AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA Quadro M3000M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The NVIDIA Quadro M3000M dominates the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX across the only shared test, the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark. The Quadro M3000M scores 16,646 points, while the Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727 points. This translates to a delta of -71.6% for the AMD part, meaning the NVIDIA solution delivers roughly 3.5 times the raw compute performance in this workload. The head-to-head comparison shows one win for the Quadro M3000M and zero for the Radeon R8 M445DX.

The gap is staggering when placed in context. The Radeon R8 M445DX sits at the 27th percentile of all GPUs, a figure that places it firmly in entry-level territory. Its nearest rivals, according to the data, include the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (average score 4,752, delta -0.5%) and the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (average score 4,684, delta 0.9%). The Radeon R8 M445DX is essentially trading blows with these low-end parts, sitting just 1.3% behind the Radeon R5 M255 and 1.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB in the benchmark database's comparison set. That last comparison is curious—the RTX 3080 12 GB scores 4,791 in this particular dataset, but the Radeon R8 M445DX at 4,727 is only 1.3% behind, a statistical near-tie.

The Quadro M3000M, by contrast, also lands at the 27th percentile of all GPUs, but its average benchmark score of 4,621 is dragged down by a wide range of tests. Its OpenCL score of 16,646 is the standout figure, while its Passmark results tell a different story. In Passmark G3D, it scores 5,543; in Passmark G2D, it scores 402; in Passmark GPU Compute, it scores 2,139. The DirectX tests are curiously low—Passmark DirectX 9 yields 98, DirectX 11 yields 42, DirectX 10 yields 26, and DirectX 12 yields 23. These low DirectX numbers likely reflect driver or compatibility quirks in that specific benchmark suite, but the OpenCL result is what the head-to-head comparison uses, and there the Quadro is decisively ahead.

What does the 71.6% delta mean in practical terms? The Quadro M3000M's OpenCL score of 16,646 is more than triple the Radeon's 4,727. The Radeon's nearest rival in the database, the Radeon R5 M335, scores 4,752—just 0.5% higher. The Quadro M3000M's nearest rival, the GeForce GTX 970M, scores 4,628, a delta of -0.1%. This means the Quadro M3000M is in a completely different performance class from the Radeon R8 M445DX, despite both GPUs occupying the same percentile rank.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a clear split. The NVIDIA Quadro M3000M wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark, and its broader benchmark suite reveals strengths in compute-heavy workloads. The OpenCL score of 16,646 is the headline number, and the Vulkan score of 16,668 is nearly identical, suggesting consistent performance across different compute APIs. The Passmark G3D score of 5,543 indicates solid 3D rendering capability, while the GPU Compute score of 2,139 shows the chip can handle general-purpose compute tasks.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX has no benchmark wins to its name. Its only recorded benchmark, the Geekbench OpenCL score of 4,727, places it in the same neighborhood as the Radeon R5 M335 (4,752), the Quadro P400 (4,684), and the Radeon R5 M255 (4,788). In every comparison, the Radeon R8 M445DX is within a couple percentage points of these entry-level parts, neither clearly ahead nor clearly behind. Its wins, if any, would have to come from scenarios not captured in the available benchmark data—the fact that it is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with system-shared memory means it has zero dedicated VRAM overhead, which could matter in very specific system configurations.

For the Quadro M3000M, the wins are everywhere the data is measured. The OpenCL and Vulkan scores are both above 16,600, which is more than three times the Radeon's OpenCL result. Even the Passmark G3D score of 5,543, while lower than the OpenCL figure on a relative scale, represents a level of 3D performance the Radeon cannot approach—the Radeon's pixel rate of 8.168 GPixel/s and texture rate of 20.42 GTexel/s are dwarfed by the Quadro's 29.57 GPixel/s and 59.14 GTexel/s.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and design philosophies. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX is built on the GCN 3.0 architecture, using the Meso chip fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The chip contains 1,550 million transistors on a die size of 125 mm², giving a transistor density of 12.4 million transistors per square millimeter.

The NVIDIA Quadro M3000M uses the Maxwell 2.0 architecture with the GM204 chip, also fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The GM204 is a much larger chip, containing 5,200 million transistors on a die size of 398 mm², for a transistor density of 13.1 million per square millimeter. The transistor count is more than triple that of the AMD part, and the die is more than three times larger.

