AMD Radeon R7 350 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 350 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 are both end-of-life, low-profile graphics cards aimed at basic desktop tasks, but the benchmark data shows they are not equal in compute performance. In the single available head-to-head comparison, the R7 350 leads by a significant margin, though the GT 1010 counters with newer architectural features and a much more power-efficient design. The following analysis breaks down exactly where each card stands based solely on the provided specifications and test results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are decisive. The AMD Radeon R7 350 scores 7,792 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 scores 6,698 points. This gives the R7 350 a 16.3% advantage, a substantial gap in raw compute throughput. The R7 350’s win count in head-to-head benchmarks is 1, while the GT 1010 has 0 wins.

This edge in OpenCL performance aligns with the cards’ overall average benchmark scores. The R7 350 holds an average score of 7,425, placing it in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. The GT 1010’s average score is lower at 6,698, which puts it in the 38th percentile. While both are in the lower half of the performance spectrum, the R7 350 sits meaningfully higher.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each card provides context. The R7 350’s closest competitor is the Intel UHD Graphics 750, which scores 7,441, a negligible 0.2% difference. It also trades blows with the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7,447, -0.3%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (7,472, -0.6%). Interestingly, the R7 350 even trails the Intel Arc A310 by 1.7%, which scores 7,550. This shows the R7 350 is competitive with much more modern integrated graphics.

The GT 1010’s rival list is a different story. Its closest match is the AMD Radeon R7 M370, which scores 6,764, just 1% higher. It also sits near the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (6,612, 1.3% lower) and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (6,581, 1.8% lower). The AMD FirePro M5100 is 1.9% faster at 6,830. This places the GT 1010 in a performance tier populated primarily by older mobile GPUs, reinforcing its position as a basic display adapter rather than a compute workhorse.

There is no Geekbench Vulkan score for the GT 1010 in the data, but the R7 350 achieves 7,057 in that test. This additional data point for the AMD card shows its compute capabilities extend beyond a single API, though a direct comparison on Vulkan is impossible without an equivalent score for the NVIDIA card.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two cards is stark, reflecting their different release eras. The AMD Radeon R7 350 is built on GCN 1.0 architecture, using the Cape Verde chip, and is manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 uses the newer Pascal architecture, built around the GP108 chip, and is fabricated on a 14 nm process at Samsung. This process advantage gives the GT 1010 a significantly higher transistor density of 24.3M per mm², compared to the R7 350’s 12.2M per mm².

The compute resources are heavily skewed toward the AMD card. The R7 350 packs 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster operation pipelines (ROPs). The GT 1010 has exactly half of that: 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This doubling of execution resources is the primary reason for the R7 350’s higher scores in compute-heavy tasks.

Memory configurations also differ significantly. Both cards have 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, but the R7 350 uses a 128-bit memory bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GT 1010 is constrained to a 64-bit bus, yielding only 48.06 GB/s. This 24 GB/s difference in memory bandwidth is substantial and will impact performance in any task that is memory-bound, such as texture loading or high-resolution display output.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The GT 1010 has a base clock of 1228 MHz and a boost clock of 1468 MHz, while the R7 350’s base and boost clocks are not listed in the data. The GT 1010’s memory runs at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective), whereas the R7 350’s memory is clocked at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). The NVIDIA card’s higher clock speeds help it narrow the gap in pixel and texture fill rates. The R7 350 achieves a pixel rate of 12.80 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 25.60 GTexel/s, while the GT 1010 is close behind at 11.74 GPixel/s and 23.49 GTexel/s, respectively.

Power consumption and interface are major differentiators. The GT 1010 has a TDP of just 30 W, compared to the R7 350’s 55 W. The GT 1010 also requires a suggested PSU of 200 W, while the R7 350 asks for 250 W. Both are single-slot cards with no power connectors, but the GT 1010 uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, whereas the R7 350 uses the wider PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. The GT 1010 is also shorter at 147 mm (5.8 inches) versus the R7 350’s 168 mm (6.6 inches).

API support is another area of divergence. The GT 1010 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the R7 350 only supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The NVIDIA card also has a newer display output, featuring a mini-HDMI 2.0 port, whereas the R7 350 offers HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 alongside its DVI output.

The Verdict

The data is clear: if you need raw compute performance, the AMD Radeon R7 350 is the superior choice. Its 16.3% lead in OpenCL and its higher average benchmark score of 7,425 versus 6,698 make it the stronger card for general-purpose tasks and any application that leverages GPU compute. The R7 350’s larger memory bus and double the shading units provide a tangible performance advantage that the GT 1010 cannot overcome despite its higher clocks.

