AMD Radeon R6 M255DX vs AMD Radeon R7 M260 Comparison

AMD Radeon R6 M255DX and AMD Radeon R7 M260 are both end-of-life mobile GPUs from AMD’s M200 series, yet the benchmark data shows a clear hierarchy: the R7 M260 holds the overall performance lead, winning the only head-to-head comparison by 8% in Geekbench Vulkan. However, the R6 M255DX is not without merit, offering a higher percentile ranking and a different architectural foundation that may appeal in specific contexts. This analysis breaks down the data to determine which GPU suits which use case, based strictly on the provided facts.

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon R7 M260 is the outright performance winner in this matchup. In the sole head-to-head benchmark — Geekbench Vulkan — the R7 M260 scores 5289 against the R6 M255DX’s 4867, a decisive 8% advantage. This win is corroborated by the R7 M260’s superior raw specifications: it has 384 shading units versus 320, 24 texture mapping units versus 20, and a boost clock of 980 MHz versus 855 MHz. The data indicates the R7 M260 is the better choice for any user prioritizing raw compute performance, particularly in Vulkan-based workloads.

The R6 M255DX, despite losing the head-to-head, holds a higher percentile ranking across all GPUs: 28th percentile versus the R7 M260’s 26th. Its average benchmark score of 4867 is also higher than the R7 M260’s average of 4499, which includes a weaker OpenCL score of 3708. This suggests the R6 M255DX may have more consistent performance across different API workloads, even if it loses in Vulkan specifically. The R6 M255DX is the choice for users who need a more balanced profile or who prioritize the specific APIs where it excels, though the data shows it does not win any head-to-head tests. In short: pick the R7 M260 for peak performance, the R6 M255DX for percentile-based consistency.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on different generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. The R6 M255DX uses GCN 1.0, while the R7 M260 uses the newer GCN 3.0. This architectural gap is reflected in their API support: the R6 M255DX supports DirectX 12 (11_1), whereas the R7 M260 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), a higher feature level. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Silicon-level differences are substantial. The R6 M255DX is built on the “Jet” chip, which contains 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. In contrast, the R7 M260 uses the “Topaz” chip with 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die — more than double the transistor count and over twice the die area. Despite this, both are manufactured on TSMC’s 28 nm process, yielding nearly identical transistor densities: 12.3 million per mm² for the R6 and 12.4 million per mm² for the R7.

Memory architecture is another key divider. The R6 M255DX uses system-shared memory, with its size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as system-dependent. The R7 M260, by contrast, has a dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory pool on a 64-bit bus, delivering 14.40 GB/s of bandwidth and running at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). This dedicated memory gives the R7 M260 a significant advantage in memory-bound scenarios, as it does not contend with the system for bandwidth.

The R7 M260 also carries a different generation label: “Gem System (R7 M200)” versus the R6 M255DX’s “Gem System Hybrid (Rx M200).” The R7 M260 lists a predecessor (“Solar System”) and successor (“Polaris Mobile”), while the R6 M255DX lists neither. The R7 M260 also supports FP16 compute at a 1:1 ratio to FP32, with both rated at 752.6 GFLOPS, whereas the R6 M255DX has no listed FP16 capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench Vulkan test, and the result is unambiguous: the AMD Radeon R7 M260 wins with a score of 5289, beating the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX’s 4867 by 8%. This is a meaningful margin in GPU terms, indicating that the R7 M260 delivers noticeably better Vulkan performance — a metric that often correlates with modern gaming and compute workloads.

Beyond the head-to-head, the R7 M260 also posts a Geekbench OpenCL score of 3708, though no comparable OpenCL score exists for the R6 M255DX in the data. This OpenCL score is notably lower than the R7 M260’s own Vulkan score, suggesting that the R7 M260’s performance is API-dependent and that its Vulkan results are its strongest showing.

The R6 M255DX, while losing the head-to-head, shows competitive standing against its nearest rivals. Its average score of 4867 places it 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M (4855), 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4844), 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893), and 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4901). This tight clustering indicates the R6 M255DX performs in a narrow band around 4.8–4.9 thousand points, making its Vulkan deficit to the R7 M260 (422 points) more significant than its differences from these rivals.

