AMD Radeon Pro 560X vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data reveals a fascinating split between these two end-of-life GPUs, with each claiming victory in different application programming interfaces. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X wins two of the three head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins tell a more complex story than a simple tally.

The most dramatic result is in the Geekbench Metal test. Here, the AMD Radeon Pro 560X scores 18,763, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 manages only 7,172. That is a massive 161.6% advantage for the AMD part. This enormous gap likely stems from Metal being Apple's native graphics API, and the Radeon Pro 560X is designed for Mac systems. The data suggests that in Metal-centric workloads, the NVIDIA card is practically outclassed by a wide margin.

The Geekbench OpenCL test flips the script entirely. In this scenario, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 scores 15,662, while the AMD Radeon Pro 560X falls to 9,663. The delta here is 38.3% in NVIDIA's favor. This is a significant reversal, showing that the two architectures have very different strengths depending on the compute framework being used. The GTX 950's OpenCL performance is a notable highlight, exceeding its rival by nearly 6,000 points.

The Vulkan test is the closest of the three. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X scores 16,819, narrowly edging out the NVIDIA's 16,734. The delta is a mere 0.5%. This essentially puts the two cards at parity in Vulkan-based workloads, suggesting that modern cross-platform graphics APIs level the playing field between these two very different chips.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Radeon Pro 560X holds a higher average benchmark score of 15,082, compared to the NVIDIA's 13,189. This places the AMD part at the 57th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA sits at the 53rd percentile. The AMD card's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (average score 15,063, delta 0.1%) and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (average score 15,171, delta -0.6%). The NVIDIA GTX 950, on the other hand, sits near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 (average score 13,300, delta -0.8%) and the AMD Radeon Pro 555X (average score 13,321, delta -1%). These groupings show that despite the head-to-head splits, the AMD Pro 560X competes at a higher overall performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs of these two GPUs could not be more different. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is built on the Polaris 21 chip, using the GCN 4.0 architecture. It is fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 uses the GM206 chip, based on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, and is built on a much older 28 nm process at TSMC.

This process node difference is stark. The AMD chip packs its 3,000 million transistors into a die size of 123 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 24.4 million transistors per square millimeter. The NVIDIA chip, despite having a similar transistor count of 2,940 million, spreads these out over a much larger 228 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of only 12.9 million per square millimeter. The data clearly shows the newer fabrication process allows for a significantly more compact and dense design.

The core configurations also differ substantially. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has fewer shading units at 768, fewer texture units at 48, but it doubles the render output units to 32. This difference in ROP count has a direct impact on pixel fillrate, with the NVIDIA reaching 38.02 GPixel/s compared to the AMD's 16.06 GPixel/s. The AMD counter-balances this with a higher texture fillrate of 64.26 GTexel/s versus the NVIDIA's 57.02 GTexel/s.

Clock speeds also follow divergent patterns. The NVIDIA card has a fixed base clock of 1024 MHz and a boost clock of 1188 MHz. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X does not record base or boost clock speeds in the database, but its FP32 performance is listed at 2.056 TFLOPS versus the NVIDIA's 1.825 TFLOPS. This suggests the AMD's compute throughput is higher, but the NVIDIA's higher pixel rate and clock speeds show its strength in more traditional rasterization-heavy tasks.

Memory configurations and bandwidth also differ. Both cards use GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. However, the AMD Radeon Pro 560X has 4 GB of memory with a bandwidth of 94.08 GB/s, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has only 2 GB but a higher bandwidth of 105.8 GB/s. The GTX 950 also uses a higher effective memory speed of 6.6 Gbps versus the AMD's 5.9 Gbps. This gives NVIDIA an edge in raw memory throughput, but AMD offers double the framebuffer capacity.

The API support also shows differences. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which is a more advanced version of Vulkan.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data points to distinct use-case scenarios for each card. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X's massive 161.6% lead in Metal makes it the clear choice for applications built around Apple's Metal API. This is the primary reason it exists, and the data confirms this specialization. Its 4 GB memory capacity also gives it an advantage in scenarios where memory footprint is a limiting factor, such as higher resolution textures or complex datasets.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950's strength in OpenCL is undeniable. Its 38.3% lead over the AMD card in this benchmark suggests that for users relying on OpenCL-accelerated applications, the NVIDIA is the superior performer. The GTX 950 also has a commanding lead in pixel fillrate, with its 38.02 GPixel/s versus the AMD's 16.06 GPixel/s. This is a big win for raw rasterization and could translate to better performance in some traditional rendering scenarios.

The Vulkan results show a near-tie, indicating neither card has a decisive advantage in modern, explicit graphics APIs. The 0.5% delta is within noise. However, the GTX 950 supports Vulkan 1.4 while the AMD Radeon Pro 560X is on Vulkan 1.3, which is a software feature advantage for NVIDIA.

The individual scores also paint a mixed picture. The AMD's average benchmark score is 15,082, putting it at the 57th percentile. The NVIDIA's average is 13,189, at the 53rd percentile. This makes the AMD Radeon Pro 560X the higher-performing GPU in the database's aggregate view. Its nearest rivals are the GTX 660 Ti and RX 7600, while the GTX 950's rivals are older parts like the GTX 480 and the AMD Radeon Pro 555X. The data shows the AMD card is in a higher performance class.

