AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M Comparison

# NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX

The benchmark database shows a clear overall winner: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M outperforms the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX by a significant margin. In the only shared benchmark test, Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 765M scores 7,176 points against 4,727 for the R8 M445DX, a 51.8% advantage. The GTX 765M also ranks higher in the overall GPU percentile (32nd versus 27th), and its average benchmark score of 5,501 dwarfs the R8 M445DX's 4,727. While the AMD part is a newer design, the data indicates it is not competitive with the older NVIDIA mobile GPU in raw compute performance.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M has an average benchmark score of 5,501, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX averages 4,727. That puts the NVIDIA part roughly 16% ahead on average.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The GTX 765M scores 7,176 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the R8 M445DX scores 4,727. The NVIDIA part leads by 51.8% in this test, which is the only benchmark both GPUs have recorded.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each GPU?

A: The GTX 765M sits at the 32nd percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the R8 M445DX sits at the 27th percentile. This means the NVIDIA part outperforms a larger share of the GPU population.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M has 768 shading units, whereas the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX has 320. The NVIDIA part also has 64 texture mapping units versus 20, and 16 ROPs versus 8.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The GTX 765M has a base clock of 797 MHz and a boost clock of 863 MHz. The R8 M445DX has a lower base clock of 780 MHz but a higher boost clock of 1,021 MHz. Despite the AMD part's higher boost frequency, it still loses decisively in compute benchmarks.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each GPU in the database?

A: The GTX 765M's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 with an average score of 5,508 (0.1% higher), followed by the AMD Radeon R7 M440 at 5,483 (0.3% lower). For the R8 M445DX, the closest competitor is the AMD Radeon R5 M335 at 4,752 (0.5% higher), followed by the NVIDIA Quadro P400 at 4,684 (0.9% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and design philosophies. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M is built on the Kepler architecture using the GK106 chip, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip. Both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, but the similarities end there.

The GTX 765M packs significantly more hardware resources. It contains 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 11.5 million per square millimeter. The R8 M445DX, by contrast, has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, with a slightly higher density of 12.4 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA chip is larger and more complex, which translates directly into higher compute throughput.

The compute core counts differ dramatically. The GTX 765M has 768 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The R8 M445DX has only 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. This 2.4x advantage in shading units and 3.2x advantage in texture units explains why the NVIDIA part dominates in raw processing capabilities.

Memory architecture also diverges sharply. The GTX 765M uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 64.13 GB/s of bandwidth. The R8 M445DX relies entirely on system shared memory, with the bus width and bandwidth described as "System Shared" and "System Dependent" respectively. This means the AMD part's memory performance is tied to the host system's RAM configuration, whereas the NVIDIA part has its own dedicated high-speed memory.

Both GPUs support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6, but the versions differ. The GTX 765M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175, while the R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. The AMD part has a higher DirectX feature level, but this does not compensate for its lower raw performance.

The power profile also differs. The GTX 765M has a TDP of 75 W and uses an MXM Module slot with no power connectors. The R8 M445DX is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no listed TDP, designed to share power and thermal resources with the host CPU. This makes the AMD part more power-efficient in theory, but at the cost of performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records only one head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M scores 7,176 points, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727 points. The delta is 51.8% in favor of the NVIDIA part. This is a substantial gap, not a marginal one.

To contextualize this result, the GTX 765M's OpenCL score is 51.8% higher than the R8 M445DX's. This means the NVIDIA GPU delivers roughly half again as much compute performance in this workload. Given that the R8 M445DX has only 320 shading units compared to 768, and a peak FP32 rate of 653.4 GFLOPS versus 1,325.6 GFLOPS, the benchmark outcome aligns with the hardware specifications.

The GTX 765M also has higher pixel and texture rates. Its pixel rate is 13.81 GPixel/s versus 8.168 GPixel/s for the AMD part, and its texture rate is 55.23 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. These figures reinforce the compute benchmark results: the NVIDIA part is roughly 1.7x faster in pixel throughput and 2.7x faster in texture throughput.

