AMD Radeon R7 M440 vs NVIDIA Quadro K3100M Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in OpenCL performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 6154, which is 15.3% higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440's score of 5214.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R7 M440 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon R7 M440 wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with a score of 5751, beating the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M's 5484 by 4.9%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M440 has an average benchmark score of 5483, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M has an average score of 5154. The AMD part sits 0.3% above the NVIDIA Quadro M4000 in its nearest-rival list.

Q: How do these GPUs compare in transistor count?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M uses 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 uses 1,550 million on a 125 mm² die. Both are fabricated on TSMC's 28 nm process.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M delivers 11.30 GPixel/s, which is substantially higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440's 7.128 GPixel/s.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M provides 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth via a 256-bit GDDR5 interface, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 offers 14.40 GB/s over a 64-bit DDR3 bus.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon R7 M440 is built on GCN 3.0 architecture using the Meso chip, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M employs the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip. Both are manufactured on TSMC's 28 nm process, but the transistor budgets differ dramatically: the NVIDIA part packs 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, compared to AMD's 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die. Transistor density is nearly identical at 12.4M/mm² for AMD and 12.0M/mm² for NVIDIA.

The shading resources tell a clear story. The Quadro K3100M has 768 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operation units. The Radeon R7 M440 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This 2.4x advantage in shaders and 3.2x in TMUs drives NVIDIA's higher theoretical throughput numbers: 1,084.4 GFLOPS FP32 versus 570.2 GFLOPS for AMD, and 45.18 GTexel/s versus 17.82 GTexel/s.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The NVIDIA card uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s—a 7.1x bandwidth gap. Clock behavior also differs: the Quadro K3100M lists a base and boost clock of 706 MHz, whereas the Radeon R7 M440 has no base or boost clock specified, only a memory clock of 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).

Feature support shows both cards supporting modern APIs, but with caveats. The Radeon R7 M440 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Quadro K3100M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. AMD also lists FP16 performance at 570.2 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while NVIDIA does not specify FP16 support. The Radeon is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the Quadro is an MXM module using MXM-B (3.0) and carries a 75 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two benchmark results available paint a split picture. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M scores 6154 against the AMD Radeon R7 M440's 5214, a 15.3% advantage for NVIDIA. This aligns with the hardware specifications: the Quadro's 768 shading units and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a substantial edge in compute workloads that favor raw parallel throughput and memory access.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn. The AMD Radeon R7 M440 scores 5751, beating the Quadro K3100M's 5484 by 4.9%. This is notable because the Radeon has far fewer shading units (320 vs 768) and a fraction of the memory bandwidth (14.40 vs 102.4 GB/s). The result suggests that AMD's GCN 3.0 architecture handles Vulkan's explicit API model more efficiently than NVIDIA's Kepler, or that driver optimization for this specific workload favors the AMD implementation. The Vulkan 1.2.170 support on the Radeon versus Vulkan 1.2.175 on the Quadro is nearly identical in API level, so the difference comes down to architectural execution rather than feature gaps.

Looking at average scores across all benchmarks, the AMD Radeon R7 M440 posts 5483, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M averages 5154. The AMD card's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M4000 (5467, 0.3% behind), GeForce GTX 765M (5501, 0.3% ahead), GeForce MX130 (5508, 0.5% ahead), and AMD Radeon 610M (5444, 0.7% behind). The Quadro K3100M's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R7 M260X (5161, 0.1% ahead), NVIDIA Quadro 4000M (5211, 1.1% ahead), GeForce GTX 760M (5236, 1.6% ahead), and AMD Radeon R7 240 (5063, 1.8% behind).

The percentile rankings are close: the AMD Radeon R7 M440 sits at the 32nd percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M sits at the 30th percentile. This suggests both are entry-to-mid-range performers in the current landscape, with the AMD card having a slight overall standing despite losing the OpenCL matchup.

The Verdict

The data supports a nuanced conclusion. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is the stronger choice for compute-heavy OpenCL workloads, delivering 15.3% higher scores than the Radeon R7 M440. Its 768 shading units, 256-bit memory bus, and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth make it objectively more capable in raw throughput metrics. The 75 W TDP and MXM module form factor also indicate it was designed for professional mobile workstations with discrete graphics requirements.

The AMD Radeon R7 M440, however, wins the Vulkan test by 4.9% and has a higher average benchmark score (5483 vs 5154) and better percentile standing (32 vs 30). Its IGP form factor suggests it targets thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency and integrated design matter more than peak compute. The PCIe 3.0 x8 interface and lack of a TDP rating reinforce this positioning.

For users running OpenCL-accelerated applications—common in professional CAD, simulation, and scientific workloads—the Quadro K3100M is the clear pick based on its 15.3% advantage. For users whose workloads leverage Vulkan, the Radeon R7 M440's 4.9% edge makes it competitive despite its smaller memory bus and fewer shaders. The overall average scores favor AMD, but only by 6.4% (5483 vs 5154), which is within the margin of benchmark noise given the mixed results.

The AMD card's broader API support for DirectX 12 (12_0) versus NVIDIA's (11_0) could matter for gaming compatibility, though both are end-of-life products. The Radeon also lists FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio, which is absent from the Quadro's specifications. Ultimately, the choice hinges on workload: OpenCL-heavy environments favor NVIDIA, while Vulkan-centric or mixed workloads see the AMD part hold its own or edge ahead.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD Radeon R7 M440 uses the Meso chip with GCN 3.0 architecture, while the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M uses GK104 with Kepler. Transistor counts are 1,550 million vs 3,540 million, and die sizes are 125 mm² vs 294 mm². The AMD card lists no base or boost clock, while the Quadro lists 706 MHz for both. Memory clocks are 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) for AMD and 800 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) for NVIDIA.

Memory configuration shows the most dramatic divergence: both have 4 GB, but AMD uses DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth, while NVIDIA uses GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s. Shading units are 320 vs 768, TMUs are 20 vs 64, and ROPs are 8 vs 32. Pixel rates are 7.128 GPixel/s vs 11.30 GPixel/s, texture rates are 17.82 GTexel/s vs 45.18 GTexel/s, and FP32 throughput is 570.2 GFLOPS vs 1,084.4 GFLOPS.

Form factors differ: AMD is an IGP with PCIe 3.0 x8, while NVIDIA is an MXM Module with MXM-B (3.0) and a 75 W TDP. AMD has no TDP listed, and neither has power connectors. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for both. The AMD card supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while NVIDIA supports DirectX 12 (11_0). OpenGL is 4.6 on both, and Vulkan versions are 1.2.170 for AMD and 1.2.175 for NVIDIA. Release dates are May 2016 for AMD and July 2013 for NVIDIA, both end-of-life. Predecessors and successors also differ: AMD's predecessor is Solar System and successor is Polaris Mobile, while NVIDIA's predecessor is Quadro Fermi-M and successor is Quadro Maxwell-M.