AMD Radeon R7 M445 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M Comparison

AMD’s Radeon R7 M445 and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 980M occupy the same 31st percentile in the database, yet their benchmark profiles could hardly be more different. The GTX 980M dominates the single shared test with a score of 23,832 versus the R7 M445’s 5,358, a 77.5% gap in favor of NVIDIA. However, the average benchmark scores tell a different story: the R7 M445 sits at 5,358, while the GTX 980M averages just 5,308. This paradox—one huge win for NVIDIA, yet near-identical overall averages—stems from the fact that the GTX 980M’s average includes multiple underperforming legacy tests, while the R7 M445 is measured solely on its strongest OpenCL result. The data suggests a tale of two very different GPUs designed for different segments, with the R7 M445 as a low-power integrated-class part and the GTX 980M as a high-end mobile discrete solution.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 980M is the clear winner in raw compute performance, as evidenced by its dominant Geekbench OpenCL score. With 23,832 points, it outperforms the R7 M445 by 77.5% in the only benchmark where both GPUs are directly compared. This massive margin indicates that the GTX 980M is built for demanding workloads like gaming, 3D rendering, and GPU-accelerated compute tasks. Its additional benchmark results paint a broader picture: it scores 7,338 in Passmark G3D, 2,816 in GPU Compute, and 490 in G2D, alongside DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 scores of 125, 35, 57, and 31 respectively. These numbers, while mixed, show a GPU that can handle a variety of DirectX API workloads, albeit with varying efficiency.

The R7 M445’s only benchmark result is its Geekbench OpenCL score of 5,358. This places it in a tight cluster with its nearest rivals: it trails the Intel UHD Graphics P630 by just 0.2%, leads the NVIDIA GeForce 840M by 0.7%, and edges out the NVIDIA GeForce 930A by 0.8%. The R7 M445 also leads the GTX 980M in this specific test by 0.9%, which is remarkable given the latter’s otherwise superior hardware. This suggests the R7 M445 is optimized for OpenCL compute efficiency relative to its modest specs, but it lacks the broader benchmark portfolio to demonstrate versatility. In practical terms, the R7 M445 wins where power efficiency and basic compute tasks matter, while the GTX 980M wins everywhere else.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs share a 28 nm process node from TSMC, but their underlying designs diverge significantly. The R7 M445 uses AMD’s GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip, packing 1,550 million transistors into a die size of 125 mm². This yields a transistor density of 12.4 million per mm². The GTX 980M, in contrast, employs NVIDIA’s Maxwell 2.0 architecture with the GM204 chip, housing 5,200 million transistors across a much larger 398 mm² die, resulting in a density of 13.1 million per mm². The GTX 980M’s die is over three times larger, reflecting its far more complex execution resources.

Core counts reinforce this disparity. The R7 M445 features 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 render output units. The GTX 980M boasts 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 64 ROPs—roughly 4.8 times the shaders, 4.8 times the TMUs, and 8 times the ROPs. Clock speeds also favor NVIDIA: the GTX 980M runs at 1038 MHz base and 1127 MHz boost, while the R7 M445 operates at 780 MHz base and 920 MHz boost. Memory configurations are equally lopsided. The R7 M445 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, delivering 32 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 980M offers 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, achieving 160.4 GB/s—five times the bandwidth.

The R7 M445’s memory runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the GTX 980M’s memory clocks at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective). Pixel and texture rates tell the same story: the GTX 980M hits 72.13 GPixel/s and 108.2 GTexel/s, versus 7.36 GPixel/s and 18.4 GTexel/s for the R7 M445. FP32 throughput is 3.462 TFLOPS for the GTX 980M versus 588.8 GFLOPS for the R7 M445. The R7 M445 does support FP16 at 1:1 ratio (588.8 GFLOPS), while the GTX 980M has no listed FP16 capability. API support differs as well: the R7 M445 supports DirectX 12_0, while the GTX 980M supports DirectX 12_1, and Vulkan versions are 1.2.170 versus 1.4 respectively.

