AMD Radeon R7 240 vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX Comparison

AMD Radeon R7 240 vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX: the discrete desktop card wins the only available benchmark, but the integrated part counters with a newer architecture and higher clock speeds. The R7 240 scores 5063 points in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 7.1% ahead of the R8 M445DX's 4727 points. This places the R7 240 in the 30th percentile of all GPUs, while the R8 M445DX sits in the 27th percentile. The data shows a clear, albeit modest, performance advantage for the older discrete card.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head benchmark result is Geekbench OpenCL, where the AMD Radeon R7 240 wins decisively. The R7 240 produces a score of 5063, compared to the R8 M445DX's 4727. The delta is 7.1% in favor of the R7 240. This is not a marginal victory; it represents a solid, measurable gap in raw compute performance. For context, the R7 240’s nearest rival, the AMD Radeon R7 M340, scores an identical 5063, meaning the R7 240 sits exactly at parity with that part. The R8 M445DX, meanwhile, trails a different set of competitors: it is 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4752) and 0.9% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4684).

The performance difference can be traced to the specifications. The R7 240 operates with a base clock of 730 MHz and a boost clock of 780 MHz. The R8 M445DX starts at 780 MHz base but boosts to 1021 MHz. Clock-for-clock, the R8 M445DX has the potential to execute more work per second, yet the benchmark results show the R7 240 still wins. The R7 240 achieves a pixel rate of 6.240 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 15.60 GTexel/s. The R8 M445DX counters with 8.168 GPixel/s and 20.42 GTexel/s, both higher figures. Despite these fill-rate advantages for the R8 M445DX, the OpenCL score favors the R7 240, indicating that the memory subsystem of the dedicated card plays a crucial role.

The R7 240 has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth, which is inherently slower due to sharing with the CPU. In the Geekbench OpenCL workload, the R7 240’s dedicated bandwidth proves more valuable than the R8 M445DX’s higher clocks. The result is a clear win for the R7 240, with 1 win in the head-to-head tally versus 0 for the R8 M445DX.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 240 wins in the only measured benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, making it the stronger choice for general compute tasks. Its dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth gives it a structural advantage over the R8 M445DX’s shared memory setup. The 7.1% score lead suggests that applications relying on consistent memory access will favor the R7 240. The R7 240 also has a higher average benchmark score overall at 5063 versus 4727.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX does not win any benchmark in the data, but it has theoretical advantages that would matter in specific scenarios. Its higher boost clock of 1021 MHz, compared to the R7 240’s 780 MHz, means it can process shader instructions faster when memory bandwidth is not the bottleneck. The R8 M445DX also supports FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1), while the R7 240 has no listed FP16 capability. This makes the R8 M445DX potentially better suited for workloads that leverage half-precision arithmetic, such as certain machine learning inference tasks. The R8 M445DX also has a higher FP32 throughput at 653.4 GFLOPS versus 499.2 GFLOPS, so in compute-bound scenarios that fit in shared memory, it could outperform its older sibling.

For gaming and typical desktop use, the R7 240’s dedicated memory is likely the deciding factor. The R8 M445DX, as an IGP (integrated graphics processor), must share system memory bandwidth, which introduces latency and contention. The R7 240’s 128-bit bus and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth are modest, but they are dedicated. The R8 M445DX’s System Dependent bandwidth is a variable that cannot be quantified from the data, but it is generally inferior. Therefore, the R7 240 is the safer pick for consistent performance, while the R8 M445DX offers higher peak compute if memory is not a constraint.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations. The AMD Radeon R7 240 is built on GCN 1.0 and belongs to the Volcanic Islands (R7 200) generation. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX uses GCN 3.0 and is part of the Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400) generation. This is a significant generational leap, with GCN 3.0 introducing improvements in instruction scheduling and power management. Both are fabricated on the same 28 nm process at TSMC, but the R8 M445DX packs more transistors: 1,550 million versus 950 million. The die size also grows from 77 mm² to 125 mm². Transistor density is nearly identical at 12.3M / mm² for the R7 240 and 12.4M / mm² for the R8 M445DX.

