AMD Radeon 740M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile graphics solutions almost perfectly down the middle, with each card taking one decisive victory. The AMD Radeon 740M claims the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 15568 against the GTX 780M's 12696, a 22.6% advantage. This is a substantial margin, indicating the RDNA 3.0 architecture's modern API handling translates directly into measurable performance gains in Vulkan workloads. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, meanwhile, dominates the OpenCL test, scoring 12769 versus the 740M's 10172, a 20.3% lead. For applications and games that rely on OpenCL compute, the older Kepler part remains the stronger choice.

This split suggests the two GPUs cater to different software environments. The Radeon 740M is the better pick for modern titles and compute applications built around Vulkan, where its newer architecture can flex its feature set. The GTX 780M is the safer bet for legacy OpenCL workloads, where its raw shader count and memory bandwidth still deliver. The overall average benchmark score reinforces this duality: the 740M sits at 12870, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs, while the 780M averages 11261, good for the 50th percentile. The newer AMD part holds a slight edge in the aggregate, but the per-test results show that neither card is a universal winner. The data indicates a use-case dependent decision, not a clear generational sweep.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Radeon 740M is built on TSMC's 4 nm process, packing 20,900 million transistors into a 137 mm² die, a transistor density of 152.6 million per mm². The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M uses the older 28 nm node, with 3,540 million transistors on a much larger 294 mm² die, yielding just 12.0 million transistors per mm². This process gap explains the massive difference in power efficiency and feature support. The 740M carries the RDNA 3.0 architecture, while the 780M is built on Kepler, a design that predates modern ray tracing and tensor core hardware.

Core configurations differ dramatically. The 740M has 256 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs, plus 4 dedicated ray tracing cores. The 780M counters with 1536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, but has no ray tracing cores at all. The NVIDIA part relies on raw parallel throughput, while the AMD part uses fewer, more capable units with newer instruction sets. Clock speeds tell the same story: the 740M boosts to 2800 MHz from an 800 MHz base, while the 780M runs at a modest 771 MHz base and 797 MHz boost. The Radeon's higher clocks are enabled by the 4 nm process and its lower 45 W TDP, versus the 780M's 122 W TDP.

Memory architecture is another clear dividing line. The 740M uses system shared memory, with the bus width and bandwidth listed as system dependent, meaning performance scales with the host laptop's RAM configuration. The 780M has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus, delivering 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth. For workloads that hammer memory, the dedicated VRAM of the GTX 780M is a structural advantage. The 740M's shared memory setup can be a bottleneck, though it benefits from flexibility and lower cost. The 780M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, while the 740M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, giving the AMD part the edge in API modernity.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in Vulkan applications?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 15568, 22.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M's 12696.

Q: Does the GTX 780M still hold up in any modern benchmark?

A: Yes, the GTX 780M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 12769 against the 740M's 10172, a 20.3% advantage. It also has a Geekbench Metal score of 8319, though the 740M does not have a Metal result recorded.

Q: Which GPU has better ray tracing support?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M includes 4 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2). The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M has no ray tracing cores and only supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: How do their memory configurations compare?

A: The GTX 780M has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus with 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 740M uses system shared memory, with bandwidth dependent on the host system.

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M has an average benchmark score of 12870, placing it in the 53rd percentile. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M averages 11261, in the 50th percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each GPU according to the data?

A: The 740M's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580, which scores 12928 (0.4% higher), and the AMD FirePro W5100 at 12847 (0.2% lower). The GTX 780M's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 at 11228 (0.3% lower).

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The process node is a major divide: the Radeon 740M uses TSMC's 4 nm process, while the GTX 780M uses 28 nm. Transistor counts are 20,900 million for the AMD chip versus 3,540 million for the NVIDIA chip, with die sizes of 137 mm² and 294 mm² respectively. The transistor density ratio is stark, 152.6 million per mm² for the 740M versus 12.0 million per mm² for the 780M.