The R7 M260’s average score of 4499 is dragged down by its OpenCL result. Against its nearest rivals, it sits 0.1% behind the AMD FirePro W4190M (4505), 1.3% behind the Intel HD Graphics P530 (4560), 1.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 560 (4569), and 1.7% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M230 (4577). This suggests the R7 M260’s average performance is lower than its Vulkan peak, and that its overall standing is less favorable than the R6 M255DX’s.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher peak benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260, with a Geekbench Vulkan score of 5289, compared to the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX’s 4867 in the same test.

Q: Does the R6 M255DX have any advantage in overall GPU ranking?

A: Yes. The R6 M255DX sits at the 28th percentile among all GPUs, while the R7 M260 sits at the 26th percentile, despite the R7 M260 winning the head-to-head benchmark.

Q: What are the memory configurations of these GPUs?

A: The R6 M255DX uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM, while the R7 M260 has 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports a higher DirectX feature level?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), whereas the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX supports DirectX 12 (11_1).

Q: How do these GPUs compare in transistor count?

A: The R7 M260 has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, while the R6 M255DX has 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260, with a boost clock of 980 MHz, compared to the R6 M255DX’s 855 MHz.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon R6 M255DX Wins:

• Percentile Ranking: At the 28th percentile versus the R7 M260’s 26th, the R6 M255DX ranks higher in the broader GPU landscape.
• Average Score Consistency: With an average benchmark score of 4867 — higher than the R7 M260’s 4499 — the R6 M255DX shows more consistent performance across its benchmark results, even though it only has one listed score.
• Form Factor: The R6 M255DX is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a slot width of “IGP,” meaning it uses system memory and requires no dedicated VRAM, which may be preferable in ultra-portable designs.

AMD Radeon R7 M260 Wins:

• Head-to-Head Performance: The R7 M260 wins the only direct comparison, the Geekbench Vulkan test, by 8% (5289 vs 4867).
• Raw Compute Resources: It has more shading units (384 vs 320), more TMUs (24 vs 20), and a higher boost clock (980 MHz vs 855 MHz), translating to higher pixel rate (7.840 GPixel/s vs 6.840 GPixel/s) and texture rate (23.52 GTexel/s vs 17.10 GTexel/s).
• FP32 Throughput: The R7 M260 delivers 752.6 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, versus 547.2 GFLOPS for the R6 M255DX, a 37.5% advantage.
• Memory Subsystem: The R7 M260’s dedicated 2 GB DDR3 with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth provides predictable performance, unlike the R6 M255DX’s system-shared, system-dependent memory.
• API Feature Level: The R7 M260 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), a higher feature level than the R6 M255DX’s DirectX 12 (11_1).
• FP16 Support: The R7 M260 offers FP16 compute at 752.6 GFLOPS (1:1), while the R6 M255DX has no listed FP16 capability.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights only the fields where the two GPUs differ, based on the provided data:

| Specification | AMD Radeon R6 M255DX | AMD Radeon R7 M260 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 3.0 |

| Chip | Jet | Topaz |

| Generation | Gem System Hybrid (Rx M200) | Gem System (R7 M200) |

| Transistors | 690 million | 1,550 million |

| Die Size | 56 mm² | 125 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.3M / mm² | 12.4M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 780 MHz | 940 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 855 MHz | 980 MHz |

| Memory Clock | System Shared | 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 14.40 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 320 | 384 |

| TMUs | 20 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 6.840 GPixel/s | 7.840 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.10 GTexel/s | 23.52 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 547.2 GFLOPS | 752.6 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not listed | 752.6 GFLOPS (1:1) |

| Slot Width | IGP | Not listed |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | Not listed |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_1) | 12 (12_0) |

| Release Date | 2014-01-06 | 2014-06-10 |

| Predecessor | Not listed | Solar System |

| Successor | Not listed | Polaris Mobile |

| Geekbench Vulkan | 4867 | 5289 |

| Geekbench OpenCL | Not listed | 3708 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 4867 | 4499 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 28th | 26th |