AMD Radeon R5 M255 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a narrow but clear outcome: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M wins the only head-to-head benchmark available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, by a 4.4% margin over the AMD Radeon R5 M255 (4855 vs. 4650). However, this victory is not a sweeping dominance, as both products occupy the same 28th percentile among all GPUs, indicating they are peers in the broader performance landscape.

For a user choosing strictly from the data, the GTX 560M is the pick when OpenCL compute performance is the sole criterion, as it delivers a higher raw score. The R5 M255, conversely, holds the advantage in architectural modernity, featuring a smaller 28 nm process node versus the 40 nm node of the GTX 560M, and it supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170, whereas the GTX 560M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) with no Vulkan support. The choice thus hinges on whether raw OpenCL throughput or feature-set longevity is more important, with the data showing the GTX 560M leading in the former and the R5 M255 in the latter.

Architecture Differences

The two mobile graphics processors come from different manufacturing eras and design philosophies. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture using the GF116 chip, produced on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This chip contains 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9 million transistors per square millimeter. The AMD Radeon R5 M255, in contrast, uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Topaz chip, fabricated on a more advanced 28 nm process, also at TSMC. It packs 1,550 million transistors into a smaller 125 mm² die, achieving a much higher transistor density of 12.4 million per square millimeter.

The core configurations differ significantly. The GTX 560M employs 192 shading units, 32 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 raster operation units (ROPs). The R5 M255 features 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. This means the AMD part has double the shading units but fewer TMUs and a drastically lower ROP count. The memory subsystems are also architecturally distinct: the GTX 560M uses 1536 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, while the R5 M255 uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus. Consequently, the GTX 560M achieves a bandwidth of 60.00 GB/s, nearly double the 32.00 GB/s of the R5 M255.

The feature support diverges as well. The R5 M255 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 560M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6 but has no Vulkan support listed. The R5 M255 also lists a boost clock of 940 MHz with a base clock of 925 MHz, whereas the GTX 560M has no base or boost clock data provided. The power interface also differs: the GTX 560M is an MXM module with no power connectors, while the R5 M255 uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, provides the only direct numerical comparison between these two GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855, while the AMD Radeon R5 M255 scores 4650, resulting in a 4.4% win for the NVIDIA part. This margin is modest but consistent, placing the GTX 560M slightly ahead in raw compute throughput as measured by this OpenCL workload.

Contextualizing this score through the nearest rivals for each card reinforces the picture. The GTX 560M’s score of 4855 places it 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4844) and 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX (4867). It also trails the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893) by 0.8% and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4901) by 0.9%. The R5 M255’s score of 4650, meanwhile, is 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4752) — note this delta is positive, meaning the R5 M255 outperforms the M335 — and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX (4727). It falls 1.2% behind the GeForce 940MX (4844) and 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB (4791).

The average benchmark score for the GTX 560M is 4855, while the R5 M255 averages 4788 across its two benchmarks (OpenCL and Vulkan). This average gap of 67 points (1.4%) is smaller than the head-to-head OpenCL gap, suggesting that the R5 M255’s Vulkan score of 4925 partially compensates for its lower OpenCL score. However, since no Vulkan score exists for the GTX 560M, the only directly comparable metric is the OpenCL test, where the NVIDIA card wins decisively.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 4.4% higher than the AMD Radeon R5 M255’s score of 4650 in the same test.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R5 M255 support any API that the GTX 560M lacks?

A: Yes, the R5 M255 supports Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 560M has no Vulkan support listed. Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the R5 M255 also supports DirectX 12 (12_0) compared to the GTX 560M’s DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare between the two?

A: The GTX 560M has a memory bandwidth of 60.00 GB/s using GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, while the R5 M255 has 32.00 GB/s using DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus. The NVIDIA part’s bandwidth is 87.5% higher.

Q: What is the transistor density difference, and what does it indicate?

A: The R5 M255 has a transistor density of 12.4 million transistors per square millimeter, compared to 4.9 million for the GTX 560M. This reflects the R5 M255’s more advanced 28 nm process node versus the 40 nm node of the GTX 560M.

Q: Are both GPUs at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the GTX 560M and the R5 M255 are at the 28th percentile among all GPUs in the benchmark database, indicating they are similarly positioned in the overall performance distribution.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M255 has 384 shading units, exactly double the 192 shading units of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M. However, the GTX 560M has more TMUs (32 vs. 24) and more ROPs (24 vs. 8).

