AMD Radeon 740M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 and the AMD Radeon 740M represent two very different eras of GPU design, separated by nearly 14 years of architectural evolution. The data shows a fascinating split: the aging Fermi flagship still holds a decisive lead in one legacy compute workload, while the modern RDNA 3.0 integrated processor demonstrates its superiority in contemporary graphics APIs and efficiency metrics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are unambiguous. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 scores 13,300 points, while the AMD Radeon 740M manages 10,172 points. This gives the GTX 480 a 30.8% advantage in raw OpenCL compute performance. This is a significant margin, placing the 2010 flagship firmly ahead of the 2024 integrated processor in this specific workload. The GTX 480 claims the single head-to-head win with a 1-0 record.

Context from the nearest rivals list reinforces this result. The GTX 480 sits just 0.2% below the AMD Radeon Pro 555X (13,321 points) and 0.4% behind both the AMD FirePro M6100 and AMD Radeon RX 5500M (13,354 and 13,356 points respectively). Its closest trailing rival is the AMD Radeon HD 8950M at 13,376 points, a 0.6% gap. This places the GTX 480 in a tight cluster of mid-range mobile and desktop GPUs from several generations later.

The Radeon 740M, despite losing this head-to-head, performs respectably in its own right. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 12,870 points, which puts it in the same 53rd percentile as the GTX 480. The 740M’s nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W5100 (12,847 points, 0.2% faster), the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12,831 points, 0.3% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830 points, 0.3% faster). Interestingly, the AMD Radeon RX 580 sits 0.4% ahead at 12,928 points, showing the 740M is competitive with much larger discrete GPUs in aggregate performance.

It is crucial to note that the Radeon 740M also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 15,568 points, a test the GTX 480 cannot run given its lack of Vulkan API support. This modern API advantage suggests the 740M’s architectural efficiency translates better to current workloads, even if its raw OpenCL throughput is lower.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 wins decisively with 13,300 points versus the AMD Radeon 740M’s 10,172 points, a 30.8% advantage for the older card.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon 740M a capable performer despite losing the head-to-head?

A: Yes. Its average benchmark score of 12,870 points places it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, matching the GTX 480’s percentile ranking. It also trades blows with discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 and AMD Radeon RX 580 in its nearest rivals list.

Q: What modern API support does the Radeon 740M offer that the GTX 480 lacks?

A: The Radeon 740M supports Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GTX 480 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. The 740M also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 15,568 points.

Q: How do their transistor densities compare?

A: The Radeon 740M has a dramatically higher transistor density of 152.6M per mm², compared to the GTX 480’s 5.9M per mm². This reflects the massive process node improvement from 40 nm to 4 nm.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each GPU?

A: The GTX 480 uses 1536 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus with 177.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 740M uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth, meaning it relies on the host system’s RAM.

Q: Which GPU has higher shading unit count?

A: The GTX 480 has 480 shading units, while the Radeon 740M has 256. Despite having fewer shaders, the 740M achieves higher FP32 throughput at 2.867 TFLOPS versus the GTX 480’s 1,345.0 GFLOPS.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is vast. The GTX 480 uses the GF100 chip based on the Fermi architecture, built on TSMC’s 40 nm process. It packs 3,100 million transistors into a massive 529 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of just 5.9M per mm². In contrast, the Radeon 740M uses the Phoenix2 chip based on RDNA 3.0, built on the same foundry but at a modern 4 nm process. It integrates 20,900 million transistors into a much smaller 137 mm² die, achieving an extraordinary 152.6M transistors per mm².

The memory subsystems are fundamentally different. The GTX 480 features 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 177.4 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth. The Radeon 740M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with no dedicated memory, using System Shared memory where bandwidth is System Dependent. This is a core design philosophy shift from discrete to integrated solutions.

Compute resources also differ significantly. The GTX 480 has 480 shading units, 60 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 48 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The Radeon 740M has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. Despite the lower counts, the 740M achieves higher pixel rate (22.40 GPixel/s vs 21.03 GPixel/s) and texture rate (44.80 GTexel/s vs 42.06 GTexel/s) thanks to its higher clock speeds. The 740M also has 4 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the Fermi architecture.

Clock behavior differs as well. The GTX 480 has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 924 MHz (3.7 Gbps effective). The Radeon 740M has a base clock of 800 MHz and a boost clock of 2800 MHz. This clock advantage explains how fewer shaders can produce higher FLOP counts. The 740M’s FP32 throughput is 2.867 TFLOPS, more than double the GTX 480’s 1,345.0 GFLOPS. The 740M also matches this with FP16 performance at 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the GTX 480 has no FP16 capability listed.

The Verdict

From the data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 is the clear winner in legacy OpenCL compute workloads. Its 30.8% lead in the head-to-head benchmark is substantial and places it in a performance tier that the 740M cannot match in that specific test. Enthusiasts running legacy applications that rely on OpenCL should favor the GTX 480.

However, the AMD Radeon 740M is the more future-proof and versatile solution. Its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 opens the door to modern gaming and compute workloads that the GTX 480 simply cannot handle. The 740M’s Vulkan score of 15,568 points demonstrates strong performance in contemporary APIs. Its active production status, versus the GTX 480’s end-of-life status, means ongoing driver support and relevance.

For power-sensitive systems, the 740M is the only rational choice. Its 45 W TDP is a fraction of the GTX 480’s 250 W TDP. The GTX 480 requires a dual-slot cooler, 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin power connectors, and a 600 W suggested PSU. The 740M is an IGP with no power connectors and no suggested PSU requirement, making it suitable for compact and mobile systems.

The verdict depends entirely on use case. For raw legacy compute throughput, the GTX 480 wins. For modern API support, efficiency, and integration, the Radeon 740M is the superior product. Given that the GTX 480 launched with a 499 USD MSRP and has been end-of-life since 2010, while the 740M is an active current-generation product, the modern IGP is the more practical choice for any new system build.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 | AMD Radeon 740M |

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

| Architecture | Fermi | RDNA 3.0 |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 4 nm |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | 529 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 5.9M / mm² | 152.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | Not listed | 800 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not listed | 2800 MHz |

| Memory | 1536 MB GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus | 384 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 177.4 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 480 | 256 |

| TMUs | 60 | 16 |

| ROPs | 48 | 8 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | None | 4 |

| Pixel Rate | 21.03 GPixel/s | 22.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 42.06 GTexel/s | 44.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1,345.0 GFLOPS | 2.867 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not listed | 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 250 W | 45 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | Not listed |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a | Motherboard Dependent |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_0) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| Vulkan Support | Not listed | 1.4 |

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

| Release Date | 2010-03-25 | 2024-01-30 |

| Launch MSRP | 499 USD | Not listed |

The specification table reveals the fundamental design philosophy shift between these two products. The GTX 480 is a massive, power-hungry discrete GPU designed for maximum raw throughput in its era. The Radeon 740M is a highly integrated, power-efficient processor designed for modern systems where space and power are at a premium. Every major specification—from process node to memory architecture to API support—reflects this generational divide.