AMD Radeon R7 M440 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX and the AMD Radeon R7 M440 are two end-of-life mobile graphics processors that sit near each other in the overall performance distribution, but they achieve their positions through very different design philosophies. The GTX 670MX holds the higher average benchmark score of 5721, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all GPUs, while the R7 M440 averages 5483, sitting in the 32nd percentile. The data shows a split verdict: the GTX 670MX dominates in OpenCL compute workloads with a 17.5% lead, but the R7 M440 counters with a 7.6% advantage in Vulkan graphics tests. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput or general database-style workloads, the NVIDIA part is the safer choice; for those targeting Vulkan-based applications or needing a larger memory pool, the AMD part holds a distinct edge. Neither card is a clear overall winner, as each wins exactly one of the two head-to-head benchmarks.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX is the better choice for compute-intensive tasks. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 6125 is 17.5% higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5214, a substantial margin that reflects its larger shader array and higher memory bandwidth. This advantage is consistent with its average score of 5721, which is 4.3% above the R7 M440’s 5483 average. The GTX 670MX also offers superior pixel and texture throughput, with 12.02 GPixel/s and 48.08 GTexel/s compared to the R7 M440’s 7.128 GPixel/s and 17.82 GTexel/s. For any workload that leverages OpenCL — such as video encoding, physics simulation, or general-purpose GPU computing — the GTX 670MX is the data-backed pick.

Conversely, the AMD Radeon R7 M440 is the better option for Vulkan-based gaming or applications. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 5751 outperforms the GTX 670MX’s 5316 by 7.6%, a notable reversal of the OpenCL results. This suggests that the GCN 3.0 architecture handles Vulkan’s explicit API more efficiently in this comparison. The R7 M440 also doubles the memory capacity with 4 GB of DDR3 versus the GTX 670MX’s 3 GB of GDDR5, although the GTX 670MX’s memory bandwidth of 67.20 GB/s is far superior to the R7 M440’s 14.40 GB/s. If the target workload is Vulkan-centric, the R7 M440 wins; otherwise, the GTX 670MX’s compute strength makes it the more versatile performer.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations, which explains their contrasting strengths. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX is built on the Kepler architecture using the GK104 chip, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. This chip contains 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The AMD Radeon R7 M440 uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip, also on TSMC’s 28 nm node, but with a smaller 125 mm² die housing 1,550 million transistors, for a slightly higher density of 12.4M per mm².

The compute resources differ dramatically. The GTX 670MX features 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 raster operation units (ROPs). In contrast, the R7 M440 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs — exactly one-third of the NVIDIA part’s shader count and one-quarter of its TMUs. This explains the GTX 670MX’s 2x advantage in FP32 performance: 1,153.9 GFLOPS versus 570.2 GFLOPS. The R7 M440 does offer FP16 performance at a 1:1 ratio (570.2 GFLOPS), while the GTX 670MX lists no FP16 capability, indicating the AMD part may be more flexible in mixed-precision workloads.

Memory subsystems are also polar opposites. The GTX 670MX uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 67.20 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 M440 uses 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus, providing only 14.40 GB/s — a 4.7x bandwidth deficit. The R7 M440 also operates on a narrower PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the GTX 670MX uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Both support DirectX 12, but the R7 M440 reaches feature level 12_0, while the GTX 670MX is limited to 11_0. OpenGL support is identical at 4.6, and Vulkan versions are close (1.2.175 for NVIDIA, 1.2.170 for AMD).

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX has an average benchmark score of 5721, which is 4.3% higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5483.

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

A: The GTX 670MX scores 6125 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the R7 M440 scores 5214, giving the NVIDIA part a 17.5% lead.

Q: Which GPU wins in Vulkan benchmarks?

A: The R7 M440 wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 5751, beating the GTX 670MX’s 5316 by 7.6%.

Q: What are the memory capacity and bandwidth differences?

A: The R7 M440 has 4 GB of DDR3 memory with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth, while the GTX 670MX has 3 GB of GDDR5 with 67.20 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12, but the R7 M440 implements feature level 12_0, while the GTX 670MX is limited to feature level 11_0.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 670MX has 960 shading units, which is triple the R7 M440’s 320 shading units.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs:

