AMD Radeon R7 Graphics vs NVIDIA Quadro M500M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two mobile graphics solutions. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA Quadro M500M posts a score of 5986 against the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics score of 4015. That is a 49.1% advantage for the Quadro, a substantial margin that indicates a significant performance gap in compute workloads that leverage OpenCL. The Quadro's score is not merely higher; it is categorically in a different performance tier for that specific workload.

However, the situation reverses in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 5980, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M manages 5222. The delta is 12.7% in favor of the AMD part. This is a notable flip. The same two GPUs, separated by nearly 50% in one API, reverse their positions in another. The data suggests that API selection matters enormously for these particular products, likely reflecting different driver optimizations or architectural strengths.

Looking at the average benchmark score across both tests, the NVIDIA Quadro M500M lands at 5604, placing it in the 32nd percentile of all GPUs in the database. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics averages 4998, which puts it in the 29th percentile. The overall average favors the Quadro, but the margin is far narrower than the OpenCL result alone would suggest. The Quadro's nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro M4000 at an average score of 5537 (1.2% behind), the AMD Radeon HD 8790M at 5691 (1.5% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 at 5508 (1.7% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M at 5501 (1.9% behind). These are all tightly clustered results, indicating that the Quadro M500M sits in a competitive band where small differences separate products.

For the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, the nearest rivals are similarly close. The NVIDIA Quadro 4000 averages 4979 (0.4% behind), the AMD Radeon R5 M430 averages 5018 (0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB averages 4970 (0.6% behind), and the AMD FirePro W4170M averages 5034 (0.7% ahead). The R7 Graphics is essentially in a dead heat with these parts. The data shows that the AMD integrated part, despite being an IGP, holds its own against a range of discrete mobile GPUs in overall average score.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in OpenCL compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M wins decisively. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 5986 beats the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics score of 4015 by 49.1%.

Q: Which GPU wins in Vulkan performance?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics takes the lead. Its Vulkan score of 5980 surpasses the NVIDIA Quadro M500M score of 5222 by 12.7%.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has a higher average benchmark score of 5604 compared to the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics average of 4998. The Quadro also sits in a higher percentile, 32nd versus 29th for the AMD part.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics uses a chip with 2,410 million transistors, while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M uses a chip with 1,020 million transistors. The AMD chip has more than double the transistor count.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M supports DirectX 12 (11_0). The AMD part has a higher feature level under DirectX 12.

Q: What is the shading unit count for each GPU?

A: Both GPUs have 384 shading units. Despite this equal count, their performance characteristics differ significantly across different APIs.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a nuanced conclusion. For users prioritizing OpenCL compute workloads, the NVIDIA Quadro M500M is the clear choice. Its 49.1% lead in that benchmark is overwhelming and would translate directly into faster execution for applications that rely on OpenCL acceleration. The Quadro also holds the higher average benchmark score and the higher percentile ranking, making it the more consistent performer across the two tested workloads.

For users whose applications favor Vulkan, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is the better option. Its 12.7% advantage in that API is meaningful, and for gaming or compute workloads built on Vulkan, the AMD part would deliver smoother results. The fact that the AMD part is an integrated GPU (IGP) with system-shared memory makes this Vulkan win particularly noteworthy. It achieves this result without dedicated memory, relying on the system's main memory and bandwidth.

The average scores suggest a closer overall contest than the OpenCL result implies. The Quadro M500M edges ahead in the aggregate, but the R7 Graphics is competitive. The choice hinges on the specific API used by the target software. Data-driven selection would favor the Quadro for OpenCL-centric tasks and the AMD part for Vulkan-centric tasks. For a balanced mix, the Quadro's higher average and percentile give it a slight edge, but the margin is not overwhelming.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every core specification. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M is built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 77 mm² and a transistor density of 13.2M per mm². The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is also on a 28 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with a much larger die size of 245 mm² and a lower transistor density of 9.8M per mm². The AMD chip carries 2,410 million transistors versus 1,020 million for the NVIDIA chip.

