AMD Radeon R7 M260 vs NVIDIA GeForce 930M Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M260 and NVIDIA GeForce 930M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from the 28nm era, targeting the same entry-level segment of the laptop market. The data shows a split decision: the GeForce 930M wins in OpenCL compute workloads, while the Radeon R7 M260 takes a decisive victory in Vulkan performance. Both cards sit at the 26th percentile of all GPUs, indicating they are functionally equivalent in overall market standing, but their architectural differences lead to distinct performance profiles that matter depending on your software workload.

The Verdict

The data tells a clear story of specialization. If your primary concern is OpenCL-based applications, the NVIDIA GeForce 930M is the superior choice, as it delivers a 26.5% higher score (5046 vs 3708) in the geekbench_opencl test. This is a substantial lead that will translate into better performance in productivity apps and older games that leverage OpenCL for compute tasks. The 930M also offers better API compatibility for modern software, supporting Vulkan 1.4 compared to the R7 M260's Vulkan 1.2.170, which is a significant advantage for future-proofing.

However, for Vulkan-based gaming and applications, the AMD Radeon R7 M260 is the clear winner. Its geekbench_vulkan score of 5289 crushes the 930M's 3729, a massive 41.8% advantage. This is not a marginal difference; it is a dominant performance gap that makes the R7 M260 the pick for anyone running modern Vulkan titles. Furthermore, the R7 M260 offers full DirectX 12 (12_0) support, while the 930M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0), which could matter for specific DX12 titles that require newer feature levels.

For the average user, the choice depends entirely on your software stack. The 930M is the safer bet for general compute and older API workloads, while the R7 M260 is the specialist for Vulkan. Given the 41.8% Vulkan delta is significantly larger than the 26.5% OpenCL delta, the R7 M260's advantage is more pronounced, making it arguably the better pick for gaming-focused users. The 930M's higher OpenCL score, while notable, is a smaller relative advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The R7 M260 is built on AMD's GCN 3.0 architecture, using the Topaz chip, and belongs to the Gem System generation under the R7 M200 series. In contrast, the 930M uses NVIDIA's Maxwell architecture with the GM108S chip, part of the GeForce 900M generation. Both are manufactured on a 28nm process at TSMC, but the similarities end there.

The most striking difference is in their physical design. The AMD chip is significantly larger, with a die size of 125 mm² and 1,550 million transistors, whereas the NVIDIA chip is much more compact at 77 mm² with 1,020 million transistors. This makes the R7 M260's die nearly 62% larger, yet the 930M achieves a higher transistor density of 13.2M per mm² compared to the AMD's 12.4M per mm². Clock speeds also differ drastically: the R7 M260 runs at a base of 940 MHz and boosts to 980 MHz, while the 930M is locked at a static 549 MHz for both base and boost. This low clock speed is a deliberate choice by NVIDIA to keep power consumption down, as evidenced by the 930M's 33W TDP, a figure not provided for the AMD part.

Memory configurations are similar on paper—both use 2 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus—but the R7 M260 has a higher memory clock of 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) versus the 930M's 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective). This results in the AMD card having a 12.5% bandwidth advantage at 14.40 GB/s versus 12.80 GB/s. The shading unit count is identical at 384, as are the TMUs (24) and ROPs (8). The core architectural differences, therefore, come down to clock speeds, transistor budgets, and API support levels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are starkly divided. In the geekbench_opencl test, the NVIDIA GeForce 930M wins decisively, scoring 5046 against the R7 M260's 3708. This represents a 26.5% delta in favor of NVIDIA. This is a substantial margin that suggests NVIDIA's Maxwell architecture has a significant efficiency advantage in OpenCL compute tasks, likely due to better driver optimization and scheduler efficiency at lower clock speeds.

In the geekbench_vulkan test, the roles reverse completely with the AMD Radeon R7 M260 taking a commanding lead. It scores 5289 versus the 930M's 3729, a delta of 41.8% in AMD's favor. This is the single largest performance gap in the comparison and cannot be overstated. The R7 M260's Vulkan performance is nearly 42% higher, which is a massive advantage in any Vulkan-based game or application. This suggests that AMD's GCN architecture, despite its older design, has superior Vulkan driver implementation or hardware features that scale better with the API.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split, with the R7 M260 averaging 4499 across all tests and the 930M averaging 4388. The R7 M260's average is slightly higher, driven by its dominant Vulkan win, but the 930M is more consistent. The nearest rivals for the R7 M260 include the AMD FirePro W4190M (4505, -0.1%), Intel HD Graphics P530 (4560, -1.3%), and the AMD Radeon RX 560 (4569, -1.5%), placing it in a tightly contested mid-low tier. The 930M's rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M (4411, -0.5%) and the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 (4360, 0.7%), showing it is similarly positioned in its own competitive cluster.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in several key specification areas. The process node is identical (28nm TSMC), but the transistor count differs significantly: the R7 M260 has 1,550 million versus the 930M's 1,020 million, a 52% difference in favor of AMD. The die size is also much larger on the AMD side at 125 mm² versus 77 mm². Clock speeds are starkly different: the R7 M260 has a base clock of 940 MHz and a boost of 980 MHz, while the 930M is fixed at 549 MHz for both.

