AMD Radeon R7 M440 vs NVIDIA Quadro M500M Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro M500M and AMD Radeon R7 M440 are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from the same era, but the benchmark data reveals they have distinctly different performance profiles. The NVIDIA part wins the OpenCL test decisively, while the AMD part takes the Vulkan test, resulting in a 1-1 split in head-to-head wins. This analysis breaks down the raw scores, architectural underpinnings, and practical implications of these two 28 nm parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant performance gap between these two GPUs appears in the Geekbench OpenCL test. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M scores 5986 points, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 scores 5214 points. This translates to a 14.8% advantage for the NVIDIA part, which is a substantial margin in synthetic compute workloads. The Quadro M500M’s lead here is notable because it achieves this with fewer shading units and less memory capacity than its rival, pointing to architectural efficiency rather than raw resource counts.

The tables turn completely in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the AMD Radeon R7 M440 scores 5751 points, outperforming the NVIDIA Quadro M500M’s 5222 points by 9.2%. This is a significant reversal, and it suggests that the AMD part has a stronger implementation for modern graphics APIs. The delta between the two Vulkan scores is smaller in absolute terms (529 points) than the OpenCL gap (772 points), but it is still a clear victory for the AMD hardware.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the NVIDIA Quadro M500M holds a slight overall edge. Its average score is 5604, compared to the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5483. This 121-point difference is small, but it places the NVIDIA part in a slightly better position relative to its nearest rivals. For context, the Quadro M500M’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon HD 8790M, which scores 5691 and sits 1.5% ahead. The AMD Radeon R7 M440, meanwhile, is nearly tied with the NVIDIA Quadro M4000, which scores 5467 and is just 0.3% behind. Both GPUs land in the 32nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the broader market.

When comparing the two parts directly, the data shows that the NVIDIA Quadro M500M is the stronger compute performer, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 is better suited for Vulkan-based workloads. The average scores suggest that the NVIDIA part is marginally more consistent overall, but the AMD part’s Vulkan lead indicates it may age better in API-specific scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split between these two GPUs is stark. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M is built on the Maxwell architecture using the GM108S chip, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip. Both are fabricated by TSMC on the same 28 nm process node, but the transistor counts differ significantly. The NVIDIA chip contains 1,020 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.2 million per square millimeter. The AMD chip is larger, with 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, but its density is slightly lower at 12.4 million per square millimeter.

These architectural choices lead to different resource allocations. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has 384 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output pipelines. The AMD Radeon R7 M440 has fewer shading units at 320, but more texture units at 20, and the same 8 ROPs. This configuration gives the AMD part a texture fillrate of 17.82 GTexel/s, which is marginally higher than the NVIDIA part’s 17.98 GTexel/s — a negligible difference. However, the pixel rate tells a different story: the NVIDIA part achieves 8.992 GPixel/s, while the AMD part is limited to 7.128 GPixel/s, a 26% deficit.

Compute throughput also heavily favors the NVIDIA design. The Quadro M500M delivers 863.2 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, versus 570.2 GFLOPS for the Radeon R7 M440. Interestingly, the AMD part lists FP16 performance at the same 570.2 GFLOPS, indicating a 1:1 ratio, while the NVIDIA part does not specify FP16 capabilities. Memory configurations are identical in type and bandwidth — both use DDR3 with a 64-bit bus and 14.40 GB/s of bandwidth — but the AMD part comes with 4 GB of memory, double the 2 GB found on the NVIDIA part.

The API support also differs. The NVIDIA Quadro M500M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The AMD Radeon R7 M440 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The higher DirectX feature level on the AMD part may explain its Vulkan advantage. The bus interface is another differentiator: the NVIDIA part uses an MXM-A (3.0) module, while the AMD part is an IGP with a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro M500M is the clear winner in compute-heavy and pixel-bound scenarios. Its 14.8% lead in OpenCL benchmarks makes it the better choice for general-purpose GPU compute, which often relies on OpenCL for tasks like video encoding, physics simulations, and scientific calculations. The higher pixel rate of 8.992 GPixel/s also suggests it can handle fill-rate-limited workloads more effectively, such as high-resolution rendering with simple shaders. Its 863.2 GFLOPS of FP32 compute power is 51% higher than the AMD part’s 570.2 GFLOPS, giving it a decisive edge in raw number crunching.