Clock speeds differ as well. The Quadro M500M has a base clock of 1029 MHz and a boost clock of 1124 MHz, with memory running at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has no listed base or boost clock, and its memory clock is listed as "System Shared." Memory configuration also diverges: the Quadro has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD part uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

Texture mapping units differ: the Quadro has 16 TMUs, while the AMD part has 24 TMUs. Both have 8 ROPs. The pixel rate for the Quadro is 8.992 GPixel/s versus 5.760 GPixel/s for the AMD part. Texture rate is 17.98 GTexel/s for the Quadro and 17.28 GTexel/s for the AMD part. FP32 compute is 863.2 GFLOPS for the Quadro versus 553.0 GFLOPS for the AMD part.

The power profiles also differ. The Quadro M500M has a TDP of 30 W and uses an MXM Module slot with no power connectors. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has a TDP of 25 W and is an IGP with a motherboard-dependent interface. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for the Quadro and motherboard-dependent for the AMD part. The Quadro supports Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD part supports Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M is based on the Maxwell architecture, specifically the GM108S chip. It belongs to the Quadro Maxwell-M generation. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics uses the GCN 2.0 architecture with the Spectre Lite chip, part of the GCN 2.0 IGP (Kaveri) generation. These are entirely different design philosophies: Maxwell is a discrete GPU architecture optimized for efficiency and low power in mobile workstations, while GCN 2.0 is an integrated graphics architecture designed to share resources with the host CPU.

The manufacturing approach differs as well. NVIDIA uses TSMC as its foundry, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries. Despite both being at 28 nm, the transistor densities diverge sharply. The NVIDIA chip packs 13.2M transistors per mm² on a 77 mm² die, while the AMD chip manages only 9.8M per mm² across a 245 mm² die. The AMD chip's larger die includes not just graphics but likely other components relevant to its IGP role, explaining the lower density.

The memory architecture is a major differentiator. The Quadro M500M has dedicated DDR3 memory with a fixed 64-bit bus and a concrete bandwidth figure of 14.40 GB/s. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has no dedicated memory at all, instead sharing system memory. Its bandwidth is listed as system-dependent, meaning performance can vary based on the host platform's memory configuration. This is a structural disadvantage for the AMD part in memory-sensitive workloads, yet it still managed to win the Vulkan test.

DirectX support also differs at the feature level. The AMD part supports DirectX 12 (12_0), which is the higher feature level. The NVIDIA part supports DirectX 12 (11_0), a lower feature level. This could influence which games or applications run optimally on each GPU, particularly those using advanced DirectX 12 features.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro M500M wins in raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 5986 versus 4015 for the AMD part represents a 49.1% advantage. The Quadro also wins on pixel rate (8.992 GPixel/s versus 5.760 GPixel/s), texture rate (17.98 GTexel/s versus 17.28 GTexel/s), and FP32 compute (863.2 GFLOPS versus 553.0 GFLOPS). For any application that relies on OpenCL, the Quadro is the superior choice. Its higher average benchmark score of 5604 and higher percentile ranking (32nd versus 29th) reinforce this position. The Quadro's dedicated memory also gives it a structural advantage in workloads that require consistent bandwidth without competing with the CPU for system memory.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics wins in Vulkan performance. Its score of 5980 beats the Quadro's 5222 by 12.7%. This is the sole benchmark win for the AMD part, but it is a significant one. The AMD part also holds the DirectX 12 (12_0) feature level advantage, which could make it more compatible with modern titles that leverage the latest DirectX features. Despite having lower FP32 compute and a lower pixel rate, the AMD part's 24 TMUs versus 16 for the Quadro may contribute to its Vulkan success. The AMD part also has a lower TDP at 25 W versus 30 W for the Quadro, making it potentially more suitable for power-constrained systems.

The use-case split is clear. OpenCL compute tasks, such as certain professional workloads, favor the NVIDIA Quadro M500M. Vulkan-based gaming or compute favors the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics. The Quadro's higher overall average makes it the safer all-around pick, but the AMD part's Vulkan dominance cannot be ignored. For users who know their target applications use Vulkan, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics is the data-backed choice. For everything else, the Quadro M500M holds the edge.