AMD Radeon 740M vs AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and the AMD Radeon 740M represent two distinct design eras for AMD integrated graphics. The RX Vega 11 is built on the GCN 5.0 architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, and belongs to the Vega IGP (Picasso) generation. Its chip, codenamed Picasso, houses 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². In contrast, the Radeon 740M uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC, and is part of the Navi III IGP (Phoenix) generation. Its Phoenix2 chip integrates 20,900 million transistors on a smaller 137 mm² die, achieving a dramatically higher density of 152.6M per mm².

The internal compute configurations diverge sharply. The RX Vega 11 fields 704 shading units, 44 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The Radeon 740M, despite its newer architecture, relies on 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and the same 8 ROPs. However, the 740M introduces 4 dedicated ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the older GCN part. Clock behavior also differs: the RX Vega 11 runs at a 300 MHz base and 1400 MHz boost, while the Radeon 740M operates at an 800 MHz base and 2800 MHz boost. This higher boost clock helps the 740M reach 2.867 TFLOPS FP32 and 2.867 TFLOPS FP16 (at 1:1 ratio), whereas the RX Vega 11 delivers 1.971 TFLOPS FP32 and 3.942 TFLOPS FP16 (at 2:1 ratio). Pixel throughput favors the 740M at 22.40 GPixel/s versus 11.20 GPixel/s for the RX Vega 11, but texture rate is higher on the older chip at 61.60 GTexel/s compared to 44.80 GTexel/s.

Memory architecture is identical in concept: both use System Shared memory, with bandwidth listed as System Dependent. Bus interface differs, with the RX Vega 11 using an IGP connection and the Radeon 740M using PCIe 4.0 x8. API support separates them further: the RX Vega 11 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the 740M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Power envelopes are notably different: the RX Vega 11 is rated at 15 W TDP, while the Radeon 740M is rated at 45 W TDP. Both are IGP slot width with no power connectors and motherboard-dependent display outputs.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits the two GPUs evenly, with each winning one head-to-head test. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 excels in OpenCL compute workloads. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, it scores 12,525, beating the Radeon 740M's 10,172 by 23.1%. This suggests the older GCN architecture retains an edge in certain general-purpose compute tasks, likely leveraging its higher shading unit count and texture rate. The RX Vega 11's overall average benchmark score of 14,385 places it at the 56th percentile of all GPUs, above the 740M's 53rd percentile and average of 12,870.

The AMD Radeon 740M, conversely, dominates in Vulkan graphics workloads. In the Geekbench Vulkan test, it scores 15,568, defeating the RX Vega 11's 13,543 by 13%. This win reflects the newer RDNA 3.0 architecture's efficiency, higher boost clock, and ray tracing capabilities. The 740M also benefits from a much higher pixel rate (22.40 GPixel/s) and a more modern DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. For users running Vulkan-based games or applications, the 740M is the clear choice. For OpenCL compute, the RX Vega 11 holds the advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison reveals a clear split by API. In Geekbench OpenCL, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 scores 12,525, while the AMD Radeon 740M scores 10,172. The delta is 23.1% in favor of the RX Vega 11. This is a substantial margin, indicating that the older chip's 704 shading units and 61.60 GTexel/s texture rate provide meaningful compute throughput that the 740M's 256 shading units cannot match, despite the latter's higher FP32 rating. The RX Vega 11 also sits near rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (average 14,373, delta 0.1%) and the GTX 965M (average 14,404, delta -0.1%), while the 740M's OpenCL performance aligns with cards like the AMD FirePro W5100 (average 12,847, delta 0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (average 12,830, delta 0.3%).

In Geekbench Vulkan, the results reverse. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 15,568, and the RX Vega 11 scores 13,543, yielding a 13% advantage for the 740M. This win is attributable to the RDNA 3.0 architecture's optimized graphics pipeline, higher 2800 MHz boost clock, and the presence of ray tracing cores. The 740M's Vulkan score places it above its average benchmark performance, suggesting strong scaling in this API. The RX Vega 11's Vulkan result, while lower, still contributes to its overall average of 14,385, which edges out the 740M's 12,870. Across the two tests, each GPU wins one, with the RX Vega 11's OpenCL margin (23.1%) being larger than the 740M's Vulkan margin (13%).

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has an average benchmark score of 14,385, compared to 12,870 for the AMD Radeon 740M. The RX Vega 11 also ranks at the 56th percentile of all GPUs, versus the 53rd percentile for the 740M.

Q: How do they compare in Vulkan performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 15,568, beating the RX Vega 11's 13,543 by 13%. The 740M's RDNA 3.0 architecture and higher boost clock contribute to this result.

Q: How do they compare in OpenCL performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 12,525, defeating the 740M's 10,172 by 23.1%. The RX Vega 11's larger shading unit count appears to drive this advantage.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The RX Vega 11 uses GCN 5.0 on 12 nm with 4,940 million transistors, while the 740M uses RDNA 3.0 on 4 nm with 20,900 million transistors. The 740M has ray tracing cores, a higher boost clock (2800 MHz vs 1400 MHz), and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, while the RX Vega 11 has more shading units (704 vs 256).

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel rate?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M has a pixel rate of 22.40 GPixel/s, which is double the RX Vega 11's 11.20 GPixel/s. This benefits the 740M in fill-rate-bound scenarios.

Q: Are both GPUs integrated?

A: Yes, both are IGP (integrated graphics processor) parts with System Shared memory. The RX Vega 11 uses an IGP bus interface, while the 740M uses PCIe 4.0 x8. Neither has power connectors, and both have motherboard-dependent display outputs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | AMD Radeon 740M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | RDNA 3.0 |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 23.5M / mm² | 152.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 800 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1400 MHz | 2800 MHz |

| Shading Units | 704 | 256 |

| TMUs | 44 | 16 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | None | 4 |

| Pixel Rate | 11.20 GPixel/s | 22.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 61.60 GTexel/s | 44.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.971 TFLOPS | 2.867 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1) | 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.4 |

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

| Release Date | 2019-07-06 | 2024-01-30 |

| Predecessor | GCN 3.0 IGP | Navi II IGP |

| Successor | Vega II IGP | Navi III IGP |