The AMD Radeon R7 M440, on the other hand, wins in Vulkan-based workloads. Its 9.2% lead in the Vulkan benchmark indicates better driver optimization or hardware support for this modern API. The higher DirectX 12 feature level (12_0 vs. 11_0) also makes it more future-proof for games and applications that leverage newer rendering features. The 4 GB memory capacity is another advantage, as it allows for larger textures and datasets without spilling to system memory, even if the bandwidth is identical. The AMD part’s higher texture fillrate, while only marginally better, could help in texture-heavy scenes.

For gaming specifically, the Vulkan advantage is significant because many modern game engines use Vulkan for cross-platform support. The AMD part’s stronger Vulkan performance suggests it may deliver smoother frame rates in Vulkan-based titles, while the NVIDIA part would excel in OpenCL-accelerated applications. The compute advantage of the NVIDIA part also makes it more suitable for workstation tasks, which aligns with its Quadro branding.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split: the NVIDIA Quadro M500M is the better choice for compute-intensive and OpenCL-based workloads, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 is preferable for Vulkan-centric use cases. The NVIDIA part’s 14.8% OpenCL lead and 51% higher FP32 throughput make it the stronger all-around compute performer, despite having fewer shading units and half the memory. Its higher pixel rate also gives it an edge in fill-rate-bound scenarios. For users who prioritize raw compute power or work with OpenCL-accelerated applications, the Quadro M500M is the superior option.

Conversely, the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 9.2% Vulkan lead and 4 GB memory capacity make it the better fit for modern gaming or applications that use Vulkan. Its higher DirectX 12 feature level (12_0) provides better support for contemporary graphics features, which could extend its relevance in newer titles. The AMD part also has a slightly higher texture fillrate, which may benefit texture-heavy workloads. Users who play Vulkan-based games or need more memory for large assets should lean toward the Radeon R7 M440.

In terms of overall average performance, the NVIDIA part is marginally ahead with a 5604 average score versus 5483, but this 2.2% difference is minor. Both GPUs sit in the 32nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating they are entry-level solutions. The choice ultimately comes down to the specific API and workload profile. For professional compute tasks, the Quadro M500M is the data-backed pick. For modern gaming with Vulkan, the Radeon R7 M440 has the edge.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has an average benchmark score of 5604, which is higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5483.

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA Quadro M500M in OpenCL?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M scores 5986 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 14.8% higher than the AMD Radeon R7 M440’s 5214.

Q: What is the memory advantage of the AMD Radeon R7 M440?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M440 has 4 GB of DDR3 memory, which is double the 2 GB found on the NVIDIA Quadro M500M. Both use a 64-bit bus with 14.40 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports a higher DirectX feature level?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M440 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the NVIDIA Quadro M500M supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: How many shading units does each GPU have?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M500M has 384 shading units, while the AMD Radeon R7 M440 has 320 shading units.

Q: What is the process node for both GPUs?

A: Both the NVIDIA Quadro M500M and the AMD Radeon R7 M440 are fabricated on a 28 nm process node by TSMC.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA Quadro M500M | AMD Radeon R7 M440 |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Maxwell | GCN 3.0 |

| Chip | GM108S | Meso |

| Transistors | 1,020 million | 1,550 million |

| Die Size | 77 mm² | 125 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 13.2M / mm² | 12.4M / mm² |

| Shading Units | 384 | 320 |

| TMUs | 16 | 20 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.992 GPixel/s | 7.128 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.98 GTexel/s | 17.82 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 863.2 GFLOPS | 570.2 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not specified | 570.2 GFLOPS (1:1) |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 4 GB |

| TDP | 30 W | Not specified |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Bus Interface | MXM-A (3.0) | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_0) | 12 (12_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |

| Release Date | 2016-04-26 | 2016-05-14 |

| Predecessor | Quadro Kepler-M | Solar System |

| Successor | Quadro Pascal-M | Polaris Mobile |