AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M and AMD Radeon R8 M445DX are both integrated-class mobile graphics solutions from different eras, and the benchmark data clearly separates them. The GT 745M is a Kepler-based part from the GeForce 700M generation, while the R8 M445DX is a GCN 3.0 part from AMD’s Gem System Hybrid lineup. The recorded measurements show a single head-to-head result, and it is decisive in favor of the AMD part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this test, the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 3580. That gives the AMD part a win with a delta of 24.3% over the NVIDIA chip. In practical terms, the R8 M445DX delivers roughly a quarter more compute throughput in this workload, which is a significant margin for two mobile IGP-class parts.

Looking at the broader database averages reinforces this gap. The GT 745M has an average benchmark score of 3953 across all of its recorded tests, while the R8 M445DX averages 4727. That is a difference of about 19.6% in favor of the AMD part. The NVIDIA chip’s best recorded result is its Geekbench Vulkan score of 5502, which shows strength in that specific API, but the OpenCL result is the only common test between the two, and it favors AMD.

The GT 745M also has a Geekbench Metal score of 2777, which is its lowest result. The R8 M445DX has no Metal score recorded, so cross-platform API performance cannot be fully compared. For OpenCL, the data is unambiguous: the AMD part is faster, and the 24.3% delta is a substantial lead for a single generation step in the mobile segment.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural schools. The GT 745M uses the GK107 chip based on NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 1,270 million transistors on a die size of 118 mm², giving a transistor density of 10.8 million per square millimeter. The R8 M445DX, by contrast, uses the Meso chip with AMD’s GCN 3.0 architecture, also on a 28 nm TSMC process. It has 1,550 million transistors on a slightly larger 125 mm² die, resulting in a higher density of 12.4 million per square millimeter.

The compute layouts differ notably. The GT 745M has 384 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation pipelines. The R8 M445DX has fewer shading units at 320, fewer TMUs at 20, and only 8 ROPs. Despite the lower counts, the AMD chip achieves higher pixel and texture rates: 8.168 GPixel/s and 20.42 GTexel/s, versus 4.392 GPixel/s and 17.57 GTexel/s for the NVIDIA part. The AMD chip’s boost clock of 1021 MHz, with a base of 780 MHz, helps it overcome the raw unit deficit. The GT 745M has no base or boost clock listed, but its memory runs at 1000 MHz or 4 Gbps effective.

The memory subsystems are fundamentally different. The GT 745M has a dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 buffer on a 128 bit bus, yielding 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The R8 M445DX uses system shared memory, with its size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as system dependent. This means the AMD part’s memory performance is tied to the host laptop’s RAM configuration, while the NVIDIA part has its own dedicated pool. That is an important trade-off: the AMD chip has more raw compute, but its memory performance is variable.

API support also differs. The GT 745M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The AMD part has a higher DirectX feature level, which may matter for newer titles. The floating point output is also higher on the AMD chip: 653.4 GFLOPS for FP32, with FP16 at the same 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1). The GT 745M manages 421.6 GFLOPS for FP32 and has no FP16 listing. The GT 745M has a listed TDP of 45 W, while the R8 M445DX has no TDP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX is faster, scoring 4727 versus 3580 for the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M, a 24.3% lead.

Q: Does the NVIDIA GPU have any advantage in memory?

A: Yes. The GT 745M has a dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 buffer on a 128 bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the R8 M445DX relies on system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth.

Q: What are the architecture differences?

A: The GT 745M uses NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture on the GK107 chip, while the R8 M445DX uses AMD’s GCN 3.0 on the Meso chip. Both are 28 nm TSMC parts, but the AMD chip has more transistors (1,550 million versus 1,270 million) and a larger die (125 mm² versus 118 mm²).

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GT 745M has 384 shading units, while the R8 M445DX has 320. Despite fewer units, the AMD part achieves higher FP32 performance (653.4 GFLOPS versus 421.6 GFLOPS) due to its higher clocks.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The R8 M445DX averages 4727, while the GT 745M averages 3953. The AMD part sits at the 27th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA part sits at the 23rd.

