AMD Radeon HD 7770M vs AMD Radeon Pro 455 Comparison

The AMD Radeon HD 7770M and AMD Radeon Pro 455 are two end-of-life mobile graphics processors from different eras of AMD’s architecture. The data shows a clear generational shift, with the newer Pro 455 delivering a substantial performance lead in the single shared benchmark, while the older HD 7770M holds a surprisingly competitive position in the overall percentile rankings. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and use-case scenarios based solely on the provided fact pack.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench Metal test, and the results are decisive. The AMD Radeon Pro 455 scores 15,916 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 7770M scores 13,536 points. This represents a 15% advantage for the Pro 455, as indicated by the deltaPct of -15 from the perspective of the HD 7770M. In practical terms, this means the Pro 455 delivers roughly one-sixth more compute throughput in this specific Metal workload, a significant margin for any mobile graphics comparison.

However, the story is more nuanced when examining the average benchmark scores across all available tests. The HD 7770M has an average benchmark score of 13,536, which is actually higher than the Pro 455’s average of 12,831. This inversion occurs because the Pro 455’s average is dragged down by its OpenCL score of 10,336 and Vulkan score of 12,240, both of which are substantially lower than its Metal score. The HD 7770M only has a single Metal benchmark recorded, so its average equals that score. This means that in a pure Metal environment, the Pro 455 is clearly superior, but across a broader range of compute APIs, the older card’s single data point suggests it may be more consistent.

The percentile rankings add another layer of context. The HD 7770M sits at the 54th percentile of all GPUs, while the Pro 455 sits at the 52nd percentile. Despite losing the head-to-head benchmark, the HD 7770M actually ranks higher relative to the entire GPU landscape. This is a quirk of the data, likely reflecting the fact that the Pro 455’s lower OpenCL and Vulkan scores pull its overall standing down, whereas the HD 7770M’s single strong Metal result keeps its percentile elevated. For a buyer prioritizing raw Metal performance, the Pro 455 is the clear winner; for a broader compute profile, the HD 7770M’s ranking is surprisingly competitive.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench Metal benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 455 wins decisively with a score of 15,916, compared to the AMD Radeon HD 7770M’s 13,536, giving the Pro 455 a 15% lead in this specific test.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The HD 7770M has an average benchmark score of 13,536, while the Pro 455 has a lower average of 12,831, due to the Pro 455’s weaker OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 10,336 and 12,240, respectively.

Q: How do these GPUs rank against all other GPUs?

A: The HD 7770M ranks in the 54th percentile, while the Pro 455 ranks in the 52nd percentile, meaning the older card sits slightly higher in the overall distribution despite losing the direct comparison.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each GPU based on average score?

A: For the HD 7770M, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT with an average score of 13,543, just 0.1% ahead. For the Pro 455, the nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 with a score of 12,830, showing a 0% delta.

Q: Does the Pro 455 support more modern APIs?

A: Yes, the Pro 455 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7770M supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory clock speed?

A: The Pro 455 has a memory clock of 1,270 MHz (5.1 Gbps effective), while the HD 7770M has a memory clock of 1,000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), giving the Pro 455 a faster memory interface.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Pro 455 is the outright winner in the only direct head-to-head benchmark, the Geekbench Metal test, with a 15% margin. This makes it the clear choice for applications that rely heavily on Metal compute, such as macOS-based creative workflows, video editing, and 3D rendering that leverage Apple’s graphics API. Its higher memory bandwidth of 81.28 GB/s, compared to the HD 7770M’s 64.00 GB/s, further supports this use case by allowing faster data transfer for texture-heavy workloads.

The AMD Radeon HD 7770M, despite losing the direct benchmark, wins in the context of overall percentile ranking (54th vs. 52nd) and average benchmark score (13,536 vs. 12,831). This suggests that for a mixed workload environment spanning Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan, the older card may actually provide more consistent performance across different APIs. Its single recorded benchmark score is its Metal result, which is lower than the Pro 455’s Metal score, but the absence of low-scoring OpenCL and Vulkan results keeps its average higher. For users who prioritize a balanced compute profile across multiple APIs, the HD 7770M’s data profile is arguably more favorable.

In terms of specific use cases, the Pro 455’s FP32 performance of 1,313.3 GFLOPS is nearly double the HD 7770M’s 691.2 GFLOPS, making it the superior choice for raw floating-point compute tasks. The Pro 455 also offers FP16 performance at 1,313.3 GFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the HD 7770M has no FP16 data, indicating a clear advantage for the newer card in half-precision workloads. The Pro 455’s higher texture rate of 41.04 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s also makes it better suited for texture-intensive rendering.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification difference is memory capacity: the HD 7770M has 1,024 MB of GDDR5, while the Pro 455 has 2 GB of GDDR5. This doubles the available frame buffer, which is critical for higher-resolution textures and larger compute datasets. The memory clock also differs, with the Pro 455 running at 1,270 MHz (5.1 Gbps effective) versus the HD 7770M’s 1,000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), resulting in a bandwidth advantage of 81.28 GB/s versus 64.00 GB/s.

The core configuration differs substantially. The Pro 455 has 768 shading units and 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), compared to the HD 7770M’s 512 shading units and 32 TMUs. Both have 16 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). This gives the Pro 455 a 50% advantage in shading units and a 50% advantage in TMUs, which directly contributes to its higher pixel rate of 13.68 GPixel/s versus 10.80 GPixel/s.

The process node and foundry differ: the HD 7770M uses a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the Pro 455 uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Pro 455 also has a higher transistor density of 24.4M per mm² versus 12.2M per mm², despite both having a 123 mm² die size. The transistor count is double on the Pro 455 at 3,000 million versus 1,500 million. The bus interface also differs, with the HD 7770M using PCIe 2.0 x16 and the Pro 455 using PCIe 3.0 x8. The Pro 455 is listed as an MXM Module with no power connectors, while the HD 7770M’s slot width is not specified.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is generational. The HD 7770M is built on GCN 1.0 architecture, using the Chelsea chip, and belongs to the London (HD 7700M) generation. The Pro 455 is built on GCN 4.0 architecture, using the Baffin chip, and belongs to the Radeon Pro Mac (400 Series) generation. This represents a jump from the first to the fourth iteration of AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture, bringing significant efficiency and feature improvements.

The process node shrunk from 28 nm to 14 nm, allowing the Pro 455 to double the transistor count from 1,500 million to 3,000 million while maintaining the same 123 mm² die size. This doubling is reflected in the transistor density, which increased from 12.2M per mm² to 24.4M per mm². The Pro 455’s FP32 compute performance of 1,313.3 GFLOPS is nearly double the HD 7770M’s 691.2 GFLOPS, and the Pro 455 adds FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio, which the HD 7770M lacks entirely.

API support also advances with the architecture. The Pro 455 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 7770M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the newer Vulkan version and higher DirectX feature level on the Pro 455 indicate better compatibility with modern gaming and compute applications. The release dates reflect this gap, with the HD 7770M launching on April 23, 2012, and the Pro 455 launching over four years later on October 29, 2016. The HD 7770M lists a predecessor (Vancouver) and successor (Solar System), while the Pro 455 has neither, suggesting it was a standalone part in its Mac-focused lineup.