AMD Radeon Pro W5500X vs AMD Radeon R9 M295X Comparison

The AMD Radeon R9 M295X and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X represent two distinct eras of GPU design, separated by five years of architectural evolution. The data shows a single head-to-head benchmark result, with the older R9 M295X holding a significant performance advantage. However, a deeper look at the specification and architecture differences reveals a more complex picture, where the newer Pro W5500X counters with superior efficiency and modern features. This analysis will walk through the benchmark data, answer key questions, and break down exactly where each card stands based solely on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench Metal test, and the results are decisive in favor of the older card. The AMD Radeon R9 M295X scores 33,790, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X trails at 27,973. This translates to a 20.8% lead for the R9 M295X, a substantial margin that positions it firmly ahead in this single workload.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces the R9 M295X's standing. Its average benchmark score of 28,580 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows it is effectively neck-and-neck with the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000, which scores 28,421 (a 0.6% delta), and slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 570 (28,766, a -0.6% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (28,874, a -1% delta). This suggests the R9 M295X, despite its age, competes with a wide range of modern and professional cards in aggregate performance.

The Radeon Pro W5500X, with an average score of 27,973, sits just below its rival, in the 73rd percentile. Its nearest rivals show a tight cluster of competition: it is 0.2% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (28,020), 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7800M (27,883), and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (27,839). The W5500X is clearly a solid performer, but the 20.8% deficit to the R9 M295X in the Metal test is a clear statement of intent from the older architecture. In short, the R9 M295X wins the only head-to-head contest, but the W5500X's overall standing is not far behind in the broader field.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench Metal score, and by how much?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M295X is the winner with a score of 33,790, compared to the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X's 27,973. This gives the R9 M295X a 20.8% advantage.

Q: How does the Radeon Pro W5500X's average benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Pro W5500X's average score is 27,973. It sits 0.2% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (28,020) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7800M (27,883).

Q: What is the architectural generation gap between the two cards?

A: The R9 M295X is built on GCN 3.0 architecture, while the Pro W5500X uses the newer RDNA 1.0 architecture. This represents a significant generational shift for AMD.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two cards, and what does that suggest?

A: The R9 M295X has a TDP of 250 W, while the Pro W5500X has a TDP of 125 W, which is exactly half. This indicates the newer card is significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Do both cards support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The R9 M295X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the Pro W5500X supports DirectX 12 (12_1), a higher feature level.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The R9 M295X is fabricated on a 28 nm process node, while the Pro W5500X uses a much smaller 7 nm process node.

The Verdict

From the data, the AMD Radeon R9 M295X is the clear winner in raw benchmark performance, as demonstrated by its 20.8% lead in the Geekbench Metal test and its higher average score of 28,580 versus 27,973. For any task that is heavily reliant on that specific workload, the older card is the stronger choice. Its 74th percentile ranking, compared to the W5500X's 73rd, also indicates it holds a slightly better position against the entire GPU landscape.

However, the verdict is not one-sided. The Radeon Pro W5500X dominates in efficiency and modern feature support. It delivers this performance at a 125 W TDP, half the power requirement of the R9 M295X's 250 W TDP. It also supports a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 vs 12_0) and is built on a significantly more advanced 7 nm process. The W5500X also offers double the memory capacity (8 GB vs 4 GB) and higher memory bandwidth (224.0 GB/s vs 160.0 GB/s). The choice ultimately depends on whether the user prioritizes the raw performance of the R9 M295X or the efficiency and modern features of the Pro W5500X.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every core specification, reflecting their different design goals and eras.

