its lower power draw of 45 W (compared to 15 W for the 860M) might be less of a consideration in systems designed for higher TDP envelopes.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on different RDNA architectures, which explains their performance disparity. The 740M uses RDNA 3.0 on the Phoenix2 chip, while the 860M uses the newer RDNA 3.5 on the Krackan Point chip. Both are fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, but the 740M’s die size is 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors, giving it a transistor density of 152.6 million per square millimeter. The 860M’s transistor count and die size are listed as unknown in the database, so no direct comparison can be made on those metrics.

The compute unit configuration differs significantly. The 740M has 256 shading units, 16 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 raster operation units (ROPs). The 860M doubles these counts to 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. This doubling of core resources directly translates to higher throughput rates. The 860M also has twice the ray tracing cores, with 8 compared to the 740M’s 4.

Clock speeds are configured differently as well. The 740M has a base clock of 800 MHz and a boost clock of 2800 MHz, while the 860M starts lower at 600 MHz base but boosts higher to 3000 MHz. This higher boost ceiling, combined with more cores, gives the 860M its performance advantage. The pixel rate for the 740M is 22.40 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 44.80 GTexel/s. The 860M achieves 48.00 GPixel/s and 96.00 GTexel/s respectively, exactly double the 740M’s rates.

Both GPUs share the same API support: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Memory configurations are also identical in nature, with both using System Shared memory where bandwidth is system dependent. Both connect via PCIe 4.0 x8 and use no power connectors, being integrated graphics processors (IGPs).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a dominant performance lead for the 860M in both benchmark tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, the 740M scores 10,172 while the 860M scores 22,759. This represents a delta of -55.3% for the 740M, meaning the 860M delivers more than double the OpenCL performance. In Geekbench Vulkan, the gap narrows slightly in relative terms but remains massive: the 740M scores 15,568 while the 860M scores 30,043, a delta of -48.2% for the 740M.

These results indicate the 860M is roughly twice as fast in compute workloads, which aligns with its doubled shader, TMU, and ROP counts. The Vulkan gap being smaller than the OpenCL gap suggests the newer RDNA 3.5 architecture handles Vulkan’s lower-level API more efficiently relative to its older counterpart. Even with the 860M’s lower base clock of 600 MHz compared to the 740M’s 800 MHz, the higher boost clock of 3000 MHz and doubled core counts overwhelm the 740M’s advantages.

The 860M’s average benchmark score of 26,401 puts it in the company of the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which scores 26,421 (a 0.1% difference), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 at 26,331 (a 0.3% difference in favor of the 860M). It also sits near the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary at 26,553 (0.6% ahead of the 860M) and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 at 26,683 (1.1% ahead). This places the 860M in a performance tier that was previously occupied by mid-range discrete GPUs.

The 740M, by contrast, sits near the AMD FirePro W5100 (12,847, 0.2% ahead of the 740M), AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12,831, 0.3% ahead), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830, 0.3% ahead). Its nearest rival on the other side is the AMD Radeon RX 580 at 12,928, which is 0.4% ahead of the 740M. This places the 740M squarely in the performance range of older discrete workstation and enthusiast cards.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M has a boost clock of 3000 MHz, while the AMD Radeon 740M boosts to 2800 MHz. The 860M also has a lower base clock at 600 MHz compared to the 740M’s 800 MHz.

Q: How do their shading unit counts compare?

A: The 860M has twice as many shading units as the 740M. The 860M features 512 shading units, while the 740M has 256. This doubling extends to TMUs (32 vs 16) and ROPs (16 vs 8) as well.

Q: Are both GPUs manufactured on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. However, they use different architectures: the 740M is RDNA 3.0 on the Phoenix2 chip, and the 860M is RDNA 3.5 on the Krackan Point chip.

Q: What is the performance difference in Geekbench Vulkan?

A: The 860M scores 30,043 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the 740M scores 15,568. The 860M leads by 48.2% in this test, a slightly smaller margin than its 55.3% lead in Geekbench OpenCL.

Q: How does the 740M compare to the AMD Radeon RX 580?

A: The 740M’s average benchmark score of 12,870 is within 0.4% of the RX 580’s score of 12,928. The RX 580 holds a slight edge, but the two are effectively in the same performance class.

Q: What is the power consumption of each GPU?

A: The 740M has a TDP of 45 W, while the 860M has a TDP of 15 W. Despite the 860M being significantly faster, it consumes substantially less power, making it more efficient for portable devices.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon 740M | AMD Radeon 860M |

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

| Architecture | RDNA 3.0 | RDNA 3.5 |

| Chip | Phoenix2 | Krackan Point |

| Base Clock | 800 MHz | 600 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2800 MHz | 3000 MHz |

| Shading Units | 256 | 512 |

| TMUs | 16 | 32 |

| ROPs | 8 | 16 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 22.40 GPixel/s | 48.00 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 44.80 GTexel/s | 96.00 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.867 TFLOPS | 3.072 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1) | 3.072 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | unknown |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | unknown |

| Release Date | 2024-01-30 | 2025-02-28 |

The Verdict

The data clearly shows the AMD Radeon 860M is the superior GPU in every measured benchmark. It wins both head-to-head tests, has a higher average benchmark score (26,401 vs 12,870), and achieves a higher percentile ranking (72nd vs 53rd). Its doubled core counts, higher boost clock, and newer RDNA 3.5 architecture deliver roughly double the compute performance in OpenCL and nearly double in Vulkan. The 860M also does this at a much lower TDP of 15 W compared to the 740M’s 45 W, making it the more efficient choice for portable systems.

The 740M, however, still has a role. Its average score places it alongside older discrete GPUs like the RX 580, meaning it can handle everyday graphics work and lighter gaming without issue. Its higher TDP of 45 W suggests it may be intended for systems with more thermal headroom, possibly small form factor desktops or larger laptops where power draw is less constrained. The 860M’s lower TDP of 15 W makes it a better fit for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and cooling are priorities.

For users who need integrated graphics that can handle more demanding tasks, the 860M is the clear pick based on the recorded data. Its performance rivals discrete GPUs like the GeForce MX550 and RTX 5060, making it a compelling option for modern gaming and content creation in a portable form factor. The 740M is suitable for basic computing, older games, and light productivity, but its benchmark results show it cannot match the 860M’s capabilities, particularly in compute-heavy workloads.