AMD Radeon Pro 560X vs AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 Comparison

The AMD Radeon Pro 560X and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 represent two distinct approaches to integrated graphics, yet the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly competitive matchup. The Pro 560X, a discrete-class mobile part from the 500X Series, takes two of three head-to-head wins, while the RX Vega 11, an IGP from the Picasso generation, scores a decisive victory in one key workload. The data suggests that raw architecture generation is not the sole determinant of performance; memory configuration and core counts play pivotal roles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant margin in the entire comparison belongs to the AMD Radeon Pro 560X in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the Pro 560X scores 16819 against the RX Vega 11's 13543, a delta of 24.2%. This is a substantial gap, indicating that the Pro 560X’s dedicated GDDR5 memory and higher shading unit count provide a major advantage in Vulkan-based graphics workloads. This result alone accounts for the Pro 560X's overall victory in the benchmark suite.

The Geekbench Metal test also favors the Pro 560X, though by a narrower margin. The Pro 560X posts 18763, which is 9.8% higher than the RX Vega 11's 17086. This win is notable because Metal is a low-level API that often scales well with raw compute resources; the Pro 560X’s 1024 shading units versus the Vega 11’s 704 appears to be the deciding factor here. The performance gap is clear but not overwhelming, suggesting the Vega 11's newer GCN 5.0 architecture helps it close some of the core-count deficit.

The sole victory for the RX Vega 11 comes in the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a decisive one. The Vega 11 scores 12525, which is 22.9% higher than the Pro 560X's 9663. This is a stark reversal of the Vulkan result. OpenCL is often sensitive to memory bandwidth and driver optimization, and the Vega 11’s system-shared memory configuration, while variable, clearly outperforms the Pro 560X's 94.08 GB/s dedicated bandwidth in this specific test. It is a reminder that API-level optimizations can dramatically shift performance hierarchies.

Looking at the aggregate scores, the Pro 560X holds a clear edge. Its average benchmark score is 15082, placing it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs, while the RX Vega 11 averages 14385, good for the 56th percentile. The Pro 560X’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti, with an average score of 15063 and a delta of just 0.1%, indicating near-parity. The RX Vega 11 sits equally close to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, which scores 14373, a delta of 0.1%. Both cards are benchmark outliers in their respective performance brackets, but the Pro 560X holds a 4.6% advantage in average score (15082 vs 14385).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are separated by a full architecture generation. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is built on GCN 4.0, utilizing the Polaris 21 chip, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 employs the newer GCN 5.0 architecture on the Picasso chip. The process nodes differ as well, with the Pro 560X on a 14 nm node and the Vega 11 on a 12 nm node, both from GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell a story of different design priorities. The Vega 11's Picasso chip contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². In contrast, the Pro 560X's Polaris 21 chip houses 3,000 million transistors on a much smaller 123 mm² die, yielding a higher density of 24.4M per mm². The Vega 11’s larger die and newer node do not translate to a higher shading unit count; the Pro 560X has 1024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the Vega 11 has 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and just 8 ROPs.

Memory is where the architectures diverge most profoundly. The Pro 560X is equipped with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a fixed 94.08 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX Vega 11, being an IGP, relies on System Shared memory, with its bus width and bandwidth listed as "System Dependent." This means the Vega 11's performance is inherently tied to the host system's RAM speed and configuration, a variable that the Pro 560X does not have to contend with.

The feature sets also differ. The Pro 560X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the Vega 11 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), a newer feature level. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.3. Clock speeds show the Vega 11 has a defined base of 300 MHz and a boost of 1400 MHz, whereas the Pro 560X's base and boost clocks are not listed in the data. The Vega 11 also demonstrates a different compute ratio: its FP16 throughput is 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio) versus its FP32 of 1.971 TFLOPS, while the Pro 560X runs FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, matching its FP32 at 2.056 TFLOPS.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is the clear winner in graphics-centric and compute workloads that leverage the Vulkan API. Its 24.2% lead in Vulkan benchmarks is the single largest performance gap in the comparison. The dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 frame buffer and 94.08 GB/s of bandwidth make it a more reliable performer for applications that demand consistent memory throughput. Its higher pixel rate of 16.06 GPixel/s and texture rate of 64.26 GTexel/s, compared to the Vega 11's 11.20 GPixel/s and 61.60 GTexel/s, suggest it excels in rasterization-heavy tasks. The Pro 560X's 2.056 TFLOPS FP32 performance also edges out the Vega 11's 1.971 TFLOPS.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 finds its strongest footing in OpenCL-based workloads, where it outperforms the Pro 560X by 22.9%. This is a substantial victory, indicating that for compute tasks using OpenCL, the Vega 11's newer GCN 5.0 architecture and higher FP16 throughput (3.942 TFLOPS) can be leveraged effectively. The Vega 11's system-shared memory, while a weakness in some scenarios, can be a strength here if paired with fast system RAM, as it can access a larger pool of memory than the Pro 560X's fixed 4 GB. Its lower TDP of 15 W, versus the Pro 560X's 75 W, also makes it a more power-efficient solution for sustained compute loads.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for users prioritizing raw graphics performance. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is the superior choice for Vulkan-based gaming and graphics applications, holding a decisive 24.2% advantage in that benchmark and a 9.8% win in Metal. Its dedicated memory and higher core counts provide a more stable and predictable performance envelope. For any workload that stresses the Vulkan or Metal APIs, the Pro 560X is the definitive pick.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is the better option specifically for OpenCL compute tasks. The 22.9% margin in that test is too large to ignore, indicating a significant architectural strength. Users running OpenCL-based compute kernels, such as certain physics simulations or data processing tasks, will find the Vega 11 to be the faster part. However, its reliance on system-shared memory introduces variability; performance will be highly dependent on the host system's RAM, unlike the fixed bandwidth of the Pro 560X.

The aggregate data favors the Pro 560X. It holds a higher average benchmark score (15082 vs 14385) and a higher percentile ranking (57th vs 56th). The Pro 560X also has a higher FP32 compute throughput (2.056 TFLOPS vs 1.971 TFLOPS) and more shading units (1024 vs 704). For a balanced workload mix, the Pro 560X is the safer, higher-performing option. The Vega 11's sole advantage, beyond OpenCL, is its significantly lower TDP of 15 W, making it a far more power-efficient part for mobile or low-power systems.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has a higher average benchmark score of 15082, compared to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11's 14385.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest difference is in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the AMD Radeon Pro 560X leads by 24.2%, scoring 16819 versus the RX Vega 11's 13543.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the RX Vega 11 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 12525, which is 22.9% higher than the Pro 560X's 9663.

Q: How do the shading unit counts compare?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has 1024 shading units, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has 704 shading units.

Q: What are the memory configurations for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus and 94.08 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth listed as "System Dependent."

Q: Which GPU has a higher FP32 performance?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has a higher FP32 performance at 2.056 TFLOPS, compared to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11's 1.971 TFLOPS.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Pro 560X | AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 |

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

| Chip | Polaris 21 | Picasso |

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 12 nm |

| Transistors | 3,000 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 24.4M / mm² | 23.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | Not listed | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not listed | 1400 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 94.08 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 704 |

| TMUs | 64 | 44 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 16.06 GPixel/s | 11.20 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 64.26 GTexel/s | 61.60 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.056 TFLOPS | 1.971 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 2.056 TFLOPS (1:1) | 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 75 W | 15 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | IGP |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | Motherboard Dependent |

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

| Release Date | 2018-07-15 | 2019-07-06 |

| Predecessor | Not listed | GCN 3.0 IGP |

| Successor | Not listed | Vega II IGP |