AMD Radeon 740M vs AMD Radeon HD 8950M Comparison

The AMD Radeon HD 8950M and the AMD Radeon 740M are separated by over a decade of GPU evolution, yet their benchmark scores tell a surprisingly close story. The HD 8950M is a 2013-era discrete mobile part built on GCN 2.0, while the 740M is a 2024 integrated GPU using RDNA 3.0. The data shows a split decision: the older card wins in OpenCL compute, while the newer iGPU dominates in Vulkan performance. This creates a fascinating comparison where architecture age matters less than workload type.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is clean and workload-dependent. The AMD Radeon HD 8950M takes the OpenCL crown with a score of 13772, beating the 740M’s 10172 by a substantial 35.4%. This suggests the older card retains an advantage in compute-heavy tasks that leverage OpenCL, such as certain scientific simulations, video encoding pipelines, or legacy applications optimized for GCN architecture. The HD 8950M’s dedicated GDDR5 memory with 88.00 GB/s bandwidth likely plays a role here, as it doesn’t have to contend with system memory contention.

Conversely, the AMD Radeon 740M wins decisively in Vulkan, scoring 15568 against the HD 8950M’s 12979 — a 16.6% margin. This is the more relevant metric for modern gaming and graphics workloads, as Vulkan is a current-generation API. The 740M’s architectural advantages, including 4 dedicated ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), make it the clear choice for contemporary titles that leverage these features. The 740M also has a much higher boost clock of 2800 MHz compared to the HD 8950M’s unspecified boost, which likely contributes to its Vulkan superiority.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is massive. The HD 8950M uses the Saturn chip built on GCN 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 2,080 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.0M per mm². In contrast, the 740M uses the Phoenix2 chip based on RDNA 3.0, built on a advanced 4 nm process. It contains 20,900 million transistors — 10 times more — but in a smaller 137 mm² die, achieving an extraordinary 152.6M transistors per mm², a 11.7x density improvement.

The memory subsystems are fundamentally different. The HD 8950M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 88.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The 740M uses System Shared memory, meaning its bandwidth is System Dependent and its bus width is System Shared. This makes the 740M’s memory performance variable based on the host system’s RAM configuration, while the HD 8950M has fixed, predictable bandwidth. The HD 8950M also runs its memory at 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective), a detail that shows its age compared to modern standards.

The compute unit compositions differ dramatically. The HD 8950M has 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The 740M has only 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs — one-third the shading units. Yet the 740M compensates with higher clocks and newer instruction efficiency. The 740M also includes 4 RT cores, a feature entirely absent from the HD 8950M. Pixel rates favor the 740M at 22.40 GPixel/s versus 17.20 GPixel/s, but texture rates favor the HD 8950M at 51.60 GTexel/s versus 44.80 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput goes to the 740M at 2.867 TFLOPS versus 1.651 TFLOPS, a 73.6% advantage. The 740M also supports FP16 at 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1), while the HD 8950M has no FP16 capability listed.

Power and interface differences are stark. The HD 8950M is a 100 W MXM Module with PCIe 3.0 x16 connectivity, requiring dedicated cooling and power. The 740M is a 45 W IGP with no power connectors, integrated directly into the CPU package, using PCIe 4.0 x8. This makes the 740M far more efficient per watt, though the data doesn’t explicitly provide a performance-per-watt ratio.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two benchmark results are the core evidence. In Geekbench OpenCL, the HD 8950M scores 13772 against the 740M’s 10172, a delta of 35.4% in favor of the older card. This is a significant margin, indicating that the HD 8950M’s raw compute capabilities, combined with its dedicated memory bandwidth, still hold up in OpenCL-bound scenarios. The 740M’s lower shading unit count and shared memory architecture likely bottleneck it here.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn. The 740M scores 15568, while the HD 8950M manages only 12979 — a 16.6% deficit. This result aligns with the 740M’s modern RDNA 3.0 architecture, which is designed for Vulkan and DirectX 12 Ultimate workloads. The 740M’s ray tracing cores and higher boost clock of 2800 MHz (versus the HD 8950M’s unspecified boost) give it a decisive edge in graphics API performance. The HD 8950M’s GCN 2.0 architecture, while capable of DirectX 12 (12_0), lacks the hardware features needed to fully exploit modern APIs.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the split: the HD 8950M averages 13376 across its two tests, while the 740M averages 12870. This gives the HD 8950M a narrow 3.9% overall lead, but the percentile rankings tell a different story. The HD 8950M sits at the 54th percentile of all GPUs, while the 740M is at the 53rd percentile — essentially tied in the broader context. The nearest rivals for the HD 8950M include the AMD Radeon Pro 555X (13321, 0.4% behind) and the AMD Radeon Pro 555 (13407, 0.2% ahead), showing it competes with mid-range 2017-era mobile GPUs. The 740M’s rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 (12928, 0.4% ahead) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12830, 0.3% behind), indicating it trades blows with a 2017 desktop card and a 2011 dual-GPU flagship.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear use-case separation. The AMD Radeon HD 8950M is the better choice for OpenCL-centric workloads where its 35.4% lead in that benchmark matters. This includes legacy compute applications, certain professional tools, or any software that hasn’t migrated to Vulkan. Its dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 88.00 GB/s bandwidth provides predictable performance that the 740M cannot guarantee due to its System Dependent memory bandwidth. The HD 8950M also offers a higher texture rate of 51.60 GTexel/s, which could benefit texture-bound operations.