The Verdict

Selecting between these two depends entirely on the workload. For users operating within a macOS environment where Metal is the primary API, the Radeon Pro 560X is the only logical choice. Its 161.6% lead in Metal over the GTX 950 is a gulf that no other result can offset. The 4 GB of memory also provides more headroom for larger tasks.

For users running compute applications that rely on OpenCL, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 is the superior option. Its 38.3% lead in that benchmark is substantial. It also offers a better pixel fillrate and slightly higher memory bandwidth, which could be beneficial in certain gaming or rendering scenarios. The GTX 950's launch MSRP was 159 USD, making it a more mainstream product at its time.

The Vulkan results show parity, so it won't be the deciding factor. The database's overall percentile rankings also favor the AMD Radeon Pro 560X, placing it at the 57th percentile versus the NVIDIA's 53rd. The AMD card's average benchmark score is 14.4% higher.

For a user who prioritizes Metal performance or needs 4GB of VRAM, the AMD is clearly the better choice. For a user who needs peak OpenCL compute performance or wants to leverage NVIDIA's specific feature set on a legacy platform, the GTX 950 is the answer. The data does not support a single universal winner, only a context-dependent one.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench Metal test?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is considerably faster, scoring 18,763 compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950's 7,172, a delta of 161.6%.

Q: Does the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 win any benchmark against the AMD Radeon Pro 560X?

A: Yes, the GTX 950 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 15,662 against the AMD's 9,663, representing a 38.3% lead for NVIDIA.

Q: What is the difference in their overall benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has an average benchmark score of 15,082, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has an average score of 13,189.

Q: How does their memory configuration differ?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus and 94.08 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, also on a 128-bit bus, but with higher bandwidth of 105.8 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is based on a 14 nm process, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 is based on a 28 nm process.

Q: What are their respective percentile rankings?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X ranks at the 57th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 ranks at the 53rd percentile.

Specification Differences

The following are the fields where the two GPU specifications differ directly:

• Chip: AMD uses Polaris 21, NVIDIA uses GM206.
• Architecture: AMD uses GCN 4.0, NVIDIA uses Maxwell 2.0.
• Generation: AMD is from the Radeon Pro Mac (500X Series), NVIDIA is from the GeForce 900 series.
• Process Node: AMD is 14 nm, NVIDIA is 28 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries, NVIDIA uses TSMC.
• Transistors: AMD has 3,000 million, NVIDIA has 2,940 million.
• Die Size: AMD is 123 mm², NVIDIA is 228 mm².
• Transistor Density: AMD is 24.4M / mm², NVIDIA is 12.9M / mm².
• Base Clock: AMD is null, NVIDIA is 1024 MHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD is null, NVIDIA is 1188 MHz.
• Memory Clock: AMD is 1470 MHz (5.9 Gbps effective), NVIDIA is 1653 MHz (6.6 Gbps effective).
• Memory Size: AMD is 4 GB, NVIDIA is 2 GB.
• Bandwidth: AMD is 94.08 GB/s, NVIDIA is 105.8 GB/s.
• Shading Units: AMD has 1024, NVIDIA has 768.
• TMUs: AMD has 64, NVIDIA has 48.
• ROPs: AMD has 16, NVIDIA has 32.
• Pixel Rate: AMD is 16.06 GPixel/s, NVIDIA is 38.02 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: AMD is 64.26 GTexel/s, NVIDIA is 57.02 GTexel/s.
• FP32: AMD is 2.056 TFLOPS, NVIDIA is 1.825 TFLOPS.
• FP16: AMD is 2.056 TFLOPS (1:1), NVIDIA is null.
• TDP: AMD is 75 W, NVIDIA is 90 W.
• Slot Width: AMD is IGP, NVIDIA is Dual-slot.
• Power Connectors: AMD is None, NVIDIA is 1x 6-pin.
• Suggested PSU: AMD is null, NVIDIA is 250 W.
• Bus Interface: AMD is PCIe 3.0 x8, NVIDIA is PCIe 3.0 x16.
• Display Outputs: AMD is Portable Device Dependent, NVIDIA is 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2.
• DirectX Version: AMD is 12 (12_0), NVIDIA is 12 (12_1).
• Vulkan Version: AMD is 1.3, NVIDIA is 1.4.
• Dimensions: AMD has null length, NVIDIA has a length of 202 mm (8 inches).
• Release Date: AMD is 2018-07-15, NVIDIA is 2015-08-19.
• Launch MSRP: AMD is null, NVIDIA is 159 USD.
• Benchmarks: AMD scores 18,763 (Metal), 9,663 (OpenCL), 16,819 (Vulkan). NVIDIA scores 7,172 (Metal), 15,662 (OpenCL), 16,734 (Vulkan).
• Percentile: AMD is 57, NVIDIA is 53.
• Average Benchmark Score: AMD is 15,082, NVIDIA is 13,189.