AMD Radeon R7 M370 vs AMD Radeon R7 M460 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M370 and AMD Radeon R7 M460 are two mobile graphics solutions from the Gem System generation, separated by a year in release and by a significant architectural shift. The data shows a close contest, with the M370 holding a slight edge in the only direct head-to-head benchmark available, while the M460 counters with newer features and higher peak clock speeds. This analysis breaks down where each GPU wins, what separates them internally, and how their specification differences translate into real-world implications based solely on the provided facts.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data yields a clear, if narrow, victory for the AMD Radeon R7 M370 in raw compute performance. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the M370 scores 7063, which is 6.8% higher than the M460’s score of 6612. This makes the M370 the winner in the only direct comparison available, giving it a 1 win count against the M460’s 0. This advantage in OpenCL suggests the M370 is better suited for general-purpose GPU compute tasks and applications that leverage this API, such as certain productivity workloads or older game engines.

However, the AMD Radeon R7 M460 does not cede all ground. While it loses the OpenCL contest, its architectural design points to a different kind of win. The M460 is built on the newer GCN 3.0 architecture, compared to the M370’s GCN 1.0. This newer architecture supports DirectX 12 (12_0) fully, while the M370 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). For modern games that rely on DirectX 12’s advanced features, the M460 is the more future-proof option, even if its raw compute score is lower. The M460 also achieves a higher boost clock of 1024 MHz versus the M370’s 960 MHz, which can help in lightly-threaded or clock-sensitive workloads.

In terms of overall standing, both GPUs sit at the 38th percentile among all GPUs, indicating they are in the same performance tier. The M370’s average benchmark score is 6764, while the M460’s is 6612. The M370’s nearest rival is the AMD FirePro M5100, which it trails by 1%, and it leads the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 by 1%. The M460, meanwhile, is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7730M and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M. The M460 also has a Vulkan score of 6465, a metric not listed for the M370, suggesting potential for cross-API performance analysis that the M370 cannot match in this dataset.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent different generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next design. The M370 is built on GCN 1.0 using the Litho chip, while the M460 uses GCN 3.0 with the Meso chip. This is a fundamental difference, not just a clock speed adjustment. The process node is identical at 28 nm from TSMC, but the transistor counts tell a story of increased complexity. The M460 packs 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, a substantial increase over the M370’s 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The transistor density is nearly the same at 12.4M / mm² for the M460 and 12.3M / mm² for the M370, meaning the M460’s larger die is used to add more hardware, not just pack the same logic tighter.

The most critical architectural divergence is in the memory subsystem. The M370 uses a 128-bit memory bus with 57.60 GB/s of bandwidth, while the M460 is constrained to a 64-bit bus and only 36.00 GB/s. This is a massive difference in memory throughput potential. Even though the M460’s memory clock is higher (1125 MHz with 4.5 Gbps effective versus 900 MHz with 3.6 Gbps effective), the halved bus width cripples its overall bandwidth. This suggests the M370 is designed to feed its shader cores more efficiently, while the M460 relies on a narrower, faster memory path. Both have 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 render output units, so the core configuration is identical; the difference lies entirely in the memory interface and the generation of the underlying architecture.

The M460’s GCN 3.0 architecture also brings a feature not present in the M370: fp16 compute at 786.4 GFLOPS (1:1). The M370 lists no fp16 capability. This is a key differentiator for modern workloads that can use half-precision math for AI inference or certain graphics effects. The M460’s DirectX 12 (12_0) support versus the M370’s (11_1) is another generational leap, enabling more modern rendering techniques.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher raw compute performance based on the benchmarks?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M370. It scores 7063 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 6.8% higher than the M460’s 6612 in the same test. The M370 also has a higher average benchmark score of 6764 versus 6612.

Q: Does the newer architecture of the M460 make it faster?

A: Not in raw compute. The M460’s GCN 3.0 architecture is newer, but its OpenCL score is lower. However, the architecture does provide newer feature support, including full DirectX 12 (12_0) and fp16 compute, which the M370 lacks.

Q: Why might the M460 have lower memory bandwidth despite having a higher memory clock?

A: The M460 has a 64-bit memory bus, which is half the width of the M370’s 128-bit bus. This results in a lower total bandwidth of 36.00 GB/s for the M460, compared to 57.60 GB/s for the M370, despite the M460’s faster effective memory speed of 4.5 Gbps versus 3.6 Gbps.