The AMD Radeon 740M is the superior option for modern graphics and gaming. Its 16.6% Vulkan advantage, combined with 4 RT cores and DirectX 12 Ultimate support, makes it the only viable choice for current-generation titles. The 740M’s FP32 throughput of 2.867 TFLOPS is 73.6% higher than the HD 8950M’s 1.651 TFLOPS, and its 22.40 GPixel/s pixel rate beats the older card’s 17.20 GPixel/s. The 740M’s 45 W TDP, versus the HD 8950M’s 100 W, also makes it dramatically more power-efficient, though it requires a compatible host system with fast shared memory to reach its potential.

Neither card is a clear overall winner. The HD 8950M holds a 3.9% average benchmark lead, but the 740M counters with architectural modernity and API support. For users running legacy OpenCL software, the HD 8950M is the data-backed pick. For anyone playing modern games or using Vulkan-based applications, the 740M is the only sensible option. The 740M’s active production status and 2024 release date also suggest it will receive driver optimization, while the HD 8950M is end-of-life as of its 2013 release.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M leads in FP32 throughput at 2.867 TFLOPS, compared to the HD 8950M’s 1.651 TFLOPS. The 740M also supports FP16 at 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1), while the HD 8950M has no FP16 capability listed.

Q: Why does the older HD 8950M win in OpenCL?

A: The HD 8950M scores 13772 in Geekbench OpenCL versus the 740M’s 10172, a 35.4% advantage. This likely stems from its 768 shading units (3x the 740M’s 256) and dedicated 88.00 GB/s GDDR5 bandwidth, which avoids the 740M’s System Shared memory bottleneck.

Q: Does the 740M support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon 740M includes 4 RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2). The HD 8950M has no RT cores and only supports DirectX 12 (12_0).

Q: How do these GPUs compare in overall benchmark percentile?

A: The HD 8950M sits at the 54th percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 13376, while the 740M is at the 53rd percentile with an average of 12870. They are statistically near-identical in overall placement.

Q: Which GPU is more suitable for modern gaming?

A: The 740M is the clear choice, winning Geekbench Vulkan by 16.6% (15568 vs 12979) and offering current API support including Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12 Ultimate. The HD 8950M’s Vulkan score is lower and its architecture lacks modern features.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The HD 8950M has a fixed 88.00 GB/s bandwidth from 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The 740M uses System Shared memory, so its bandwidth is System Dependent, meaning performance varies with the host system’s RAM.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon HD 8950M | AMD Radeon 740M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | RDNA 3.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 4 nm |

| Transistors | 2,080 million | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 13.0M / mm² | 152.6M / mm² |

| Boost Clock | null | 2800 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.00 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 768 | 256 |

| TMUs | 48 | 16 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| RT Cores | null | 4 |

| Pixel Rate | 17.20 GPixel/s | 22.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 51.60 GTexel/s | 44.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.651 TFLOPS | 2.867 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | null | 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 100 W | 45 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Power Connectors | null | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.4 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2013-05-13 | 2024-01-30 |