AMD Radeon R9 M290X vs AMD Radeon RX 7800M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile GPUs is not close. The AMD Radeon RX 7800M wins the only shared test in the database, and it wins by a margin that makes the older Radeon R9 M290X effectively non-competitive for any modern workload that scales with compute throughput. There are no recorded tests where the R9 M290X comes out ahead. The RX 7800M takes the sole head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, with a score of 120778 against 22028 for the R9 M290X. That is a 448.3% advantage, meaning the newer part delivers over five times the raw compute performance in that specific API test.

Looking at the broader benchmark suite, the RX 7800M has results across ten different tests, including DirectX 9 through 12, OpenCL, Vulkan, and 3DMark Steel Nomad. Its highest individual score comes from Geekbench Vulkan at 126668, while its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 result sits at 2994. The R9 M290X, by contrast, only has two recorded benchmarks: Geekbench Metal at 24524 and Geekbench OpenCL at 22028. That means the older GPU cannot even be compared across most of the modern test suite used in the database. The data shows a clear use-case split: the RX 7800M is for anyone running current DirectX 12 or Vulkan titles, compute-heavy applications, or anything that benefits from ray tracing hardware. The R9 M290X, with its GCN 1.0 architecture and no ray tracing cores, is limited to legacy DirectX 11-era workloads and older OpenCL tasks where its lower compute ceiling is less of a bottleneck.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap here spans nearly a decade of GPU design. The RX 7800M uses the Navi 32 chip built on RDNA 3.0, while the R9 M290X uses the Neptune chip based on GCN 1.0. Manufacturing processes differ sharply: the RX 7800M is on TSMC's 5 nm node, whereas the R9 M290X uses TSMC's 28 nm node. This translates to a massive transistor count difference. The RX 7800M packs 28,100 million transistors on a 346 mm² die, giving a density of 81.2M per mm². The R9 M290X has 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die, for a density of 13.2M per mm². The newer chip fits ten times more transistors into a die that is only about 63% larger.

Core configuration follows the same pattern. The RX 7800M has 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, 96 raster operation units, and 60 ray tracing cores. The R9 M290X has 1280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with no ray tracing cores at all. Clock speeds also favor the newer part substantially. The RX 7800M runs at a 1295 MHz base and 2335 MHz boost, with a game clock of 2145 MHz. The R9 M290X operates at 850 MHz base and 900 MHz boost. Memory architecture differs as well: the RX 7800M uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 432.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the R9 M290X uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth. The newer card has triple the capacity and nearly three times the bandwidth despite a narrower bus.

Feature support is another divider. The RX 7800M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The R9 M290X only reaches DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The RX 7800M also has a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface versus the R9 M290X's PCIe 3.0 x16. Power draw is higher on the newer card at 180 W versus 100 W, but that is expected given the performance delta. Both are mobile parts: the RX 7800M is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors, while the R9 M290X is an MXM module. Neither has dimensions recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The RX 7800M scores 120778, while the R9 M290X scores 22028. That is a delta of 448.3% in favor of the RX 7800M. To put that in context, the R9 M290X would need to score over 120000 points just to match, and it does not even reach a quarter of that figure. This single result encapsulates the entire performance relationship between the two parts: the RX 7800M is in a different class entirely.

The RX 7800M's other benchmark results reinforce its position. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 126668 is even higher than its OpenCL result, suggesting strong compute scaling across different APIs. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 2994, which places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs in the database. The R9 M290X, with only its two recorded benchmarks, sits in the 68th percentile overall, but that number is based on a much smaller sample and does not account for modern DirectX 12 or Vulkan workloads where it has no recorded data at all.

Looking at the RX 7800M's nearest rivals helps calibrate its standing. The database places it within 1% of the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X (0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (0.5% behind). That means the RX 7800M performs right around desktop-class graphics cards from a few generations ago, which is impressive for a mobile IGP. The R9 M290X, meanwhile, sits within 0.2% of the AMD Radeon RX 6600M and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, putting it in the same performance tier as a mid-range mobile GPU from much later. The average benchmark scores tell the story: the RX 7800M averages 27883 across its ten tests, while the R9 M290X averages 23276 across just two tests. That is an 19.8% gap in average score, but the RX 7800M's average is computed over a far more demanding test suite.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the only viable choice for any modern workload. It wins the only shared benchmark by 448.3%, has a DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set with ray tracing support, and offers 12 GB of GDDR6 memory versus 4 GB of GDDR5. The R9 M290X is end-of-life, uses a decade-old GCN 1.0 architecture, and cannot even run the same suite of modern tests. Anyone considering a laptop with the R9 M290X should look elsewhere, as its performance is roughly equivalent to a mid-range GPU from years later, not a competitor to the RX 7800M.

The RX 7800M is for gamers and creators who need current API support, high compute throughput, and enough VRAM for modern assets. Its 73rd percentile ranking among all GPUs means it outperforms the majority of the database's entries, and its proximity to desktop cards like the GTX 980 Ti shows it is not a compromise part. The R9 M290X, at the 68th percentile, is still above average among all GPUs, but that ranking is misleading because its benchmark sample is so small and so old. In practice, the R9 M290X will struggle with any DirectX 12 title, lack ray tracing entirely, and hit its 4 GB memory limit quickly in modern games.

There is no scenario where the R9 M290X is the better pick, unless the requirement is specifically for a legacy MXM module with very low power draw (100 W versus 180 W) and the workload is confined to DirectX 11-era software. For everything else, the RX 7800M is the clear choice.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Radeon RX 7800M than the AMD Radeon R9 M290X in OpenCL?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the RX 7800M scores 120778 versus 22028 for the R9 M290X, which is a 448.3% advantage for the newer GPU.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon R9 M290X support ray tracing?

A: No. The R9 M290X has no ray tracing cores listed in the database, while the RX 7800M has 60 dedicated ray tracing cores.

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs have?

A: The RX 7800M uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 432.0 GB/s bandwidth. The R9 M290X uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has better DirectX support?

A: The RX 7800M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the R9 M290X only supports DirectX 12 (11_1). The newer card also supports Vulkan 1.4 versus Vulkan 1.2.170 on the older one.

Q: How do these GPUs compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The RX 7800M has a TDP of 180 W, while the R9 M290X has a TDP of 100 W. The RX 7800M uses more power but delivers significantly higher performance.

Q: What are the production status and release dates for these GPUs?

A: The RX 7800M is listed as Active with a release date of 2024-09-10. The R9 M290X is End-of-life with a release date of 2014-01-08.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 7800M | AMD Radeon R9 M290X |

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

| Architecture | RDNA 3.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 28,100 million | 2,800 million |

| Die Size | 346 mm² | 212 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 81.2M / mm² | 13.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1295 MHz | 850 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2335 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Memory Size | 12 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 192 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 432.0 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 3840 | 1280 |

| TMUs | 240 | 80 |

| ROPs | 96 | 32 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 60 | None |

| Pixel Rate | 224.2 GPixel/s | 28.80 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 560.4 GTexel/s | 72.00 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 35.87 TFLOPS | 2.304 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 180 W | 100 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2024-09-10 | 2014-01-08 |