AMD Radeon R7 M440 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M Comparison

AMD Radeon R7 M440 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M occupy opposite ends of the mobile graphics spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects a decisive performance gap. The R7 M440 is an entry-level integrated-class part from AMD’s GCN 3.0 generation, while the GTX 980M is a high-end MXM module from NVIDIA’s Maxwell 2.0 lineup. Across the two shared benchmark tests, the GTX 980M wins both outright, with margins that range from roughly two-thirds to over three-quarters of the R7 M440’s score. However, the R7 M440 is not without its own statistical context, as its average benchmark score actually sits slightly higher than the GTX 980M’s average when considering all recorded tests, despite losing the direct head-to-head comparisons. This paradox stems from the differing benchmark suites available for each GPU, and it shapes the practical use-case analysis that follows.

Where Each One Wins

The data presents a clear division of labor. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M wins every head-to-head benchmark recorded, taking both the Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan tests. In OpenCL, the GTX 980M scores 23,832 against the R7 M440’s 5,214, a margin of 78.1%. In Vulkan, the GTX 980M scores 17,703 versus 5,751, a 67.5% lead. These are not narrow victories; they represent a fundamentally higher compute throughput, driven by the GTX 980M’s 1,536 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, compared to the R7 M440’s 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. For any workload that stresses raw GPU compute—OpenCL acceleration, Vulkan-based gaming, or general 3D rendering—the GTX 980M is the unequivocal winner.

The R7 M440’s "win" is more contextual than absolute. Its average benchmark score of 5,483 is 3.3% higher than the GTX 980M’s average of 5,308, but this is an artifact of the benchmark sets. The R7 M440 has only two recorded tests (both Geekbench), while the GTX 980M has ten, including several Passmark tests where it scores comparatively low (e.g., 35 in DirectX 10, 31 in DirectX 12, and 490 in G2D). These low Passmark scores drag down the GTX 980M’s average, despite its dominant Geekbench results. Therefore, the R7 M440 "wins" only in the narrow sense of having a higher average across its limited test suite—a statistical quirk, not a performance advantage. In practical terms, the R7 M440 is better suited for low-power, integrated scenarios where the GTX 980M’s MXM form factor and higher compute demands are not applicable.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M440 has an average benchmark score of 5,483, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M has an average of 5,308. This makes the R7 M440 3.3% higher on average, but this is due to the GTX 980M’s broader test suite including lower Passmark scores.

Q: What is the performance difference in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The GTX 980M scores 23,832 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the R7 M440 scores 5,214. This gives the GTX 980M a 78.1% lead, meaning it delivers roughly 4.5 times the OpenCL compute performance.

Q: How do the two compare in Vulkan performance?

A: In Geekbench Vulkan, the GTX 980M scores 17,703 versus the R7 M440’s 5,751. The GTX 980M leads by 67.5%, indicating a substantial advantage in Vulkan-based workloads.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the R7 M440 wins?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark data, the GTX 980M wins both recorded tests (Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan). The R7 M440 has zero wins, while the GTX 980M has two wins.

Q: What do the percentile rankings suggest about each GPU?

A: The R7 M440 sits at the 32nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 980M sits at the 31st percentile. Despite the GTX 980M’s massive lead in compute-heavy tests, both GPUs rank near the same low-mid percentiles, indicating neither is a top-tier part by modern standards.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The GTX 980M has a bandwidth of 160.4 GB/s, while the R7 M440 has 14.40 GB/s. The GTX 980M’s bandwidth is over 11 times higher, reflecting its 256-bit bus and GDDR5 memory versus the R7 M440’s 64-bit bus and DDR3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is stark and one-sided. Starting with Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 980M posts a score of 23,832, while the R7 M440 manages only 5,214. The deltaPct is -78.1%, meaning the R7 M440’s score is 78.1% lower than the GTX 980M’s. To put this in perspective, the GTX 980M’s OpenCL score is 4.57 times higher. This aligns with the raw specification gap: the GTX 980M has 1,536 shading units (4.8 times the R7 M440’s 320) and a peak FP32 throughput of 3.462 TFLOPS versus 570.2 GFLOPS, a 6.1-fold difference. The memory subsystem amplifies this: 160.4 GB/s of GDDR5 bandwidth versus 14.40 GB/s of DDR3, a factor of 11.1. OpenCL workloads that are memory-bound or shader-bound will see the GTX 980M pull ahead by roughly the same magnitude.

The Vulkan test shows a similar but slightly narrower gap. The GTX 980M scores 17,703, and the R7 M440 scores 5,751, with a deltaPct of -67.5%. The GTX 980M’s lead is 3.08 times the R7 M440’s score. Interestingly, the R7 M440’s Vulkan score (5,751) is higher than its OpenCL score (5,214), suggesting its GCN 3.0 architecture handles Vulkan relatively better. Conversely, the GTX 980M’s Vulkan score (17,703) is lower than its OpenCL score (23,832), indicating Maxwell 2.0 favors OpenCL. Despite this relative shift, the GTX 980M still dominates, and the 67.5% margin remains vast. For a user choosing between these two, the GTX 980M is the only option for any serious 3D application, as the R7 M440’s scores fall below even the GTX 980M’s nearest rival average (e.g., the NVIDIA GeForce 930A at 5,317).

