AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark between these two mobile GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 8552, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581. That puts the GTX 770M 23% ahead in raw compute performance. To put that into perspective, the AMD part sits just 0.4% above the Intel UHD Graphics P750 and 1% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M; it is effectively in the same performance class as those entries. The GTX 770M, by contrast, is hanging around the level of the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (0% delta) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (0.1% delta).

A 23% gap in OpenCL is not a marginal victory. It represents a full tier of separation in general-purpose GPU compute workloads. When you account for the fact that the AMD chip also trails the GTX 770M in every architectural specification that feeds into compute throughput, the margin is consistent rather than surprising. The GTX 770M has 960 shading units versus 512 on the AMD part, and its peak FP32 throughput is 1.530 TFLOPS versus 691.2 GFLOPS. The benchmark delta of 23% is actually narrower than the 2.2x difference in raw shading units and the 2.2x difference in FP32, suggesting that the AMD chip is extracting relatively more efficiency from its smaller design, but it still loses the head-to-head by a clear margin.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M wins the only head-to-head test recorded, and it does so in every category that feeds into that result. It has a higher base clock (706 MHz vs 575 MHz), a higher boost clock (797 MHz vs 675 MHz), more texture mapping units (80 vs 32), more render output units (24 vs 16), and a far faster memory subsystem. The GTX 770M uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, yielding only 28.80 GB/s. That memory bandwidth difference is massive factor in any workload that streams data, from high-resolution textures to compute kernels that saturate local memory.

So where does the AMD chip win? It does not win on raw performance, but it does win on efficiency-oriented metrics that matter in a laptop context. The AMD part has a TDP of 25 W, exactly one-third of the GTX 770M's 75 W. If a laptop chassis is constrained on cooling or battery capacity, the AMD chip draws far less power. The AMD part also carries a smaller die: 123 mm² versus 221 mm², with 1,500 million transistors versus 2,540 million. It is a less complex part. In terms of API support, the AMD chip lists DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170, the NVIDIA chip lists DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both are effectively modern API capable, but AMD has a slight edge on the DirectX feature level. If a workload is primarily OpenGL, the specifications list 4.6 for both.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M also has a shorter release timeline. It launched in April 2012, which is roughly a year earlier than the GTX 770M's May 2013 release. In an environment where the database records end-of-life status for both, the AMD chip is the older product. For a user who values lower power draw and a smaller die over raw compute, the AMD part is the only one that makes sense. For any performance-focused task, the GTX 770M is the winner.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectures: AMD uses GCN 1.0, NVIDIA uses Kepler. These are both 28 nm parts fabricated by TSMC, so the process node is identical. The transistor density is also similar: 12.2 million transistors per mm² for AMD, 11.5 million per mm² for NVIDIA. But the total transistor count tells the real story. NVIDIA packs 2,540 million transistors into a 221 mm² die, while AMD fits 1,500 million into 123 mm². The NVIDIA chip is roughly 80% larger in die area and has 69% more transistors.

The core configuration diverges sharply. The AMD chip has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The NVIDIA chip has 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. That is 87% more shading units, 150% more TMUs, and 50% more ROPs. Pixel rate for the GTX 770M is 15.94 GPixel/s versus 10.80 GPixel/s for the AMD part. Texture rate is even more lopsided: 63.76 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s, a 3x advantage for NVIDIA.

Memory is another major divergence. The GTX 770M uses GDDR5 memory at 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective) with a 192-bit bus, resulting in 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part uses DDR3 at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) with a 128-bit bus, yielding 28.80 GB/s. The NVIDIA part has 3 GB of VRAM versus 2 GB, which matters for larger assets and higher-resolution textures.

The bus interface also differs. The GTX 770M uses MXM-B (3.0) with an "MXM Module" slot width, which is a standardized mobile module form factor. The AMD part uses PCIe 2.0 x16, which is a more conventional connection. The GTX 770M has no power connectors listed, while the AMD part has none listed either. The AMD part is end-of-life and the NVIDIA part is end-of-life, so neither is in active production.

The API support is close but not identical. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan (1.2.170 for AMD, 1.2.175 for NVIDIA). For DirectX, the AMD part lists 12 (11_1), while the NVIDIA part lists 12 (11_0). This means the AMD chip has a slightly higher DirectX feature level, which is relevant for certain modern titles or compute workloads that use feature level 11_1 features.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 8552 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 6581 for the AMD Radeon HD 7730M, a 23% advantage.

Q: How much power does each GPU consume?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M has a TDP of 75 W. The AMD chip uses one-third the power.

Q: What are the memory configurations?

A: The AMD part has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA part has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 96.19 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do they support the same APIs?

A: Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan (1.2.170 for AMD, 1.2.175 for NVIDIA). For DirectX, AMD lists 12 (11_1) and NVIDIA lists 12 (11_0).

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GTX 770M has 960 shading units, while the AMD HD 7730M has 512. That is 1.875 times more.

Q: When were they released?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M was released April 23, 2012. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M was released May 29, 2013.

The Verdict

The database is clear: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is the faster GPU. It wins the only benchmark head-to-head by 23% in OpenCL, and it has superior specifications in shading units, texture fill rate, pixel rate, memory capacity, memory type, and memory bandwidth. If the task is anything compute-intensive or graphically demanding, the GTX 770M is the right choice.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M, however, has one strong card: power efficiency. At 25 W, it uses exactly one-third of the power budget of the GTX 770M. For a thin-and-light laptop with a small battery, the AMD part is the only one that fits. It also has a smaller die (123 mm² vs 221 mm²) which can keep thermal output lower in a cramped chassis. The AMD part is also a year older in release, which may matter for availability in the used market.

The GTX 770M sits at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD part sits at the 38th percentile. The percentile ranks are close, but the average benchmark score tells a different story: the GTX 770M averages 6000 across all tests, while the AMD part averages 6581. The discrepancy is because the GTX 770M has a second benchmark (Geekbench Metal at 3448) that drags its average down. In the only test where both have a score, OpenCL, the GTX 770M wins clearly.

So if you are building or buying a laptop with either GPU, the decision is straightforward. If you prioritize performance and can handle a 75 W power budget, the GTX 770M is the only one that makes sense. If you are constrained by power or thermals to 25 W, the AMD Radeon HD 7730M is the only viable option, and it delivers about 77% of the OpenCL performance of the NVIDIA part while using 33% of the power. The GTX 770M is faster by every measured metric except power efficiency and DirectX feature level, where the AMD part has a slight edge. For a gaming or workstation laptop, the GTX 770M is the clear choice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon HD 7730M | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M |

|----------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|

| Chip | Chelsea | GK106 |

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Kepler |

| Generation | London (HD 7700M) | GeForce 700M |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 2,540 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 221 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 11.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 575 MHz | 706 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 675 MHz | 797 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 900 MHz, 1800 Mbps effective | 1002 MHz, 4 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 3 GB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | 96.19 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 512 | 960 |

| TMUs | 40 | 80 |

| ROPs | 16 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 10.80 GPixel/s | 15.94 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 21.60 GTexel/s | 63.76 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 691.2 GFLOPS | 1.530 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 25 W | 75 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Vulkan Version | 1.2.170 | 1.2.175 |

| DirectX Version | 12 (11_1) | 12 (11_0) |

| Release Date | April 23, 2012 | May 29, 2013 |

| Predecessor | Vancouver | GeForce 600M |

| Successor | Solar System | GeForce 800M |

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

| Avg Benchmark Score | 6581 | 6000 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 38 | 35 |