AMD Radeon R5 M335 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M Comparison

The GeForce GT 745M and the Radeon R5 M335 represent two distinct approaches to mobile graphics from different eras. The data shows a split decision: AMD wins the OpenCL compute test decisively, while NVIDIA counters with a significant victory in Vulkan. This creates a fascinating profile where the "winner" depends entirely on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database show one win for each GPU. The AMD Radeon R5 M335 takes the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 4745, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 3580. This translates to a 24.6% lead for AMD in this specific compute workload. The margin is substantial and not a statistical tie; it indicates a clear architectural advantage for AMD when running OpenCL code.

However, the Vulkan test flips the script. Here, the GeForce GT 745M scores 5502, while the Radeon R5 M335 manages 4758. The 15.6% delta in favor of NVIDIA shows that the older Kepler architecture is not obsolete for modern graphics APIs. In fact, the GT 745M's Vulkan score is its strongest benchmark result by far, exceeding its own OpenCL output by a wide margin.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the R5 M335 holds a consolidated lead. Its average is 4752, while the GT 745M averages 3953. This puts the AMD part in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, compared to the 23rd percentile for the NVIDIA part. The delta Pct values against their respective nearest rivals show both are tightly clustered: the R5 M335 is 0.5% ahead of the R8 M445DX and 1.5% ahead of the Quadro P400, while the GT 745M is 0.1% behind the Radeon R5 M420 and 0.3% behind the Quadro K2000. The AMD card is simply in a higher performance tier based on this aggregate metric.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data points to a clear use-case split. The AMD Radeon R5 M335 is the stronger choice for general compute tasks that leverage OpenCL. Its 24.6% victory in that specific benchmark suggests that applications optimized for OpenCL, such as certain video encoding filters or physics simulations, will run noticeably faster on the AMD hardware.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M excels in Vulkan workloads. Its 15.6% win over the R5 M335 in the Vulkan test is more relevant than it might appear. Vulkan is a low-overhead API used in many modern game engines, and the GT 745M's performance here indicates it can handle contemporary gaming titles more effectively than its older 2013 release date might suggest. The GT 745M also has a higher peak score overall (5502) than the R5 M335 (4745), indicating a higher ceiling for its best-case scenario.

The aggregate average score, however, favors AMD, suggesting that the R5 M335 is more consistently fast across a broader range of operations. The GT 745M is more of a specialist, with its Vulkan strength dragging up an otherwise lower baseline.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on completely different architectural philosophies. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is based on the GK107 chip using the Kepler architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This is a relatively large chip for its class, with 1,270 million transistors on an 118 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 10.8 million per mm².

The AMD Radeon R5 M335 uses the Exo chip, based on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) 1.0 architecture, also on a 28 nm TSMC process. The chip is significantly smaller, containing 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. This gives it a higher transistor density of 12.3 million per mm². The data suggests AMD packed its transistors more efficiently, but the NVIDIA chip has nearly double the raw transistor count.

The compute unit configurations differ as well. The GT 745M has 384 shading units, 32 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 render output units (ROPs). The R5 M335 has fewer of each: 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Despite having fewer units, the AMD part achieves higher pixel and texture rates. Its pixel rate is 8.240 GPixel/s and texture rate is 20.60 GTexel/s, compared to the GT 745M's 4.392 GPixel/s and 17.57 GTexel/s. This is likely due to higher clock speeds on the AMD chip, though the database does not list base or boost clocks for either. The FP32 performance also favors AMD, with 659.2 GFLOPS versus 421.6 GFLOPS.

Specification Differences

Beyond the core architecture, several key specifications set these two apart. The most glaring difference is memory. The GT 745M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The R5 M335 also has 2 GB, but it is DDR3 on a 64-bit bus, yielding only 14.40 GB/s. This is a massive 4.4x difference in memory bandwidth, which can heavily impact performance in bandwidth-sensitive tasks, even if the AMD chip's raw compute rates are higher. The memory clock for the GT 745M is listed as 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the R5 M335 runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).

The bus interface differs: the GT 745M uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the R5 M335 uses PCIe 3.0 x8. This means the NVIDIA card has double the potential I/O bandwidth to the rest of the system. The power characteristics also differ. The GT 745M has a TDP of 45 W, while the R5 M335's TDP is not specified in the database. The AMD card has no power connectors listed, while the NVIDIA card's are also absent, implying both are designed for integration into laptops.

Their API support shows minor differences. The GT 745M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The R5 M335 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX feature level is slightly higher on the AMD part. The release dates are also distinct: the GT 745M was released in 2013, while the R5 M335 arrived in 2015. The NVIDIA card is part of the GeForce 700M generation, and the AMD card belongs to the "Gem System" R5 M300 generation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M335 has a higher average benchmark score of 4752, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M's average of 3953.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has a significant advantage, offering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth with GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, while the AMD Radeon R5 M335 offers 14.40 GB/s with DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus.

Q: Which GPU wins in the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 5502, a 15.6% lead over the AMD Radeon R5 M335's score of 4758.

Q: What is the transistor count difference?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M has 1,270 million transistors, while the AMD Radeon R5 M335 has 690 million transistors.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel rate?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M335 has a higher pixel rate of 8.240 GPixel/s, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M's 4.392 GPixel/s.

Q: Is the AMD GPU in a higher performance percentile?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon R5 M335 is in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is in the 23rd percentile.

The Verdict

The choice between these two GPUs hinges on the primary use case. For users running applications that rely on OpenCL compute, the AMD Radeon R5 M335 is the clear winner. Its 24.6% lead in that benchmark, combined with its higher average score and better percentile ranking, makes it the more capable general-purpose processor. The higher pixel rate and texture rate also suggest it can push pixels faster in less complex scenarios.

However, for gaming specifically, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M may be the better option. Its 15.6% win in Vulkan is critical, as this API is now a standard in modern games. The GT 745M's significantly higher memory bandwidth (64.00 GB/s vs 14.40 GB/s) is also a crucial factor for game textures and frame buffers. The data shows the GT 745M has a higher peak performance, suggesting it can handle demanding graphical loads better than the R5 M335, despite its lower average.

In summary, the R5 M335 is the better all-rounder for compute and general tasks, while the GT 745M is the better choice for modern gaming workloads that leverage Vulkan. The R5 M335 is the safer pick for a mixed-use laptop, but the GT 745M has a specialized strength that may be more valuable to a specific user. The database shows a tie in head-to-head wins, but the nature of those wins points to a clear division of labor.