AMD Radeon R5 M255 vs Intel HD Graphics P530 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R5 M255 and Intel HD Graphics P530 are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: one is a dedicated discrete GPU, while the other is an integrated processor graphics unit. Benchmark data from the Geekbench suite shows the AMD part winning both head-to-head tests, with a 2.2% lead in OpenCL and a more substantial 7.7% lead in Vulkan. However, the Intel part counters with a significantly lower power draw and a more modern feature set, making the choice between them highly dependent on the specific workload and system constraints.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Radeon R5 M255 secures a victory in both recorded benchmarks, achieving an average benchmark score of 4788 compared to the Intel HD Graphics P530's 4560. This translates to a 4.8% overall performance advantage for AMD. In specific tests, the R5 M255's lead expands to 7.7% in Vulkan, suggesting a particular strength in modern graphics APIs. The Intel P530, while slower, is not drastically behind, with its average score falling within 5% of the AMD part.

For users prioritizing raw graphical throughput, the AMD Radeon R5 M255 is the superior choice based on the data. Its wins in both OpenCL and Vulkan indicate a consistent performance edge across different compute and rendering workloads. The AMD part also holds a higher percentile ranking (28th) compared to the Intel's 26th, placing it slightly higher relative to all other GPUs in the database. This makes it the pick for any application where frame rates or compute times are the primary concern.

However, the Intel HD Graphics P530 is not without its merits. Its TDP of 15 W is a figure that the AMD part lacks entirely, and as an integrated solution with a "Ring Bus" interface, it requires no separate power connectors. This makes it the logical choice for ultra-portable, low-power systems where battery life and thermal management are paramount. The data suggests that if a user is constrained by a 15 W power envelope, the Intel part is the only viable option, as the AMD's power consumption is not documented and likely higher. The verdict is not a blanket recommendation but a trade-off: choose AMD for performance, Intel for efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on vastly different architectural foundations. The AMD Radeon R5 M255 is based on the "GCN 3.0" architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This is a mature design with 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel HD Graphics P530 uses the "Generation 9.0" architecture on Intel's 14 nm+ process, with a die size of 123 mm². The Intel process is more advanced, but the AMD chip packs significantly more transistors into a similar space, resulting in a transistor density of 12.4M / mm² for AMD, a figure the Intel part does not list.

The fundamental difference lies in their implementation. The AMD R5 M255 is a discrete GPU with its own dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a fixed 32.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel P530 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) that shares system memory, with its bandwidth listed as "System Dependent." This architectural split explains the performance gap: the AMD part has dedicated, high-bandwidth memory, while the Intel part must contend with the system's main memory for data. The AMD's shading unit count is double that of the Intel (384 vs 192), and it also has more texture mapping units (24 vs 16) and more ROPs (8 vs 3), all contributing to its higher pixel and texture rates.

Feature support also differs. The Intel P530 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), a more advanced feature level than the AMD's DirectX 12 (12_0). The Intel part also has a higher Vulkan version (1.3 vs 1.2.170) and lists a TDP of 15 W, while the AMD part's TDP is not specified. The memory clock speeds also tell a story: the AMD has a fixed 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective) for its dedicated memory, while the Intel's is "System Shared" with no fixed clock, reinforcing its dependence on the host system's configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded benchmark tests show a consistent, if narrow, victory for the AMD Radeon R5 M255. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD scores 4650 against the Intel's 4549, a 2.2% difference. This is a modest lead, suggesting that in general-purpose compute tasks, the two are relatively close. The AMD's advantage here can be attributed to its higher raw compute throughput, with an FP32 rating of 721.9 GFLOPS versus the Intel's 384.0 GFLOPS.

The Vulkan test presents a larger gap. The AMD R5 M255 scores 4925, while the Intel P530 scores 4571, resulting in a 7.7% delta. This is a more decisive victory for AMD. The result implies that the AMD architecture is better optimized for the lower-level, multi-threaded nature of the Vulkan API. While the Intel part has a higher FP16 throughput (768.0 GFLOPS vs 721.9), it appears this does not translate to a Vulkan advantage. The AMD's lead in this test is its single biggest win, and it suggests that for gaming or other Vulkan-based applications, the R5 M255 would provide a noticeably smoother experience.

