AMD Radeon 860M vs AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP Comparison

AMD Radeon 860M vs AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP: a matchup between a modern integrated graphics processor and a dedicated desktop card from an older generation. The data in the database shows a clear winner in raw compute, but the story is more nuanced when considering the platform and feature set. The RX 580 2048SP leads in every recorded benchmark, but the 860M offers a more modern architecture and significantly lower power demands.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP is the outright performance leader in the recorded data. It wins both head-to-head benchmark tests, posting scores that are roughly 23% higher than the 860M in OpenCL and Vulkan workloads. This is a substantial margin, indicating that the older dedicated card still holds a significant advantage in raw compute throughput. The RX 580 2048SP also has a higher average benchmark score of 23061, though its percentile rank among all GPUs is 68, which is below the 860M's 72nd percentile.

The AMD Radeon 860M, however, wins in efficiency and platform flexibility. It is an integrated graphics processor with a 15 W TDP, while the RX 580 2048SP demands 150 W. The 860M uses system-shared memory, meaning it does not require its own VRAM allocation, and it has no power connectors, making it suitable for thin-and-light portable devices. Its performance is remarkably close to a discrete GPU, as its average benchmark score of 26401 is within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and actually 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 in the database's rival comparisons. This suggests the 860M is a viable option for users who need acceptable performance without the need for a dedicated graphics card.

The use-case split is clear: the RX 580 2048SP is for sustained, high-throughput workloads where raw compute power is needed, while the 860M is for power-sensitive, space-constrained systems that still need a stable graphics experience.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the recorded benchmarks?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP wins both head-to-head tests. It scores 29668 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 22759 for the 860M, and 38666 in Geekbench Vulkan versus 30043. This represents a 23.3% and 22.3% lead, respectively.

Q: Is the integrated GPU closer to a dedicated card than expected?

A: Yes. The 860M's average benchmark score of 26401 is only 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060. It is also 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary, showing it competes with several dedicated GPUs.

Q: Which GPU has a better standing relative to all other GPUs?

A: The 860M is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, while the RX 580 2048SP is in the 68th percentile. This indicates that the 860M performs better relative to its peer group, despite having a lower raw score.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The 860M has a TDP of 15 W, while the RX 580 2048SP has a TDP of 150 W. The RX 580 also requires a 1x 8-pin power connector and a suggested power supply of 450 W, whereas the 860M has no power connectors.

Q: Which GPU supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The 860M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 580 2048SP supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: Can the 860M be used in a desktop?

A: The 860M is an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width listed as IGP, and its display outputs are portable device dependent. It is not a standalone card, while the RX 580 is a dual-slot card with multiple display outputs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains two direct comparisons, both favoring the RX 580 2048SP. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 580 2048SP scores 29668 against the 860M's 22759. This is a delta of -23.3% for the 860M, meaning the RX 580 is about a quarter faster in compute. In Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 580 2048SP again wins, scoring 38666 versus 30043, a 22.3% margin. These are significant gaps that will be apparent in any compute-heavy application.

The 860M, while losing, still delivers a respectable 30043 in Vulkan, which is higher than its own OpenCL score. This suggests the newer architecture handles modern rendering APIs efficiently. The RX 580 2048SP, despite being based on the older GCN 4.0 architecture, shows it can still scale well in these tests. The data also reveals that the RX 580's advantage is consistent across both tests, indicating a steady performance lead rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

In terms of average benchmark scores, the 860M has a higher average of 26401, but this is due to the different set of tests recorded for each GPU. The 860M's average is derived from two Geekbench scores, while the RX 580's average includes an additional 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 849, which lowers its overall average to 23061. This makes the average a less reliable comparison, but the direct head-to-head tests are definitive.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in almost every specification. The 860M has a base clock of 600 MHz and a boost clock of 3000 MHz, while the RX 580 2048SP has a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost of 1284 MHz. This means the 860M has a much higher top clock speed, but the RX 580 has a higher base.

Memory is a fundamental difference. The 860M uses system shared memory, with a bandwidth that is system dependent. The RX 580 2048SP has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 580's memory is a fixed resource, while the 860M's is shared with the system.

The RX 580 2048SP has a higher raw pixel and texture throughput. Its pixel rate is 41.09 GPixel/s and texture rate is 164.4 GTexel/s, while the 860M has 48.00 GPixel/s and 96.00 GTexel/s. The 860M has a higher pixel rate, but the RX 580 has a significantly higher texture rate, due to its 128 TMUs compared to the 860M's 32.

The RX 580 2048SP is a dual-slot card with a 1x 8-pin power connector and a 450 W suggested PSU. The 860M is an IGP with no power connectors. The RX 580 is 241 mm long (9.5 inches), while the 860M has no listed dimensions.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is a generation apart. The 860M is built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The RX 580 2048SP uses the GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This process difference (4 nm vs 14 nm) is a major reason for the 860M's efficiency advantage.

The 860M has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. It also includes 8 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the RX 580 2048SP. The RX 580 2048SP has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The RX 580 has more raw compute units, but the 860M has a modern design with ray tracing support.

The 860M's FP32 throughput is 3.072 TFLOPS, while the RX 580 2048SP is higher at 5.259 TFLOPS. Both have a 1:1 FP16 ratio. The RX 580's transistor count is 5,700 million on a die size of 232 mm², with a transistor density of 24.6M / mm². The 860M's transistor count and die size are unknown.

The architecture is also reflected in the supported API levels. The 860M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 580 2048SP is limited to DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. The 860M is part of the Navi III IGP generation, while the RX 580 2048SP is from the Polaris (RX 500) generation.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP as the stronger performer. Specifically, it wins both head-to-head benchmarks with a margin of 23% in OpenCL and 22% in Vulkan. Any application that is compute-bound will see faster execution times on the RX 580 2048SP. Its 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory also means it does not share bandwidth with the system, which is a significant advantage in games or workloads that are memory-sensitive.

However, the AMD Radeon 860M is the more modern and forward-looking option. It features ray tracing cores, a feature the RX 580 does not have, and it supports newer API versions. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the RX 580's 150 W, making it suitable for portable devices. The database also shows that the 860M is rated in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, while the RX 580 2048SP sits in the 68th percentile, meaning the 860M is a more balanced performer relative to its contemporary market.

The verdict is clear: choose the RX 580 2048SP if raw compute and memory bandwidth are the top priority, and the physical space and power supply can accommodate a 150 W dual-slot card. Choose the 860M if the system is a thin and light laptop or a compact desktop where power consumption, space, and modern features like ray tracing are more important than peak performance. The RX 580 2048SP is also end-of-life, while the 860M is active. For most modern users, the 860M's efficiency and feature set outweigh the RX 580's raw score.