AMD Radeon R9 370X vs AMD Radeon Vega 11 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 370X records an average benchmark score of 15,862, while the AMD Radeon Vega 11 scores 14,352. The R9 370X sits 1,510 points higher, and it holds the 58th percentile versus the Vega 11’s 56th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: How do the two compare in Geekbench Metal performance?

A: The Vega 11 wins Metal with 17,392 points against the R9 370X’s 12,676, a delta of -27.1% for the R9 370X. That means the Vega 11 is roughly 37% faster in this specific test.

Q: What about OpenCL performance?

A: The R9 370X dominates OpenCL, scoring 25,893 versus 13,392 for the Vega 11, a 93.3% advantage. This is the largest margin in any head-to-head benchmark between the two.

Q: Which GPU wins more head-to-head tests overall?

A: The Vega 11 wins 2 of 3 tests, taking both Metal and Vulkan, while the R9 370X wins only the OpenCL test. Despite that, the R9 370X has the higher average score across all benchmarks.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each card?

A: For the R9 370X, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7700, with an average score of 15,852, just 0.1% behind. The Vega 11’s closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, scoring 14,373, which is 0.1% ahead of the Vega 11.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The R9 370X is built on TSMC’s 28 nm process, while the Vega 11 uses GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm node. The Vega 11 packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, versus 2,800 million on 212 mm² for the R9 370X.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and serve different market positions. The R9 370X uses the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Trinidad chip, part of the Pirate Islands (R9 300) generation. The Vega 11 uses the GCN 5.0 architecture with the Picasso chip, part of the Vega IGP (Picasso) generation. This is a generational leap of four GCN revisions, which explains why the Vega 11, despite being an integrated graphics processor, can match or beat the older discrete card in several tests.

The manufacturing process differs significantly. The R9 370X uses TSMC’s 28 nm node, while the Vega 11 uses GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm process. This allows the Vega 11 to pack 4,940 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². The R9 370X, by contrast, has 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die, for a density of 13.2M per mm². The newer node nearly doubles the density, which is key to the Vega 11’s efficiency.

The memory architecture is fundamentally different. The R9 370X has dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 179.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 11 uses system shared memory, with bandwidth described as system dependent. This means the Vega 11’s memory performance is tied to the host system’s RAM, while the R9 370X has a fixed, dedicated pool.

Shader resources also differ. The R9 370X has 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The Vega 11 has 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The R9 370X has nearly double the shading units and TMUs, and four times the ROPs. However, the Vega 11 clocks much higher, with a boost of 1400 MHz versus 1030 MHz for the R9 370X, partially offsetting the core count deficit.

Feature support differs in API versions. The R9 370X supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Vega 11 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The newer Vulkan version on the Vega 11 may contribute to its Vulkan benchmark win. The Vega 11 also supports FP16 compute at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio), while the R9 370X has no listed FP16 capability.

Power and physical design are starkly different. The R9 370X is a dual-slot card with 2x 6-pin power connectors, a 180 W TDP, and a suggested 450 W power supply. It measures 221 mm in length and 111 mm in height. The Vega 11 is an IGP with 15 W TDP, no power connectors, no dimensions listed, and is integrated into the motherboard. The R9 370X uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the Vega 11 uses an IGP bus interface.

The R9 370X has dedicated display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. The Vega 11’s display outputs are motherboard dependent. Release dates are four years apart: the R9 370X launched on 2015-08-26, while the Vega 11 launched on 2019-09-29.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. If the workload is OpenCL-heavy, the R9 370X is the overwhelming choice, delivering 93.3% higher scores than the Vega 11. That margin is enormous and reflects the R9 370X’s dedicated memory bandwidth and higher shader count.

However, for Metal and Vulkan workloads, the Vega 11 wins. It scores 17,392 versus 12,676 in Metal (27.1% ahead) and 12,273 versus 9,018 in Vulkan (26.5% ahead). The Vega 11’s newer GCN 5.0 architecture, higher boost clock, and newer Vulkan support appear to give it an edge in these APIs.

The R9 370X has the higher average benchmark score (15,862 versus 14,352) and sits in a higher percentile (58th versus 56th). Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (0.1% behind), AMD Radeon RX 9060 (1% ahead), AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (1.2% behind), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (1.7% ahead). The Vega 11’s rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (0.1% ahead), AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 (0.2% ahead), Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (0.3% behind), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M (0.4% ahead).

For users who need a discrete graphics card with dedicated VRAM and maximum OpenCL throughput, the R9 370X is the stronger option. For those using Metal or Vulkan APIs, or who want the efficiency of an integrated solution with a 15 W TDP, the Vega 11 is preferable. The R9 370X requires a 450 W power supply and dual-slot space, while the Vega 11 has no such requirements.

The production status of both is end-of-life. The R9 370X had a launch MSRP of 199 USD. The Vega 11 had no launch MSRP listed. Neither card is currently in production.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The R9 370X uses the Trinidad chip with GCN 1.0 architecture, while the Vega 11 uses the Picasso chip with GCN 5.0 architecture. The process node is 28 nm for the R9 370X and 12 nm for the Vega 11. Transistors are 2,800 million versus 4,940 million, and transistor density is 13.2M versus 23.5M per mm². Die sizes are nearly identical: 212 mm² versus 210 mm².

