AMD Radeon R7 M360 vs Intel HD Graphics P530 Comparison

# FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M360 scores 4931 on average, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 scores 4560. That puts the R7 M360 roughly 8.1% ahead overall, and it also holds a higher percentile rank at 29 versus 26 for the Intel part.

Q: How do the two compare in Geekbench OpenCL performance?

A: In Geekbench OpenCL, the R7 M360 scores 4638 versus 4549 for the HD Graphics P530. The AMD GPU wins by 2% — a narrow margin that suggests near-parity in compute workloads that rely on OpenCL.

Q: What about Vulkan performance?

A: The R7 M360 is substantially faster in Vulkan, scoring 5223 versus 4571 for the Intel GPU. That is a 14.3% win for AMD, making Vulkan the biggest single-test gap between these two parts.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M360 has 384 shading units, double the 192 found on the Intel HD Graphics P530. The AMD part also has 24 texture mapping units and 8 ROPs, compared to 16 TMUs and 3 ROPs on the Intel chip.

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs use?

A: The R7 M360 comes with 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing 14.40 GB/s of bandwidth. The HD Graphics P530 uses system shared memory with a system-dependent bandwidth, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD R7 M360 boosts to 1125 MHz, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 boosts to 1000 MHz. However, the Intel part has a much lower base clock at 350 MHz versus 1100 MHz for the AMD chip.

# The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the AMD Radeon R7 M360 is the faster GPU in every benchmark recorded. It wins both head-to-head tests, with a 2% margin in OpenCL and a 14.3% margin in Vulkan. Its average score of 4931 places it at the 29th percentile of all GPUs, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 sits at the 26th percentile with an average of 4560.

For anyone choosing between these two, the R7 M360 is the straightforward pick for raw graphics performance. It doubles the shading units, nearly doubles the pixel rate (9.000 GPixel/s versus 3.000 GPixel/s), and delivers 864.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute versus 384.0 GFLOPS on the Intel part. The Vulkan advantage of 14.3% is particularly meaningful for modern gaming and compute APIs.

The Intel HD Graphics P530 does have one significant practical advantage: it is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 15 W TDP, while the AMD part is a discrete solution (though its TDP is not listed). For systems where power draw and simplicity matter — such as thin laptops or low-power workstations — the P530 avoids the need for a separate graphics card. Its system shared memory also means no dedicated VRAM allocation is required.

However, if performance is the priority, the R7 M360 is the winner across the board. The data shows no benchmark where the Intel GPU comes out ahead, and its closest rival comparisons (like the AMD Radeon RX 560 at -0.2% and the Radeon R5 M230 at -0.4%) place it in a similar performance tier, but below the R7 M360's rivals (which include the R7 M265 at 0% and the FirePro W5130M at +0.6%).

Choose the R7 M360 for dedicated graphics work, gaming, or compute tasks. Choose the HD Graphics P530 only if you need an integrated solution with minimal power requirements and can accept lower performance.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the AMD Radeon R7 M360 wins both recorded tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 4638 against 4549 for the Intel HD Graphics P530, a 2% advantage. This is a modest gap — close enough that real-world differences in OpenCL compute tasks would be barely perceptible.

The Vulkan test tells a different story. The R7 M360 scores 5223, while the P530 scores 4571. That is a 14.3% lead for AMD — a substantial margin that indicates the R7 M360 handles Vulkan workloads significantly better. This is likely due to its higher shading unit count and dedicated memory bandwidth, though the data does not explicitly state the cause.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the R7 M360's average score of 4931 is 371 points higher than the P530's 4560. This places the AMD part at the 29th percentile versus the 26th percentile for Intel. The nearest rivals for each GPU reinforce this gap: the R7 M360's closest competitor is the Radeon R7 M265 at 4929 (0% delta), while the P530's nearest rival is the Quadro M3000M at 4621 (-1.3% delta). Notably, the P530's rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 560 at 4569 (-0.2%), meaning the Intel GPU is performing in the same league as a dedicated Radeon card, but still below the R7 M360.

The FP32 compute figures align with these benchmark results. The R7 M360 delivers 864.0 GFLOPS, more than double the P530's 384.0 GFLOPS. Even in FP16, the AMD part matches its FP32 output at 864.0 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the Intel GPU achieves 768.0 GFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The pixel rate also favors AMD by a 3:1 margin (9.000 GPixel/s versus 3.000 GPixel/s), and the texture rate is 27.00 GTexel/s versus 16.00 GTexel/s.

# Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Radeon R7 M360 uses a 28 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel HD Graphics P530 uses a 14 nm+ process from Intel. The AMD chip has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, while the Intel die is 123 mm² with no transistor count listed.

Core configuration shows the biggest divergence: the R7 M360 has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, versus 192 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 3 ROPs on the P530. Clock speeds also differ — the AMD part runs at 1100 MHz base and 1125 MHz boost, while the Intel GPU runs at 350 MHz base and 1000 MHz boost.

Memory is a major difference. The R7 M360 has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth. The P530 uses system shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth. The AMD GPU's memory clock is 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective); the Intel part has no dedicated memory clock.

The bus interface differs as well: the R7 M360 uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the P530 uses a Ring Bus. The Intel GPU has a 15 W TDP and is an IGP; the AMD TDP is not listed. Display outputs are "Motherboard Dependent" for Intel, while AMD's are not specified. The R7 M360 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170; the P530 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is significant. The AMD Radeon R7 M360 is built on GCN 3.0 architecture, using the Meso chip, and belongs to the Gem System (R7 M300) generation. The Intel HD Graphics P530 uses Generation 9.0 architecture, built on the Skylake GT2 chip, from the HD Graphics-W (Skylake) generation.

The process nodes differ: AMD uses 28 nm from TSMC, while Intel uses 14 nm+ from its own foundry. The AMD chip packs 1,550 million transistors into a 125 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.4M per mm². Intel's die is slightly smaller at 123 mm², but no transistor count is listed, so density cannot be compared directly.

The FP16 capabilities highlight an architectural difference. The R7 M360 runs FP16 at the same rate as FP32 (864.0 GFLOPS, 1:1 ratio), while the P530 runs FP16 at double its FP32 rate (768.0 GFLOPS versus 384.0 GFLOPS, 2:1 ratio). This suggests the Intel architecture has a faster half-precision path, even though its absolute FP32 compute is much lower.

The supported APIs also differ in version level. AMD supports DirectX 12_0 and Vulkan 1.2.170; Intel supports DirectX 12_1 and Vulkan 1.3. The higher DirectX feature level on Intel (12_1 versus 12_0) and newer Vulkan version could matter for specific software compatibility, though the benchmark data shows AMD winning in both tested APIs regardless.

The R7 M360's predecessor is listed as Solar System and its successor as Polaris Mobile, indicating a clear product lineage. The P530 has no listed predecessor or successor. Both parts are end-of-life, with the AMD released on May 4, 2015, and the Intel on August 31, 2015 — roughly four months apart.

# Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 M360 wins in every recorded benchmark category. It takes the Geekbench OpenCL test with 4638 points, the Geekbench Vulkan test with 5223 points, and consequently has a higher average score (4931 versus 4560). Its percentile rank of 29 beats the Intel part's 26.

For compute-heavy workloads, the R7 M360's advantages are clear. It offers 864.0 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, 27.00 GTexel/s texture rate, and 9.000 GPixel/s pixel rate. The dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth provides a stable foundation for texture-heavy tasks, whereas the Intel part relies on system memory bandwidth that is "System Dependent."

The Intel HD Graphics P530 does have one notable win: power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP is explicitly listed, making it suitable for low-power systems. The AMD TDP is not listed, but as a discrete GPU, it would presumably require more power — though the data does not confirm this. The P530's integrated nature (IGP) means no separate card slot, no power connectors, and no additional cooling beyond what the motherboard provides. Its smaller die (123 mm² versus 125 mm²) and newer 14 nm+ process also suggest better efficiency per transistor, even if raw performance is lower.

For use cases: the R7 M360 is the pick for anyone running Vulkan-based games or compute, where its 14.3% lead is decisive. It also handles OpenCL workloads slightly better, so productivity apps that use OpenCL will see a small benefit. The Intel GPU makes sense for basic display output, office work, or any system where power draw and simplicity trump performance. Its Vulkan 1.3 support is more recent, which could offer better compatibility with future software, even if the raw speed is lower.

In summary, the R7 M360 wins 2 out of 2 head-to-head benchmarks, while the P530 wins 0. The performance gap ranges from a narrow 2% in OpenCL to a substantial 14.3% in Vulkan. Choose AMD for graphics performance, choose Intel for integrated simplicity and lower power draw.