AMD Radeon 840M vs NVIDIA RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries for the AMD Radeon 840M versus the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation. Both entries list zero benchmark scores, zero wins for either side, and no nearest rival comparisons. This absence of measured data means a conventional score-by-score comparison is not possible from the available records.

What the database does provide is a percentile placement. Both GPUs sit at the 50th percentile against all GPUs in the database. This is an unusual pairing: an integrated graphics processor from AMD and a discrete mobile workstation-class GPU from NVIDIA landing on the same percentile line suggests the 840M's position is heavily influenced by its efficiency-oriented design, while the RTX 3500's position reflects raw throughput. The percentile alone does not tell which one wins in a specific workload, but it does indicate that the database currently treats them as comparable in overall standing, which is likely a function of the 840M being a modern, capable IGP rather than a direct performance peer.

Without head-to-head numbers, the analysis must lean on the architectural and specification records. The gap in raw compute is substantial. The RTX 3500 records 15.82 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput, while the Radeon 840M records 1,484.8 GFLOPS. That is a difference of more than an order of magnitude. Pixel throughput shows a similar chasm: 98.88 GPixel/s for the NVIDIA part versus 23.20 GPixel/s for the AMD part. Texture rate is 247.2 GTexel/s versus 46.40 GTexel/s. These are the only concrete performance-related numbers in the pack, and they all point in one direction.

The absence of benchmark scores is itself a data point. It indicates that the database has not yet populated comparative results for this pairing, possibly because the 840M is a very recent release. Its recorded release date is February 28, 2025, while the RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation shipped on March 20, 2023. The two-year gap in release timing may explain why no measured comparisons exist yet.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural lineages. AMD's Radeon 840M uses RDNA 3.5, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It belongs to the Navi III IGP generation and specifically uses the Krackan Point chip. NVIDIA's RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, built on a 5 nm process, also at TSMC. Its chip is the AD104, and it belongs to the Ada-MW generation.

The transistor count tells a story of scale. The RTX 3500 records 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 121.8 million per square millimeter. The Radeon 840M's transistor count and die size are both listed as unknown in the database. The 4 nm process node for AMD versus 5 nm for NVIDIA is a notable difference, but without die size data for the AMD part, a direct density comparison is impossible.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The Radeon 840M has 256 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 8 render output units. It includes 4 ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. The RTX 3500 has 5,120 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. It carries 40 ray tracing cores and 160 tensor cores. The NVIDIA part has 20 times the shading units, 10 times the TMUs, and 8 times the ROPs of the AMD IGP. The tensor core count is particularly relevant for AI workloads: NVIDIA has 160 dedicated tensor cores, while AMD lists none.

Clock behavior differs as well. The Radeon 840M has a base clock of 400 MHz and a boost clock of 2,900 MHz. The RTX 3500 has a base clock of 1,110 MHz and a boost clock of 1,545 MHz. The AMD part boosts to nearly double the NVIDIA part's boost clock, which is typical for an integrated GPU running on a power budget. The NVIDIA part's lower boost clock is paired with far more execution units.

Memory architecture is fundamentally different. The Radeon 840M uses system-shared memory, with the type, bus width, and size all marked as system dependent. Bandwidth is also system dependent. The RTX 3500 has 12 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, with 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth and a memory clock of 2,250 MHz, described as 18 Gbps effective.

Power delivery separates the two designs. The Radeon 840M has a TDP of 15 W. The RTX 3500 has a TDP of 100 W. Both use PCIe 4.0, but the AMD part uses an x8 interface while the NVIDIA part uses x16. Both are listed as IGP slot width with no power connectors and portable-device-dependent display outputs.

API support is identical on paper. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The differences in hardware capability, particularly ray tracing cores and tensor cores, mean the API support does not translate to identical feature performance.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data supports clear conclusions about workload suitability, even without direct benchmark scores.

The Radeon 840M wins on power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP versus the RTX 3500's 100 W TDP is a seven-fold difference in power draw. For thin-and-light portable devices where thermal and battery constraints dominate, the 840M is the only viable option of the two. Its boost clock of 2,900 MHz also indicates that it can ramp up quickly when needed, but the integrated nature and shared memory architecture suggest it is designed for sustained moderate workloads rather than peak throughput.

The RTX 3500 wins on raw compute. The FP32 figure of 15.82 TFLOPS versus 1,484.8 GFLOPS is a decisive margin. For rendering, simulation, machine learning training, or any compute-heavy task, the NVIDIA part has the throughput advantage. The 12 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory with 432.0 GB/s bandwidth is a major advantage over system-shared memory, which is dependent on the host system's RAM configuration. The 160 tensor cores give the RTX 3500 a clear edge in AI inference and deep learning workloads that rely on tensor operations.

