AMD Radeon R9 M375 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 Comparison

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for compute workloads: the AMD Radeon R9 M375. In the single recorded head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, the AMD part scores 10457 against 8743 for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2, a 19.6% advantage. This places the R9 M375 in the 48th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 460 v2 sits at the 44th percentile. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in OpenCL applications, the R9 M375 is the better choice.

However, the GTX 460 v2 is not without its own strengths. It carries a higher memory bandwidth figure, 96.19 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s, and a larger texture fill rate, 43.62 GTexel/s versus 40.60 GTexel/s. That suggests the NVIDIA card may hold up better in texture-bound rendering tasks, even though its overall compute score is lower. The GTX 460 v2 also has a higher transistor count, 1,950 million versus 1,500 million, and a larger die, 332 mm² versus 123 mm².

The verdict depends on workload type. For general compute and modern API compatibility, the R9 M375 wins. For legacy texture-heavy workloads where bandwidth matters more than raw shader math, the GTX 460 v2 might offer a more balanced experience, despite losing the aggregate benchmark comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and manufacturing nodes. The AMD Radeon R9 M375 uses the Tropo chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 uses the GF114 chip based on Fermi 2.0 architecture, built on a 40 nm process, also at TSMC. The node difference is significant: 28 nm is a more advanced process than 40 nm, which helps explain the AMD chip's higher transistor density of 12.2M per mm² versus the NVIDIA chip's 5.9M per mm².

The memory subsystems differ fundamentally. The R9 M375 pairs 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 460 v2 uses 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 96.19 GB/s. That is a 3.3x bandwidth advantage for the NVIDIA card, which is substantial. The R9 M375 compensates with a higher core clock: its base is 1000 MHz with a boost of 1015 MHz, while the GTX 460 v2 has no recorded base or boost clocks. The NVIDIA card's memory runs at 1002 MHz, translating to 4 Gbps effective, while the AMD card's memory runs at 900 MHz, translating to 1800 Mbps effective.

Shader configuration also differs sharply. The R9 M375 has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 460 v2 has 336 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Despite having fewer shaders, the NVIDIA card has more TMUs and ROPs, which explains its higher texture rate and pixel rate characteristics in certain workloads. The AMD card's FP32 throughput is 1,299.2 GFLOPS versus 1,046.3 GFLOPS for the NVIDIA card, a 24% advantage in raw floating-point math.

API support also diverges. Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6. The R9 M375 supports Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 460 v2 has no recorded Vulkan support. The DirectX feature level differs: the AMD card is rated at 12 (11_1), while the NVIDIA card is at 12 (11_0). This means the R9 M375 has a small edge in feature support for newer graphics APIs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison in the database is Geekbench OpenCL. The AMD Radeon R9 M375 scores 10457, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 scores 8743. The delta is 19.6% in favor of the AMD card. This is a substantial margin, indicating that the R9 M375's shader count and clock speed translate into better compute performance in this test.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the R9 M375's average benchmark score is 10070, while the GTX 460 v2's average is 8743. The AMD card also has a second recorded benchmark, Geekbench Vulkan, where it scores 9682. The NVIDIA card has no Vulkan score recorded. This suggests the R9 M375 is better suited for modern compute APIs, while the GTX 460 v2 may be limited to older OpenCL workloads.

The nearest rivals for the R9 M375 include the NVIDIA Quadro K5100M (average score 10043, delta 0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M (10013, delta 0.6%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M (9959, delta 1.1%). The R9 M375 sits slightly above these parts. The GTX 460 v2's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (8746, delta 0%), the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (8686, delta 0.7%), and the AMD Radeon R9 M265X (8851, delta -1.2%). The GTX 460 v2 sits within a narrow band of these parts, roughly 1% below the R9 M265X.

These numbers show that the R9 M375 competes with a higher tier of GPUs than the GTX 460 v2. The gap in average score, 10070 versus 8743, is 15.2%, which is consistent with the head-to-head result. The GTX 460 v2 is closer to lower-midrange parts, while the R9 M375 edges into the upper-midrange category.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. Here are the recorded differences:

