AMD Radeon 880M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M Comparison

The AMD Radeon 880M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M represent two very different eras of mobile graphics, and the benchmark data reflects a generational chasm rather than a close contest. The Radeon 880M, a modern integrated processor, utterly dominates the legacy GeForce GTX 880M in the one directly comparable metric, with the GTX 880M holding a slight edge in overall percentile ranking. This comparison is less about choosing between two equal competitors and more about understanding how integrated graphics have evolved to surpass older discrete solutions.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the available benchmark results, the AMD Radeon 880M is the clear victor in raw compute performance in the head-to-head comparison. The data shows a single shared test for both GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL. In this test, the Radeon 880M scores 31,285, while the GeForce GTX 880M scores 5,622. This represents a massive 456.5% performance advantage for the AMD part, indicating that for any compute-oriented workload using OpenCL, the Radeon 880M is in a completely different performance class.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M, however, does not win any of the head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its only listed benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, which it loses decisively. However, it also has a Geekbench Metal score of 10,458, a test that the Radeon 880M does not have a result for. This means that in the Apple-centric Metal API ecosystem, the GTX 880M has a measurable performance data point, whereas the Radeon 880M has none, making it the only logical choice for that specific software environment based on available facts.

The Radeon 880M also demonstrates a broader performance profile. It has scores across multiple DirectX and compute benchmarks, including Passmark G3D (7,615) and Passmark GPU Compute (3,719), while the GTX 880M lacks results for these tests. The data implies the Radeon 880M is a more versatile and consistently capable part across modern APIs, while the GTX 880M’s relevance is confined to its few remaining compatible test suites.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectural philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Radeon 880M is based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 233 mm² containing 34,000 million transistors. This incredibly high transistor count results in a density of 145.9M transistors per mm². In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M uses the much older Kepler architecture, built on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC, with a larger die of 294 mm² but containing only 3,540 million transistors, yielding a density of just 12.0M per mm².

The core configurations also differ significantly. The Radeon 880M is an integrated GPU (IGP) with 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), 16 render output units (ROPs), and 12 ray tracing cores. The GTX 880M is a discrete mobile GPU on an MXM module, featuring a much higher count of 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, but it has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The Radeon’s memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses the host system's RAM with bandwidth that is "System Dependent," while the GTX 880M has a dedicated 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The clock speeds and power characteristics tell the story of their respective designs. The Radeon 880M has a base clock of 400 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz, with a TDP of just 15 W, requiring no power connectors. The GTX 880M has a much lower base clock of 954 MHz and a boost of 993 MHz, but its TDP is a substantial 122 W. This highlights a major architectural and practical difference: the Radeon 880M achieves its performance through high clock speeds and efficient 4nm manufacturing, while the GTX 880M relies on a wider, more power-hungry configuration of older cores. The Radeon also supports newer API features, including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GTX 880M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are staggering. The AMD Radeon 880M scores 31,285, which is 456.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M's score of 5,622. This is not a marginal win; it is a multi-generational leap in compute throughput. The Radeon 880M's score is more than five times that of the GTX 880M, suggesting that the modern RDNA 3.5 architecture, with its high clock speeds and efficiency, is overwhelmingly superior in raw parallel compute tasks compared to the decade-old Kepler architecture.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the Radeon 880M's average benchmark score of 8,436 places it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 880M's average score of 8,040 places it in the 42nd percentile. While the Radeon has a higher average score, the percentile difference is negligible. The Radeon 880M's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX, which it beats by a razor-thin 0.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330, which beats it by 0.3%. The GTX 880M's nearest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro P5000, which has a delta of 0%, showing they are statistically identical in average performance. This data suggests that while the Radeon 880M is a significant step forward in compute, its overall gaming and graphics performance, as measured by the average benchmark score, is only marginally better than the older GTX 880M, with both sitting near the bottom half of the GPU performance distribution.

The Radeon 880M also shows strong results in other tests not available for the GTX 880M, including a Passmark G3D score of 7,615 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 40,006. These results, while not directly comparable to the GTX 880M, indicate that the Radeon 880M is a competent performer in both DirectX and Vulkan titles. The GTX 880M's only other score is a Geekbench Metal result of 10,458, which the Radeon 880M cannot contest.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice is clear for most users. The AMD Radeon 880M is the superior product for anyone concerned with compute performance, modern API support, and power efficiency. Its 456.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL over the GTX 880M is a decisive factor. Its 15 W TDP, versus the GTX 880M's 122 W, makes it an incredibly efficient option for thin-and-light laptops, and its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with modern games and applications. The GTX 880M, by contrast, is an end-of-life product with a high power draw and a much lower compute score.

However, the choice is not entirely one-sided. The GTX 880M has a dedicated 8 GB of GDDR5 memory with 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a significant advantage over the Radeon 880M's System Shared memory. This means that in scenarios where dedicated VRAM is crucial, such as loading high-resolution textures in games, the GTX 880M may have an edge, even if its compute is slower. Additionally, the GTX 880M has a Geekbench Metal score, which the Radeon 880M lacks, making it a relevant option for users in the Apple ecosystem who require that specific API. Ultimately, the Radeon 880M is the better choice for almost all modern use cases, but the GTX 880M retains a niche for legacy software and systems requiring dedicated memory.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in compute performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M is overwhelmingly faster. In the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, it scores 31,285, which is 456.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M's score of 5,622.

Q: How do their overall performance scores compare?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M has an average benchmark score of 8,436, placing it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M has an average score of 8,040, placing it in the 42nd percentile.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M uses the RDNA 3.5 architecture on a 4 nm process with 34,000 million transistors, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M uses the Kepler architecture on a 28 nm process with 3,540 million transistors.

Q: What is the memory setup for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M uses System Shared memory with bandwidth that is System Dependent. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M has a dedicated 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has better API support?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Radeon 880M has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M has a significantly higher TDP of 122 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon 880M | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | RDNA 3.5 | Kepler |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 34,000 million | 3,540 million |

| Die Size | 233 mm² | 294 mm² |

| Base Clock | 400 MHz | 954 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2900 MHz | 993 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | System Shared | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 160.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 768 | 1536 |

| TMUs | 48 | 128 |

| ROPs | 16 | 32 |

| RT Cores | 12 | None |

| Pixel Rate | 46.40 GPixel/s | 31.78 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 139.2 GTexel/s | 127.1 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 4.454 TFLOPS | 3.050 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 15 W | 122 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | MXM-B (3.0) |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.175 |

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