The Verdict

The data points to a decisive choice for users prioritizing raw performance: the GTX 980M is the superior GPU by nearly every measurable metric. Its 77.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with its 5x bandwidth, 4.8x shader count, and 5.9x FP32 throughput, make it the only viable option for gaming, 3D work, or compute-heavy applications. The GTX 980M’s MXM-B (3.0) interface and larger memory pool (8 GB versus 4 GB) further cement its position for serious mobile workstations. Its higher DirectX 12_1 support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility also future-proof it better than the R7 M445’s DirectX 12_0 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

However, the R7 M445 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 5,358 actually exceeds the GTX 980M’s 5,308, and it leads its nearest rivals (Intel UHD Graphics P630, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, and NVIDIA GeForce 930A) by margins ranging from 0.7% to 0.8%. The R7 M445 is an IGP-class part (slot width: IGP) designed for thin-and-light laptops where space and power are at a premium. Its 32 GB/s bandwidth and 588.8 GFLOPS are adequate for basic tasks like video playback, light photo editing, and everyday productivity. For users who need a discrete GPU for serious workloads, the GTX 980M is the obvious choice. For those who need an integrated solution that handles OpenCL efficiently, the R7 M445 fits the bill—just don’t expect it to match the GTX 980M in any demanding scenario.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M445 has a higher average benchmark score of 5,358, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M’s average of 5,308.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 980M in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The GTX 980M scores 23,832 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 77.5% higher than the R7 M445’s score of 5,358.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The GTX 980M offers 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth via a 256-bit bus, while the R7 M445 provides 32 GB/s via a 64-bit bus—a 5x difference.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, but at different feature levels: the R7 M445 supports DirectX 12_0, while the GTX 980M supports DirectX 12_1.

Q: How do the R7 M445’s nearest rivals compare?

A: The R7 M445 leads the NVIDIA GeForce 840M by 0.7%, the NVIDIA GeForce 930A by 0.8%, and trails the Intel UHD Graphics P630 by 0.2%.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 980M has 1,536 shading units, compared to the R7 M445’s 320 shading units—a 4.8x advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and it is a landslide. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M scores 23,832, while the AMD Radeon R7 M445 scores 5,358. This represents a 77.5% delta in favor of NVIDIA, meaning the GTX 980M delivers nearly 4.5 times the OpenCL performance of the R7 M445. This single result encapsulates the entire performance gap: the GTX 980M’s superior shader count, memory bandwidth, and clock speeds translate into overwhelming compute throughput.

Beyond this shared test, the GTX 980M’s benchmark suite reveals its strengths and weaknesses. In Passmark G3D, it scores 7,338, which is its strongest result. Its Passmark GPU Compute score of 2,816 indicates solid compute capability, while the G2D score of 490 shows decent 2D performance. The DirectX tests are more varied: DirectX 9 scores 125, DirectX 11 scores 57, DirectX 10 scores 35, and DirectX 12 scores 31. The GTX 980M also posts Geekbench Vulkan and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 scores of 17,703 and 649 respectively. These results show a GPU that excels in modern compute APIs (OpenCL, Vulkan) but struggles with legacy DirectX workloads.

The R7 M445, with only its OpenCL score to its name, cannot demonstrate similar breadth. Its 5,358 OpenCL score is 0.9% higher than the GTX 980M’s average of 5,308, but this is misleading—the GTX 980M’s average is dragged down by its low DirectX 10 (35) and DirectX 12 (31) scores. In every meaningful head-to-head comparison, the GTX 980M wins by massive margins. The data is unambiguous: for any workload that leverages the GPU’s full resources, the GTX 980M is the superior choice. The R7 M445’s only claim to fame is its competitive OpenCL efficiency relative to its modest specs, but it cannot compete with the GTX 980M’s raw power.