AMD Radeon R7 M260 vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX Comparison

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX and AMD Radeon R7 M260 are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from AMD, built on the same underlying GCN 3.0 architecture and 28 nm process. The data shows a clear, if narrow, hierarchy between them, with the R8 M445DX holding a decisive lead in the only directly comparable benchmark. However, the R7 M260 counters with a higher raw specification sheet in several key areas, creating an interesting divergence between theoretical compute and real-world OpenCL performance. This analysis breaks down exactly where each part excels and what the numbers imply for potential use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head benchmark available is Geekbench OpenCL, and it tells a compelling story. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260 trails at 3708. This represents a 27.5% advantage for the R8 M445DX, a substantial margin that firmly establishes it as the faster part in this particular compute workload. This is not a marginal win; the delta is significant enough to suggest a real performance tier gap in OpenCL applications.

When placed in the broader context of the R8 M445DX's nearest rivals, its score of 4727 puts it just 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4752) and a mere 0.9% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4684). This positioning indicates that the R8 M445DX is a competent entry-level performer, sitting squarely in a dense pack of similar low-power GPUs. The R7 M260, with its OpenCL score of 3708, is notably absent from this competitive cluster. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 4499, which places it just 0.1% behind the AMD FirePro W4190M (4505) and 1.3% behind the Intel HD Graphics P530 (4560). This suggests the R7 M260's average is dragged down by its weaker OpenCL showing, even though it has a separate, much higher Vulkan score.

Interestingly, the R7 M260 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 5289, which is substantially higher than its own OpenCL score. This data point is not directly comparable to the R8 M445DX, as no Vulkan result exists for that part, but it hints that the R7 M260's performance is API-dependent. The R8 M445DX's single OpenCL result of 4727 is its average benchmark score, and it falls at the 27th percentile of all GPUs. The R7 M260, by contrast, sits at the 26th percentile. These percentile figures are nearly identical, suggesting that despite the 27.5% OpenCL deficit, the R7 M260 is not catastrophically slower overall, likely due to its stronger Vulkan showing.

The data presents a paradox: the R8 M445DX wins the only direct test by a wide margin, yet both GPUs occupy the same percentile tier. This implies the R7 M260's Vulkan performance is its saving grace, potentially making it a better choice for Vulkan-based titles, while the R8 M445DX dominates in OpenCL-centric workloads.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX is the clear winner for OpenCL compute tasks. Its 27.5% lead over the R7 M260 in Geekbench OpenCL is the single most decisive piece of evidence in this comparison. For any user whose primary workload relies on OpenCL acceleration—such as certain rendering, encoding, or GPGPU applications—the R8 M445DX is the superior choice. Its score of 4727 places it in a competitive position against other entry-level discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA Quadro P400, making it a capable option in its class.

The case for the AMD Radeon R7 M260 is more nuanced. While it loses the OpenCL comparison, its Geekbench Vulkan score of 5289 is its standout feature. This score is over 42% higher than its own OpenCL result, indicating a strong aptitude for Vulkan APIs. For users who prioritize Vulkan-based gaming or applications, the R7 M260 may offer a better experience, despite its lower overall average score of 4499. The data suggests a trade-off: choose the R8 M445DX for guaranteed OpenCL performance, or the R7 M260 for potentially better Vulkan performance.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical (27th vs 26th), which tempers any absolute verdict. Neither GPU is a high-performance part; both are firmly in the entry-level segment. The R8 M445DX is the safer choice for general compute based on its single, strong OpenCL data point. The R7 M260 is a more speculative pick, betting on its Vulkan strengths to offset its OpenCL weakness. Ultimately, the R8 M445DX wins on the strength of its direct benchmark victory, but the R7 M260 is not without merit for Vulkan-focused users.

Architecture Differences

Both the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX and the AMD Radeon R7 M260 are built on the same fundamental architecture: GCN 3.0. They also share the same 28 nm process node, are manufactured by TSMC, and even have identical transistor counts (1,550 million) and die sizes (125 mm²). This means the core architectural DNA is the same, and the differences in performance must be attributed to implementation details rather than fundamental design philosophy.

The most significant architectural difference lies in the chip designations. The R8 M445DX uses the "Meso" chip, while the R7 M260 uses the "Topaz" chip. These are distinct physical designs, even if they share the same GCN 3.0 instruction set. The generation labels are also different: the R8 M445DX comes from the "Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400)" family, while the R7 M260 is from the "Gem System (R7 M200)" family. This generational gap likely explains some of the performance differences, as the newer M400 series may have optimizations or feature tweaks not present in the older M200 series.

A critical architectural difference is the memory interface. The R8 M445DX uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main memory. This is a hallmark of integrated-class GPUs, despite being branded as a Radeon R8. The R7 M260, conversely, has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus. This is a fundamental architectural distinction: one part is designed to share memory with the CPU, while the other has its own private pool. This difference has profound implications for memory bandwidth and latency, which are not always captured in compute benchmarks.