Q: Which GPU is better for modern DirectX 12 games?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M460. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the M370 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). This means the M460 can utilize more advanced DirectX 12 features, even if its raw compute score is lower.

Q: Are these GPUs considered high-performance parts?

A: No. Both sit at the 38th percentile among all GPUs. The M370’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (which it beats by 1%) and the AMD FirePro M5100 (which beats it by 1%), indicating entry-level to mid-range mobile performance.

Q: What is the difference in transistor count and die size?

A: The M460 is a much larger chip. It has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, while the M370 has 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The transistor density is nearly identical, so the M460’s extra size is due to more functional units.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs reveal several key differences beyond the architecture name.

• Chip: The M370 uses the Litho chip, while the M460 uses the Meso chip.
• Architecture: The M370 is GCN 1.0, the M460 is GCN 3.0.
• Transistors: The M460 has nearly double the transistors at 1,550 million versus 950 million for the M370.
• Die Size: The M460’s die is 125 mm², significantly larger than the M370’s 77 mm².
• Base Clock: The M370 has a higher base clock at 875 MHz, compared to the M460’s 730 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The M460 has a higher boost clock at 1024 MHz, versus the M370’s 960 MHz.
• Memory Clock: The M460 runs its memory at 1125 MHz (or 4.5 Gbps effective), while the M370 runs at 900 MHz (or 3.6 Gbps effective).
• Memory Bus Width: This is a major split. The M370 has a 128-bit bus, the M460 has a 64-bit bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: The M370 offers 57.60 GB/s, while the M460 offers only 36.00 GB/s.
• FP16 Compute: The M460 supports 786.4 GFLOPS (1:1) of fp16, while the M370 has no listed fp16 capability.
• DirectX Support: The M370 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), and the M460 supports DirectX 12 (12_0).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it results in a clear win for the AMD Radeon R7 M370. The M370 posts a score of 7063, while the M460 trails at 6612. This is a 6.8% delta in favor of the M370. This is a substantial margin in a synthetic compute test, indicating that the M370’s wider memory bus and higher base clock provide a tangible advantage in tasks that are memory-bandwidth sensitive or that scale with sustained clock speeds. The M370’s higher base clock of 875 MHz versus 730 MHz likely contributes to this lead, as it provides a higher guaranteed performance floor. In contrast, the M460’s higher boost clock of 1024 MHz might help in burst scenarios but does not overcome the M370’s overall compute throughput.

Interestingly, the M460’s nearest rival list includes the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, which it beats by 1.5%. The M370’s list includes the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M, which it trails by 2.6%. This positions both GPUs in a similar performance bracket, but the direct head-to-head shows the M370 is the stronger of the two in OpenCL. The M460 does have a Geekbench Vulkan score of 6465, but no comparable score is listed for the M370, so a cross-API comparison cannot be made from this data.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD Radeon R7 M370 is the better choice for users prioritizing raw compute performance in OpenCL applications. Its 6.8% lead in the head-to-head benchmark and higher average score make it the faster GPU for general-purpose compute tasks. Its 128-bit memory bus and 57.60 GB/s bandwidth are significantly superior to the M460’s 64-bit bus and 36.00 GB/s, which likely explains its performance advantage. For users running legacy applications or workloads that rely on OpenCL, the M370 is the clear winner.

The AMD Radeon R7 M460, however, is the more forward-looking option for gamers and users who need modern API support. Its GCN 3.0 architecture provides full DirectX 12 (12_0) support, which is essential for the latest game titles and rendering techniques. It also adds fp16 compute capability, which is increasingly used in AI and machine learning applications. Its higher boost clock of 1024 MHz could also offer better performance in single-threaded or lightly-loaded scenarios. The M460’s trade-off is a severe reduction in memory bandwidth, but for users on a strict software feature checklist, this may be an acceptable compromise.

Ultimately, the choice hinges on the workload. If the priority is maximum compute throughput in OpenCL, the M370 is the superior part. If the priority is compatibility with modern graphics APIs and feature sets, the M460 is the only logical choice. The data does not suggest one is universally better; it suggests two different design philosophies aimed at different segments of the mobile market.