AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs NVIDIA Quadro M500M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains a single direct comparison between these two mobile graphics processors: the Geekbench OpenCL test. In that test, the AMD Radeon HD 7730M scored 6581, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M scored 5986. This gives the AMD part a decisive 9.9% advantage in raw compute throughput as measured by OpenCL.

This result places the AMD Radeon HD 7730M in a stronger position than its rival in the only benchmark where both were measured under identical conditions. The 9.9% delta is significant enough to be considered a clear win, not a marginal one. When looking at the broader database context, the AMD card sits at the 38th percentile among all GPUs, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M sits at the 32nd percentile. This 6-percentage-point gap in overall standing reinforces the head-to-head result.

It is notably the NVIDIA Quadro M500M also has a recorded Geekbench Vulkan score of 5222, but the AMD Radeon HD 7730M has no corresponding Vulkan result in the database. Therefore, no direct comparison can be made on that API. The only apples-to-apples measurement is the OpenCL test, and there the AMD part wins outright.

The delta between these two cards is also reflected in their nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M is 0.4% ahead of the Intel UHD Graphics P750, 1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, and 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M. It trails the AMD Radeon R7 M460 by 0.5%. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M, by contrast, is 1.2% ahead of the AMD FirePro M4000, 1.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce MX130, and 1.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M, but trails the AMD Radeon HD 8790M by 1.5%. These proximity values show that both cards are clustered in a similar performance band, but the AMD card sits slightly higher within that band.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and designers. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M is built on GCN 1.0 architecture, using the Chelsea chip, and belongs to the London (HD 7700M) generation. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M uses the Maxwell architecture, with the GM108S chip, and belongs to the Quadro Maxwell-M (Mx000M) generation.

Both are manufactured by TSMC on the same 28 nm process node. However, the AMD chip is physically larger: it has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.2 million per mm². The NVIDIA chip packs 1,020 million transistors into just 77 mm², yielding a higher density of 13.2 million per mm². This means NVIDIA achieved more transistors per square millimeter despite using the same process node.

The compute resources differ substantially. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has fewer of each: 384 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Despite this reduction, the NVIDIA card actually delivers higher FP32 throughput at 863.2 GFLOPS compared to 691.2 GFLOPS for the AMD card. This is because the NVIDIA part operates at much higher clock speeds: 1029 MHz base and 1124 MHz boost, versus 575 MHz base and 675 MHz boost for the AMD part. The NVIDIA card also has a higher pixel rate of 8.992 GPixel/s and texture rate of 17.98 GTexel/s, though the AMD card beats it there with 10.80 GPixel/s and 21.60 GTexel/s respectively.

Memory configurations also differ. Both have 2 GB of DDR3 memory, but the AMD card uses a 128-bit bus with a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s, while the NVIDIA card uses a 64-bit bus with only 14.40 GB/s. This is a major bandwidth advantage for AMD, roughly double the NVIDIA figure. Memory clock is identical at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective.

The API support shows a split. The AMD card supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA card supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which is a newer Vulkan revision. Both are end-of-life products, but their release dates are far apart: the AMD card was released in April 2012, while the NVIDIA card came in April 2016.

Power and interface details also differ. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W and uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has a higher TDP of 30 W, uses an MXM-A (3.0) interface, and is packaged as an MXM Module with no power connectors required.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 9.9% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro M500M's score of 5986.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M has a 128-bit memory bus providing 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M has a 64-bit bus providing only 14.40 GB/s, exactly half the bandwidth.

Q: Which card has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M delivers 863.2 GFLOPS, which is higher than the AMD Radeon HD 7730M's 691.2 GFLOPS, despite the AMD card having more shading units.

Q: Are the cards manufactured on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built by TSMC on a 28 nm process node. However, the AMD chip has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, while the NVIDIA chip has 1,020 million transistors on a 77 mm² die.

Q: What is the difference in release timing?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M was released in April 2012, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M was released in April 2016, a four-year gap.

Q: Which card has better API support for Vulkan?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M supports Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M supports Vulkan 1.2.170, making the NVIDIA card's Vulkan implementation newer.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon HD 7730M | NVIDIA Quadro M500M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Maxwell |

| Chip | Chelsea | GM108S |

| Generation | London (HD 7700M) | Quadro Maxwell-M (Mx000M) |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 1,020 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 13.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 575 MHz | 1029 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 675 MHz | 1124 MHz |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | 14.40 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 512 | 384 |

| TMUs | 32 | 16 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 10.80 GPixel/s | 8.992 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 21.60 GTexel/s | 17.98 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 691.2 GFLOPS | 863.2 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 25 W | 30 W |

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

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.170 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2012-04-23 | 2016-04-26 |

| Predecessor | Vancouver | Quadro Kepler-M |

| Successor | Solar System | Quadro Pascal-M |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M wins in the only direct benchmark comparison available. Its 9.9% OpenCL lead over the NVIDIA Quadro M500M is the most concrete victory in the data. It also wins decisively on memory bandwidth, offering 28.80 GB/s versus 14.40 GB/s, which can matter for memory-intensive workloads. The AMD card has more shading units, TMUs, and ROPs, and it achieves higher pixel and texture rates. Its lower TDP of 25 W versus 30 W also makes it the more power-efficient choice on paper.

The NVIDIA Quadro M500M wins on raw compute throughput in FP32, delivering 863.2 GFLOPS versus 691.2 GFLOPS. This is a counterintuitive result given its smaller core count, but the much higher clock speeds (1029 MHz base, 1124 MHz boost) make the difference. The NVIDIA card also has a smaller die (77 mm² vs 123 mm²) with higher transistor density, a newer Vulkan version (1.4 vs 1.2.170), and a more recent release date by four years. Its MXM-A (3.0) interface represents a newer bus standard compared to PCIe 2.0 x16.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for raw OpenCL performance: the AMD Radeon HD 7730M. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark, sits at a higher percentile among all GPUs (38th vs 32nd), and offers double the memory bandwidth. For tasks that rely on OpenCL compute or memory throughput, the AMD card is the stronger option based on recorded measurements.

The NVIDIA Quadro M500M, however, should be chosen if the priority is peak FP32 compute, as it delivers 863.2 GFLOPS, which is 24.9% higher than the AMD part's 691.2 GFLOPS. Its higher clock speeds and newer architecture generation also suggest better efficiency per clock, and its Vulkan 1.4 support is more modern. For systems requiring an MXM module form factor or a more recent release date, the NVIDIA card is the only option between the two.

There is no scenario in the data where both cards are equal. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M wins the single available benchmark and the bandwidth comparison. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M wins on compute density, FP32 throughput, and API modernity. The choice depends on whether the workload is memory-bound or compute-bound. For OpenCL general-purpose tasks, the AMD card has the proven edge. For peak mathematical throughput, the NVIDIA card is superior. Each card holds a distinct advantage, and the recorded data supports either selection depending on the specific requirement.