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M wins in the only directly comparable benchmark category. Its OpenCL score of 4855 exceeds the R5 M255’s 4650 by 4.4%, making it the stronger choice for compute workloads that rely solely on OpenCL. The GTX 560M also possesses a significant memory bandwidth advantage at 60.00 GB/s versus 32.00 GB/s, which can benefit memory-intensive tasks. Its higher ROP count (24 vs. 8) and texture rate of 24.80 GTexel/s versus the R5 M255’s 22.56 GTexel/s also indicate stronger rasterization throughput capabilities. The pixel rate is slightly lower on the NVIDIA part at 6.200 GPixel/s versus 7.520 GPixel/s, but the overall architecture favors the GTX 560M in raw fill-rate metrics.

The AMD Radeon R5 M255 wins in architectural modernity and feature support. It has a smaller process node (28 nm vs. 40 nm) and a higher transistor density (12.4M / mm² vs. 4.9M / mm²). It supports newer APIs, including Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (12_0), which the GTX 560M lacks or only partially supports. The R5 M255 also has double the shading units (384 vs. 192) and a higher FP32 compute rating of 721.9 GFLOPS versus 595.2 GFLOPS for the GTX 560M. Additionally, the R5 M255 offers 2 GB of memory versus 1536 MB, though with slower DDR3 technology. Its Vulkan benchmark score of 4925 is the highest single score recorded for either card, though no comparable Vulkan score exists for the GTX 560M.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two GPUs, with all values taken directly from the data:

• Process Node: The GTX 560M uses 40 nm, while the R5 M255 uses 28 nm.
• Transistors: The GTX 560M has 1,170 million, the R5 M255 has 1,550 million.
• Die Size: The GTX 560M measures 238 mm², the R5 M255 measures 125 mm².
• Transistor Density: The GTX 560M has 4.9M / mm², the R5 M255 has 12.4M / mm².
• Base Clock: The GTX 560M has no base clock listed; the R5 M255 has 925 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The GTX 560M has no boost clock listed; the R5 M255 has 940 MHz.
• Memory Clock: The GTX 560M runs at 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective); the R5 M255 runs at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective).
• Memory Size: The GTX 560M has 1536 MB, the R5 M255 has 2 GB.
• Memory Type: The GTX 560M uses GDDR5, the R5 M255 uses DDR3.
• Memory Bus Width: The GTX 560M has a 192-bit bus, the R5 M255 has a 128-bit bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: The GTX 560M achieves 60.00 GB/s, the R5 M255 achieves 32.00 GB/s.
• Shading Units: The GTX 560M has 192, the R5 M255 has 384.
• TMUs: The GTX 560M has 32, the R5 M255 has 24.
• ROPs: The GTX 560M has 24, the R5 M255 has 8.
• Pixel Rate: The GTX 560M is rated at 6.200 GPixel/s, the R5 M255 at 7.520 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: The GTX 560M is rated at 24.80 GTexel/s, the R5 M255 at 22.56 GTexel/s.
• FP32 Performance: The GTX 560M is rated at 595.2 GFLOPS, the R5 M255 at 721.9 GFLOPS.
• FP16 Performance: The GTX 560M has no FP16 rating; the R5 M255 has 721.9 GFLOPS (1:1).
• TDP: The GTX 560M is rated at 75 W; the R5 M255 has no TDP listed.
• Slot Width: The GTX 560M uses an MXM Module; the R5 M255 has no slot width listed.
• Power Connectors: The GTX 560M has none; the R5 M255 has none listed.
• Bus Interface: The GTX 560M uses MXM-B (3.0); the R5 M255 uses PCIe 3.0 x8.
• Display Outputs: The GTX 560M is portable device dependent; the R5 M255 has no display outputs listed.
• DirectX Support: The GTX 560M supports 12 (11_0); the R5 M255 supports 12 (12_0).
• Vulkan Support: The GTX 560M has none listed; the R5 M255 supports version 1.2.170.
• Release Date: The GTX 560M was released on 2011-05-29; the R5 M255 on 2014-10-11.
• Predecessor: The GTX 560M’s predecessor is GeForce 400M; the R5 M255’s is Solar System.
• Successor: The GTX 560M’s successor is GeForce 600M; the R5 M255’s is Polaris Mobile.