In terms of closest rivals, the GTX 765M is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 (5,508 average score, 0.1% higher), meaning the two are effectively tied. The R8 M445DX, however, is closely matched with the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4,752 average score, 0.5% higher), which suggests the AMD part performs at a lower tier. The data shows the GTX 765M competes in a higher performance class than the R8 M445DX, despite the NVIDIA part being older.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M is the faster GPU. Its 51.8% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with higher pixel and texture rates and a better overall percentile ranking, makes it the clear choice for compute-intensive tasks. The R8 M445DX, despite its newer release date and higher boost clock, cannot overcome its much smaller hardware resource pool.

For users who need gaming or GPU-accelerated workloads, the GTX 765M is the better option. Its dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 64.13 GB/s bandwidth provides consistent performance without depending on system RAM. The R8 M445DX's system shared memory means its performance will vary greatly depending on the host laptop's memory configuration, which introduces unpredictability.

However, the R8 M445DX is an integrated part with no listed TDP, making it potentially more suitable for thin-and-light systems where power and thermal budgets are tight. The GTX 765M's 75 W TDP and MXM Module form factor mean it requires a larger chassis with adequate cooling. Users prioritizing portability and battery life over performance may prefer the AMD solution, even though it loses decisively in benchmarks.

The GTX 765M's nearest rivals, the MX130 and R7 M440, are all within 0.3% of its average score, indicating it remains a competitive mobile GPU. The R8 M445DX's rivals, the R5 M335 and Quadro P400, are also close, but they sit at a lower performance level. This confirms that the two GPUs occupy different performance tiers: the GTX 765M at the mid-range, the R8 M445DX at the entry level.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M | AMD Radeon R8 M445DX |

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

| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 3.0 |

| Chip | GK106 | Meso |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 2,540 million | 1,550 million |

| Die Size | 221 mm² | 125 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 11.5M / mm² | 12.4M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 797 MHz | 780 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 863 MHz | 1,021 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 64.13 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 768 | 320 |

| TMUs | 64 | 20 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 13.81 GPixel/s | 8.168 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 55.23 GTexel/s | 20.42 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1,325.6 GFLOPS | 653.4 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 75 W | Not listed |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Bus Interface | MXM-B (3.0) | IGP |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.175 | 1.2.170 |

| Release Date | 2013-05-29 | 2016-05-14 |

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M wins in every recorded benchmark and in nearly every performance metric. It is the clear choice for gaming, 3D rendering, video editing, and any workload that demands high FP32 compute. Its 1,325.6 GFLOPS of FP32 performance is more than double the R8 M445DX's 653.4 GFLOPS. The 64.13 GB/s dedicated memory bandwidth also gives it a major advantage in texture-heavy applications, as the R8 M445DX is limited by system memory performance.

The GTX 765M's higher pixel rate (13.81 GPixel/s) and texture rate (55.23 GTexel/s) make it better suited for modern games with complex shaders and high-resolution textures. Its 768 shading units provide ample parallel processing capacity, and its 64 TMUs ensure textures are filtered quickly. For users who want a laptop that can handle demanding titles at reasonable settings, the GTX 765M is the superior option.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX's only advantages are its integrated nature and lower power profile. With no listed TDP and an IGP form factor, it can be paired with low-power CPUs in slim laptops without requiring discrete cooling solutions. Its higher boost clock of 1,021 MHz does not translate into real-world performance wins, as the benchmark data shows, but it may help with burst workloads that are not compute-bound.

The R8 M445DX also supports DirectX 12 (12_0), a newer feature level than the GTX 765M's 12 (11_0). This could theoretically allow access to certain DX12 features, but the performance gap makes this advantage largely academic. In practice, the GTX 765M's raw speed will deliver better frame rates and smoother experiences in most applications.

For users who prioritize battery life, low heat output, and a thinner chassis, the R8 M445DX is the only sensible choice between the two. It is also the only option for systems that lack a discrete GPU slot, as it is integrated directly into the platform. But for anyone who values performance, the data overwhelmingly favors the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M. The 51.8% lead in OpenCL and the 32nd versus 27th percentile rankings tell the story: the GTX 765M is a mid-range performer, while the R8 M445DX is an entry-level part that cannot keep up.