Both GPUs share the same core configuration: 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 render output units (ROPs). This means the fundamental compute pipeline is identical in terms of shader count. However, the R8 M445DX runs at higher clocks, giving it a higher peak throughput. The R7 240’s chip is Oland, while the R8 M445DX uses Meso. The R7 240 has a 2 GB DDR3 memory interface with a 128-bit bus, while the R8 M445DX relies entirely on System Shared memory with no dedicated VRAM. This is the most critical architectural difference: one has a fixed memory pool, the other depends on the host system.

Feature support also differs. The R7 240 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), a newer feature level. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170. The R8 M445DX adds FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio, which the R7 240 lacks entirely. The R7 240 has a TDP of 30 W and requires a 200 W suggested PSU, while the R8 M445DX has no listed TDP or PSU requirement because it is an IGP. The R7 240 is a single-slot card with no power connectors, and it measures 168 mm in length. The R8 M445DX is classified as IGP, meaning it is integrated into a portable device and has no dimensions or display outputs of its own.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 240 scores 5063 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 7.1% higher than the R8 M445DX's 4727.

Q: Does the R8 M445DX have any clock speed advantage?

A: Yes, the R8 M445DX has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 1021 MHz, compared to the R7 240's 730 MHz base and 780 MHz boost.

Q: What memory configuration does each GPU use?

A: The R7 240 uses 2 GB of DDR3 with a 128-bit bus and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. The R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth.

Q: Are the shading units the same on both cards?

A: Yes, both have 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer DirectX version?

A: The R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the R7 240 supports DirectX 12 (11_1).

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The R7 240 was released on 2013-10-07, while the R8 M445DX was released on 2016-05-14.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD Radeon R7 240 is the better performer. It wins the only available benchmark with a 7.1% lead, and it occupies a higher percentile (30th) among all GPUs compared to the R8 M445DX (27th). The R7 240’s dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory provides a tangible advantage in the Geekbench OpenCL test, which the R8 M445DX’s higher clocks cannot overcome. For anyone choosing between these two for general compute or legacy gaming, the R7 240 is the clear pick.

The R8 M445DX, however, has merits that are not reflected in the benchmark. Its GCN 3.0 architecture is newer, and it offers DirectX 12 (12_0) support and FP16 processing. Its boost clock of 1021 MHz is substantially higher than the R7 240’s 780 MHz. In workloads that are compute-bound and do not stress memory bandwidth, the R8 M445DX could theoretically outperform the R7 240. But the data does not support that conclusion—the only benchmark favors the R7 240. The R8 M445DX also has no launch MSRP, while the R7 240 had a launch MSRP of 69 USD.

Users with a portable device that includes the R8 M445DX should not expect it to match the R7 240 in raw performance. The R7 240 is an end-of-life discrete card, but it remains a functional option for basic tasks. The R8 M445DX is also end-of-life and is an integrated part, meaning it is not upgradeable. In a head-to-head comparison, the R7 240 wins on performance, memory bandwidth, and benchmark percentile. The R8 M445DX wins on architecture modernity and clock speed, but these do not translate into a benchmark victory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 240 | AMD Radeon R8 M445DX |

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

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 3.0 |

| Generation | Volcanic Islands (R7 200) | Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400) |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 950 million | 1,550 million |

| Die Size | 77 mm² | 125 mm² |

| Base Clock | 730 MHz | 780 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 780 MHz | 1021 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | System Dependent |

| FP32 | 499.2 GFLOPS | 653.4 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | null | 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1) |

| Pixel Rate | 6.240 GPixel/s | 8.168 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 15.60 GTexel/s | 20.42 GTexel/s |

| TDP | 30 W | null |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | IGP |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | IGP |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x VGA | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| Release Date | 2013-10-07 | 2016-05-14 |

| Launch MSRP | 69 USD | null |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 5063 | 4727 |

| Percentile | 30 | 27 |