AMD Radeon HD 8730M vs AMD Radeon R7 M260X Comparison

The AMD Radeon HD 8730M and AMD Radeon R7 M260X are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions built on the same GCN 1.0 architecture, but they target different eras and memory configurations. The benchmark database shows a narrow victory for the older HD 8730M in raw compute, while the R7 M260X counters with a faster memory subsystem and a broader API test suite. The data reveals that these two GPUs are closer in raw shader output than their generational separation might suggest, with the HD 8730M holding a 4.7% lead in the single shared OpenCL test.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU scores higher in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8730M scores 5955, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260X scores 5690. The HD 8730M wins this test by 4.7%.

Q: How do their memory buses compare?

A: Both use a 128-bit bus, but the HD 8730M pairs it with 2 GB of DDR3 memory at 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, while the R7 M260X uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory at 64.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are their core configurations identical?

A: Yes, both have 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 raster operations pipelines.

Q: What is the difference in their clock speeds?

A: The HD 8730M has a base clock of 650 MHz and a boost of 700 MHz. The R7 M260X has a lower base of 620 MHz but a higher boost of 715 MHz.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The HD 8730M sits at the 34th percentile, while the R7 M260X is at the 30th percentile.

Q: Do both support the same graphics APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on TSMC's 28 nm process node, each packing 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². The underlying architecture for both is GCN 1.0, and they share identical core resources: 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The difference lies in their generational packaging and memory strategy.

The HD 8730M belongs to the Solar System generation (HD 8700M series) and uses the Mars chip. Its predecessor is London, and its successor is Gem System. The R7 M260X comes from the Gem System generation (R7 M200 series) and uses the Opal chip. Its predecessor is Solar System, and its successor is Polaris Mobile. This places the R7 M260X as a direct evolution of the HD 8730M's lineage, but the memory architecture marks the clearest separation.

The HD 8730M runs 2 GB of DDR3 memory at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective speed, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 M260X cuts capacity to 1024 MB but switches to GDDR5 at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed, more than doubling bandwidth to 64.00 GB/s. This is the defining architectural difference: the HD 8730M favors capacity, while the R7 M260X prioritizes throughput.

Clock behavior also diverges. The HD 8730M has a base of 650 MHz and a boost of 700 MHz. The R7 M260X starts lower at 620 MHz but boosts higher to 715 MHz. The result is a near-tie in peak compute: the HD 8730M reaches 537.6 GFLOPS FP32, while the R7 M260X edges it with 549.1 GFLOPS. Pixel rate is similarly close, with the HD 8730M at 5.600 GPixel/s and the R7 M260X at 5.720 GPixel/s. Texture rate follows the same pattern: 16.80 GTexel/s versus 17.16 GTexel/s.

Both cards connect via PCIe 3.0 x8 and have no dedicated power connectors, though the R7 M260X lists its display outputs as "Portable Device Dependent," indicating its laptop-centric design. Neither GPU has ray tracing or tensor cores, and both are marked as end-of-life in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the HD 8730M takes the win. It scores 5955 against the R7 M260X's 5690, a delta of 4.7%. This margin is modest, but it places the HD 8730M ahead of its newer counterpart in raw compute throughput.

Context from the nearest rivals clarifies the standing. The HD 8730M's average score of 5955 sits nearly level with the NVIDIA Quadro K620M at 5957 (0% delta), slightly behind the AMD Radeon HD 8750M at 5970 (-0.3%), and ahead of the Intel UHD Graphics 730 at 5929 (0.4%). The R7 M260X, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 5161, dragged down by its additional Vulkan test result of 4631. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M at 5154 (0.1% delta), with the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M at 5211 (-1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M at 5236 (-1.4%) slightly ahead. The AMD Radeon R7 240 trails at 5063 (1.9%).

The headline is that the HD 8730M wins the shared OpenCL test, but the R7 M260X's higher boost clock and doubled memory bandwidth suggest it may handle bandwidth-sensitive workloads better. The database only records one head-to-head test, however, so the R7 M260X's memory advantage does not translate into a benchmark victory here. The HD 8730M's 4.7% lead in OpenCL is the sole recorded data point, and it favors the older card.

The R7 M260X does have a second benchmark entry, Geekbench Vulkan at 4631, which the HD 8730M lacks. This means the R7 M260X has a measurable API-specific performance profile that the HD 8730M cannot match in the database, though no direct comparison exists for that test.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon HD 8730M as the stronger performer in the one benchmark they share. Its 5955 OpenCL score beats the R7 M260X's 5690 by 4.7%, and its 34th percentile ranking versus 30th for the R7 M260X reinforces that edge. For users prioritizing raw OpenCL compute, the HD 8730M is the clear choice from this record.

The R7 M260X, however, offers advantages that do not appear in the head-to-head score. Its GDDR5 memory provides 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double the HD 8730M's 28.80 GB/s, which can matter for texture-heavy or high-resolution workloads. Its higher boost clock of 715 MHz versus 700 MHz and slightly higher FP32 output of 549.1 GFLOPS also give it a theoretical edge in peak throughput. The R7 M260X's Vulkan benchmark of 4631 adds a data point for API-specific performance that the HD 8730M cannot counter in the database.

The HD 8730M also offers double the memory capacity at 2 GB versus 1024 MB, which helps in scenarios with large frame buffers. Its release date of March 2013 predates the R7 M260X's December 2015 launch, but the older card still holds the recorded benchmark advantage.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the HD 8730M wins on measured OpenCL performance and memory capacity. The R7 M260X counters with superior memory bandwidth, a newer generation label, and a Vulkan benchmark result. The database shows one clear winner in the shared test, but the R7 M260X's architectural refinements in memory speed and peak clocks make it a viable alternative for bandwidth-sensitive applications. The HD 8730M is the benchmark champion; the R7 M260X is the bandwidth specialist.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon HD 8730M | AMD Radeon R7 M260X |

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

| Chip | Mars | Opal |

| Generation | Solar System (HD 8700M) | Gem System (R7 M200) |

| Base Clock | 650 MHz | 620 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 700 MHz | 715 MHz |

| Memory Speed | 900 MHz, 1800 Mbps effective | 1000 MHz, 4 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | 64.00 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 5.600 GPixel/s | 5.720 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 16.80 GTexel/s | 17.16 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 537.6 GFLOPS | 549.1 GFLOPS |

| Release Date | 2013-03-31 | 2015-12-05 |

| Predecessor | London | Solar System |

| Successor | Gem System | Polaris Mobile |

| Display Outputs | Not listed | Portable Device Dependent |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | None |

| Geekbench OpenCL Score | 5955 | 5690 |

| Geekbench Vulkan Score | Not listed | 4631 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 34 | 30 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 5955 | 5161 |