AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs AMD Radeon R7 M460 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M460 and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M are separated by a single benchmark data point, yet they represent two distinct generations of mobile graphics silicon. The R7 M460, built on GCN 3.0, and the HD 7730M, built on GCN 1.0, both land at the 38th percentile of all GPUs in the database, indicating they occupy a similar performance tier. The Geekbench OpenCL scores are remarkably close: the R7 M460 posts 6612 points, while the HD 7730M scores 6581, a difference of just 0.5% in favor of the newer part. This near-parity is the defining characteristic of this comparison, making architectural differences and feature support more significant than raw benchmark deltas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the AMD Radeon R7 M460 edges out the AMD Radeon HD 7730M by a razor-thin margin. The R7 M460 scores 6612, while the HD 7730M scores 6581, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.5. This is a single-win scenario for the R7 M460 (1 win, 0 losses), but the magnitude of that win is negligible in practical terms.

To contextualize this 0.5% lead, the nearest rivals for the R7 M460 show a tighter cluster: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M sits at 6513 (1.5% behind), the Intel UHD Graphics P750 at 6554 (0.9% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 at 6698 (1.3% ahead). For the HD 7730M, the same cluster includes the R7 M460 (0.5% behind), the Intel UHD Graphics P750 (0.4% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (1.0% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M at 6493 (1.4% ahead). The data shows that both cards are effectively interchangeable in raw OpenCL compute performance, with the R7 M460 holding a marginal advantage that falls well within typical run-to-run variance.

The architectural contrast is stark. The R7 M460 packs 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 raster operations pipelines (ROPs), running at a base clock of 730 MHz with a boost of 1024 MHz. The HD 7730M, on the other hand, offers 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, but at a significantly lower base clock of 575 MHz and boost of 675 MHz. The R7 M460 compensates for fewer cores with a much higher clock speed, while the HD 7730M relies on a wider core configuration. The result is a virtual tie in compute throughput: the R7 M460 delivers 786.4 GFLOPS FP32, while the HD 7730M delivers 691.2 GFLOPS FP32, a 13.8% advantage for the newer chip.

Memory subsystems diverge considerably. The R7 M460 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s at an effective 4.5 Gbps. The HD 7730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, resulting in 28.80 GB/s at 1800 Mbps effective. Despite the narrower bus, the R7 M460’s faster GDDR5 memory gives it a 25% bandwidth advantage, which can matter in texture-heavy workloads. Pixel and texture rates tell a mixed story: the HD 7730M achieves 10.80 GPixel/s (32% higher than the R7 M460’s 8.192 GPixel/s), while the R7 M460 reaches 24.58 GTexel/s (13.8% higher than the HD 7730M’s 21.60 GTexel/s). The HD 7730M’s higher ROP count helps pixel throughput, but the R7 M460’s clock advantage boosts texture fill.

The Verdict

From the data, the AMD Radeon R7 M460 is the nominal winner in the direct head-to-head, but the margin is so small that it should not be the sole deciding factor. The R7 M460’s 6612 score versus the HD 7730M’s 6581 (0.5% delta) places them in the same performance bracket, confirmed by both cards sharing the 38th percentile ranking. The R7 M460 offers superior memory bandwidth (36.00 GB/s vs 28.80 GB/s), higher FP32 compute (786.4 GFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS), and a newer architecture (GCN 3.0 vs GCN 1.0). The HD 7730M counters with more shading units (512 vs 384), more ROPs (16 vs 8), and a higher pixel rate (10.80 GPixel/s vs 8.192 GPixel/s).

