AMD Radeon R5 M420 vs Intel UHD Graphics 710 Comparison

AMD Radeon R5 M420 and Intel UHD Graphics 710 are both end-of-life integrated-class GPUs aimed at basic computing, but they represent very different design philosophies and eras. The AMD part is a dedicated mobile chip from the GCN 1.0 era built on a 28 nm process, while the Intel solution is a modern integrated graphics core from Alder Lake built on a 10 nm process. Benchmark data shows a narrow overall edge for the AMD part, but the Intel chip counters with superior modern API support and a much higher boost clock. This analysis breaks down where each part wins based strictly on the provided specifications and benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M420 has an average benchmark score of 3956, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 averages 3792. The AMD part sits at the 23rd percentile of all GPUs, compared to the Intel part's 22nd percentile.

Q: How do the two compare in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M420 scores 3956 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 13.2% higher than the Intel UHD Graphics 710's score of 3496. This is the only head-to-head benchmark result available, and the AMD part wins it.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a boost clock of 1300 MHz, while the AMD Radeon R5 M420 boosts to 850 MHz. The Intel part's base clock is 300 MHz, compared to the AMD part's 780 MHz base.

Q: Which GPU offers better DirectX support?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 710 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the AMD Radeon R5 M420 supports DirectX 12 (11_1). The Intel part also supports Vulkan 1.4, whereas the AMD part supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: What are the memory configurations?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M420 has 4 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth being System Dependent.

Q: Does the Intel part have a benchmark result the AMD part lacks?

A: Yes, the Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4088, while the AMD Radeon R5 M420 has no Vulkan benchmark listed. This shows the Intel part is functional in modern Vulkan workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R5 M420 wins in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 performance is 544.0 GFLOPS, and it has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This gives it a texture rate of 17.00 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 6.800 GPixel/s. In the only direct head-to-head benchmark, it beats the Intel part by 13.2% in Geekbench OpenCL. The AMD part also has dedicated memory, which is a significant advantage for consistent performance.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 wins in clock speed and modern feature support. Its boost clock of 1300 MHz is substantially higher than the AMD part's 850 MHz, and it achieves a higher pixel rate of 10.40 GPixel/s despite having fewer shading units. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, making it more compatible with current software. It also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4088, indicating it can handle Vulkan workloads effectively.

For memory bandwidth, the AMD part wins with 16.00 GB/s dedicated bandwidth. The Intel part's bandwidth is System Dependent, which means it varies based on the host system's memory configuration. The AMD part's dedicated 4 GB allocation is a clear advantage for applications that require consistent memory access.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon R5 M420 uses the GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. It has 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.3M / mm². The chip is codenamed Jet and belongs to the Gem System (R5 M400) generation. It supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 uses the Generation 12.2 architecture on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It is part of the HD Graphics (Alder Lake) generation and uses a Ring Bus interface. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. It has no listed transistor count, die size, or transistor density.

The AMD part has a PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface, while the Intel part uses a Ring Bus. The AMD part has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Intel part has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Intel part supports FP16 at 665.6 GFLOPS (2:1), while the AMD part has no FP16 data listed.

Specification Differences

Clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD Radeon R5 M420 has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 850 MHz. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1300 MHz. The AMD part's memory runs at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective), while the Intel part uses System Shared memory.

Memory specifications are entirely different. The AMD part has 4 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part's memory size, type, and bus width are all System Shared, with bandwidth being System Dependent.

Compute resources differ. The AMD part has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, yielding 544.0 GFLOPS FP32, 17.00 GTexel/s texture rate, and 6.800 GPixel/s pixel rate. The Intel part has 128 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, yielding 332.8 GFLOPS FP32, 10.40 GTexel/s texture rate, and 10.40 GPixel/s pixel rate.

Power and interface differ. The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a TDP of 15 W, while the AMD Radeon R5 M420 has no TDP listed. The AMD part uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the Intel part uses a Ring Bus. Both are IGP form factor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison is Geekbench OpenCL. The AMD Radeon R5 M420 scores 3956, while the Intel UHD Graphics 710 scores 3496. This gives the AMD part a 13.2% advantage. In terms of nearest rivals, the AMD part's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce 830M with an average score of 3957 and a deltaPct of 0. The Intel part's closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 with an average score of 3823 and a deltaPct of -0.8.

The AMD part's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M at 3953 (0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 at 3964 (-0.2% delta). The Intel part's rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 at 3834 (-1.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M at 3740 (1.4% delta). These comparisons show the AMD part sits in a slightly higher performance tier than the Intel part.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4088, which is higher than its OpenCL score. This suggests the Intel part performs relatively better in Vulkan workloads. The AMD part has no Vulkan benchmark listed, so a direct comparison in that API is not possible from the data.

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon R5 M420 is the choice for raw compute performance. Its 13.2% advantage in Geekbench OpenCL and higher FP32 throughput (544.0 GFLOPS vs 332.8 GFLOPS) make it the stronger option for general-purpose compute tasks. The dedicated 4 GB DDR3 memory with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth ensures consistent performance without relying on system memory.

The Intel UHD Graphics 710 is the choice for modern API support and higher clock speeds. Its support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 makes it more future-proof for newer applications. The 1300 MHz boost clock and 10.40 GPixel/s pixel rate indicate better fill-rate performance, which could benefit certain graphical workloads.

Users who need consistent dedicated memory and higher compute throughput should select the AMD Radeon R5 M420. Users who prioritize modern API compatibility and have systems with fast system memory should select the Intel UHD Graphics 710. The Intel part's Vulkan score of 4088 suggests it handles modern graphics APIs well despite its lower OpenCL score.