AMD Radeon R6 M255DX vs AMD Radeon R7 Graphics Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data available for direct comparison is limited to a single shared benchmark, but that one result tells a decisive story. In Geekbench Vulkan, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 5980 points against 4867 for the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX. That is a 22.9% advantage for the R7 Graphics, a substantial margin that places the two integrated parts in different performance classes despite their similar naming.

The R7 Graphics’ average benchmark score of 4998 further reinforces its position. It sits at the 29th percentile among all GPUs, with its closest rivals including the NVIDIA Quadro 4000 (4979, just 0.4% behind), the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (5018, 0.4% ahead), and even the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB (4970, only 0.6% behind). The R6 M255DX, by contrast, averages 4867 and lands at the 28th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M (4855, 0.2% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4844, 0.5% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893, 0.5% ahead).

Looking at the broader picture, the R7 Graphics’ 4998 average is roughly 2.7% higher than the R6 M255DX’s 4867. That difference compounds in the Vulkan workload, where the R7 Graphics stretches its lead to nearly a quarter. The gap is not trivial; it suggests the R7 Graphics handles modern API workloads with noticeably more headroom. The R6 M255DX, while competitive in its own right against older discrete mobile parts like the GTX 560M and 940MX, simply cannot match the R7 Graphics when both are pushed.

The R7 Graphics also benefits from a higher shading unit count—384 versus 320 for the R6 M255DX—which explains part of the performance delta. Texture mapping units follow the same pattern: 24 for the R7 Graphics versus 20 for the R6 M255DX. Both parts share 8 ROPs, so pixel throughput is capped similarly, but the R7 Graphics’ extra shader and TMU resources give it an edge in geometry and texture-heavy scenes. The R7 Graphics posts a pixel rate of 5.760 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 17.28 GTexel/s, while the R6 M255DX counters with 6.840 GPixel/s and 17.10 GTexel/s. The R6 M255DX actually wins on pixel fill due to its higher clocks, but the R7 Graphics edges out texture throughput.

In raw FP32 compute, the two are nearly identical: 553.0 GFLOPS for the R7 Graphics versus 547.2 GFLOPS for the R6 M255DX. That is a difference of about 1.1%, effectively a tie. Yet the benchmark results show a much wider gap in Vulkan, indicating that architectural efficiency and driver optimization play a larger role than raw theoretical throughput. The R7 Graphics’ GCN 2.0 architecture appears better suited to modern API workloads than the R6 M255DX’s GCN 1.0 design.

The Verdict

From the data, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is the clear winner. It leads in the only head-to-head benchmark available, posting a 22.9% higher Vulkan score. Its average benchmark score of 4998 versus 4867 for the R6 M255DX confirms that the advantage is not a one-off anomaly but a consistent pattern. The R7 Graphics also holds a higher percentile ranking (29th versus 28th), though both sit in the lower third of all GPUs.

The R7 Graphics is the pick for anyone running Vulkan-based applications or games, where its 5980 score demonstrates meaningful headroom over the R6 M255DX’s 4867. The extra 64 shading units and 4 TMUs give it a structural advantage that shows up in real workloads. The R6 M255DX, however, is not without merit. Its higher clock speeds—780 MHz base and 855 MHz boost—allow it to achieve a better pixel rate (6.840 GPixel/s versus 5.760 GPixel/s), which could matter in fill-rate-bound scenarios. But given that the R7 Graphics still wins the texture rate battle (17.28 versus 17.10 GTexel/s) and dominates in Vulkan, the R6 M255DX’s pixel-rate edge is a narrow consolation.

For users comparing these two integrated solutions, the choice is straightforward: the R7 Graphics offers better overall performance, a more modern architecture, and a higher ceiling in contemporary APIs. The R6 M255DX is a competent part, but the data consistently favors its sibling. Anyone prioritizing Vulkan performance should opt for the R7 Graphics without hesitation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench Vulkan score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 5980 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX scores 4867. The R7 Graphics leads by 22.9%.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The R7 Graphics averages 4998 across all benchmarks, while the R6 M255DX averages 4867. The R7 Graphics holds a roughly 2.7% advantage.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has 384 shading units, compared to 320 for the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX.

Q: What is the pixel rate difference between the two?

A: The R6 M255DX has a higher pixel rate at 6.840 GPixel/s, while the R7 Graphics achieves 5.760 GPixel/s.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the R6 M255DX supports DirectX 12 (11_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: Which GPU ranks higher among all GPUs?

A: The R7 Graphics sits at the 29th percentile, while the R6 M255DX sits at the 28th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in several core specifications. The R7 Graphics uses the Spectre Lite chip, while the R6 M255DX uses the Jet chip. The R7 Graphics is built on GCN 2.0 architecture, whereas the R6 M255DX uses GCN 1.0. Manufacturing also differs: the R7 Graphics comes from GlobalFoundries, while the R6 M255DX comes from TSMC.

Transistor counts vary significantly. The R7 Graphics packs 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, giving a density of 9.8 million transistors per mm². The R6 M255DX uses just 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die, achieving a higher density of 12.3M per mm². The R7 Graphics has more shading units (384 versus 320) and more TMUs (24 versus 20), but both share 8 ROPs. The R6 M255DX has explicit clock specifications—780 MHz base and 855 MHz boost—while the R7 Graphics lists no base or boost clocks.

Memory configurations are identical in form: both use System Shared memory with System Shared type, bus width, and bandwidth labeled as System Dependent. Power characteristics differ slightly: the R7 Graphics has a 25 W TDP, while the R6 M255DX lists no TDP. Both are IGP form factors with no power connectors and IGP bus interfaces. Display outputs differ: the R7 Graphics is Motherboard Dependent, while the R6 M255DX is Portable Device Dependent. The R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the R6 M255DX is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). The R7 Graphics has a known predecessor (TeraScale 3 IGP) and successor (GCN 3.0 IGP), while the R6 M255DX has neither.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is significant. The R7 Graphics is built on GCN 2.0, a second-generation Graphics Core Next design that introduced improvements in compute efficiency and API support. Its generation is listed as GCN 2.0 IGP (Kaveri), tying it to AMD’s Kaveri accelerated processing units. The R6 M255DX, by contrast, uses the original GCN 1.0 architecture and belongs to the Gem System Hybrid (Rx M200) generation. This older design lacks some of the refinements found in GCN 2.0, which helps explain the R7 Graphics’ superior Vulkan performance despite similar theoretical compute.

The chip designs reflect different priorities. The R7 Graphics’ Spectre Lite chip is a larger, more complex die at 245 mm² with 2,410 million transistors, designed to deliver higher throughput across a broader set of workloads. The R6 M255DX’s Jet chip is a smaller, denser part at 56 mm² with 690 million transistors, optimized for lower power and simpler integration in portable devices. The R7 Graphics’ transistor density of 9.8M per mm² is lower than the R6 M255DX’s 12.3M per mm², but the raw transistor count gives the R7 Graphics a substantial resource advantage.

Cache and feature differences are not explicitly listed, but the architectural gap manifests in measurable ways. The R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0), the full feature level, while the R6 M255DX is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170, so API coverage is otherwise identical. The R7 Graphics’ newer GCN 2.0 architecture likely contributes to its stronger Vulkan showing, as later GCN revisions improved asynchronous compute and draw call handling. The R6 M255DX’s GCN 1.0 design, while capable, does not benefit from those refinements. The R7 Graphics also carries the legacy of TeraScale 3 IGP as its predecessor and passes the torch to GCN 3.0 IGP, while the R6 M255DX stands as a generation unto itself with no listed predecessor or successor.