The R7 M460 is the better pick for users who prioritize compute performance, memory bandwidth, and modern feature support. Its boost clock of 1024 MHz and GCN 3.0 architecture bring DirectX 12 (12_0) support, matching the HD 7730M’s DirectX 12 (11_1) but with a higher feature level. The HD 7730M, with a TDP of 25 W, may appeal to those tracking power consumption, though the R7 M460’s TDP is not listed in the data. For gaming at typical laptop resolutions, the two will perform nearly identically, as the 0.5% benchmark delta is imperceptible. The HD 7730M’s higher pixel rate could give it a slight edge in fill-rate-bound scenarios, but the R7 M460’s bandwidth advantage likely negates this in practice.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 M460 wins in raw OpenCL compute, as measured by the Geekbench score of 6612 versus 6581. It also leads in texture fill rate (24.58 GTexel/s vs 21.60 GTexel/s), FP32 throughput (786.4 GFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS), and memory bandwidth (36.00 GB/s vs 28.80 GB/s). These metrics suggest advantages in compute-heavy tasks like OpenCL-accelerated applications, texture-rich 3D scenes, and any workload that saturates memory bandwidth.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M wins in pixel fill rate (10.80 GPixel/s vs 8.192 GPixel/s) and in core count (512 shading units vs 384). Its 16 ROPs versus the R7 M460’s 8 ROPs make it potentially stronger in scenarios that are heavily dependent on raster operations, such as traditional 2D compositing or certain anti-aliasing techniques. The HD 7730M also has a wider 128-bit memory bus, though the slower DDR3 memory limits its effective bandwidth advantage.

The R7 M460 is the clear choice for users running OpenCL workloads or modern games with DirectX 12 features, given its 12_0 support. The HD 7730M, with its DirectX 12 (11_1) capability, is technically less feature-complete but still functional for most DirectX 11 titles. The HD 7730M’s 25 W TDP makes it a more power-efficient option on paper, though the R7 M460’s power draw is not specified in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M460 scores 6612, which is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7730M’s 6581.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences between the two?

A: The R7 M460 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, providing 36.00 GB/s. The HD 7730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, providing 28.80 GB/s.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The HD 7730M has 512 shading units, while the R7 M460 has 384. The R7 M460 compensates with higher clock speeds (1024 MHz boost vs 675 MHz boost).

Q: What are the pixel and texture fill rates?

A: The HD 7730M achieves 10.80 GPixel/s and 21.60 GTexel/s. The R7 M460 achieves 8.192 GPixel/s and 24.58 GTexel/s.

Q: Do both cards support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, but at different feature levels. The R7 M460 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the HD 7730M supports DirectX 12 (11_1).

Q: What is the process node for both GPUs?

A: Both are manufactured on a 28 nm process by TSMC. The R7 M460 uses 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, while the HD 7730M uses 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different GCN generations and are built for different market segments. The R7 M460 uses the Meso chip, part of the Gem System (R7 M400) generation, and was released on 2016-05-14. The HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip, part of the London (HD 7700M) generation, and was released on 2012-04-23.

The R7 M460’s GCN 3.0 architecture is a significant evolution over the HD 7730M’s GCN 1.0. GCN 3.0 introduces improvements in instruction scheduling and memory management, which contribute to the R7 M460’s higher FP32 throughput despite fewer cores. The R7 M460 achieves 786.4 GFLOPS FP32 and supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio (786.4 GFLOPS), while the HD 7730M’s FP16 support is not listed. The R7 M460’s boost clock of 1024 MHz is 51.7% higher than the HD 7730M’s 675 MHz boost, which is the primary driver of its compute advantage.

Memory architecture is a key differentiator. The R7 M460 uses GDDR5 with a 64-bit bus and 4.5 Gbps effective speed, resulting in 36.00 GB/s. The HD 7730M uses DDR3 with a 128-bit bus and 1800 Mbps effective speed, resulting in 28.80 GB/s. The R7 M460’s GDDR5 offers higher bandwidth per pin, while the HD 7730M’s wider bus partially compensates but still loses on total bandwidth.

The bus interfaces differ: the R7 M460 uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the HD 7730M uses PCIe 2.0 x16. This affects data transfer rates between the GPU and CPU, with PCIe 3.0 x8 providing comparable bandwidth to PCIe 2.0 x16. The R7 M460’s support for Vulkan 1.2.170 and OpenGL 4.6 mirrors the HD 7730M’s API support, though the R7 M460’s DirectX 12 (12_0) feature level is higher.

Transistor counts are similar: 1,550 million for the R7 M460 and 1,500 million for the HD 7730M. Die sizes are also close at 125 mm² and 123 mm², respectively, yielding similar transistor densities of 12.4M/mm² and 12.2M/mm². The HD 7730M is the only one with a published TDP of 25 W; the R7 M460’s TDP is not listed. Both GPUs are end-of-life products, with the R7 M460 succeeding the Solar System generation and preceding Polaris Mobile, while the HD 7730M succeeds Vancouver and precedes Solar System.