AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M Comparison

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M represent two very different approaches to mobile graphics, and the benchmark data reflects that starkly. The R8 M445DX is an integrated-class part built on AMD’s GCN 3.0 architecture, while the GTX 970M is a dedicated MXM module based on NVIDIA’s Maxwell 2.0 design. In the single available head-to-head test, the GTX 970M dominates, but the R8 M445DX’s role as a hybrid system component gives it a distinct positioning. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the GTX 970M delivering roughly four times the compute throughput in OpenCL.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M is the clear winner in raw computational performance. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 18,946 is 75.1% higher than the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX’s score of 4,727, which is the only benchmark where both GPUs appear. This massive delta indicates that the GTX 970M is the superior choice for any workload that leverages OpenCL acceleration, such as video encoding, physics simulation, or compute-heavy rendering tasks. The GTX 970M also holds a broader benchmark portfolio, with scores across DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as PassMark’s G2D, G3D, and GPU compute tests, allowing for a more nuanced performance profile.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX, however, wins in the category of system integration. It is an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a bus interface of "IGP," meaning it shares system memory and is designed for portable devices. Its "System Shared" memory configuration and "System Dependent" bandwidth mean it has no dedicated VRAM, which lowers power and space requirements. The R8 M445DX also carries a higher OpenCL score than several of its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4,684, a 0.9% delta) and the AMD Radeon R5 M255 (4,788, a -1.3% delta). This suggests that within its own integrated-class segment, it is competitive, even if it cannot match the dedicated GTX 970M.

In terms of benchmark wins, the GTX 970M takes the only head-to-head test, leaving the R8 M445DX with zero wins. However, the R8 M445DX’s percentile rank of 27 versus the GTX 970M’s 27 shows they sit at the same percentile of all GPUs, despite the massive score difference. This is likely because the percentile is based on the average score across all benchmarks, and the GTX 970M’s lower scores in legacy DirectX tests (like PassMark DirectX 9 at 99) pull its average down. The R8 M445DX’s single score of 4,727 gives it an average of 4,727, while the GTX 970M’s average across ten tests is 4,628, making the R8 M445DX technically higher in average benchmark score despite losing the OpenCL test.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M scores 18,946, which is 75.1% higher than the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX’s 4,727.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in terms of memory configuration?

A: The GTX 970M has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus with 120.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the R8 M445DX uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two chips?

A: The GTX 970M’s GM204 chip contains 5,200 million transistors, while the R8 M445DX’s Meso chip has 1,550 million transistors.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: No, both the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M are marked as end-of-life products.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 970M has 1,280 shading units, compared to the R8 M445DX’s 320 shading units.

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

A: The R8 M445DX has an average score of 4,727, while the GTX 970M has an average score of 4,628, despite the GTX 970M winning the head-to-head OpenCL test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is lopsided. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M scores 18,946, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727. This yields a deltaPct of -75.1% for the R8 M445DX, meaning the GTX 970M is roughly four times faster in this compute workload. The GTX 970M’s advantage stems from its vastly larger execution resources: it has 1,280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, versus the R8 M445DX’s 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The pixel rate difference is equally stark, with the GTX 970M delivering 49.82 GPixel/s compared to the R8 M445DX’s 8.168 GPixel/s.

In terms of raw throughput, the GTX 970M’s FP32 performance is 2.657 TFLOPS, which is 2.003 TFLOPS higher than the R8 M445DX’s 653.4 GFLOPS. The texture rate also favors the GTX 970M at 83.04 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. While the R8 M445DX does support FP16 at a 1:1 ratio (653.4 GFLOPS), the GTX 970M does not list an FP16 rate, so that comparison is not possible from the data. The only other benchmark data for the GTX 970M shows it scoring 5704 in PassMark G3D, 2289 in GPU Compute, and 381 in G2D, but the R8 M445DX has no corresponding scores to compare.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ fundamentally in their memory architecture. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the host system’s RAM, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M features 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 120.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a critical difference for gaming and graphics workloads, as dedicated VRAM avoids the latency and bandwidth bottlenecks of shared memory.

Core configurations also diverge sharply. The GTX 970M has 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, while the R8 M445DX has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Clock speeds are closer, with the GTX 970M running at a base of 924 MHz and boost of 1038 MHz, versus the R8 M445DX’s 780 MHz base and 1021 MHz boost. However, the GTX 970M’s memory clock is listed at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the R8 M445DX’s memory clock is "System Shared."

The form factor and interface differ as well: the R8 M445DX is an IGP with a bus interface of "IGP," while the GTX 970M is an MXM Module with a bus interface of "MXM-B (3.0)." The GTX 970M has no power connectors listed, and its slot width is "MXM Module," whereas the R8 M445DX is "IGP." Both have "Portable Device Dependent" display outputs. The GTX 970M supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0). Vulkan support also differs: the GTX 970M lists Vulkan 1.4, while the R8 M445DX lists Vulkan 1.2.170.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is substantial. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX is built on the Meso chip using GCN 3.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.4M per mm². The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M uses the GM204 chip with Maxwell 2.0 architecture, also on a 28 nm TSMC process, but packs 5,200 million transistors onto a 398 mm² die, giving a density of 13.1M per mm². The GTX 970M’s die is more than three times larger, and it has over three times the transistor count.

The R8 M445DX belongs to the "Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400)" generation, indicating its role as a hybrid graphics solution that works alongside an integrated GPU. The GTX 970M is from the "GeForce 900M" generation, with a predecessor in "GeForce 800M" and a successor in "GeForce 10 Mobile." The R8 M445DX has no listed predecessor or successor. In terms of FP16 support, the R8 M445DX offers 653.4 GFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the GTX 970M has no FP16 data listed. Both GPUs support OpenGL 4.6, but the GTX 970M’s DirectX 12_1 feature level is higher than the R8 M445DX’s 12_0. The GTX 970M also lists a newer Vulkan version (1.4) compared to the R8 M445DX (1.2.170).