• Process Node: The R9 M295X uses a 28 nm process, while the Pro W5500X is built on a 7 nm process.
• Transistors: The R9 M295X has 5,000 million transistors on a 366 mm² die, while the Pro W5500X packs 6,400 million transistors into a much smaller 158 mm² die.
• Transistor Density: The Pro W5500X has a density of 40.5M / mm², compared to 13.7M / mm² for the R9 M295X.
• Clocks: The R9 M295X has no listed base or boost clock, while the Pro W5500X has a base clock of 1187 MHz and a boost clock of 1757 MHz. Memory clock is 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the R9 M295X and 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) for the Pro W5500X.
• Memory: The R9 M295X has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, while the Pro W5500X has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus. Bandwidth is 160.0 GB/s for the older card and 224.0 GB/s for the newer one.
• Shading Units: The R9 M295X has 2048 shading units, while the Pro W5500X has 1536.
• TMUs: The R9 M295X has 128 TMUs, while the Pro W5500X has 96.
• ROPs: Both cards have 32 ROPs.
• Pixel Rate: The R9 M295X has a pixel rate of 23.14 GPixel/s, while the Pro W5500X has a much higher 56.22 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: The R9 M295X has a texture rate of 92.54 GTexel/s, while the Pro W5500X has 168.7 GTexel/s.
• FP32 Performance: The R9 M295X delivers 2.961 TFLOPS, while the Pro W5500X delivers 5.398 TFLOPS.
• FP16 Performance: The R9 M295X has 2.961 TFLOPS (1:1), while the Pro W5500X has 10.80 TFLOPS (2:1).
• TDP: The R9 M295X has a TDP of 250 W, while the Pro W5500X has a TDP of 125 W. The Pro W5500X also has a suggested PSU of 300 W.
• Bus Interface: The R9 M295X uses MXM-B (3.0), while the Pro W5500X uses Apple MPX.
• Slot Width: The R9 M295X is an MXM Module, while the Pro W5500X is Dual-slot.
• Display Outputs: The R9 M295X is listed as "Portable Device Dependent," while the Pro W5500X has 2x HDMI 2.0b.
• DirectX Support: The R9 M295X supports 12 (12_0), while the Pro W5500X supports 12 (12_1).
• Vulkan Support: The R9 M295X supports 1.2.170, while the Pro W5500X supports 1.4.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between the two cards is vast. The R9 M295X is based on the GCN 3.0 architecture, using the Amethyst chip, and belongs to the "Gem System (R9 M200)" generation. In contrast, the Pro W5500X uses the RDNA 1.0 architecture with the Navi 14 chip, from the "Radeon Pro Mac (Navi Series)" generation. This is a fundamental shift from AMD's Graphics Core Next to their newer RDNA design.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell the story of this evolution. The R9 M295X uses 5,000 million transistors spread across a large 366 mm² die. The Pro W5500X, on the other hand, crams 6,400 million transistors into a 158 mm² die, a feat made possible by the 7 nm process. This density directly contributes to the Pro W5500X's superior efficiency.

The memory subsystems reflect different priorities. The R9 M295X uses a 256-bit bus with GDDR5, while the Pro W5500X uses a narrower 128-bit bus but compensates with faster GDDR6 memory, resulting in a higher total bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s versus 160.0 GB/s. Furthermore, the compute capabilities are starkly different. The Pro W5500X's FP16 performance of 10.80 TFLOPS (2:1) is nearly four times its own FP32 rate, indicating a design optimized for workloads that can use reduced precision, while the R9 M295X's FP16 is identical to its FP32 at 2.961 TFLOPS (1:1).

Where Each One Wins

The R9 M295X wins in the field of raw, single-workload performance. The Geekbench Metal score is its domain, and it decisively beats the Pro W5500X. Its higher average benchmark score and 74th percentile ranking also suggest it holds a slight edge in overall aggregate performance against the broader market. For users running applications that are particularly sensitive to this type of GPU compute load, the R9 M295X is the superior choice despite its age.

The Pro W5500X wins in every category related to modernity and efficiency. It has double the memory capacity (8 GB vs 4 GB) and significantly higher memory bandwidth. Its FP32 and FP16 compute rates are far higher, at 5.398 TFLOPS and 10.80 TFLOPS respectively, compared to 2.961 TFLOPS for both on the R9 M295X. Its pixel and texture fillrates are also more than double those of the older card. Crucially, it achieves all this while consuming half the power (125 W vs 250 W). The Pro W5500X is the clear winner for anyone prioritizing power efficiency, higher memory capacity, and support for newer DirectX 12_1 features.