AMD Radeon R9 M360 vs AMD Radeon Vega 8 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear, though not overwhelming, victory for the AMD Radeon Vega 8 across the two shared benchmark tests. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Vega 8 scores 8,822 points against the R9 M360's 8,211 points, a delta of 7.4%. This is the larger of the two wins and indicates a meaningful advantage in compute-heavy workloads that leverage OpenCL acceleration. The gap is not trivial; it places the Vega 8 firmly ahead in raw throughput-oriented tasks.

The Geekbench Vulkan test tells a similar story but with a much narrower margin. The Vega 8 posts 8,134 points, while the R9 M360 manages 8,047 points, a delta of just 1.1%. This suggests that when both GPUs are pushed through the Vulkan API, their performance characteristics converge significantly. The Vega 8 still takes the win, but the slim margin implies that API overhead or driver scheduling may be leveling the playing field in this specific workload.

Across the two benchmarks, the Vega 8 wins both, securing a 2-0 head-to-head record. The average benchmark score reinforces this narrative: the Vega 8 sits at 9,221 points, while the R9 M360 trails at 8,129 points. That difference, roughly 13.4% when calculated from the recorded averages, is more pronounced than either individual delta, suggesting that the Vega 8's advantage is consistent rather than isolated to a single test.

Context from the nearest rivals helps interpret these numbers. The Vega 8's average of 9,221 places it just 0.1% behind the AMD Radeon 890M (9,210) and 0.6% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (9,273). It also edges out the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 (9,294, a -0.8% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M (9,302, a -0.9% delta). This places the Vega 8 in a competitive bracket with mid-range discrete GPUs from a previous generation, which is notable for an integrated part.

The R9 M360, by contrast, sits at 8,129 points, which is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M (8,135) and 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 945M (8,099). It is also 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (8,167) and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GRID K2 (8,080). The R9 M360's position among these rivals shows it competing with lower-tier mobile discrete GPUs, while the Vega 8 is trading blows with higher-end older discrete parts. The percentile data reinforces this split: the Vega 8 ranks in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, while the R9 M360 ranks in the 42nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The underlying architectures of these two GPUs are generations apart. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 uses the GCN 5.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The chip, codenamed Raven, packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5 million per square millimeter. This is a modern, dense design optimized for integration into an APU package.

The AMD Radeon R9 M360, in contrast, relies on the older GCN 1.0 architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. Its chip, codenamed Tropo, contains 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, with a transistor density of just 12.2 million per square millimeter. The generational jump in process technology is stark: the Vega 8 fits over three times as many transistors into a die that is only about 70% larger, which directly contributes to its higher compute throughput.

Both GPUs share the same shading unit count of 512 and the same texture mapping unit count of 32. This parity in core configuration means the architectural differences manifest elsewhere. The R9 M360 has double the render output units, 16 versus the Vega 8's 8, giving it a higher pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s compared to 8.80 GPixel/s. The Vega 8 counters with a higher texture rate of 35.20 GTexel/s versus 29.60 GTexel/s, a 19% advantage that reflects its higher clock ceiling.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The Vega 8 runs at a base of 300 MHz and boosts to 1,100 MHz, while the R9 M360 operates at a base of 900 MHz and boosts to just 925 MHz. Despite the R9 M360's higher idle clock, the Vega 8's boost clock is nearly 19% higher, which explains its superior FP32 output of 1,126.4 GFLOPS versus 947.2 GFLOPS. The Vega 8 also supports FP16 at 2.253 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, a feature the R9 M360 lacks entirely.

Memory configuration is another major divider. The Vega 8 uses system-shared memory, with its bandwidth labeled as "System Dependent." The R9 M360 has dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a classic trade-off: the Vega 8's unified memory architecture simplifies data sharing but ties performance to system RAM speed, while the R9 M360's dedicated VRAM ensures predictable bandwidth regardless of the host system.

API support also differs. The Vega 8 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The R9 M360 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Vega 8's newer DirectX feature level and more recent Vulkan revision suggest better long-term compatibility with modern titles and compute frameworks.

Where Each One Wins

The Vega 8 wins in compute-heavy scenarios. Its higher FP32 throughput, 1,126.4 GFLOPS versus 947.2 GFLOPS, and its FP16 support make it the stronger choice for OpenCL workloads, as evidenced by its 7.4% lead in that benchmark. The data also shows it maintaining an edge in Vulkan, though the 1.1% margin suggests the R9 M360 is not far behind in API-specific optimizations.

The R9 M360 wins in memory-bound situations. Its dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth gives it a structural advantage in scenarios where texture streaming or large data sets exceed what system-shared memory can efficiently provide. Its 16 ROPs and higher pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s also point to stronger fill-rate performance, which matters for traditional rasterization at high resolutions or with heavy overdraw.

The Vega 8's transistor density and architectural maturity give it a longevity advantage. It supports Vulkan 1.3, while the R9 M360 is capped at 1.2.170, and its DirectX 12 (12_1) feature level is newer than the R9 M360's 11_1. For users running modern graphics APIs, the Vega 8 is the more future-proof option.

The R9 M360's PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is a conventional discrete GPU connection, whereas the Vega 8 is an IGP with motherboard-dependent display outputs. This means the Vega 8's performance is tied to the host CPU's memory subsystem, while the R9 M360 can be paired with a wider range of systems without that dependency.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon Vega 8 as the stronger overall GPU. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks, has a higher average score (9,221 versus 8,129), and ranks higher in the percentile distribution (45th versus 42nd). Its compute capabilities, modern architecture, and newer API support make it the better choice for users prioritizing raw performance in OpenCL and Vulkan workloads.

The R9 M360 is not without merit. Its dedicated GDDR5 memory and higher pixel rate make it suitable for scenarios where memory bandwidth and fill rate are the limiting factors. Users with older systems that lack fast system RAM might find the R9 M360 more consistent, as its performance does not depend on the host memory configuration.

However, the benchmark results are unambiguous: the Vega 8 leads in every shared test, and its average score is over 13% higher. For most use cases, the Vega 8 is the recommended pick. The R9 M360 remains a viable option only in narrow, memory-sensitive scenarios where its dedicated VRAM provides a concrete advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 8 has an average benchmark score of 9,221, while the AMD Radeon R9 M360 has an average of 8,129.

Q: How much faster is the Vega 8 in OpenCL?

A: The Vega 8 scores 8,822 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 8,211 for the R9 M360, a 7.4% advantage.

Q: Does the R9 M360 have dedicated memory?

A: Yes, the R9 M360 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Vega 8 uses system-shared memory.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of Vulkan?

A: The Vega 8 supports Vulkan 1.3, while the R9 M360 supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: What is the transistor count difference?

A: The Vega 8 has 4,940 million transistors on a 14 nm process, while the R9 M360 has 1,500 million transistors on a 28 nm process.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel rate?

A: The R9 M360 has a higher pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s, compared to the Vega 8's 8.80 GPixel/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Vega 8 | AMD Radeon R9 M360 |

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

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 1,500 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 23.5M / mm² | 12.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1100 MHz | 925 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 72.00 GB/s |

| ROPs | 8 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.800 GPixel/s | 14.80 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 35.20 GTexel/s | 29.60 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,126.4 GFLOPS | 947.2 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 2.253 TFLOPS (2:1) | null |

| TDP | 25 W | null |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | null |

| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.2.170 |

| Release Date | 2018-02-11 | 2015-05-04 |

| Predecessor | GCN 3.0 IGP | Solar System |

| Successor | Vega II IGP | Polaris Mobile |