AMD Radeon R7 Graphics vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark between these two GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 4015. That is a 17.3% deficit for the AMD part, which is a substantial margin in a compute workload. The GTX 560M wins this test outright, and it is the sole head-to-head data point available.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the GTX 560M's average benchmark score is 4855, placing it at the 28th percentile of all GPUs. The Radeon R7 Graphics, by contrast, averages 4998 across its two benchmark results (OpenCL and Vulkan), landing at the 29th percentile. Despite the GTX 560M winning the OpenCL comparison, the Radeon R7 Graphics actually holds a higher overall average score because of its additional Vulkan result. That Vulkan score of 5980 significantly boosts the AMD part's average, illustrating that the R7 Graphics excels in APIs that the GTX 560M cannot even run, as the NVIDIA part has no Vulkan support listed.

The nearest rival data reinforces the closeness of these two parts. The Radeon R7 Graphics sits within 0.7% of the AMD FirePro W4170M and within 0.4% of the AMD Radeon R5 M430. The GTX 560M is similarly tight against the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (0.2% difference) and the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX (−0.2%). Both GPUs are clustered in the same performance tier, but the GTX 560M's single benchmark win is the only direct evidence of superiority.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is generational and fundamental. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is built on GCN 2.0 architecture, specifically the Spectre Lite chip, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M uses Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF116 chip, produced on TSMC's 40 nm process. The AMD part is the newer design, released in early 2014 as part of the Kaveri IGP generation, while the GTX 560M launched in mid-2011 as part of the GeForce 500M series.

Transistor counts tell a striking story. The AMD chip packs 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 9.8M per mm². The NVIDIA chip contains 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, giving a density of just 4.9M per mm². The AMD part has more than double the transistor count in nearly the same physical space, proof of the newer 28 nm process versus the older 40 nm node.

Shader configuration differs markedly. The Radeon R7 Graphics has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The GTX 560M has 192 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The AMD part has twice the shader count, but the NVIDIA part has more TMUs and three times the ROPs. This explains the pixel rate disparity: the GTX 560M achieves 6.200 GPixel/s versus 5.760 GPixel/s for the R7 Graphics. The texture rate also favors NVIDIA, at 24.80 GTexel/s versus 17.28 GTexel/s.

Memory architecture is completely different. The Radeon R7 Graphics uses system-shared memory, with size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all dependent on the host system. The GTX 560M has dedicated 1536 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 60.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA memory clock is listed at 625 MHz base, translating to 2.5 Gbps effective. The AMD part's memory performance is entirely system-dependent, which is a significant variable in real-world performance.

API support differs in important ways. Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6, but the AMD part supports DirectX 12 (12_0) while the NVIDIA part supports DirectX 12 (11_0), indicating a lower feature level. The Radeon R7 Graphics supports Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 560M has no Vulkan support listed. This is a decisive modern compatibility advantage for the AMD part.

FP32 compute performance is close: the Radeon R7 Graphics delivers 553.0 GFLOPS, while the GTX 560M delivers 595.2 GFLOPS, a 7.6% edge for NVIDIA. Power draw differs substantially, with the TDP rated at 25 W for the AMD IGP versus 75 W for the NVIDIA MXM module. The form factors are also different: the R7 Graphics is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with motherboard-dependent outputs, while the GTX 560M is an MXM module with portable-device-dependent outputs.

# Where Each One Wins

The GTX 560M wins the compute benchmark, and its architectural strengths point to clear use cases. The higher pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput, combined with dedicated GDDR5 memory, make it the better choice for traditional rasterization workloads where fill rate and memory bandwidth are critical. The 24 ROPs versus 8 ROPs is a substantial advantage in pixel-heavy scenarios, and the 60.00 GB/s dedicated bandwidth avoids the latency and contention issues of shared system memory.

The Radeon R7 Graphics wins in modern API compatibility and efficiency. Its Vulkan support means it can run contemporary workloads that the GTX 560M cannot touch. The 25 W TDP is one-third that of the GTX 560M, making it far more suitable for power-constrained environments. The higher transistor density and newer architecture mean better feature support per watt.

In benchmark terms, the Radeon R7 Graphics shows strength in the Vulkan test with a score of 5980, which is 23.2% higher than its own OpenCL score of 4015. This suggests the AMD part scales better with modern APIs. The GTX 560M has no Vulkan result, so its 4855 OpenCL score is its only data point.

For users prioritizing raw compute in legacy APIs, the GTX 560M is the winner. For users who need modern API support, lower power consumption, or integrated graphics simplicity, the Radeon R7 Graphics is the better fit.

# FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, with an average benchmark score of 4998, versus 4855 for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M. This is driven by the AMD part's Vulkan score of 5980, which the NVIDIA part cannot match due to no Vulkan support.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 560M in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 560M scores 4855 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 17.3% higher than the Radeon R7 Graphics' score of 4015 in the same test.

Q: Does the Radeon R7 Graphics support Vulkan?

A: Yes, it supports Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M has no Vulkan support listed in its specifications.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus with 60.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon R7 Graphics uses system-shared memory, with all memory parameters dependent on the host system.

Q: Which GPU is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has a TDP of 25 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M has a TDP of 75 W. The AMD part uses one-third the power.

Q: How do these GPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Radeon R7 Graphics is within 0.7% of the AMD FirePro W4170M and 0.4% of the AMD Radeon R5 M430. The GTX 560M is within 0.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX and 0.8% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450.

# The Verdict

The data presents a split decision. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark, taking OpenCL with a 17.3% margin. It also has superior pixel rate, texture rate, and dedicated memory bandwidth. For users running legacy DirectX or OpenCL workloads, the GTX 560M is the clear choice based on the evidence.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, however, counters with modern API support, higher average benchmark score, and dramatically lower power consumption. Its Vulkan capability alone makes it the only option for Vulkan-based workloads. The 25 W TDP versus 75 W makes it far more suitable for integrated, low-power systems.

The choice depends on the workload. For compute-heavy tasks in OpenCL, the GTX 560M is better. For modern API compatibility and efficiency, the Radeon R7 Graphics is better. The percentile rankings are nearly identical (29th versus 28th), confirming these are closely matched parts with different strengths.

The GTX 560M is a dedicated mobile GPU with its own memory, suited for gaming and compute tasks that benefit from dedicated bandwidth. The Radeon R7 Graphics is an integrated solution that leverages system memory but offers newer feature support. Users with legacy software should choose the GTX 560M; users with modern workloads or power constraints should choose the Radeon R7 Graphics.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Fermi 2.0 |

| Chip | Spectre Lite | GF116 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 2,410 million | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | 245 mm² | 238 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 9.8M / mm² | 4.9M / mm² |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 1536 MB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 60.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 192 |

| TMUs | 24 | 32 |

| ROPs | 8 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 5.760 GPixel/s | 6.200 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.28 GTexel/s | 24.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 553.0 GFLOPS | 595.2 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 25 W | 75 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Bus Interface | IGP | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.170 | None |

| Release Date | 2014-02-16 | 2011-05-29 |

| Predecessor | TeraScale 3 IGP | GeForce 400M |

| Successor | GCN 3.0 IGP | GeForce 600M |