Ray tracing is another split. The RTX 3500 has 40 ray tracing cores, while the Radeon 840M has 4. The NVIDIA architecture is generally recognized in the database records as having a dedicated ray tracing implementation, and the core count difference is an order of magnitude. For games or applications with heavy ray tracing effects, the RTX 3500 is the stronger choice based on the recorded hardware.

The RTX 3500 also wins on memory bandwidth consistency. The Radeon 840M's bandwidth is recorded as system dependent, meaning its performance varies with the host laptop's memory configuration. The NVIDIA part has a fixed 432.0 GB/s. This makes the RTX 3500's performance more predictable across different systems.

The Radeon 840M wins on release recency. Its February 2025 release date is newer than the RTX 3500's March 2023 date. This does not directly affect performance, but it indicates the AMD part is based on more recent design work and the Krackan Point chip is a current-generation product.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every recorded specification category. The Radeon 840M uses a 4 nm process; the RTX 3500 uses 5 nm. AMD's chip is Krackan Point with RDNA 3.5 architecture; NVIDIA's is AD104 with Ada Lovelace. The RTX 3500 records 35,800 million transistors and a 294 mm² die, while the AMD part lists both as unknown.

Base clocks differ: 400 MHz for AMD, 1,110 MHz for NVIDIA. Boost clocks are 2,900 MHz for AMD and 1,545 MHz for NVIDIA. Memory is system shared for AMD and 12 GB GDDR6 for NVIDIA. The bus width is system shared versus 192 bit. Bandwidth is system dependent versus 432.0 GB/s.

Shading units are 256 versus 5,120. TMUs are 16 versus 160. ROPs are 8 versus 64. Ray tracing cores are 4 versus 40. Tensor cores are absent on the AMD part and number 160 on the NVIDIA part.

Pixel rate is 23.20 GPixel/s versus 98.88 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 46.40 GTexel/s versus 247.2 GTexel/s. FP32 is 1,484.8 GFLOPS versus 15.82 TFLOPS. FP16 is 1,484.8 GFLOPS (1:1) for both, though the scale differs by the same factor.

TDP is 15 W versus 100 W. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8 versus PCIe 4.0 x16. Release dates are February 28, 2025, versus March 20, 2023. The NVIDIA part has a recorded predecessor, Ampere-MW, and successor, Blackwell-MW. The AMD part has a predecessor, Navi II IGP, and no recorded successor.

Production status for both is listed as active. Neither has a launch MSRP in the database. Both have the same API list, same display output dependency, same slot width, and no power connectors.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation has 5,120 shading units, while the AMD Radeon 840M has 256.

Q: How does memory configuration differ between the two?

A: The Radeon 840M uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth. The RTX 3500 has 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 432.0 GB/s bandwidth and an 18 Gbps effective memory clock.

Q: Does the Radeon 840M have tensor cores?

A: No. The database records no tensor cores for the AMD part. The RTX 3500 has 160 tensor cores.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Radeon 840M has a TDP of 15 W. The RTX 3500 has a TDP of 100 W.

Q: Which GPU supports newer API versions?

A: Both support the same set: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the boost clocks for each GPU?

A: The Radeon 840M boosts to 2,900 MHz. The RTX 3500 boosts to 1,545 MHz.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear separation of roles. The AMD Radeon 840M is an integrated GPU with a 15 W TDP, designed for low-power portable systems. Its 256 shading units, 4 ray tracing cores, and system-shared memory indicate a focus on everyday graphics, light gaming, and media tasks. The 2,900 MHz boost clock shows it can reach high frequencies when needed, but the overall compute envelope is limited.

The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Mobile Ada Generation is a discrete-class GPU with a 100 W TDP, 5,120 shading units, 40 ray tracing cores, 160 tensor cores, and 12 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory. Its 15.82 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth place it in a different performance category entirely.

Users who need sustained compute throughput, dedicated graphics memory, tensor acceleration, or heavy ray tracing should select the RTX 3500 based on the recorded specifications. Users who prioritize low power consumption, recent release timing, and integration into a thin portable chassis should select the Radeon 840M. The 50th percentile ranking for both in the database is an aggregate measure, but the underlying specifications show that the two serve fundamentally different markets, and the absence of direct benchmark scores means no head-to-head performance verdict can be issued from the current database records.