AMD Radeon Pro 5600M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Comparison

The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 represent two very different philosophies in mobile graphics, and the benchmark data from this database paints a stark picture of their relative performance. Across every single head-to-head benchmark recorded, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 emerges victorious, leaving the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M trailing by margins that range from modest to dramatic. The data is unequivocal: in this matchup, the RTX 2060 is the dominant performer, though the specific context of the Pro 5600M's design and target workload reveals a more nuanced story than a simple win-loss record might suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison is a complete sweep for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, which wins all nine recorded benchmarks. The most significant victory comes in the PassMark DirectX 11 test, where the RTX 2060 scores 110 against the Radeon Pro 5600M's 59, a delta of -46.4% for the AMD card. This near-halving of performance in a legacy but still widely used API indicates that the Radeon Pro 5600M's architecture is heavily optimized for newer compute paradigms rather than traditional rasterization workloads. The pattern continues in DirectX 9, where the RTX 2060's score of 190 dwarfs the Pro 5600M's 118, a -37.9% difference, and in DirectX 10, where the scores are 98 versus 62, a -36.7% gap.

The gap narrows considerably in more modern and compute-oriented tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 2060 scores 65,014 versus 47,783 for the Pro 5600M, a -26.5% delta. The Vulkan test shows a similar margin, with the RTX 2060 at 65,846 and the Pro 5600M at 46,425, a -29.5% difference. The PassMark GPU Compute benchmark also shows a -26.5% delta, with scores of 5,488 and 4,031 respectively. These results suggest that while the NVIDIA card maintains its lead, the AMD architecture's compute capabilities are relatively stronger than its graphics throughput, closing the performance gap when the workload shifts from fixed-function pipeline tasks to general-purpose GPU computing.

The only benchmark where the two cards are close is the PassMark G2D test, which measures 2D graphics performance. Here, the RTX 2060 scores 745 against the Pro 5600M's 679, a delta of just -8.9%. This is a logical outcome, as 2D performance is rarely a bottleneck in modern GPUs and is often tied to memory bandwidth and driver efficiency rather than raw compute power. The largest single-score disparity remains the PassMark G3D test, where the RTX 2060's 14,111 points versus the Pro 5600M's 9,279 points represents a -34.2% gap, reinforcing that the NVIDIA card is substantially faster in general 3D rendering workloads.

Where Each One Wins

Given the complete sweep, the use-case split is heavily skewed toward the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The data shows that the RTX 2060 is the clear choice for any traditional gaming or graphics-intensive application. Its wins span across all DirectX versions, from the legacy DirectX 9 through DirectX 12, indicating robust driver support and architectural efficiency across the entire API spectrum. The RTX 2060 also leads in modern compute APIs like OpenCL and Vulkan, making it a more versatile option for developers and users who rely on these interfaces for acceleration.

However, the Radeon Pro 5600M's losses are not without context. Its relatively stronger performance in compute benchmarks compared to its graphics scores suggests it is designed with professional workloads in mind, such as GPU-accelerated rendering, scientific computing, or machine learning inference, where the compute-to-graphics ratio matters more than raw frame rates. The Pro 5600M's 50W TDP, compared to the RTX 2060's 160W TDP, implies a design philosophy focused on efficiency and sustained performance in thermally constrained environments, like thin-and-light professional laptops, rather than maximum throughput. The Pro 5600M's IGP slot width and lack of power connectors further cement this positioning as a low-power, integrated solution for mobile workstations, where the RTX 2060's dual-slot design and 8-pin power connector suggest a bulkier, more power-hungry add-in board or high-performance laptop component.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in the PassMark DirectX 11 benchmark and by how much?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 wins decisively with a score of 110, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M scores 59. This represents a -46.4% delta for the AMD card, making it the largest performance gap in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M comes close to the RTX 2060?

A: The closest result is in the PassMark G2D 2D graphics test, where the RTX 2060 scores 745 and the Pro 5600M scores 679, a delta of only -8.9%. This is the only benchmark where the performance gap is in the single digits.

Q: How do the two cards compare in compute-oriented workloads?

A: The RTX 2060 still leads, but by a smaller margin. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 2060 scores 65,014 versus 47,783 for the Pro 5600M, a -26.5% delta. The Geekbench Vulkan test shows a -29.5% delta, with scores of 65,846 and 46,425 respectively.

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

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M has an average benchmark score of 16,351, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average of 15,290. Interestingly, despite losing every head-to-head matchup, the Pro 5600M has a higher average score overall, likely due to its strong performance in the Geekbench Metal test, which is not part of the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What are the DirectX feature level differences between the two?

