AMD Radeon R7 M260X vs NVIDIA GeForce 930M Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is decisive: the AMD Radeon R7 M260X wins both recorded head-to-head tests against the NVIDIA GeForce 930M. In OpenCL workloads, the AMD part scores 5690 versus 5046, a 12.8% advantage. In Vulkan tests, the gap widens to 24.2%, with scores of 4631 and 3729 respectively. For any user choosing between these two mobile GPUs, the recorded data indicates the R7 M260X is the stronger performer in compute-oriented tasks.

The NVIDIA GeForce 930M does have one clear advantage: its 33 W TDP is explicitly recorded, while the AMD R7 M260X has no TDP listed in the database. This suggests the NVIDIA part may be better suited for thinner, cooler-running laptops where power draw is a primary constraint. The 930M also offers double the memory capacity at 2 GB versus 1 GB, though its memory type is DDR3 rather than GDDR5, and its bus width is narrower at 64 bit versus 128 bit.

The AMD Radeon R7 M260X sits at the 30th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the GeForce 930M sits at the 26th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 5161, compared to 4388 for the NVIDIA part, a difference of roughly 773 points. Users prioritizing raw compute performance should select the AMD R7 M260X. Users prioritizing lower power consumption and larger memory capacity should consider the NVIDIA GeForce 930M, accepting its lower benchmark scores.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs employ fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X uses the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Opal chip, part of the Gem System (R7 M200) generation. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M uses the Maxwell architecture with the GM108S chip, part of the GeForce 900M generation. Both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, and both have identical die sizes of 77 mm². The AMD chip contains 950 million transistors, while the NVIDIA chip contains 1,020 million transistors, resulting in transistor densities of 12.3M per mm² for AMD and 13.2M per mm² for NVIDIA.

The shading resources are identical in count: both GPUs feature 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 raster operation units. The architectural difference manifests in clock speeds and memory configuration. The AMD R7 M260X runs at a base clock of 620 MHz with a boost clock of 715 MHz, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M runs at a fixed 549 MHz for both base and boost. The AMD part uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128 bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA part uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64 bit bus, delivering only 12.80 GB/s of bandwidth. This fivefold difference in memory bandwidth is a critical architectural distinction.

API support also differs. The AMD GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The higher Vulkan version on the NVIDIA side does not translate to better Vulkan benchmark performance, as the recorded data shows the AMD part winning that test by 24.2%. The NVIDIA GPU is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a slot width of IGP, whereas the AMD GPU's slot width is not recorded. Both use PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interfaces and require no external power connectors.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 M260X wins decisively in both recorded benchmark categories. In OpenCL, which typically reflects general-purpose compute performance, the AMD part scores 5690, putting it 12.8% ahead of the GeForce 930M's 5046. In Vulkan, a low-level graphics and compute API, the AMD part scores 4631, a 24.2% advantage over the NVIDIA part's 3729. These results indicate the AMD architecture extracts more performance from its hardware in compute-heavy workloads.

The NVIDIA GeForce 930M wins in power efficiency considerations. Its 33 W TDP is recorded, and no TDP is listed for the AMD competitor. For laptops with limited cooling and battery budgets, this recorded power figure gives the 930M a practical advantage. The NVIDIA part also offers 2 GB of memory versus 1 GB on the AMD part, which may benefit applications that require larger working sets, though the much lower bandwidth of 12.80 GB/s versus 64.00 GB/s could negate this advantage in memory-intensive tasks.

The AMD R7 M260X's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M (average score 5154, delta 0.1%), the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M (5211, delta -1%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M (5236, delta -1.4%). This places the AMD part in a performance class just below the GTX 760M. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M (4411, delta -0.5%), the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 (4360, delta 0.7%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335, delta 1.2%). The 930M sits just above the GT 645M in the database rankings.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M260X has an average benchmark score of 5161, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M has an average score of 4388, a difference of 773 points in favor of AMD.

Q: How much faster is the AMD R7 M260X in Vulkan workloads?

A: The AMD R7 M260X scores 4631 in the Vulkan benchmark compared to 3729 for the NVIDIA GeForce 930M, representing a 24.2% advantage.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two GPUs?

