AMD Radeon R5 M435 vs NVIDIA Quadro M5000M Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M and the AMD Radeon R5 M435 occupy different tiers of the mobile graphics landscape, and the recorded data shows a decisive performance gap. The Quadro M5000M is a high-end professional mobile solution, while the Radeon R5 M435 is an entry-level part. Based on the single head-to-head benchmark available in the database, the Quadro M5000M is the clear choice for any workload requiring significant compute power. The Radeon R5 M435, while less capable, serves a more limited role. The data shows a 291.2% lead for the Quadro in the OpenCL test, which is a massive advantage.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M is in a different performance class entirely. In the only direct comparison available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Quadro M5000M scores 22920, while the Radeon R5 M435 scores 5859. This translates to a 291.2% delta, meaning the Quadro is nearly three times faster in this compute workload. This is not a close contest. For users who need to run GPU-accelerated applications, the Quadro M5000M is the only viable option of the two. Its average benchmark score of 6481 places it at the 37th percentile of all GPUs, while the Radeon's average score of 5859 places it at the 33rd percentile. The Radeon R5 M435 should be considered only for basic display output and very light 2D duties. The data does not support any other conclusion. The Quadro wins the sole head-to-head benchmark, and its architectural advantages reinforce this outcome.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures. The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M uses the GM204 chip, based on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, and belongs to the Quadro Maxwell-M generation. In contrast, the AMD Radeon R5 M435 uses the Jet chip, based on the older GCN 1.0 architecture, from the Gem System generation. Both are manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, but that is where the similarities end. The Quadro's chip is substantially larger and more complex, containing 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die. The Radeon's chip is much smaller, with 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. This difference in scale directly translates to processing resources. The Quadro features 1536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 64 raster operation units (ROPs). The Radeon is far more modest, with 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The transistor density is similar (13.1M per mm² for NVIDIA versus 12.3M per mm² for AMD), but the sheer size of the NVIDIA chip provides a massive raw resource advantage. Furthermore, the Quadro supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the Radeon supports DirectX 12 (11_1), indicating a higher feature level for the NVIDIA part. The Quadro also supports Vulkan 1.4, while the Radeon supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a single recorded head-to-head benchmark between these two parts: Geekbench OpenCL. This test measures general-purpose compute performance, and the results are stark. The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M scores 22920, while the AMD Radeon R5 M435 scores 5859. The delta is 291.2%, meaning the Quadro outperforms the Radeon by a factor of almost four. This is the largest win in the comparison. The Quadro's high shading unit count and memory bandwidth contribute to this result, but the data only shows the final score. The Radeon R5 M435 wins zero benchmarks in this comparison. While the database does not include other head-to-head tests like gaming or professional application benchmarks, the compute result is indicative of the overall performance gap. The Quadro M5000M also has a higher average benchmark score of 6481 compared to the Radeon's 5859, though this average includes other tests not shared by both. The single shared test is the most reliable indicator, and it heavily favors the NVIDIA part.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs reveal significant differences in memory and compute capabilities. The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 160.4 GB/s. The AMD Radeon R5 M435 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s. This is a four-fold difference in memory size and a similar gap in bandwidth. The clock speeds also differ. The Quadro has a base clock of 962 MHz and a boost clock of 1051 MHz, with memory running at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The Radeon has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 1030 MHz, with memory at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). The compute rates are where the gap becomes most apparent. The Quadro delivers 3.229 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, a pixel rate of 67.26 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 100.9 GTexel/s. The Radeon manages 659.2 GFLOPS, a pixel rate of 8.240 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 20.60 GTexel/s. The Quadro's power draw is rated at 100 W, while the Radeon's TDP is not listed. The Quadro uses an MXM Module interface (MXM-B 3.0), while the Radeon is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) using PCIe 3.0 x8. Both are end-of-life products, with the Quadro released in 2015 and the Radeon in 2016.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in compute workloads?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M is far faster. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, it scores 22920 versus 5859 for the AMD Radeon R5 M435, a 291.2% difference.

Q: How much memory do these GPUs have?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the AMD Radeon R5 M435 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Quadro M5000M has a memory bandwidth of 160.4 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the Radeon R5 M435's 36.00 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M has 1536 shading units, compared to 320 on the AMD Radeon R5 M435.

Q: What are the architecture generations?

A: The Quadro M5000M is based on Maxwell 2.0 (GM204 chip), while the Radeon R5 M435 is based on GCN 1.0 (Jet chip).

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Quadro M5000M has an average benchmark score of 6481, while the Radeon R5 M435 has an average score of 5859.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro M5000M is the winner in every measurable category in this comparison. Its sole head-to-head benchmark win is in Geekbench OpenCL, with a 291.2% lead. This indicates that for any general-purpose GPU computing task, such as OpenCL-accelerated applications, the Quadro is the superior choice. Its larger memory pool (8 GB versus 2 GB) and higher bandwidth (160.4 GB/s versus 36.00 GB/s) also make it better suited for handling large datasets and textures. The Quadro's higher FP32 performance (3.229 TFLOPS versus 659.2 GFLOPS) further solidifies its position for compute-heavy workloads. The AMD Radeon R5 M435 does not win any benchmark in the database. Its lower specifications suggest it is only suitable for basic display output and very light 2D tasks where the integrated nature of the IGP is sufficient. The data shows no scenario where the Radeon R5 M435 outperforms the Quadro M5000M. The Quadro M5000M is the definitive choice for any user prioritizing performance, while the Radeon R5 M435 is a legacy part with a very limited scope. The 37th percentile ranking for the Quadro versus the 33rd for the Radeon further illustrates that while neither is a top-tier part today, the Quadro sits in a higher performance bracket.