AMD Radeon R7 Graphics vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M Comparison

The data presents a direct comparison between two mobile graphics solutions from different eras and design philosophies: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, a high-end discrete part, and the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, an integrated graphics processor (IGP). The benchmark results are unequivocal, showing a massive performance gulf in favor of the discrete NVIDIA solution across the two common tests available in the dataset.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are stark. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M scores 23,832 points, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics manages only 4,015 points. This yields a delta of 493.6%, meaning the GTX 980M is nearly five times faster in this compute-oriented workload. The margin is so wide that the AMD part’s score is not just lower, but in a completely different performance tier. This test often reflects raw shader throughput and memory bandwidth, areas where the discrete card’s dedicated hardware holds an inherent advantage.

The second shared test, Geekbench Vulkan, tells a similar story. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M scores 17,703, against 5,980 for the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics. The delta here is 196%, meaning the GTX 980M is roughly three times faster. While the percentage gap is smaller than in OpenCL, it is still a decisive victory for the NVIDIA part. The Vulkan API’s lower overhead can sometimes benefit integrated parts, but the sheer computational and memory resources of the GTX 980M overwhelm the IGP here. The data shows a clean sweep: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M wins both head-to-head benchmarks, with a total of 2 wins and 0 losses for the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M is the overwhelmingly superior performer. It wins both shared tests by margins of 196% and 493.6%. The data suggests that for any task leveraging OpenCL or Vulkan, the GTX 980M delivers results in a different league. Looking at the broader context, the GTX 980M’s average benchmark score of 5,308 places it in the 31st percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics’ average score of 4,998 puts it in the 29th percentile. Despite the massive head-to-head deltas, their average scores are relatively close due to the GTX 980M’s other test results, but the shared workload comparison is what matters most for a direct matchup.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is an integrated solution, and its performance data reflects its role as a basic graphics processor. It is not a competitor to a high-end discrete GPU from the same era. The verdict is clear: for users who need serious graphics compute power, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M is the only choice from this data. The AMD part would only be suitable for the most basic of graphical tasks, where its performance is adequate but not comparable.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The GTX 980M scores 23,832, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 4,015. This makes the NVIDIA part 493.6% faster in this test.

Q: What is the performance gap in the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M scores 17,703, and the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 5,980. This results in a 196% performance advantage for the NVIDIA part.

Q: Did the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics with 0 wins, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M has 2 wins.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M has an average benchmark score of 5,308, and the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has an average score of 4,998. This places them in the 31st and 29th percentiles of all GPUs, respectively.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M has a higher percentile ranking at 31, compared to the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics at 29.

Q: What is the delta percentage between the GTX 980M and its closest rival, the GeForce 930A?

A: The GTX 980M's average score of 5,308 is -0.2% compared to the GeForce 930A's average score of 5,317.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two parts reveal fundamental architectural and design differences. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M is a discrete MXM module, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is an integrated graphics processor (IGP). This is the most significant distinction, as it dictates everything else about their design and capabilities.

The memory configuration is a primary point of divergence. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M comes with 8 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 160.4 GB/s. In contrast, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has no dedicated memory; it uses "System Shared" memory, with its bandwidth being "System Dependent." This means the AMD part’s performance is heavily reliant on the system’s main memory speed and configuration, while the NVIDIA part has its own high-speed pool.

The compute resources are also vastly different. The GTX 980M is equipped with 1,536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 64 render output units (ROPs). The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has only 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This 4:1 ratio in shading units and TMUs, and an 8:1 ratio in ROPs, directly explains the massive performance gap in the benchmark results. The pixel rate of the GTX 980M is 72.13 GPixel/s, versus 5.760 GPixel/s for the AMD part, and the texture rate is 108.2 GTexel/s versus 17.28 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute throughput is 3.462 TFLOPS for the NVIDIA part, compared to 553.0 GFLOPS for the AMD part.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on different architectures and processes. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M uses the GM204 chip based on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. It contains 5,200 million transistors on a die size of 398 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 13.1M / mm². The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, on the other hand, uses the Spectre Lite chip based on the GCN 2.0 architecture, manufactured by GlobalFoundries, also on a 28 nm process. It is a much smaller chip, with 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 9.8M / mm².

This difference in transistor count and die size highlights their distinct purposes. The Maxwell 2.0 architecture in the GTX 980M is a high-performance design for discrete graphics. The GCN 2.0 IGP in the AMD part is designed to be a low-power, space-efficient solution integrated into a CPU. The API support differs slightly, with the GTX 980M supporting DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The TDP also reflects their design: the AMD part has a TDP of 25 W, while no TDP is listed for the NVIDIA part. The GTX 980M has no power connectors as it is an MXM module, while the AMD part is an IGP with no separate power connectors. The GTX 980M uses an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, while the AMD part is an IGP.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M wins in every measurable category of the head-to-head comparison. It is the clear winner in Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan, with deltas of 493.6% and 196%, respectively. This makes it the only choice for any application that can leverage these APIs, such as gaming, GPGPU compute, or demanding content creation. Its dedicated 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth give it a massive advantage in memory-intensive tasks, and its higher pixel and texture rates suggest it can handle high resolutions and complex scenes.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, conversely, does not win in any of the direct comparisons. Its only potential "win" is in its design as a low-power IGP with a 25 W TDP, which is suited for basic system functionality. The data shows it is a part for machines where discrete graphics are not an option, and where the user’s graphical needs are minimal, such as office work, web browsing, or video playback. Its performance is a fraction of the GTX 980M's, and it lacks the dedicated memory and processing power to be a viable option for any serious graphics workload. In this matchup, the GTX 980M is the sole performer, while the AMD part serves a completely different, lower-performance market segment.