Clock speeds differ. The R9 370X has a base clock of 980 MHz and boost of 1030 MHz. The Vega 11 has a base of 300 MHz and boost of 1400 MHz. Memory clocks: the R9 370X runs at 1400 MHz (5.6 Gbps effective), while the Vega 11 uses system shared memory.

Memory configuration: the R9 370X has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 11 has system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. Shading units: 1,280 versus 704. TMUs: 80 versus 44. ROPs: 32 versus 8.

Pixel rate is 32.96 GPixel/s for the R9 370X versus 11.20 GPixel/s for the Vega 11. Texture rate is 82.40 GTexel/s versus 61.60 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 2.637 TFLOPS versus 1.971 TFLOPS. The Vega 11 lists FP16 at 3.942 TFLOPS, which the R9 370X does not.

TDP is 180 W versus 15 W. The R9 370X is dual-slot with 2x 6-pin power connectors and a suggested 450 W PSU. The Vega 11 is an IGP with no connectors and no suggested PSU. Bus interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 versus IGP. Display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 versus motherboard dependent.

API support: DirectX 12 (11_1) versus 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6 for both, Vulkan 1.2.170 versus 1.3. Dimensions: 221 mm x 111 mm for the R9 370X, none listed for the Vega 11. The R9 370X has a launch MSRP of 199 USD; the Vega 11 has none. Release dates: 2015-08-26 versus 2019-09-29.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The three head-to-head benchmarks show a split that reveals the architectural divide. In Geekbench Metal, the Vega 11 scores 17,392 against the R9 370X’s 12,676. The delta is -27.1% for the R9 370X, meaning the Vega 11 is about 37% faster. This is a substantial win for the integrated GPU, likely driven by its higher boost clock and newer architecture.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the R9 370X turns the tables decisively. It scores 25,893 versus 13,392, a 93.3% advantage. This is the single largest gap in the comparison. The R9 370X’s dedicated GDDR5 memory with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth and 1,280 shading units likely drive this result, as OpenCL workloads often favor raw compute throughput and memory bandwidth.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the Vega 11 wins again with 12,273 versus 9,018, a -26.5% delta for the R9 370X. The Vega 11’s Vulkan 1.3 support, versus the R9 370X’s Vulkan 1.2.170, may play a role. The margin is nearly identical to the Metal test, suggesting the Vega 11 has a consistent advantage in modern low-level APIs.

The average benchmark scores tell a different story. The R9 370X averages 15,862 across all tests, while the Vega 11 averages 14,352. This is because the R9 370X’s OpenCL score is so high that it lifts the average despite losing the other two tests. The wins are split: the R9 370X has 1 win, the Vega 11 has 2 wins.

The R9 370X’s average score places it among rivals like the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15,852, 0.1% behind) and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16,014, 1% ahead). The Vega 11’s average places it near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (14,373, 0.1% ahead) and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14,315, 0.3% behind). Both cards are competitive with their nearest peers.

Where Each One Wins

The R9 370X wins in OpenCL by a wide margin, and its average benchmark score is higher overall. It also has superior raw specifications in several areas: 1,280 shading units versus 704, 80 TMUs versus 44, 32 ROPs versus 8, and 179.2 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth versus system shared memory. Its pixel rate of 32.96 GPixel/s is nearly three times the Vega 11’s 11.20 GPixel/s. Its FP32 throughput of 2.637 TFLOPS exceeds the Vega 11’s 1.971 TFLOPS. For compute-heavy workloads that leverage OpenCL, the R9 370X is the clear pick.

The Vega 11 wins in Metal and Vulkan, and it has the advantage of a much newer architecture. Its GCN 5.0 design, 12 nm process, and 1400 MHz boost clock allow it to outperform the older GCN 1.0 card in these APIs despite having fewer shading units and TMUs. The Vega 11 also supports FP16 compute at 3.942 TFLOPS, which the R9 370X lacks, and newer Vulkan 1.3. For applications built on Metal or Vulkan, the Vega 11 is the stronger performer.

The power efficiency story belongs entirely to the Vega 11. It has a 15 W TDP versus 180 W for the R9 370X, and it requires no power connectors or dedicated power supply. The R9 370X needs a 450 W PSU and dual-slot space. For systems where power consumption or physical footprint matters, the Vega 11 is the only rational choice.

The R9 370X is a discrete card with dedicated display outputs (2x DVI, HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2), making it suitable for multi-monitor setups. The Vega 11’s outputs are motherboard dependent, so flexibility is limited by the host board. The R9 370X also has a fixed 2 GB VRAM allocation, which can be an advantage for workloads that require predictable memory availability.

In terms of market position, the R9 370X sits at the 58th percentile versus the Vega 11’s 56th. Its nearest rivals include much newer discrete GPUs like the RX 7700 and RTX 3060 Ti, with deltas under 2%. The Vega 11’s rivals are older or lower-end parts like the GTX TITAN and GTX 965M. This suggests the R9 370X, despite being older, holds its own against modern hardware, while the Vega 11 is more aligned with mid-range mobile or entry-level desktop parts.