Clock speeds show the AMD part running much higher: 800 MHz base and 2800 MHz boost for the 740M, against 771 MHz base and 797 MHz boost for the 780M. The GTX 780M has a separate memory clock of 1250 MHz, listed as 5 Gbps effective, while the 740M's memory clock is system shared. Memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all differ: 4 GB GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus with 160.0 GB/s for NVIDIA, versus system shared with system dependent bandwidth for AMD.

Compute unit counts favor NVIDIA in raw numbers: 1536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs versus 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs on the 740M. However, the 740M has 4 ray tracing cores, which the 780M lacks entirely. Pixel and texture rates reflect the NVIDIA part's higher unit counts: 25.50 GPixel/s and 102.0 GTexel/s for the 780M, against 22.40 GPixel/s and 44.80 GTexel/s for the 740M. FP32 compute is close, 2.867 TFLOPS for AMD versus 2.448 TFLOPS for NVIDIA. The 740M supports FP16 at 2.867 TFLOPS (1:1), while the 780M has no listed FP16 capability.

Power and form factor also separate the two. The 740M is an IGP with a 45 W TDP, no power connectors, and a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface. The 780M is an MXM module with a 122 W TDP, no power connectors, and an MXM-B (3.0) interface. Display outputs are motherboard dependent for the 740M and portable device dependent for the 780M. The AMD part is currently active in production, released in 2024, while the NVIDIA part is end-of-life, released in 2013. API support differs as well: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) versus DirectX 12 (11_0), and Vulkan 1.4 versus 1.2.175.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded head-to-head tests show a clean split between the cards. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M scores 12769, beating the AMD Radeon 740M's 10172 by 20.3%. This is the GTX 780M's strongest showing, driven by its 1536 shading units and dedicated 160.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. The 740M's shared memory configuration likely holds it back in this compute-heavy test, as the system dependent bandwidth cannot match the fixed GDDR5 allocation of the NVIDIA part.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 15568, beating the GTX 780M's 12696 by 22.6%. This is a significant margin that reflects the 740M's modern architecture and its support for Vulkan 1.4, compared to the 780M's older Vulkan 1.2.175 implementation. The 740M's higher boost clock of 2800 MHz also plays a role, as Vulkan workloads tend to scale with clock speed and architectural efficiency rather than raw shader count.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the 740M's average score of 12870 sits 14.3% above the 780M's 11261. The 740M also holds a higher percentile ranking at 53 versus 50. However, the GTX 780M has an additional Geekbench Metal score of 8319, which the 740M does not have recorded. This gives the NVIDIA part a wider software compatibility footprint for Apple-oriented workloads. The nearest rivals further contextualize the results: the 740M trades blows with the Radeon RX 580, which scores 12928, while the 780M sits just above the Radeon Pro WX 3200 at 11228 and the FirePro W4300 at 11225.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but conditional recommendation. For users prioritizing Vulkan-based gaming and modern compute, the AMD Radeon 740M is the stronger choice. Its 22.6% Vulkan lead, higher average benchmark score of 12870, 53rd percentile ranking, and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and ray tracing make it the more future-proof option. The 4 nm process also brings the TDP down to 45 W, a massive efficiency advantage over the 780M's 122 W, which matters for laptop battery life and thermal management.

For users stuck with OpenCL-heavy workloads or applications that do not leverage Vulkan, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M remains competitive. Its 20.3% OpenCL win and dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 frame buffer with 160.0 GB/s bandwidth are tangible assets. The 780M also offers a Metal benchmark score, broadening its compatibility with macOS environments. However, its end-of-life status, lack of ray tracing cores, and older API support make it a harder sell for new purchases.

The practical advice is simple: if the software in question supports Vulkan, take the Radeon 740M. If it relies on OpenCL or Metal, the GTX 780M still earns its keep. The 740M's higher average score and newer feature set give it the overall edge, but the 780M's dedicated memory and raw shader throughput keep it relevant in specific scenarios. The recorded data does not crown a single winner; it outlines two distinct tools for two distinct jobs.