AMD Radeon Pro 5600M vs AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M are both built on the same RDNA 1.0 architecture, yet they serve entirely different purposes. The data shows a clear overall winner in raw performance, but the benchmark results are not one-sided. Across the ten head-to-head tests, the RX 5700 XT wins nine, while the Pro 5600M takes a single, decisive victory in Geekbench OpenCL. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—16361 for the RX 5700 XT versus 16351 for the Pro 5600M—a difference of just 0.1%. This near-tie in aggregate scoring masks a wide divergence in individual workload behavior, making the choice between them highly dependent on the intended application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is the Geekbench OpenCL test. Here, the Pro 5600M scores 47783, while the RX 5700 XT manages only 9524. This is an 80.1% advantage for the mobile part, and it is the single largest margin in either direction. This result is anomalous compared to the rest of the data, suggesting that the Pro 5600M’s compute capabilities are heavily optimized for OpenCL workloads, likely due to its professional positioning.

Outside of that single test, the RX 5700 XT dominates every other benchmark with substantial margins. In Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 5700 XT scores 68310 against the Pro 5600M’s 46425, a 47.1% lead. The Geekbench Metal test shows a similar pattern, with the RX 5700 XT at 74647 and the Pro 5600M at 55030, a 35.6% advantage. These results indicate that the desktop card is significantly stronger across modern graphics APIs.

The Passmark suite reinforces this trend with even larger deltas. In Passmark G3D, the RX 5700 XT scores 16277 versus 9279 for the Pro 5600M, a 75.4% lead. The compute-oriented Passmark GPU Compute test shows a 89.8% advantage for the RX 5700 XT (7650 vs 4031). Legacy DirectX tests follow the same pattern: DirectX 9 shows a 91.5% lead for the RX 5700 XT (226 vs 118), DirectX 11 shows a 96.6% lead (116 vs 59), and DirectX 10 shows a 56.5% lead (97 vs 62). Even the 2D test, Passmark G2D, favors the RX 5700 XT with a 35.8% margin (922 vs 679).

The overall picture is one of a powerhouse desktop GPU against a specialized mobile part. The RX 5700 XT’s wins are broad and consistent, ranging from 35.6% to 96.6% across different tests. The Pro 5600M’s single win, while massive, is isolated to a specific compute API.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the same fundamental architecture: RDNA 1.0, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. Despite this, their physical implementations diverge significantly. The RX 5700 XT uses the Navi 10 chip, while the Pro 5600M uses the Navi 12 chip. The RX 5700 XT has a die size of 251 mm² and contains 10,300 million transistors, resulting in a transistor density of 41.0M per mm². The Pro 5600M’s die size and transistor count are not provided in the data.

Clock speeds differ dramatically. The RX 5700 XT runs at a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. The Pro 5600M operates at a much lower base clock of 822 MHz and a boost clock of 1144 MHz. This clock disparity directly explains much of the performance gap in most tests.

Memory configurations are another major point of divergence. The RX 5700 XT uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The Pro 5600M also has 8 GB, but it uses HBM2 memory on a massive 2048-bit bus, yielding a slightly lower bandwidth of 394.2 GB/s. Despite the wider bus, the HBM2 implementation runs at a much lower effective speed—1540 Mbps versus 14 Gbps effective for the GDDR6.

The compute resources are identical on paper: both have 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. However, the actual throughput numbers tell a different story. The RX 5700 XT achieves a pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 304.8 GTexel/s, while the Pro 5600M manages only 73.22 GPixel/s and 183.0 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 9.754 TFLOPS for the RX 5700 XT versus 5.857 TFLOPS for the Pro 5600M, with FP16 scaling at 2:1 for both (19.51 and 11.71 TFLOPS respectively).

