GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce 840M and AMD Radeon R7 Graphics split their two benchmark contests exactly one win apiece, but the margin of victory tells the real story. The 840M dominates in OpenCL compute with a 43.6% lead, while the R7 Graphics counters with a narrower 18.4% advantage in Vulkan. Average benchmark scores place the 840M at 5322 versus 4998 for the R7, a 6.1% gap that keeps the NVIDIA part ahead in overall standing, though both sit in the low-30s percentile range among all GPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The GeForce 840M’s OpenCL score of 5764 against the Radeon R7 Graphics’ 4015 is the single largest performance differential in this comparison. That 43.6% delta is not a marginal edge; it is a decisive victory in compute workloads that leverage OpenCL. The 840M’s average benchmark score of 5322 also exceeds the R7’s 4998, reinforcing that the NVIDIA part holds a meaningful overall performance advantage despite the split in individual tests.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics wins the Vulkan test decisively, scoring 5980 versus the 840M’s 4880. That 18.4% margin is substantial but not as lopsided as NVIDIA’s OpenCL win. The Vulkan result indicates that the R7’s architecture handles this modern API more efficiently, likely due to its superior DirectX feature level support (12_0 versus 11_0) and newer generation design.

Looking at the nearest rivals, both GPUs sit in a tightly packed performance cluster. The 840M’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon R7 M445, which scores 5358, just 0.7% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce 930A trails by 0.1% at 5317, and the GTX 980M (5308) and 940M (5284) are within 0.7% as well. The R7 Graphics’ rival list shows a similar pattern, with the AMD FirePro W4170M at 5034 leading by 0.7%, and the Radeon R5 M430 at 5018 trailing by 0.4%. Notably, the R7 Graphics benchmarks within 0.6% of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB (4970), an indication that this integrated part punches well above its class in synthetic tests.

Architecture Differences

The 840M is built on NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture using the GM108S chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 1,020 million transistors into a 77 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 13.2 million per square millimeter. The Radeon R7 Graphics uses AMD’s GCN 2.0 architecture with the Spectre Lite chip, also on 28 nm but produced by GlobalFoundries. Its die is far larger at 245 mm², housing 2,410 million transistors at a lower density of 9.8 million per square millimeter.

Both GPUs feature 384 shading units, but the R7 Graphics has 24 texture mapping units (TMUs) versus the 840M’s 16, while both have 8 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The extra TMUs give the AMD part a slight edge in texture throughput potential, though the 840M’s higher clocks compensate. The 840M operates at a 1029 MHz base clock with a 1124 MHz boost, while the R7 Graphics has no fixed clock data listed, being an integrated part whose clocks depend on the host APU.

Memory configuration differs fundamentally. The 840M uses 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 16.02 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 Graphics relies on system shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This architectural difference has major implications for performance consistency; dedicated memory gives the 840M predictable bandwidth, while the R7’s performance varies with the system’s RAM configuration.

The R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the 840M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA part is a discrete mobile GPU with a 33 W TDP and PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, whereas the R7 is an integrated graphics processor with a 25 W TDP and no separate bus interface. The R7’s transistor count of 2,410 million is more than double the 840M’s 1,020 million, reflecting the larger integrated die that includes CPU components.

The Verdict

The data points to the GeForce 840M as the stronger overall performer for most users. Its average benchmark score of 5322 exceeds the R7 Graphics’ 4998, and its OpenCL victory by 43.6% is a far larger margin than the R7’s Vulkan win of 18.4%. The 840M also carries the advantage of dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory, ensuring consistent bandwidth of 16.02 GB/s rather than relying on system-dependent shared memory.

However, the Radeon R7 Graphics is not without merit. Its Vulkan score of 5980 is the highest single test result in this comparison, and it supports DirectX 12 (12_0) with full feature parity, whereas the 840M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). For workloads that are Vulkan-heavy or require modern DirectX 12 features, the R7 Graphics delivers a measurable advantage.

Users who prioritize compute performance in OpenCL applications should choose the GeForce 840M without hesitation. The 43.6% lead in that benchmark is substantial and reflects a genuine architectural strength in parallel compute. Users who run Vulkan-based games or applications, or who value DirectX 12 (12_0) feature support, will find the R7 Graphics the more capable option. Its 18.4% Vulkan margin is meaningful but narrower, and its lower average score (4998 versus 5322) suggests it is less consistent overall.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce 840M | AMD Radeon R7 Graphics |

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

| Architecture | Maxwell | GCN 2.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm (TSMC) | 28 nm (GlobalFoundries) |

| Transistors | 1,020 million | 2,410 million |

| Die Size | 77 mm² | 245 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 13.2M / mm² | 9.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1029 MHz | Not specified |

| Boost Clock | 1124 MHz | Not specified |

| Memory Size | 2 GB DDR3 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 16.02 GB/s | System Dependent |

| TMUs | 16 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.992 GPixel/s | 5.760 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.98 GTexel/s | 17.28 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 863.2 GFLOPS | 553.0 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 33 W | 25 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | IGP |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Chip | GM108S | Spectre Lite |

The 840M leads in pixel rate (8.992 vs 5.760 GPixel/s), texture rate (17.98 vs 17.28 GTexel/s), and FP32 compute (863.2 vs 553.0 GFLOPS). The R7 Graphics counters with more TMUs (24 vs 16) and superior API support.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 840M, with an average score of 5322 compared to the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics’ 4998.

Q: How large is the OpenCL performance gap between the two?

A: The 840M scores 5764 in OpenCL versus 4015 for the R7 Graphics, a 43.6% advantage for NVIDIA.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the Vulkan test with a score of 5980 against the 840M’s 4880, an 18.4% margin.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each GPU?

A: The 840M has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 16.02 GB/s bandwidth. The R7 Graphics uses system shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent."

Q: Which GPU has better DirectX support?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the NVIDIA GeForce 840M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: How do the two compare in shading units and ROPs?

A: Both have 384 shading units and 8 ROPs. The R7 Graphics has 24 TMUs, while the 840M has 16 TMUs.

Where Each One Wins

The GeForce 840M is the clear choice for OpenCL compute workloads, where its 43.6% lead over the R7 Graphics is the largest performance gap in this comparison. Its average benchmark score of 5322 places it 6.1% ahead of the R7’s 4998, and it also leads in pixel rate (8.992 vs 5.760 GPixel/s), texture rate (17.98 vs 17.28 GTexel/s), and FP32 compute (863.2 vs 553.0 GFLOPS). The dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 16.02 GB/s bandwidth provides consistent performance that does not depend on system RAM.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics wins in Vulkan performance, scoring 5980 versus 4880, an 18.4% edge. It also supports DirectX 12 (12_0) with full feature-level parity, while the 840M is capped at DirectX 12 (11_0). The R7’s 24 TMUs give it a texture unit advantage over the 840M’s 16, and its lower TDP of 25 W versus 33 W makes it the more power-efficient option. The higher transistor count (2,410 million vs 1,020 million) reflects a more complex integrated design, though this comes with a much larger die size of 245 mm² versus 77 mm².

For users running modern Vulkan-based applications, the R7 Graphics delivers measurably better performance. For everything else, particularly OpenCL compute and general benchmark averages, the 840M is the superior part. The choice ultimately depends on API priority: Vulkan and DirectX 12 (12_0) favor AMD, while OpenCL and raw compute throughput favor NVIDIA.