A: The RTX 2060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Pro 5600M only supports DirectX 12 (12_1). This gives the NVIDIA card access to more advanced DirectX 12 features.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M has a higher memory bandwidth of 394.2 GB/s, compared to the RTX 2060's 336.0 GB/s. This is despite the RTX 2060 having a higher memory clock speed of 1750 MHz versus the Pro 5600M's 770 MHz.

Specification Differences

The fundamental specification differences between these two GPUs are stark, explaining the performance divergence. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M is built on a 7nm process node, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 uses a 12nm node. This gives AMD a significant manufacturing advantage in terms of transistor density and power efficiency, though the RTX 2060 compensates with a much larger die size of 445 mm² and 10,800 million transistors, compared to the Pro 5600M's undisclosed figures.

Memory configuration is another major differentiator. The Pro 5600M uses 8GB of HBM2 memory with a 2048-bit bus, resulting in a bandwidth of 394.2 GB/s. The RTX 2060 uses 6GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s bandwidth. While the Pro 5600M has more memory and bandwidth, the RTX 2060's higher effective memory speed of 14 Gbps versus 1540 Mbps for the AMD card helps it maintain competitive performance.

The core configurations also differ significantly. The Pro 5600M has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, while the RTX 2060 has 1,920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Despite having more raw units, the Pro 5600M's lower clock speeds (822 MHz base, 1144 MHz boost) versus the RTX 2060's (1365 MHz base, 1680 MHz boost) result in lower peak throughput. The RTX 2060 also features 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, which the Pro 5600M lacks entirely, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI features.

Architecture Differences

The architectural philosophies behind these two GPUs are fundamentally different. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M is based on RDNA 1.0, using the Navi 12 chip, and is part of the Radeon Pro Mac (Navi Mobile) generation. This architecture is designed for efficiency and compute performance, as evidenced by its 50W TDP and IGP (integrated graphics processor) form factor. It features a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which is newer than the RTX 2060's PCIe 3.0 x16, and supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, based on the Turing architecture and TU106 chip, is a more traditional discrete GPU design. It has a 160W TDP, dual-slot form factor, and requires a 450W power supply and a single 8-pin power connector. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, the latter being a newer version than the AMD card's support. The RTX 2060 also has dedicated RT and tensor cores, enabling hardware ray tracing and DLSS, features that are entirely absent from the Radeon Pro 5600M.

The display outputs also differ, with the Pro 5600M being "Portable Device Dependent" (meaning it relies on the laptop's built-in display), while the RTX 2060 offers a full complement of outputs including DVI, HDMI 2.0, two DisplayPort 1.4a, and USB Type-C. The RTX 2060's physical dimensions are specified at 229mm length, 113mm height, and 35mm width, while the Pro 5600M's dimensions are not listed, underscoring its status as an integrated solution.

The Verdict

The data is clear: for any workload that involves traditional graphics rendering, gaming, or even general compute, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the superior choice. It wins every single head-to-head benchmark, with its most dominant victories in DirectX 11 (-46.4%) and DirectX 9 (-37.9%) tests. The RTX 2060's higher clock speeds, dedicated RT and tensor cores, and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate make it a more feature-rich and capable graphics solution. Its 58th percentile ranking versus the Pro 5600M's 59th percentile shows they are in similar overall performance tiers, but the RTX 2060's benchmark wins indicate it extracts more usable performance from its hardware.

However, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M should not be dismissed entirely. Its higher average benchmark score of 16,351 versus 15,290 for the RTX 2060 suggests that in certain workloads, particularly those leveraging the Metal API on macOS (where it scores 55,030 in Geekbench Metal), it holds its own or even excels. Its lower power consumption (50W vs 160W), smaller form factor, and HBM2 memory with higher bandwidth make it an attractive option for thin-and-light professional laptops where battery life and thermal management are paramount. The Pro 5600M's newer PCIe 4.0 interface and smaller 7nm process node also point to a more modern, efficient design.

Ultimately, the choice between these two GPUs hinges on the user's priorities. Gamers, content creators relying on DirectX, and anyone needing hardware ray tracing should choose the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, as its benchmark results are unequivocally superior. Professionals working in macOS environments, particularly those prioritizing power efficiency and portability over raw frame rates, may find the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M to be a more suitable, albeit slower, companion. The data does not lie: the RTX 2060 is the faster GPU, but the Pro 5600M is the more efficient one, and that distinction matters more in some contexts than others.