A: The AMD R7 M260X delivers 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth using GDDR5 memory on a 128 bit bus. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M delivers 12.80 GB/s using DDR3 memory on a 64 bit bus, a significant difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the NVIDIA GeForce 930M have any advantages in the recorded data?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA GeForce 930M has a recorded TDP of 33 W, while no TDP is listed for the AMD R7 M260X. The NVIDIA part also has 2 GB of memory compared to 1 GB on the AMD part.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each GPU?

A: The AMD R7 M260X contains 950 million transistors, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M contains 1,020 million transistors. Both are manufactured on a 28 nm process with a 77 mm² die size.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in DirectX support?

A: The AMD R7 M260X supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, with Vulkan support at version 1.2.170 for AMD and 1.4 for NVIDIA.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The first recorded comparison is the Geekbench OpenCL test. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X scores 5690, defeating the NVIDIA GeForce 930M's 5046 by a margin of 12.8%. This result aligns with the AMD part's higher clock speeds and substantially greater memory bandwidth. The AMD GPU's boost clock of 715 MHz exceeds the NVIDIA part's fixed 549 MHz clock. The memory bandwidth difference is particularly stark: 64.00 GB/s versus 12.80 GB/s, a fivefold gap that directly impacts compute throughput.

The second recorded comparison is the Geekbench Vulkan test. The AMD R7 M260X scores 4631, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M scores 3729. The delta expands to 24.2% in this workload, indicating that the AMD architecture's advantages become more pronounced under Vulkan's lower-level API. Despite the NVIDIA GPU supporting Vulkan 1.4 compared to AMD's 1.2.170, the AMD part delivers significantly higher performance in this test.

The AMD R7 M260X wins both head-to-head benchmarks, recording 2 wins and 0 losses. Its OpenCL score of 5690 is also higher than all four of its nearest rivals' average scores, which range from 5063 (AMD Radeon R7 240) to 5236 (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M). The NVIDIA GeForce 930M's OpenCL score of 5046 is lower than two of its nearest rivals' averages: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M at 4411 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 at 4335, though the deltas are small at -0.5% and 1.2% respectively.

The performance gap between the two GPUs is consistent across both test categories, with the AMD part winning by double-digit percentages in each. The average benchmark score difference of 773 points (5161 versus 4388) reinforces this pattern. Users relying on compute performance, whether for professional applications or gaming, should expect the AMD R7 M260X to deliver measurably better results based on the recorded data.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in several key specification areas. The AMD Radeon R7 M260X uses the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Opal chip, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M uses the Maxwell architecture with the GM108S chip. The AMD part belongs to the Gem System (R7 M200) generation, while the NVIDIA part belongs to the GeForce 900M generation. Both use a 28 nm process at TSMC, but the AMD chip has 950 million transistors versus 1,020 million for NVIDIA, with die sizes identical at 77 mm².

Clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD R7 M260X has a base clock of 620 MHz and a boost clock of 715 MHz. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M has a base clock of 549 MHz and a boost clock of 549 MHz, meaning it does not boost above its base frequency. Memory clocks also differ: the AMD part runs at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed, while the NVIDIA part runs at 800 MHz with 1600 Mbps effective speed.

Memory configuration shows major differences. The AMD R7 M260X has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128 bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M has 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64 bit bus, delivering 12.80 GB/s bandwidth. Both GPUs have identical counts of shading units (384), TMUs (24), and ROPs (8).

The NVIDIA GeForce 930M has a recorded TDP of 33 W, while no TDP is recorded for the AMD R7 M260X. The NVIDIA part is classified as an IGP with a slot width of IGP; the AMD part has no slot width recorded. Both use PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interfaces, have no power connectors, and have portable-device-dependent display outputs. API support differs slightly: DirectX 12 (11_1) for AMD versus DirectX 12 (11_0) for NVIDIA, Vulkan 1.2.170 for AMD versus 1.4 for NVIDIA, with OpenGL 4.6 for both.

The production status for both GPUs is end-of-life. The AMD R7 M260X was released on 2015-12-05, while the NVIDIA GeForce 930M was released on 2015-03-12, making the NVIDIA part earlier by roughly nine months. The AMD predecessor is listed as Solar System with successor Polaris Mobile, while the NVIDIA predecessor is GeForce 800M with successor GeForce 10 Mobile.