Q: Which GPU supports a higher DirectX version?

A: The R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the GT 745M supports DirectX 12 (11_0). The AMD part has a higher feature level.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The GT 745M uses the GK107 chip with Kepler architecture, while the R8 M445DX uses the Meso chip with GCN 3.0. The NVIDIA part has 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, versus 320, 20, and 8 for the AMD part. The GT 745M has a dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory, while the R8 M445DX uses system shared memory. The NVIDIA memory clock is 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective, while the AMD memory clock is listed as system shared. The GT 745M has a 128 bit memory bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD part’s bus width and bandwidth are system dependent.

The compute rates differ: the GT 745M achieves 4.392 GPixel/s and 17.57 GTexel/s, while the R8 M445DX achieves 8.168 GPixel/s and 20.42 GTexel/s. The FP32 output is 421.6 GFLOPS for NVIDIA and 653.4 GFLOPS for AMD, with the AMD part also listing FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS. The transistor counts are 1,270 million for NVIDIA and 1,550 million for AMD, with die sizes of 118 mm² and 125 mm² respectively. The GT 745M has a TDP of 45 W, while the R8 M445DX has none listed. The GT 745M uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 bus interface, while the R8 M445DX uses an IGP interface.

The API support differs in DirectX: the GT 745M lists DirectX 12 (11_0), while the R8 M445DX lists DirectX 12 (12_0). Vulkan versions are close (1.2.175 versus 1.2.170), and OpenGL is identical at 4.6. The GT 745M has a release date of March 2013, while the R8 M445DX arrived in May 2016. Neither has a launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX wins in raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 4727 is 24.3% higher than the GT 745M’s 3580, and its average benchmark score of 4727 exceeds the NVIDIA part’s 3953. The AMD chip also has higher pixel and texture rates, which can help in fill-rate-bound scenarios. Its FP32 output of 653.4 GFLOPS is about 55% higher than the NVIDIA part’s 421.6 GFLOPS, making it the better choice for compute-heavy workloads like OpenCL-based rendering or physics simulations.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M wins in memory consistency. With 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 on a 128 bit bus, it offers a fixed 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The R8 M445DX’s system shared memory is system dependent, meaning its performance varies with the host laptop’s RAM speed and configuration. For users who need predictable memory performance, the GT 745M is the safer option. The NVIDIA part also has a higher Vulkan score (5502) in its individual benchmark list, though there is no direct Vulkan comparison between the two. Its lower TDP of 45 W, while not compared to a listed AMD TDP, suggests it may fit in more power-constrained designs.

The GT 745M also holds an edge in shading unit count (384 versus 320) and ROP count (16 versus 8), which can help in certain geometry and pixel processing tasks despite the lower clocks. Its transistor density is lower (10.8M per mm² versus 12.4M) and its die is smaller, but that is a manufacturing detail rather than a performance advantage.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX as the faster GPU in the one test they share. A 24.3% lead in OpenCL is not a marginal difference; it represents a clear step up in compute capability. Its average benchmark score of 4727 places it at the 27th percentile of all GPUs, above the GT 745M’s 23rd percentile. For users running OpenCL-based applications, the R8 M445DX is the stronger pick.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M still has a role. Its dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth is a fixed resource, unlike the R8 M445DX’s system shared memory, which is system dependent. In laptops with slow or shared memory configurations, the GT 745M may deliver more consistent frame pacing and memory throughput. Its higher Vulkan score (5502) also suggests better performance in Vulkan-based titles, even if the direct comparison is not available.

The choice depends on the workload. For compute-heavy OpenCL tasks, the AMD part wins outright. For memory-sensitive applications or Vulkan-centric use, the NVIDIA part has advantages that the raw average score does not capture. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific one. The R8 M445DX is the better all-round performer on paper, but the GT 745M’s dedicated memory and higher Vulkan result make it a viable alternative in the right laptop.