Power and physical characteristics are where the two parts are most distinct. The RX 5700 XT has a TDP of 225 W, requires a 550 W power supply, and uses 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connectors. It is a dual-slot card measuring 272 mm in length. The Pro 5600M is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a TDP of just 50 W, no power connectors, and dimensions that are listed as "Portable Device Dependent." The RX 5700 XT also supports Vulkan 1.4, while the Pro 5600M supports Vulkan 1.3.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 5700 XT is the clear winner for general-purpose graphics and gaming workloads. It wins all DirectX tests—9, 10, 11, and 12—with margins ranging from 56.5% to 96.6%. Its Vulkan performance is 47.1% higher, and its Metal performance is 35.6% higher. For any application that relies on traditional rasterization, the RX 5700 XT is the superior choice by a wide margin. The Passmark G3D score of 16277 against 9279 further confirms this, showing a 75.4% advantage in overall 3D graphics capability.

The Pro 5600M’s sole victory in Geekbench OpenCL is its defining characteristic. The 80.1% lead in that test suggests it is uniquely optimized for OpenCL compute tasks. This is a significant data point for professional applications that leverage OpenCL for general-purpose GPU computing, such as certain scientific simulations or content creation tools. The Pro 5600M’s lower TDP of 50 W also makes it suitable for compact systems, though the data does not provide direct performance-per-watt comparisons.

The average benchmark scores place both GPUs at the 59th percentile among all GPUs. The nearest rival to both is the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, which scores 16408, a 0.3% difference from each. The AMD Radeon PRO W7500 is also close at 16415, again a 0.3% difference. This indicates that despite their internal performance swings, both GPUs occupy a similar tier in the overall market.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward recommendation for most users. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the better choice for anyone prioritizing gaming, DirectX performance, or general 3D rendering. Its wins in nine out of ten benchmarks, with margins often exceeding 50%, make it the dominant part in head-to-head comparisons. The 96.6% lead in DirectX 11 and 91.5% lead in DirectX 9 are particularly decisive for legacy application support.

The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M should be selected only when OpenCL compute performance is the primary requirement. Its 80.1% advantage in that single test is substantial and could make it the better option for specialized workloads that are heavily dependent on OpenCL. Its low 50 W TDP and IGP form factor also make it the only option for systems where a discrete desktop card cannot be installed.

For a general-purpose buyer, the RX 5700 XT is the superior product. The near-identical average benchmark scores (16361 vs 16351) are misleading, as they are pulled together by the Pro 5600M’s outlier OpenCL result. In every other measurable way, the RX 5700 XT is faster, often by massive margins. The Pro 5600M is a niche product that excels in a single area, while the RX 5700 XT offers broad, consistent performance across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M has a score of 16351. The difference is 0.1% in favor of the RX 5700 XT.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in any single test?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench OpenCL, where the Pro 5600M scores 47783 versus 9524 for the RX 5700 XT, giving the Pro 5600M an 80.1% advantage.

Q: How do the memory types differ?

A: The RX 5700 XT uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The Pro 5600M uses 8 GB of HBM2 memory on a 2048-bit bus with a bandwidth of 394.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each GPU?

A: The RX 5700 XT has a TDP of 225 W and requires a 550 W power supply. The Pro 5600M has a TDP of 50 W and is an integrated GPU with no power connectors.

Q: Which GPU is better for DirectX 12 workloads?

A: The RX 5700 XT scores 64 in Passmark DirectX 12, while the Pro 5600M scores 39. This represents a 64.1% advantage for the RX 5700 XT.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same Vulkan version?

A: No. The RX 5700 XT supports Vulkan 1.4, while the Pro 5600M supports Vulkan 1.3. Both support DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | AMD Radeon Pro 5600M |

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

| Chip | Navi 10 | Navi 12 |

| Generation | Navi (RX 5000) | Radeon Pro Mac (Navi Mobile) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 10,300 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 251 mm² | Not specified |

| Transistor Density | 41.0M / mm² | Not specified |

| Base Clock | 1605 MHz | 822 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1905 MHz | 1144 MHz |

| Game Clock | 1755 MHz | Not specified |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | HBM2 |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | 2048 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 448.0 GB/s | 394.2 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 121.9 GPixel/s | 73.22 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 304.8 GTexel/s | 183.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 9.754 TFLOPS | 5.857 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 19.51 TFLOPS (2:1) | 11.71 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 225 W | 50 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | Not specified |

| Vulkan Version | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Dimensions | 272 mm length | Portable Device Dependent |

| Release Date | 2019-07-06 | 2020-06-14 |

| Launch MSRP | 399 USD | Not specified |