• Process node: The R9 M375 is on 28 nm; the GTX 460 v2 is on 40 nm.
• Transistor count: The R9 M375 has 1,500 million transistors; the GTX 460 v2 has 1,950 million.
• Die size: The R9 M375 is 123 mm²; the GTX 460 v2 is 332 mm².
• Transistor density: The R9 M375 is 12.2M per mm²; the GTX 460 v2 is 5.9M per mm².
• Memory size: The R9 M375 has 2 GB; the GTX 460 v2 has 1024 MB.
• Memory type: The R9 M375 uses DDR3; the GTX 460 v2 uses GDDR5.
• Memory bus width: The R9 M375 is 128 bit; the GTX 460 v2 is 192 bit.
• Memory bandwidth: The R9 M375 is 28.80 GB/s; the GTX 460 v2 is 96.19 GB/s.
• Shading units: The R9 M375 has 640; the GTX 460 v2 has 336.
• Texture mapping units: The R9 M375 has 40; the GTX 460 v2 has 56.
• Render output units: The R9 M375 has 16; the GTX 460 v2 has 24.
• Pixel rate: The R9 M375 is 16.24 GPixel/s; the GTX 460 v2 is 10.91 GPixel/s.
• Texture rate: The R9 M375 is 40.60 GTexel/s; the GTX 460 v2 is 43.62 GTexel/s.
• FP32 throughput: The R9 M375 is 1,299.2 GFLOPS; the GTX 460 v2 is 1,046.3 GFLOPS.
• TDP: The R9 M375 has no recorded TDP; the GTX 460 v2 is 160 W.
• Slot width: The R9 M375 has no recorded value; the GTX 460 v2 is dual-slot.
• Power connectors: The R9 M375 has none recorded; the GTX 460 v2 uses 2x 6-pin.
• Suggested PSU: The R9 M375 has none recorded; the GTX 460 v2 is 450 W.
• Bus interface: The R9 M375 is PCIe 3.0 x16; the GTX 460 v2 is PCIe 2.0 x16.
• Display outputs: The R9 M375 has none recorded; the GTX 460 v2 has 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a.
• Length: The R9 M375 has no recorded length; the GTX 460 v2 is 210 mm (8.3 inches).
• Vulkan support: The R9 M375 is 1.2.170; the GTX 460 v2 has no recorded Vulkan support.
• DirectX feature level: The R9 M375 is 12 (11_1); the GTX 460 v2 is 12 (11_0).
• Release date: The R9 M375 was released on 2015-05-04; the GTX 460 v2 on 2011-09-23.
• Launch MSRP: The R9 M375 has no recorded value; the GTX 460 v2 was 199 USD.

The R9 M375 is a smaller, more modern chip with higher clock speeds and more shaders. The GTX 460 v2 is a larger, older chip with more memory bandwidth and higher texture throughput. The power requirements confirm this: the GTX 460 v2 needs 160 W and a 450 W PSU, while the R9 M375 has no recorded power draw, suggesting it is a more efficient mobile-oriented part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M375 has an average benchmark score of 10070, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 has an average score of 8743. That is a 15.2% gap in favor of the AMD card.

Q: Does the GTX 460 v2 beat the R9 M375 in any benchmark?

A: In the recorded head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, the R9 M375 wins with 10457 versus 8743, a 19.6% margin. The database shows 1 win for the R9 M375 and 0 wins for the GTX 460 v2.

Q: What memory advantages does the GTX 460 v2 have?

A: The GTX 460 v2 uses GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth. The R9 M375 uses DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s. The NVIDIA card has 3.3x more bandwidth.

Q: Which card supports Vulkan?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M375 supports Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 has no recorded Vulkan support, which limits its compatibility with modern Vulkan-based applications.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The R9 M375 is built on a 28 nm process, while the GTX 460 v2 is built on a 40 nm process. Both use TSMC as the foundry, but the smaller node gives the AMD chip a higher transistor density of 12.2M per mm² versus 5.9M per mm².

Q: How does the R9 M375 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The R9 M375 sits slightly above the NVIDIA Quadro K5100M (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M (0.6% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M (1.1% higher). It is 2% below the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950A.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon R9 M375 wins in:

• Raw compute performance: The FP32 throughput of 1,299.2 GFLOPS is 24% higher than the GTX 460 v2's 1,046.3 GFLOPS.
• OpenCL benchmark scores: The 10457 score beats the GTX 460 v2's 8743 by 19.6%.
• Modern API support: Vulkan 1.2.170 support and DirectX 12 (11_1) feature level give it an edge in newer applications.
• Pixel fill rate: The 16.24 GPixel/s is 49% higher than the GTX 460 v2's 10.91 GPixel/s.
• Memory capacity: 2 GB versus 1024 MB, useful for larger textures or data sets.
• Efficiency: The 28 nm node and lower thermal design (no recorded TDP) suggest a more power-efficient design, though the GTX 460 v2 is explicitly rated at 160 W.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 wins in:

• Memory bandwidth: 96.19 GB/s is 3.3x higher than the R9 M375's 28.80 GB/s. This matters for memory-bound workloads like high-resolution textures or multi-sample anti-aliasing.
• Texture throughput: The 43.62 GTexel/s is 7.4% higher than the R9 M375's 40.60 GTexel/s, which could help in texel-heavy rendering scenes.
• ROP count: 24 ROPs versus 16, potentially improving fill-rate efficiency in certain pixel-heavy passes.
• Transistor count: 1,950 million versus 1,500 million, indicating a more complex chip design, though on a larger and older node.

The data suggests the R9 M375 is the more versatile modern GPU, especially for compute tasks and newer APIs. The GTX 460 v2 holds a niche for bandwidth-sensitive rendering, but its older architecture and lack of Vulkan support limit its future-proofing. For users with older OpenCL workloads that rely on memory bandwidth, the GTX 460 v2 might still be serviceable. For everyone else, the R9 M375 is the stronger pick based on the recorded measurements.