The memory clock is higher on the R7 M260 (900 MHz / 1800 Mbps effective) versus the 930M (800 MHz / 1600 Mbps effective), leading to higher bandwidth (14.40 GB/s vs 12.80 GB/s). The TDP is listed for the 930M at 33 W, but is not provided for the R7 M260. The slot width for the 930M is listed as "IGP" (integrated graphics processor), indicating it is designed for soldered-on-board use, while no such data exists for the AMD part. The 930M also lists power connectors as "None" and display outputs as "Portable Device Dependent," whereas the R7 M260 has no data for these fields.

The API support is a critical differentiator. The R7 M260 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the 930M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.4. This means the AMD card has a higher DirectX feature level, but the NVIDIA card has a newer Vulkan version. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The bus interface is identical (PCIe 3.0 x8). The release dates differ, with the R7 M260 launching on 2014-06-10 and the 930M on 2015-03-12. The generation names are also distinct: "Gem System (R7 M200)" for AMD and "GeForce 900M" for NVIDIA.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has better overall compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 930M has a higher OpenCL score of 5046 versus the R7 M260's 3708, a 26.5% lead. However, the R7 M260 has a higher average benchmark score of 4499 versus 4388, driven by its Vulkan performance.

Q: Is the AMD card better for modern gaming APIs?

A: Yes, the R7 M260 wins the Vulkan benchmark decisively with a 41.8% higher score (5289 vs 3729). It also supports DirectX 12 (12_0), a higher feature level than the 930M's DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: Why is the NVIDIA card's clock speed so low?

A: The 930M is locked at 549 MHz for both base and boost clocks, likely to maintain a low 33W TDP. The R7 M260 runs much higher at 940 MHz base and 980 MHz boost, but its TDP is not listed in the data.

Q: Do both cards have the same memory configuration?

A: Both have 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, but the R7 M260 has a higher memory clock (900 MHz vs 800 MHz), resulting in higher bandwidth (14.40 GB/s vs 12.80 GB/s).

Q: Which GPU is more power-efficient?

A: The data only provides a TDP for the 930M at 33 W; no TDP is listed for the R7 M260. The 930M's lower transistor count (1,020 million vs 1,550 million) and smaller die (77 mm² vs 125 mm²) suggest it is designed for lower power consumption.

Q: Are these GPUs comparable in overall market standing?

A: Yes, both are at the 26th percentile of all GPUs. Their average benchmark scores are close (4499 vs 4388), and their nearest rivals show similar competitive positioning.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce 930M wins in OpenCL compute workloads. Its 26.5% higher score in geekbench_opencl makes it the better choice for applications that rely on this API, such as older productivity software, video encoding tools, and OpenCL-accelerated plugins. It also has a newer Vulkan version (1.4 vs 1.2.170), which could offer better compatibility with the latest Vulkan extensions, even if its raw Vulkan performance is much lower. The 930M's lower TDP of 33 W and compact design also make it a better option for thin-and-light laptops where thermal and power constraints are critical.

The AMD Radeon R7 M260 is the clear winner in Vulkan-based tasks and modern gaming. Its 41.8% higher Vulkan score is the standout metric in this comparison, making it the superior choice for any game or application that uses Vulkan. The R7 M260 also has a higher DirectX 12 feature level (12_0 vs 11_0), which could unlock additional rendering features in DX12 titles that respect feature levels. Its higher memory bandwidth (14.40 GB/s vs 12.80 GB/s) also gives it an edge in memory-bound scenarios, and its higher clock speeds (980 MHz boost vs 549 MHz) provide a raw compute advantage that manifests in the Vulkan benchmark.

In practical terms, if you are playing Vulkan-based games like Doom or Wolfenstein II, the R7 M260 will deliver noticeably better frame rates. If you are using OpenCL-heavy applications like Adobe Premiere Pro's GPU acceleration (older versions) or certain scientific computing tools, the 930M will be the better performer. For general use, the R7 M260's stronger Vulkan win is more impactful for gaming, while the 930M's OpenCL lead is more relevant for productivity. The data shows a tie in wins (1 each), but the magnitude of the R7 M260's Vulkan victory makes it the more compelling choice for gamers.