Memory configurations are fundamentally different. The Radeon R8 M445DX uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM—memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent." The Quadro M3000M has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed at 1,253 MHz with 5 Gbps effective data rate.

Compute resources show the NVIDIA part's advantage. The Quadro M3000M has 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The Radeon R8 M445DX has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Quadro's pixel rate is 29.57 GPixel/s versus 8.168 GPixel/s for the Radeon. Texture rate is 59.14 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 1.892 TFLOPS for the Quadro versus 653.4 GFLOPS for the Radeon. The Radeon lists FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the Quadro lists no FP16 capability.

The Radeon is an integrated graphics processor with an IGP bus interface, while the Quadro is a discrete MXM module with a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. The Quadro has a TDP of 75 W with no power connectors required, while the Radeon's TDP is not listed. Both support DirectX 12, but the Quadro supports version 12_1 while the Radeon supports 12_0. OpenGL support is identical at 4.6, but Vulkan support differs—the Radeon lists Vulkan 1.2.170, while the Quadro lists Vulkan 1.4.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M3000M scores 16,646 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727. The Quadro leads by 71.6% in this benchmark.

Q: How does the Radeon R8 M445DX compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727, which is 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4,752), 0.9% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4,684), and 1.3% behind both the Radeon R5 M255 (4,788) and the GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB (4,791).

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs use?

A: The Radeon R8 M445DX uses system-shared memory with no dedicated VRAM, and its bandwidth is system dependent. The Quadro M3000M has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 160.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two chips?

A: The Radeon uses the GCN 3.0 architecture with the Meso chip (1,550 million transistors, 125 mm² die). The Quadro uses Maxwell 2.0 with the GM204 chip (5,200 million transistors, 398 mm² die). Both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Quadro M3000M has 1,024 shading units, compared to the Radeon R8 M445DX's 320 shading units. The Quadro also has 64 TMUs and 32 ROPs versus 20 TMUs and 8 ROPs for the Radeon.

Q: What is the release timeline for these products?

A: The Radeon R8 M445DX was released on May 14, 2016, while the Quadro M3000M was released on August 17, 2015. Both are end-of-life products.

The Verdict

The data tells a straightforward story. The NVIDIA Quadro M3000M is the superior performer in every measured metric. Its OpenCL score of 16,646 is 71.6% higher than the Radeon R8 M445DX's 4,727. The Quadro's nearest rival, the GeForce GTX 970M, scores 4,628—just 0.1% lower—which means the Quadro sits in a performance tier that the Radeon cannot reach. The Radeon's closest comparables are the Radeon R5 M335, the Quadro P400, and the Radeon R5 M255, all of which score between 4,684 and 4,788.

For users who need compute performance, the Quadro M3000M is the clear choice. Its FP32 throughput of 1.892 TFLOPS, combined with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and 160.4 GB/s bandwidth, makes it suitable for tasks that require sustained GPU compute. The Radeon R8 M445DX, with its system-shared memory and 653.4 GFLOPS FP32, is fundamentally limited by its integrated nature.

The Radeon R8 M445DX might be adequate for basic display output and light 2D workloads, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Quadro. The Quadro also supports a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 12_0) and a newer Vulkan version (1.4 versus 1.2.170). The Quadro's predecessor is listed as Quadro Kepler-M, and its successor is Quadro Pascal-M, placing it in a clear product lineage. The Radeon has no listed predecessor or successor.

Pick the Quadro M3000M if you need dedicated graphics memory, high compute throughput, and compatibility with a broader range of APIs. Pick the Radeon R8 M445DX only if the integrated form factor is a hard requirement and performance is not a priority—the benchmark data provides no other justification.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R8 M445DX | NVIDIA Quadro M3000M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | Maxwell 2.0 |

| Chip | Meso | GM204 |

| Transistors | 1,550 million | 5,200 million |

| Die Size | 125 mm² | 398 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.4M / mm² | 13.1M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 780 MHz | 823 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1021 MHz | 924 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 160.4 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 320 | 1024 |

| TMUs | 20 | 64 |

| ROPs | 8 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.168 GPixel/s | 29.57 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 20.42 GTexel/s | 59.14 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 653.4 GFLOPS | 1.892 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1) | Not listed |

| TDP | Not listed | 75 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | None |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2016-05-14 | 2015-08-17 |