Both parts support the same API levels: DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. This means they are feature-equivalent in terms of software support. The R7 M260's predecessor is listed as "Solar System," and its successor is "Polaris Mobile," which gives it a clear lineage in AMD's mobile lineup. The R8 M445DX has no listed predecessor or successor, suggesting it was a more isolated design within the M400 series.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal a clear divergence in design philosophy. The AMD Radeon R7 M260 has a higher base clock of 940 MHz, compared to the R8 M445DX's 780 MHz. However, the R8 M445DX has a higher boost clock of 1021 MHz, versus the R7 M260's 980 MHz. This suggests the R8 M445DX has a wider dynamic clock range, potentially allowing it to reach higher peak performance under load, while the R7 M260 operates at a more sustained, higher base frequency.

The R7 M260 also holds a significant advantage in raw compute resources. It features 384 shading units and 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), compared to the R8 M445DX's 320 shading units and 20 TMUs. Both have 8 raster operation units (ROPs). This 20% advantage in shading units and TMUs translates directly to higher theoretical throughput. The R7 M260's FP32 performance is 752.6 GFLOPS, compared to the R8 M445DX's 653.4 GFLOPS. Its texture rate is also higher at 23.52 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. The R7 M260 is, on paper, the more powerful compute engine.

The memory configuration is the starkest differentiator. The R7 M260 has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory with a 64-bit bus width and a bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s. The R8 M445DX has no dedicated memory; its size, type, and bus width are all "System Shared," and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This means the R8 M445DX's memory performance is entirely contingent on the host system's RAM, which could be a bottleneck or an advantage depending on the platform. The R7 M260's memory is clocked at 900 MHz with an effective 1800 Mbps data rate.

In terms of interface, the R7 M260 uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 connection, while the R8 M445DX is listed as "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor). This reinforces the R8 M445DX's status as an integrated-class solution, despite its R8 branding. The R8 M445DX also has a slot width of "IGP," while the R7 M260 has no listed slot width, implying it is likely a discrete mobile chip. The R8 M445DX's display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent," whereas the R7 M260 has no listed outputs. The R7 M260 also has a higher pixel rate of 7.840 GPixel/s versus the R8 M445DX's 8.168 GPixel/s, which is a rare case where the R8 M445DX wins a theoretical metric despite having fewer ROPs, likely due to its higher boost clock.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX is significantly faster, scoring 4727 in Geekbench OpenCL compared to the R7 M260's 3708, a 27.5% advantage.

Q: The R7 M260 has more shading units, so why is it slower?

A: While the R7 M260 has 384 shading units versus the R8 M445DX's 320, the R8 M445DX's higher boost clock (1021 MHz vs 980 MHz) and its "System Shared" memory architecture may contribute to its better real-world OpenCL performance. The architectural differences between the "Meso" and "Topaz" chips also play a role.

Q: Which GPU has better Vulkan performance?

A: The data only provides a Vulkan score for the R7 M260 (5289), which is significantly higher than its own OpenCL score. No Vulkan score is available for the R8 M445DX, so a direct comparison cannot be made, but the R7 M260's data suggests it is strong in this API.

Q: Do these GPUs have the same memory configuration?

A: No. The R7 M260 has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory with a 64-bit bus and 14.40 GB/s bandwidth. The R8 M445DX uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's RAM and has no dedicated VRAM.

Q: What is the overall performance percentile of each GPU?

A: The R8 M445DX sits at the 27th percentile of all GPUs, while the R7 M260 sits at the 26th percentile. This shows they are closely matched in the overall hierarchy despite the OpenCL gap.

Q: Are they based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are built on GCN 3.0 and use a 28 nm TSMC process. They also have identical transistor counts (1,550 million) and die sizes (125 mm²), but use different chips (Meso vs Topaz).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX wins decisively in OpenCL-based workloads. Its 27.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL makes it the clear choice for any application that leverages this API for general-purpose computing, such as certain video encoding, image processing, or scientific simulations. Its score of 4727 also places it in a competitive position against discrete entry-level GPUs like the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4684) and AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4752), proving it can hold its own in this segment. For users with a system where memory bandwidth is ample, the "System Shared" architecture could be a benefit, allowing for flexible memory allocation.

The AMD Radeon R7 M260 wins in the theoretical specification arena and potentially in Vulkan-based applications. Its higher base clock (940 MHz), more shading units (384), and dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory with a fixed 14.40 GB/s bandwidth make it a more traditional discrete GPU. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 5289 is its strongest data point, suggesting it is well-optimized for Vulkan titles. For users running Vulkan-based games or applications, the R7 M260 may deliver a smoother experience, despite its lower average score of 4499. Its PCIe 3.0 x8 interface also indicates a more conventional integration path than the R8 M445DX's IGP designation.

The R8 M445DX is the better all-around choice for compute tasks, while the R7 M260 is a spec-sheet champion that could excel in Vulkan scenarios. The R8 M445DX's win in the only direct benchmark is the most reliable indicator of relative performance. The R7 M260's Vulkan score is intriguing but unverified against its rival. The R8 M445DX is the safe pick for OpenCL, while the R7 M260 is a gamble on Vulkan superiority. Given the near-identical percentile rankings, the R8 M445DX's direct benchmark win gives it the edge as the more consistently performant part.