AMD Radeon R7 M260 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M260 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M represent two different eras of mobile graphics, and their benchmark results show a clear, albeit narrow, victor. In the only shared test, the GeForce GTX 460M wins decisively, but the R7 M260 counters with a superior feature set and architectural efficiency that makes it the more future-proof choice for specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, a compute-oriented benchmark that measures raw parallel processing throughput. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M scores 4282, while the AMD Radeon R7 M260 scores 3708. This results in a -13.4% delta, meaning the GTX 460M is roughly 13% faster in this specific compute workload. The data shows a clear win for the older NVIDIA part, which outperforms the newer AMD chip by a margin that is significant enough to impact real-world compute tasks.

However, the benchmark story does not end there. The R7 M260 has been tested in the Vulkan API, a modern graphics and compute interface, where it scores 5289. The GTX 460M has no Vulkan score listed, and its architecture predates the API entirely. This is a critical advantage for the AMD part. While the GTX 460M wins the OpenCL battle, it lacks the hardware capabilities to even compete in Vulkan-based applications, making the R7 M260 the only viable option for users running modern compute or graphics workloads that leverage this API.

Looking at the broader performance context, the R7 M260’s average benchmark score of 4499 is actually higher than the GTX 460M’s average of 4282. This is because the R7 M260’s strong Vulkan performance boosts its average, while the GTX 460M’s score is based solely on its OpenCL result. The R7 M260 sits in the 26th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 460M is in the 25th percentile. These are almost identical placements, indicating that despite the GTX 460M’s win in the head-to-head OpenCL test, the two are fundamentally peers in overall performance capability. The R7 M260 is also within -1.5% of the AMD Radeon RX 560 and -1.7% of the AMD Radeon R5 M230, while the GTX 460M is within -1.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6, a comparison that highlights how far GPU technology has come since 2010.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The AMD Radeon R7 M260 uses the GCN 3.0 architecture on a 28 nm process, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M uses the much older Fermi architecture on a 40 nm process. This process difference is stark: the R7 M260 has a transistor density of 12.4M / mm², nearly 2.5 times higher than the GTX 460M’s 4.9M / mm². The R7 M260 crams 1,550 million transistors onto a 125 mm² die, while the GTX 460M has 1,170 million transistors spread across a much larger 238 mm² die. This means the AMD chip is far more efficient in terms of space and power draw, as evidenced by its lack of a listed TDP compared to the GTX 460M’s 50 W rating.

The memory subsystems also represent divergent philosophies. The R7 M260 uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s. In contrast, the GTX 460M uses 1536 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a much higher bandwidth of 60.00 GB/s. This gives the NVIDIA part a 4x advantage in raw memory bandwidth, which is crucial for texture-heavy workloads. The R7 M260 compensates with a higher core clock, running at 940 MHz base and 980 MHz boost, while the GTX 460M has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 625 MHz.

The compute core configurations are also wildly different. The R7 M260 has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 render output units (ROPs). The GTX 460M has only 192 shading units but more TMUs (32) and ROPs (24). This explains the R7 M260’s higher FP32 performance of 752.6 GFLOPS compared to the GTX 460M’s 518.4 GFLOPS. The AMD part also supports FP16 with a 1:1 ratio, while the NVIDIA part has no FP16 support. The R7 M260 also has a more modern feature set, supporting DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, whereas the GTX 460M only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 460M wins in raw memory bandwidth, which is a significant advantage for traditional gaming workloads that rely heavily on texture streaming. Its 60.00 GB/s of bandwidth is a dominant feature that enables higher resolutions and more detailed textures than the R7 M260’s 14.40 GB/s can handle. The data supports this: the GTX 460M’s OpenCL score of 4282 is higher because compute tasks often benefit from high memory throughput. This makes the GTX 460M a more capable option for older DirectX 11-era games and applications that are not optimized for modern APIs.

The R7 M260 wins in raw compute throughput (FP32) and API modernity. Its 752.6 GFLOPS of FP32 performance is 45% higher than the GTX 460M’s 518.4 GFLOPS, and its support for Vulkan and DirectX 12 (12_0) makes it compatible with contemporary software. The R7 M260’s Vulkan score of 5289 confirms that it can leverage its compute power effectively through modern APIs, a path entirely closed to the GTX 460M. The R7 M260 also wins on process size and efficiency, as its 28 nm node and higher transistor density indicate a more advanced design that likely produces less heat and consumes less power, despite the GTX 460M having a listed 50 W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every measurable specification, except for their production status, both being end-of-life, and their foundry, both being TSMC.

• Architecture: GCN 3.0 vs Fermi
• Process Node: 28 nm vs 40 nm
• Transistors: 1,550 million vs 1,170 million
• Die Size: 125 mm² vs 238 mm²
• Transistor Density: 12.4M / mm² vs 4.9M / mm²
• Boost Clock: 980 MHz vs None
• Memory Size: 2 GB vs 1536 MB
• Memory Type: DDR3 vs GDDR5
• Memory Bus Width: 64 bit vs 192 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 14.40 GB/s vs 60.00 GB/s
• Shading Units: 384 vs 192
• TMUs: 24 vs 32
• ROPs: 8 vs 24
• Pixel Rate: 7.840 GPixel/s vs 5.400 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 23.52 GTexel/s vs 21.60 GTexel/s
• FP32: 752.6 GFLOPS vs 518.4 GFLOPS
• FP16: 752.6 GFLOPS (1:1) vs None
• TDP: None vs 50 W
• Bus Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8 vs PCIe 2.0 x16
• DirectX Support: 12 (12_0) vs 12 (11_0)
• Vulkan Support: 1.2.170 vs None
• Release Date: 2014-06-10 vs 2010-09-02

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M is faster, scoring 4282 compared to the AMD Radeon R7 M260’s 3708, a -13.4% delta in favor of the NVIDIA part.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R7 M260 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, it supports Vulkan 1.2.170 and has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 5289. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M does not support Vulkan.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M has a significantly higher memory bandwidth of 60.00 GB/s due to its 192-bit bus and GDDR5 memory, versus the AMD Radeon R7 M260’s 14.40 GB/s from a 64-bit bus and DDR3 memory.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260 has 384 shading units, double the 192 found in the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260 is built on a 28 nm process, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M uses a 40 nm process.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260 has a higher average benchmark score of 4499, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M’s 4282.

The Verdict

The data presents a split decision. For users stuck in a legacy DirectX 11 environment, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M is the stronger performer. Its 60.00 GB/s memory bandwidth and higher OpenCL score of 4282 make it objectively better for compute tasks and older game titles that rely on high texture throughput. If the software in question is from that era, the GTX 460M is the safer bet.

However, for any modern workload, the AMD Radeon R7 M260 is the only rational choice. Its support for Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (12_0) means it can run contemporary applications that the GTX 460M cannot even launch. Its higher FP32 performance of 752.6 GFLOPS and higher average benchmark score of 4499 indicate superior raw compute capability that is unlocked through modern APIs. The R7 M260 also represents a more advanced engineering effort with a 28 nm process and higher transistor density, leading to a more efficient design. The verdict is clear: the GTX 460M wins the historical benchmark, but the R7 M260 is the more capable and relevant GPU for modern use.