• Architecture: Kepler (GTX 670MX) vs GCN 3.0 (R7 M440)
• Chip: GK104 vs Meso
• Generation: GeForce 600M vs Gem System (R7 M400)
• Transistors: 3,540 million vs 1,550 million
• Die Size: 294 mm² vs 125 mm²
• Transistor Density: 12.0M / mm² vs 12.4M / mm²
• Base Clock: 601 MHz vs not specified
• Boost Clock: 601 MHz vs not specified
• Memory Clock: 700 MHz (2.8 Gbps effective) vs 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective)
• Memory Size: 3 GB vs 4 GB
• Memory Type: GDDR5 vs DDR3
• Memory Bus Width: 192 bit vs 64 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 67.20 GB/s vs 14.40 GB/s
• Shading Units: 960 vs 320
• TMUs: 80 vs 20
• ROPs: 24 vs 8
• Pixel Rate: 12.02 GPixel/s vs 7.128 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 48.08 GTexel/s vs 17.82 GTexel/s
• FP32: 1,153.9 GFLOPS vs 570.2 GFLOPS
• FP16: not specified vs 570.2 GFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: 75 W vs not specified
• Slot Width: not specified vs IGP
• Power Connectors: None vs not specified
• Bus Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 vs PCIe 3.0 x8
• DirectX: 12 (11_0) vs 12 (12_0)
• Vulkan: 1.2.175 vs 1.2.170
• Release Date: 2012-09-30 vs 2016-05-14
• Predecessor: GeForce 500M vs Solar System
• Successor: GeForce 700M vs Polaris Mobile

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two GPUs split the head-to-head results exactly, with one win each. The Geekbench OpenCL test is a decisive victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX. It scores 6125 against the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5214, a delta of 17.5%. This is the largest performance gap in either direction and aligns with the GTX 670MX’s hardware advantages: 3x the shading units (960 vs 320), 4x the TMUs (80 vs 20), and 4.7x the memory bandwidth (67.20 GB/s vs 14.40 GB/s). The OpenCL result is particularly telling because it reflects raw compute throughput, where the GTX 670MX’s 1,153.9 GFLOPS of FP32 performance more than doubles the R7 M440’s 570.2 GFLOPS.

The Geekbench Vulkan test flips the script. The AMD Radeon R7 M440 scores 5751, while the GTX 670MX trails at 5316, giving AMD a 7.6% edge. This is a significant outcome because the R7 M440 has far weaker compute specifications — one-third the shaders, one-quarter the texture units, and a fraction of the bandwidth. Yet, in Vulkan, it outperforms the NVIDIA part. The data suggests the GCN 3.0 architecture’s newer design, combined with DirectX 12 feature level 12_0 support (versus 11_0 on the GTX 670MX), yields better driver-level efficiency for modern explicit APIs. The R7 M440’s FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio may also contribute to its Vulkan advantage in shader-heavy scenes.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split: the GTX 670MX averages 5721, while the R7 M440 averages 5483. The GTX 670MX’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti, scores 5731, just 0.2% higher, while the AMD Radeon HD 8790M trails at 5691, 0.5% lower. The R7 M440’s closest competitor, the NVIDIA Quadro M4000, scores 5467, a 0.3% gap, with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M at 5501 (0.3% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 at 5508 (0.5% higher). These narrow margins indicate both cards are tightly clustered in mid-range mobile performance territory.

Where Each One Wins

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX wins in: OpenCL compute workloads, by 17.5%. This is its signature strength, driven by 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 67.20 GB/s of GDDR5 bandwidth. Tasks that rely on raw FP32 throughput — such as scientific computing, data processing, or CUDA-accelerated applications — will see a clear performance benefit. The GTX 670MX also wins in pixel and texture fill rates (12.02 GPixel/s vs 7.128 GPixel/s, and 48.08 GTexel/s vs 17.82 GTexel/s, respectively), making it more capable for rasterization-heavy workloads that aren’t Vulkan-specific. Its higher average benchmark score (5721 vs 5483) and higher percentile ranking (33rd vs 32nd) reinforce its overall compute superiority.

AMD Radeon R7 M440 wins in: Vulkan-based rendering, by 7.6%. The R7 M440’s Geekbench Vulkan score of 5751 is its single strongest benchmark result, and it outpaces the GTX 670MX despite inferior hardware specs. This makes it the better option for modern games or applications that use the Vulkan API, where driver efficiency and architectural maturity matter more than raw compute counts. The R7 M440 also offers 4 GB of memory versus 3 GB, which can be advantageous for texture-heavy scenes or larger datasets in memory-constrained environments, even if the DDR3 bandwidth is significantly lower. Its DirectX 12 feature level 12_0 support provides better compatibility with the latest DirectX 12 titles compared to the GTX 670MX’s 11_0.

In practical use, the choice depends on the software stack. OpenCL-centric tools and older DirectX 11 titles favor the GTX 670MX; Vulkan-native games and memory-hungry applications favor the R7 M440. For a balanced database workload, the GTX 670MX’s higher average score and compute lead make it the more robust performer, but the R7 M440’s Vulkan edge cannot be ignored in modern gaming contexts.