AMD Radeon HD 8690M vs AMD Radeon R7 M460 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M460 and AMD Radeon HD 8690M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from AMD, built on the same 28 nm TSMC process. The data shows a clear, if modest, performance hierarchy between them, with the newer R7 M460 taking the lead in the available benchmark. This analysis examines their head-to-head results, architectural differences, and where each GPU holds an advantage based solely on the provided specifications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it decisively favors the AMD Radeon R7 M460. The R7 M460 scores 6612, while the AMD Radeon HD 8690M trails at 6137. This translates to a 7.7% performance delta in favor of the R7 M460, a meaningful margin for two GPUs targeting the same mobile segment. The data shows a single win for the R7 M460 and no wins for the HD 8690M in the head-to-head category.

When placed in the broader context of their respective peer groups, the R7 M460’s advantage is further contextualized. The R7 M460 sits at the 38th percentile of all GPUs, while the HD 8690M sits at the 36th percentile. The R7 M460’s closest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7730M, averages 6581, placing it just 0.5% behind. The R7 M460 also edges out the Intel UHD Graphics P750 by 0.9% and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M by 1.5%. However, it falls 1.3% short of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010, which scores 6698. This positions the R7 M460 at the top of its immediate performance cluster.

The HD 8690M, meanwhile, is bracketed by a different set of competitors. Its closest rival is the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 at 6117, a mere 0.3% behind. It also leads the NVIDIA RTX A400 and NVIDIA GeForce MX230, both by 1.0%. Its only loss in this group is to the AMD Radeon HD 6950, which scores 6210 and is 1.2% ahead. These rival deltas confirm that the HD 8690M competes in a slightly lower performance tier than the R7 M460, despite both being entry-level mobile parts.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark results, the AMD Radeon R7 M460 is the clear winner in raw compute performance. Its higher Geekbench OpenCL score indicates superior general-purpose compute capability, which is often leveraged in OpenCL-accelerated applications like video encoding, image processing, and certain physics simulations. The 7.7% lead is substantial enough to translate into a tangible user experience difference in these workloads. For users prioritizing compute tasks over pure gaming, the R7 M460 is the more capable option.

The AMD Radeon HD 8690M does not have a single benchmark win to its name in this data. However, its strengths may lie in its efficiency characteristics rather than raw throughput. With a lower transistor count of 690 million compared to 1,550 million, and a smaller die size of 56 mm² versus 125 mm², the HD 8690M likely consumes less power and generates less heat, making it a potentially better fit for ultra-thin laptops where thermal headroom is limited. This is a qualitative inference, as no TDP figures are provided, but the physical characteristics suggest a lower-power design.

In terms of gaming, the R7 M460’s higher texture rate (24.58 GTexel/s vs. 19.50 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (8.192 GPixel/s vs. 7.800 GPixel/s) give it a theoretical edge in fill-rate-bound scenarios. The R7 M460 also has more shading units (384 vs. 320) and TMUs (24 vs. 20), which should improve shader-heavy and texture-heavy rendering. While the HD 8690M has a higher base clock (925 MHz vs. 730 MHz), the R7 M460’s boost clock reaches 1024 MHz, and its superior core configuration likely overcomes the clock disadvantage in most workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent different generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. The AMD Radeon R7 M460 is based on GCN 3.0 with the Meso chip, while the AMD Radeon HD 8690M is based on GCN 1.0 with the Sun chip. This generational gap is significant. GCN 3.0 introduced architectural refinements that improve instruction scheduling and memory efficiency over the original GCN 1.0 design.

The R7 M460 features a substantially larger chip. It packs 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.4 million per mm². The HD 8690M, in contrast, has only 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die, with a nearly identical density of 12.3 million per mm². This means the R7 M460’s performance advantage is not due to a denser design, but rather a physically larger GPU with more execution resources.

Core configuration differences reinforce this. The R7 M460 has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The HD 8690M has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and the same 8 ROPs. The R7 M460’s 20% more shading units and TMUs directly contribute to its higher theoretical FP32 throughput of 786.4 GFLOPS, versus 624.0 GFLOPS for the HD 8690M. The R7 M460 also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, a feature not listed for the HD 8690M.

Memory subsystems differ as well. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, but the R7 M460 runs its memory at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective), yielding 36.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD 8690M’s memory runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), providing 32.00 GB/s. This 12.5% bandwidth advantage for the R7 M460 helps it in memory-intensive workloads. API support also differs: the R7 M460 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the HD 8690M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M460 is faster, scoring 6612 compared to the AMD Radeon HD 8690M’s 6137, a 7.7% advantage.

Q: How does the R7 M460 compare to its closest rival?

A: The R7 M460 is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (6581) and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513), but it is 1.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (6698).

Q: Does the HD 8690M beat any of its nearest rivals?

A: Yes, the HD 8690M is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 (6117), and 1.0% ahead of both the NVIDIA RTX A400 (6078) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX230 (6077). Its only loss is to the AMD Radeon HD 6950 (6210), which is 1.2% faster.

Q: What is the primary architectural difference between the two GPUs?

A: The R7 M460 uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip, while the HD 8690M uses the older GCN 1.0 architecture with the Sun chip. The R7 M460 also has a significantly larger die (125 mm² vs. 56 mm²) and more transistors (1,550 million vs. 690 million).

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M460 has 384 shading units, while the AMD Radeon HD 8690M has 320 shading units.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same modern APIs?

A: They both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170. For DirectX, the R7 M460 supports version 12 (12_0), while the HD 8690M supports version 12 (11_1).

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 M460 | AMD Radeon HD 8690M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Chip | Meso | Sun |

| Generation | Gem System (R7 M400) | Solar System (HD 8600M) |

| Transistors | 1,550 million | 690 million |

| Die Size | 125 mm² | 56 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.4M / mm² | 12.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 730 MHz | 925 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1024 MHz | 975 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) | 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 36.00 GB/s | 32.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 320 |

| TMUs | 24 | 20 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.192 GPixel/s | 7.800 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 24.58 GTexel/s | 19.50 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 786.4 GFLOPS | 624.0 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 786.4 GFLOPS (1:1) | Not listed |

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

| Release Date | 2016-05-14 | 2013-02-28 |

| Predecessor | Solar System | London |

| Successor | Polaris Mobile | Gem System |

| Geekbench OpenCL Score | 6612 | 6137 |

| Percentile vs. All GPUs | 38 | 36 |