AMD Radeon R5 M230 vs AMD Radeon R7 M260X Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon R7 M260X is the stronger mobile GPU in this pairing. The recorded benchmark data shows it winning the only head-to-head test, Geekbench OpenCL, by 24.3%. Its average benchmark score of 5161 places it at the 30th percentile of all GPUs, while the R5 M230 sits at the 27th percentile with an average score of 4577.

For a laptop buyer, the R7 M260X is the pick if you want the better OpenCL performance and more headroom for compute-heavy workloads. The R5 M230 offers double the memory capacity at 2 GB versus 1 GB, but that comes with a much slower memory type and narrower bus, which limits its real-world benefit. The R5 M230 is better suited for basic display output and light tasks, while the R7 M260X handles more demanding graphics work.

Neither GPU is a modern powerhouse. Both are end-of-life products based on the same GCN 1.0 architecture. But between the two, the R7 M260X is clearly the one to choose when performance matters. The R5 M230 only makes sense if you specifically need the larger frame buffer and accept the lower throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The R7 M260X wins the only direct benchmark comparison available. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 5690 versus 4577 for the R5 M230, a 24.3% advantage. This is the sole head-to-head result in the database, so the win count stands at 1 for the R7 M260X and 0 for the R5 M230.

The R5 M230 does have a notable capacity advantage. It packs 2 GB of memory versus 1 GB on the R7 M260X. In scenarios where memory size matters more than speed, such as holding larger textures or datasets, the R5 M230 has more room. However, the R5 M230 uses DDR3 memory with a 64-bit bus, delivering 16.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 M260X uses GDDR5 with a 128-bit bus and 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is four times higher.

The R5 M230 also has a higher shading unit count per memory bandwidth ratio, but that does not translate to a benchmark win. The R7 M260X wins on raw compute metrics: 549.1 GFLOPS FP32 versus 390.4 GFLOPS, 17.16 GTexel/s versus 12.20 GTexel/s, and 5.720 GPixel/s versus 4.880 GPixel/s.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the same GCN 1.0 architecture and are built on TSMC's 28 nm process. The transistor density is identical at 12.3M per mm². The similarity ends there.

The R7 M260X uses the Opal chip, which contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The R5 M230 uses the Jet chip, with 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. That is a 260 million transistor difference and a 21 mm² die size difference. The R7 M260X has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The R5 M230 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The shading unit count is 64 higher on the R7 M260X, and it also has 4 more TMUs.

Clock behavior differs as well. The R7 M260X has a recorded base clock of 620 MHz and a boost clock of 715 MHz. The R5 M230 has no base or boost clock listed in the database, meaning its operating frequency is not fixed in the same way or not disclosed. Memory clocks are both at 1000 MHz, but the effective data rate differs: 4 Gbps for the R7 M260X and 2 Gbps for the R5 M230. This is why the R7 M260X achieves 64.00 GB/s while the R5 M230 only reaches 16.00 GB/s.

Memory type is a major differentiator. The R7 M260X uses GDDR5, while the R5 M230 uses DDR3. The bus width is 128-bit on the R7 M260X and 64-bit on the R5 M230. Both use a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. Neither has ray tracing or tensor cores. Display outputs are portable device dependent for both, meaning laptop manufacturers decide the physical ports.

The R7 M260X has no power connectors listed, indicating it draws power from the motherboard. The R5 M230 is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor), which means it is designed to be integrated into the system rather than as a discrete add-in card. This aligns with its lower performance profile.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has an average benchmark score of 5161, while the AMD Radeon R5 M230 has 4577. The R7 M260X is 584 points higher.

Q: How much faster is the R7 M260X in OpenCL?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the R7 M260X scores 5690 versus 4577 for the R5 M230, a 24.3% difference.

Q: Does the R5 M230 have any advantage over the R7 M260X?

A: The R5 M230 has 2 GB of memory versus 1 GB on the R7 M260X. However, the memory is DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth, compared to GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s on the R7 M260X.

Q: Are these GPUs based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use GCN 1.0 architecture and are built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. They also share the same transistor density of 12.3M per mm².

Q: What are the shading unit counts?

A: The R7 M260X has 384 shading units, while the R5 M230 has 320 shading units. The R7 M260X also has 24 TMUs versus 20 TMUs, though both have 8 ROPs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The R7 M260X is at the 30th percentile of all GPUs, while the R5 M230 is at the 27th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records one head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL. The R7 M260X scores 5690, and the R5 M230 scores 4577. The delta is 24.3% in favor of the R7 M260X. This is a decisive win, and it aligns with the specification differences.

The R7 M260X has a 64.00 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is exactly four times the 16.00 GB/s of the R5 M230. The FP32 compute rating is 549.1 GFLOPS versus 390.4 GFLOPS, a difference of 158.7 GFLOPS. The texture fill rate is 17.16 GTexel/s versus 12.20 GTexel/s, and the pixel rate is 5.720 GPixel/s versus 4.880 GPixel/s. Every measurable throughput metric favors the R7 M260X.

There is no Geekbench Vulkan score recorded for the R5 M230, only for the R7 M260X, which posts 4631. That means the R5 M230 lacks a recorded Vulkan result in the database, so no comparison is possible for that test. The R7 M260X also has a lower average rival distance: its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M, scores 5154 with a delta of 0.1%. The R5 M230's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 560, scores 4569 with a delta of 0.2%. These rival deltas show that both GPUs sit very close to their nearest competitors, but the R7 M260X sits in a higher absolute performance tier.

The biggest win for the R7 M260X is the OpenCL test, and it is the only win recorded. The R5 M230 does not win any benchmark in the database. The 24.3% margin is substantial for two GPUs from the same architecture generation. It shows that the extra shading units, faster memory, and higher fill rates on the R7 M260X translate directly into compute performance.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in several key specification fields. The chip is different: Opal for the R7 M260X and Jet for the R5 M230. Transistor count is 950 million for the R7 M260X and 690 million for the R5 M230. Die size is 77 mm² versus 56 mm². Transistor density remains the same at 12.3M per mm².

Clock speeds differ, with the R7 M260X having a base clock of 620 MHz and a boost of 715 MHz. The R5 M230 has no base or boost clock recorded. Memory frequency is 1000 MHz for both, but effective data rate is 4 Gbps for the R7 M260X and 2 Gbps for the R5 M230.

Memory configuration is a major split. The R7 M260X has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The R5 M230 has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. Shading units are 384 versus 320, TMUs are 24 versus 20, and ROPs are 8 for both.

Pixel rate is 5.720 GPixel/s on the R7 M260X and 4.880 GPixel/s on the R5 M230. Texture rate is 17.16 GTexel/s versus 12.20 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 549.1 GFLOPS versus 390.4 GFLOPS. Neither GPU has FP16, ray tracing, or tensor core data.

The R7 M260X has no power connectors and no slot width listed. The R5 M230 is listed as IGP for slot width, with no power connector data. Both use PCIe 3.0 x8 and have portable device dependent display outputs. The API support is identical: DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Release dates differ, with the R7 M260X released later, but both are end-of-life. The R7 M260X has a predecessor and successor listed as Solar System and Polaris Mobile, respectively, and the R5 M230 shares the same predecessor and successor. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded.