AMD Radeon R7 M350 vs AMD Radeon R7 M460 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single available head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, shows a clear but modest victory for the AMD Radeon R7 M350. The M350 scores 6991 points, while the M460 trails at 6612 points, a difference of 5.4% in favor of the older part. This is not a dramatic gap; both cards land within a similar performance tier. However, it is a decisive result in this specific test, and it flips the expectation one might have based on naming alone, where the higher model number (M460) suggests superiority.

Looking at the broader context, the M460’s 6612 OpenCL score places it near a cluster of rivals. It is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (6581) and 0.9% ahead of the Intel UHD Graphics P750 (6554). It also sits 1.5% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513). The only rival in its immediate vicinity that beats it is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010, which scores 6698, putting the M460 1.3% behind. These deltas are all within a couple of percentage points, indicating that the M460 is squarely in a competitive dead zone where minor clock or driver variations could flip the order.

The M350’s average benchmark score of 6327 is lower than its OpenCL result of 6991. This is because its average includes a second test, Geekbench Vulkan, where it scores 5662. That Vulkan score drags the average down, but the OpenCL number is the one used for the direct comparison. In the nearestRivals table for the M350, the data shows it essentially tied with the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 (6330, 0.0% delta) and 0.7% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K620 (6282). It also matches the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti SUPER and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER AD102, both at 6270 with a 0.9% delta. These rival names are surprising given the M350’s age, but the benchmark scores are what they are.

The key takeaway from the head-to-head is that the M350 wins the only direct comparison by a meaningful margin of 5.4%. That is not a trivial edge in this performance class, where differences of 1-2% are common. The M460 does not have a single benchmark win in the available data; the wins column shows 0 for the M460 and 1 for the M350. This makes the M350 the default pick for raw compute performance as measured by Geekbench OpenCL.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the same foundational architecture. They are built on the Meso chip, use GCN 3.0, and are manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The transistor count is identical at 1,550 million, and the die size is the same 125 mm², yielding a transistor density of 12.4M / mm² for both. This means the silicon itself is essentially the same physical design, with no differences in compute unit configuration. Both have 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The pixel rate is nearly identical: 8.192 GPixel/s for the M460 and 8.120 GPixel/s for the M350. Texture rates are also close, at 24.58 GTexel/s versus 24.36 GTexel/s, respectively. FP32 and FP16 performance are both 1:1, with the M460 at 786.4 GFLOPS and the M350 at 779.5 GFLOPS.

The primary architectural divergence lies in memory configuration and clock speeds. The M460 runs a base clock of 730 MHz with a boost of 1024 MHz. The M350, conversely, has a much higher base clock of 1000 MHz but a lower boost of 1015 MHz. This is an unusual pairing; the M350’s base clock is near its boost, suggesting it holds a steady frequency, while the M460 has a wider range between base and boost. In practice, the M460’s boost clock of 1024 MHz is slightly higher than the M350’s boost of 1015 MHz, but the M350’s consistent 1000 MHz base likely contributes to its OpenCL victory.

Memory is where the two parts diverge most starkly. The M460 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, running at 1125 MHz with an effective data rate of 4.5 Gbps. This yields a bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s. The M350, on the other hand, uses 4 GB of DDR3 on the same 64-bit bus, but at a much lower 1000 MHz and an effective rate of 2 Gbps. Its bandwidth is only 16.00 GB/s, less than half of the M460’s. This is a significant difference. The M350 compensates with double the memory capacity (4 GB vs 2 GB), but at a severe bandwidth penalty. For compute workloads that are bandwidth-sensitive, the M460 should theoretically have an advantage, yet the benchmark data does not show it. The M350’s higher base clock and possibly better sustained performance overcome the bandwidth deficit in the OpenCL test.

Both GPUs support PCIe 3.0 x8, have the same API support (DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.2.170), and are marked as end-of-life. They share the same predecessor (Solar System) and successor (Polaris Mobile). The only other difference is the generation label: the M460 is in the Gem System (R7 M400) family, while the M350 is in the Gem System (R7 M300) family. This indicates the M460 is a newer release, dated 2016-05-14, versus the M350’s 2015-05-04.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the available data, the AMD Radeon R7 M350 wins the only direct benchmark comparison. In Geekbench OpenCL, it outperforms the M460 by 5.4%, scoring 6991 versus 6612. This is the single clear win for either card. The M350’s higher base clock of 1000 MHz, compared to the M460’s 730 MHz, likely drives this result. The M350 also offers double the memory capacity at 4 GB, which can be an advantage for workloads that need more than 2 GB of frame buffer, even if the DDR3 memory is slower. For compute tasks that scale with core count and sustained clock speed, the M350 appears better suited.

The AMD Radeon R7 M460 does not secure any benchmark wins in the data. Its strengths are theoretical rather than measured. It has a higher boost clock (1024 MHz vs 1015 MHz), higher memory bandwidth (36.00 GB/s vs 16.00 GB/s), and faster GDDR5 memory. In scenarios where memory bandwidth is the limiting factor, such as high-resolution texture streaming or certain compute kernels, the M460 should outperform the M350. Its pixel rate of 8.192 GPixel/s and texture rate of 24.58 GTexel/s are also marginally higher than the M350’s 8.120 GPixel/s and 24.36 GTexel/s. These are small edges, but they are real. However, none of this translates into a benchmark win in the provided data.

The M460’s nearest rivals include the Intel UHD Graphics P750, which it beats by 0.9%. This suggests that in OpenCL, the M460 holds its own against integrated graphics solutions. The M350’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100, which it exactly ties with, and the NVIDIA Quadro K620, which it beats by 0.7%. This places the M350 in a professional-grade performance bracket, albeit at the low end. For users, the choice comes down to whether they prioritize the M350’s measured compute lead and larger memory pool, or the M460’s superior bandwidth and newer release date.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M350 is faster, scoring 6991 compared to the M460’s 6612, a 5.4% advantage.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ between the two?

A: The M460 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus with 36.00 GB/s bandwidth. The M350 has 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with only 16.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are the core counts the same?

A: Yes, both GPUs have 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, with identical transistor counts of 1,550 million on a 125 mm² die.

Q: Do they support the same APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, and both use a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface.

Q: What is the clock speed difference?

A: The M460 has a base clock of 730 MHz and a boost of 1024 MHz. The M350 has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost of 1015 MHz.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The M460 has an average benchmark score of 6612, while the M350’s average is 6327, because the M350’s Vulkan score of 5662 pulls its average down.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 M460 | AMD Radeon R7 M350 |

|---|---|---|

| Generation | Gem System (R7 M400) | Gem System (R7 M300) |

| Release Date | 2016-05-14 | 2015-05-04 |

| Base Clock | 730 MHz | 1000 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1024 MHz | 1015 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | DDR3 |

| Memory Clock | 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) | 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 36.00 GB/s | 16.00 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 8.192 GPixel/s | 8.120 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 24.58 GTexel/s | 24.36 GTexel/s |

| FP32/FP16 Performance | 786.4 GFLOPS | 779.5 GFLOPS |

| Geekbench OpenCL Score | 6612 | 6991 |

| Geekbench Vulkan Score | Not listed | 5662 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 6612 | 6327 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 38 | 36 |

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the AMD Radeon R7 M350 is the better performer in the only benchmark available. Its 5.4% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is decisive, and it also offers double the memory capacity at 4 GB. The M350’s higher base clock of 1000 MHz appears to be the key factor, providing sustained performance that the M460’s lower 730 MHz base cannot match, even though the M460 has a higher boost clock. For any user running OpenCL compute workloads, the M350 is the clear choice based on the numbers.

The AMD Radeon R7 M460, however, is not without merit. Its GDDR5 memory provides 36.00 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double the M350’s 16.00 GB/s. This makes it theoretically superior for bandwidth-intensive tasks. Its pixel and texture rates are also slightly higher, and it is a newer product by about a year. But the benchmark data does not support these theoretical advantages in practice. The M460 has zero wins in the head-to-head, and its OpenCL score is lower. The M350’s nearest rivals include professional cards like the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100, with which it ties exactly, and the NVIDIA Quadro K620, which it beats. The M460’s rivals are more consumer-oriented, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010, which beats it.

For a user choosing between these two, the M350 wins on measured performance and memory capacity. The M460 wins on memory bandwidth and newer release date, but neither of those translates into a benchmark victory. The verdict is straightforward: pick the M350 for raw compute performance, and only consider the M460 if memory bandwidth is a specific, non-negotiable requirement. The percentile rankings reinforce this, with the M460 at the 38th percentile versus the M350 at the 36th, a negligible difference that does not offset the M350’s head-to-head win.