AMD Radeon R5 Graphics vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M in every directly comparable benchmark. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 970M scores 18,946 points against the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics' 5,183 points, a delta of 265.5% in favor of NVIDIA. This is not a marginal lead; it is a multi-generational gap in raw compute throughput that will be felt in any GPU-accelerated workload.

The Vulkan API results are even more lopsided. The GTX 970M posts 18,292 points, while the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics manages only 2,582 points. That represents a 608.4% advantage for the NVIDIA part. Such a wide delta indicates that the discrete mobile GPU is operating on an entirely different performance tier, likely due to its dedicated memory subsystem and far larger shader array.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the GTX 970M has an average benchmark score of 4,628 points, placing it in the 27th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M (4,621 points, 0.2% faster), the AMD Radeon R5 M320 (4,657 points, 0.6% slower), and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB (4,657 points, 0.6% slower). The GTX 970M sits within a tight cluster here, effectively trading blows with these cards.

The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, in contrast, has an average benchmark score of 3,883 points, placing it in the 23rd percentile. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro 2000 (3,898 points, 0.4% faster), the NVIDIA Quadro K2000D (3,919 points, 0.9% faster), and the NVIDIA Quadro 2000D (3,930 points, 1.2% faster). Notably, the AMD part also sits only 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 (3,834 points). This shows that the integrated Radeon R5 is competitive with entry-level discrete cards from several generations ago, but it is not in the same league as the GTX 970M.

The head-to-head data records 2 wins for the GTX 970M and 0 wins for the Radeon R5 Graphics. There are no benchmark tests in the database where the AMD integrated solution comes out ahead. The conclusion from the raw numbers is unambiguous: the GTX 970M is the dominant performer in every measured category.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M wins in every scenario where a comparison can be made. Its strengths are most pronounced in OpenCL and Vulkan compute workloads, where the 265.5% and 608.4% deltas respectively demonstrate a massive advantage in parallel processing capability.

For users running GPU-accelerated applications, content creation tools, or modern game engines that leverage Vulkan, the GTX 970M is the only viable option between these two. The Geekbench Vulkan score of 18,292 points suggests strong compatibility with modern graphics APIs and the ability to handle deferred rendering, compute shaders, and other Vulkan features without bottlenecking.

The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, with its Geekbench OpenCL score of 5,183 and Vulkan score of 2,582, is suited only to very light GPU tasks. The data indicates it can execute basic OpenCL kernels and Vulkan workloads, but the performance ceiling is low. It would struggle with any modern 3D game or GPU-intensive application. The 4 ROPs and 16 TMUs in the AMD part severely limit its fill-rate capabilities, as reflected in its pixel rate of 3.032 GPixel/s and texture rate of 12.13 GTexel/s, compared to 49.82 GPixel/s and 83.04 GTexel/s for the GTX 970M.

For legacy DirectX 9 or DirectX 10 titles, the GTX 970M also holds the edge, posting Passmark scores of 99 and 28 respectively. The AMD part has no recorded scores in these tests, so the database cannot confirm its performance there, but the absence of data combined with the architectural disadvantages suggests it would not be competitive.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M is built on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture using the GM204 chip, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. It packs 5,200 million transistors into a die size of 398 mm², yielding a transistor density of 13.1 million per mm². The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics uses the GCN 2.0 architecture with the Spectre SL chip, built by GlobalFoundries on the same 28 nm node, but with only 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, for a density of 9.8 million per mm².

The compute configuration differs dramatically. The GTX 970M has 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has only 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. This explains the massive throughput differences: the GTX 970M delivers 2.657 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the AMD part delivers just 388.1 GFLOPS.

Memory architecture is another key divider. The GTX 970M uses 6 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, providing 120.3 GB/s of bandwidth and a memory clock of 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics relies on system shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the AMD part's performance is heavily influenced by the host system's memory speed and configuration, whereas the GTX 970M has a dedicated, consistent memory pipeline.

The GTX 970M has a base clock of 924 MHz and a boost clock of 1038 MHz. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has no recorded base or boost clocks in the database, listing them as null values. The NVIDIA part also supports newer API features, including DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD part supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

The form factor and power profile also differ. The GTX 970M is an MXM Module with a bus interface of MXM-B (3.0), designed for notebook upgrades. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a TDP of 15 W, meaning it shares power and thermal budget with the CPU. The GTX 970M has no listed TDP, but its slot width and discrete nature imply a far higher power draw.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M has an average benchmark score of 4,628, compared to 3,883 for the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics. This places the GTX 970M in the 27th percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 23rd percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Vulkan compute?

A: In the Geekbench Vulkan test, the GTX 970M scores 18,292 points versus 2,582 for the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, a delta of 608.4% in favor of NVIDIA.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics have any benchmark win over the GTX 970M?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data records 2 wins for the GTX 970M and 0 wins for the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics across all tests where both have recorded scores.

Q: What memory configuration does each GPU use?

A: The GTX 970M uses 6 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 120.3 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The GTX 970M supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the compute unit counts for each GPU?

A: The GTX 970M has 1,280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 4 ROPs.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M is the superior GPU in every measured category. Its average benchmark score is 19.2% higher than the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (4,628 versus 3,883). In OpenCL, it leads by 265.5%; in Vulkan, by 608.4%. The GTX 970M also carries 5x the shading units, 5x the TMUs, and 12x the ROPs of the AMD part. Any user needing discrete-level graphics performance, modern API support, or dedicated VRAM should choose the GTX 970M.

The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics is an integrated solution with a 15 W TDP, designed for basic display output and light acceleration. Its performance profile places it near entry-level discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA Quadro 2000 and GeForce MX110, but it cannot compete with the GTX 970M. The data suggests it is suitable only for systems where GPU power is not a priority, such as office work or media playback, and where the user accepts system-shared memory and lower API versions.

For gaming, content creation, or any GPU-intensive workload, the GTX 970M is the only rational choice based on these measurements. The AMD part loses every head-to-head comparison and offers no compensating advantage in the recorded data. The verdict is straightforward: pick the GTX 970M for performance, pick the Radeon R5 Graphics only if integration and low power draw are absolute requirements.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M | AMD Radeon R5 Graphics |

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

| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | GCN 2.0 |

| Chip | GM204 | Spectre SL |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 5,200 million | 2,410 million |

| Die Size | 398 mm² | 245 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 13.1M / mm² | 9.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 924 MHz | null |

| Boost Clock | 1038 MHz | null |

| Memory Clock | 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) | System Shared |

| Memory Size | 6 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 192 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 120.3 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 1280 | 256 |

| TMUs | 80 | 16 |

| ROPs | 48 | 4 |

| Pixel Rate | 49.82 GPixel/s | 3.032 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 83.04 GTexel/s | 12.13 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 2.657 TFLOPS | 388.1 GFLOPS |

| TDP | null | 15 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Power Connectors | None | null |

| Bus Interface | MXM-B (3.0) | IGP |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | Motherboard Dependent |

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

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |

| Release Date | 2014-10-06 | 2014-09-16 |

| Predecessor | GeForce 800M | TeraScale 3 IGP |

| Successor | GeForce 10 Mobile | GCN 3.0 IGP |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 4628 | 3883 |

| Percentile | 27 | 23 |