The data shows the AMD part as the winner in both categories, with a total of 2 wins and 0 losses. The deltas are not enormous, but they are consistent. The Intel part's best performance is in OpenCL, where it narrows the gap to 2.2%, but it never overtakes the AMD. The head-to-head results paint a picture of the AMD as the more capable GPU across the board, with its strongest showing in the modern graphics API.

Specification Differences

The core specifications reveal a clear divergence in design goals. The AMD Radeon R5 M255 is built on a 28 nm process with 1,550 million transistors, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 uses a 14 nm+ process with an undisclosed transistor count. The AMD die size is 125 mm², and the Intel's is 123 mm², making them physically similar, but the AMD's higher transistor count and density (12.4M / mm²) point to a more complex compute design. The AMD's base clock is 925 MHz with a 940 MHz boost, far higher than the Intel's 350 MHz base and 1000 MHz boost. This suggests the AMD runs at a high sustained clock, while the Intel relies on a lower base and a higher boost.

The memory subsystem is the most defining difference. The AMD has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus with 32.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel has "System Shared" memory, with a shared bus width and "System Dependent" bandwidth. This means the AMD's performance is consistent and predictable, while the Intel's is at the mercy of the system's RAM speed and configuration. The AMD also has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, compared to the Intel's 192 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 3 ROPs. This leads to a pixel rate of 7.520 GPixel/s for AMD versus 3.000 GPixel/s for Intel, and a texture rate of 22.56 GTexel/s versus 16.00 GTexel/s.

Power and interface also differ. The Intel part lists a TDP of 15 W and a slot width of "IGP," while the AMD does not list a TDP or slot width. The AMD uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the Intel uses a "Ring Bus." The Intel part also specifies its display outputs as "Motherboard Dependent," whereas the AMD does not list any. The FP32 performance is nearly double for AMD (721.9 vs 384.0 GFLOPS), but the Intel has a higher FP16 rate (768.0 vs 721.9), though it does so at a 2:1 ratio, indicating a different compute strategy. The AMD's FP16 is 1:1, meaning it lacks the specialized FP16 hardware of the Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M255 has a higher average benchmark score of 4788, compared to the Intel HD Graphics P530's 4560.

Q: What is the performance difference in the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M255 wins the Vulkan test with a score of 4925, which is 7.7% higher than the Intel HD Graphics P530's score of 4571.

Q: Does the Intel HD Graphics P530 have any power advantage?

A: Yes, the Intel HD Graphics P530 has a listed TDP of 15 W, while the AMD Radeon R5 M255 does not have a TDP listed in the data.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M255 has a fixed 32.00 GB/s bandwidth with its 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 has "System Dependent" bandwidth due to its shared memory architecture.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M255 has 384 shading units, which is double the 192 shading units found in the Intel HD Graphics P530.

Q: Does the Intel part support a newer DirectX version?

A: Yes, the Intel HD Graphics P530 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the AMD Radeon R5 M255 supports DirectX 12 (12_0).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R5 M255 wins in raw performance and compute-heavy tasks. Its dedicated memory and higher throughput make it the clear choice for gaming, 3D rendering, and any application that demands sustained GPU performance. Its 7.7% lead in Vulkan is particularly significant, as that API is the foundation for modern cross-platform games and compute workloads. With a 28th percentile ranking versus the Intel's 26th, it also sits slightly higher in the overall performance hierarchy. The AMD is the pick for anyone who wants the best possible frame rates and rendering times, without regard for power efficiency.

The Intel HD Graphics P530 wins in efficiency and integration. Its 15 W TDP is a concrete, measurable advantage that the AMD part lacks, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life is critical. As an IGP with a "Ring Bus" interface and "Motherboard Dependent" display outputs, it is designed for cost-effective, low-power systems. While it loses the benchmark tests, it does offer a higher FP16 throughput (768.0 GFLOPS) and a more advanced DirectX feature level (12_1), which could benefit specific applications that use these features. The Intel is the choice for users who prioritize portability and power savings over raw graphical capability.