However, the GT 1010 is not without merit. Its 30 W TDP is substantially lower than the R7 350’s 55 W, making it a much better fit for ultra-compact or passively cooled systems where power draw is critical. Its smaller 147 mm length and PCIe 3.0 x4 interface also make it easier to install in tight spaces or older motherboards. The GT 1010’s newer Pascal architecture also brings better API support, including DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, which may be relevant for compatibility with the latest software.

For a builder prioritizing performance, the R7 350 is the obvious pick. For someone building a low-power HTPC or a basic office machine where silence and efficiency are paramount, the GT 1010 is the more practical choice. The benchmark results do not support the GT 1010 as a performance alternative; they support it as an efficiency-focused option.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 350 has an average benchmark score of 7,425, which is higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010’s average score of 6,698.

Q: How much faster is the R7 350 in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The R7 350 scores 7,792 compared to the GT 1010’s 6,698, giving the AMD card a 16.3% lead in that specific test.

Q: Do both cards have the same amount of memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Radeon R7 350 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 come with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 has a TDP of 30 W, while the AMD Radeon R7 350 has a TDP of 55 W. The GT 1010 also suggests a 200 W PSU, versus the R7 350’s 250 W recommendation.

Q: Which card has better API support for modern software?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD Radeon R7 350 only supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: How do the cards compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 350 has a 128-bit memory bus with 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 has a 64-bit bus with 48.06 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 350 wins in every measurable performance category in the provided data. It has a higher OpenCL score, a higher average benchmark score, and a higher percentile ranking (40th versus 38th). Its doubling of shading units, TMUs, and ROPs, combined with a wider memory bus, makes it the clear winner for compute workloads, 3D rendering, or any task that stresses the GPU’s parallel processing capabilities. The data also shows it has a higher pixel rate (12.80 GPixel/s vs 11.74 GPixel/s) and texture rate (25.60 GTexel/s vs 23.49 GTexel/s), meaning it can handle higher resolutions and more complex textures.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 wins in efficiency and physical size. Its 30 W TDP is less than the R7 350’s 55 W, making it significantly easier to cool passively. It is also shorter (147 mm vs 168 mm), which improves compatibility with small form factor cases. The GT 1010’s newer architecture provides better API support, including Vulkan 1.4, and its PCIe 3.0 x4 interface is sufficient for its bandwidth needs. It also has a higher boost clock of 1468 MHz, which helps it remain competitive in fill-rate tasks despite having fewer execution units.

Specification Differences

• Process Node: AMD R7 350 is on 28 nm (TSMC); NVIDIA GT 1010 is on 14 nm (Samsung).
• Transistor Count: AMD R7 350 has 1,500 million transistors; NVIDIA GT 1010 has 1,800 million.
• Die Size: AMD R7 350 is 123 mm²; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 74 mm².
• Transistor Density: AMD R7 350 is 12.2M / mm²; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 24.3M / mm².
• Shading Units: AMD R7 350 has 512; NVIDIA GT 1010 has 256.
• TMUs: AMD R7 350 has 32; NVIDIA GT 1010 has 16.
• ROPs: AMD R7 350 has 16; NVIDIA GT 1010 has 8.
• Memory Clock: AMD R7 350 is 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective); NVIDIA GT 1010 is 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective).
• Memory Bus Width: AMD R7 350 is 128 bit; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 64 bit.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD R7 350 is 72.00 GB/s; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 48.06 GB/s.
• Pixel Rate: AMD R7 350 is 12.80 GPixel/s; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 11.74 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: AMD R7 350 is 25.60 GTexel/s; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 23.49 GTexel/s.
• FP32 Performance: AMD R7 350 is 819.2 GFLOPS; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 751.6 GFLOPS.
• TDP: AMD R7 350 is 55 W; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 30 W.
• Suggested PSU: AMD R7 350 is 250 W; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 200 W.
• Bus Interface: AMD R7 350 is PCIe 3.0 x16; NVIDIA GT 1010 is PCIe 3.0 x4.
• Display Outputs: AMD R7 350 has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2; NVIDIA GT 1010 has 1x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 2.0.
• DirectX Support: AMD R7 350 is 12 (11_1); NVIDIA GT 1010 is 12 (12_1).
• Vulkan Support: AMD R7 350 is 1.2.170; NVIDIA GT 1010 is 1.4.
• Length: AMD R7 350 is 168 mm (6.6 inches); NVIDIA GT 1010 is 147 mm (5.8 inches).