Specification Differences

The specification gap between the two GPUs is profound, starting with the memory subsystem. The GTX 980M features 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 M440 has 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus, yielding just 14.40 GB/s—a 91% reduction in bandwidth. The memory clock also differs: the GTX 980M runs at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the R7 M440 runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). The compute units are equally divergent: the GTX 980M has 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, versus the R7 M440’s 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Pixel and texture rates follow: the GTX 980M produces 72.13 GPixel/s and 108.2 GTexel/s, while the R7 M440 produces 7.128 GPixel/s and 17.82 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is 3.462 TFLOPS (FP32) for the GTX 980M versus 570.2 GFLOPS for the R7 M440.

The physical and interface specs also differ. The GTX 980M uses an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface and is an MXM Module slot width, while the R7 M440 uses PCIe 3.0 x8 and is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) form factor. The GTX 980M has no power connectors, while the R7 M440’s power connector field is null. Transistor count and die size favor the GTX 980M: 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die, versus 1,550 million on 125 mm². Transistor density is similar (13.1M / mm² for GTX 980M, 12.4M / mm² for R7 M440), both on TSMC’s 28 nm process. The R7 M440 has no base or boost clock listed, while the GTX 980M has a base of 1038 MHz and boost of 1127 MHz. The R7 M440 supports FP16 at 570.2 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the GTX 980M’s FP16 field is null.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, the two GPUs come from different design philosophies. The R7 M440 uses AMD’s GCN 3.0 architecture, built on the Meso chip, and is part of the Gem System (R7 M400) generation. The GTX 980M uses NVIDIA’s Maxwell 2.0 architecture, built on the GM204 chip, and belongs to the GeForce 900M generation. Both are fabricated on TSMC’s 28 nm process, but the transistor counts diverge sharply: 1,550 million for the R7 M440 versus 5,200 million for the GTX 980M, a 3.35-fold difference. The GTX 980M’s die is 398 mm², over three times the R7 M440’s 125 mm². This larger die allows for more compute resources, which explains the performance gap.

The R7 M440’s GCN 3.0 architecture supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTX 980M’s Maxwell 2.0 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The DirectX 12 feature level difference (12_0 vs 12_1) is subtle but real, with 12_1 adding features like conservative rasterization. The R7 M440 has no dedicated RT or tensor cores, and neither does the GTX 980M—these are pre-ray-tracing architectures. The R7 M440’s FP16 performance is equal to its FP32 (570.2 GFLOPS, 1:1), while the GTX 980M does not list FP16, suggesting it may not have dedicated FP16 paths. The GTX 980M’s release date is earlier (October 2014) than the R7 M440 (May 2016), but both are end-of-life. The R7 M440’s predecessor is "Solar System" and successor is "Polaris Mobile," while the GTX 980M’s predecessor is "GeForce 800M" and successor is "GeForce 10 Mobile."

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M is the superior GPU for any compute-intensive or gaming workload. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks with margins of 78.1% (OpenCL) and 67.5% (Vulkan). Its 8 GB GDDR5 memory, 256-bit bus, and 160.4 GB/s bandwidth provide 11 times the memory throughput of the R7 M440, and its 1,536 shading units deliver 6.1 times the FP32 compute. The GTX 980M’s higher pixel rate (72.13 GPixel/s vs 7.128 GPixel/s) and texture rate (108.2 GTexel/s vs 17.82 GTexel/s) make it the only choice for 3D rendering or modern game APIs. The R7 M440’s only statistical advantage—a higher average benchmark score (5,483 vs 5,308)—is a mirage caused by the GTX 980M’s inclusion of low-scoring Passmark tests. In direct comparison, the R7 M440 never wins.

However, the R7 M440 is not without a niche. As an IGP with a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface and no power connectors, it is designed for low-power, portable systems where the GTX 980M’s MXM module form factor is physically incompatible. The R7 M440’s 320 shading units and 14.40 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for basic 2D acceleration, light OpenCL compute, or older DirectX 9/10 titles, though its Passmark DirectX 9 score would likely be modest (the GTX 980M scores 125 in that test, and the R7 M440 is far slower). For a user with a GTX 980M-class laptop, the choice is obvious: stick with the GTX 980M for anything beyond basic tasks. For a user with an R7 M440-equipped ultraportable, the data suggests accepting its limitations—it ranks at the 32nd percentile, just above the GTX 980M’s 31st percentile, meaning both are near the bottom of the current GPU landscape. The GTX 980M is the performance pick; the R7 M440 is the integrated, low-footprint option, but the benchmark numbers do not favor it in any head-to-head scenario.