AMD Radeon R9 M380 vs AMD Radeon Vega 11 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R9 M380 and AMD Radeon Vega 11 represent two distinct approaches to graphics processing: a discrete mobile GPU from 2015 and a modern integrated processor from 2019. The benchmark data reveals a statistical dead heat in aggregate performance, with the R9 M380 holding a slight edge in average score but the Vega 11 countering with superior API support and a significantly newer architecture. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and practical implications based solely on the provided specifications and benchmark scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between these two GPUs is defined by exactly two benchmark tests: Geekbench Metal and Geekbench OpenCL. The results are a perfect split, with each card winning one test. In the Geekbench Metal test, the AMD Radeon R9 M380 scores 18,476 points, defeating the Vega 11's 17,392 points by a margin of 6.2%. This is the R9 M380's strongest showing, leveraging its dedicated GDDR5 memory and higher memory bandwidth to achieve a clear victory in Apple's Metal API workload.

The Geekbench OpenCL test flips the script. Here, the AMD Radeon Vega 11 scores 13,392 points, besting the R9 M380's 12,565 points by the same 6.2% margin in reverse. This win is notable because the Vega 11 achieves it despite being an integrated part with system-shared memory, suggesting its architectural efficiency in compute-heavy OpenCL workloads outweighs the R9 M380's dedicated memory advantage. The symmetry of the deltas — exactly 6.2% in each direction — underscores how closely matched these two parts are in raw compute capability, with the winner determined largely by the specific workload characteristics of each test.

When looking at average benchmark scores across all available tests, the R9 M380 posts 15,521 points, which places it at the 58th percentile of all GPUs. The Vega 11's average is 14,352 points, at the 56th percentile. The R9 M380's nearest rival by average score is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, with a delta of -0.2%, meaning the R9 M380 is essentially on par with that flagship desktop GPU in this aggregate metric. The Vega 11's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, with a delta of -0.1%, again showing near-identical aggregate performance. The average benchmark scores themselves differ by roughly 8% (15,521 vs. 14,352), a gap that is reflected in the percentile rankings.

Where Each One Wins

The R9 M380 wins decisively in the Geekbench Metal test, and this is a meaningful differentiator for users in Apple-centric ecosystems or applications that rely heavily on Metal acceleration. The 6.2% lead in Metal suggests that the R9 M380's dedicated memory subsystem and mature GCN 2.0 drivers are better optimized for this specific API. This card also holds the aggregate average score advantage, with 15,521 points versus the Vega 11's 14,352, a difference of roughly 1,169 points that pushes it one percentile higher (58th vs. 56th).

The Vega 11 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test by 6.2%, which is significant for general-purpose compute, scientific workloads, and applications that leverage OpenCL for GPGPU acceleration. Its higher FP32 throughput of 1.971 TFLOPS (versus 1.536 TFLOPS for the R9 M380) is a likely contributor to this victory. Additionally, the Vega 11 supports FP16 computation at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio), a capability the R9 M380 lacks entirely, making it better suited for workloads that can utilize half-precision arithmetic. The Vega 11 also demonstrates superior Vulkan support, with a direct Vulkan benchmark score of 12,273 points, a test the R9 M380 did not undergo. Its API support includes Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_1), while the R9 M380 is limited to Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (12_0).

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two chips is substantial. The R9 M380 uses the Strato chip built on GCN 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 2,080 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.0 million per square millimeter. The Vega 11 uses the Picasso chip on GCN 5.0 architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This newer process allows for 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, achieving a much higher density of 23.5 million per square millimeter. The Vega 11's transistor count is more than double that of the R9 M380.

The compute unit configurations are similar in scale but differ in architectural efficiency. The R9 M380 has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The Vega 11 has slightly fewer resources with 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. Despite having fewer ROPs, the Vega 11 achieves a higher texture rate of 61.60 GTexel/s compared to the R9 M380's 48.00 GTexel/s, a direct result of its higher boost clock. The R9 M380 operates at a base clock of 900 MHz with a boost of 1000 MHz, while the Vega 11 has a much lower base clock of 300 MHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 1400 MHz.

Memory is where these two diverge most sharply. The R9 M380 has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 11 uses system-shared memory, with its bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the R9 M380 has guaranteed, dedicated memory bandwidth for graphics tasks, while the Vega 11's performance is contingent on the system's RAM configuration. The R9 M380's pixel rate of 16.00 GPixel/s also exceeds the Vega 11's 11.20 GPixel/s, a consequence of the latter's halved ROP count. The Vega 11 compensates with a higher FP32 throughput of 1.971 TFLOPS and the aforementioned FP16 support. Power characteristics are starkly different: the R9 M380 has no listed TDP, while the Vega 11 is rated at 15 W and is an IGP with no power connectors. The R9 M380 connects via PCIe 3.0 x16, while the Vega 11 uses the IGP bus interface.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M380 has a higher average benchmark score of 15,521 points compared to the AMD Radeon Vega 11's 14,352 points. This places the R9 M380 at the 58th percentile of all GPUs, while the Vega 11 sits at the 56th percentile.

Q: How does the R9 M380 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?

A: The R9 M380's average benchmark score of 15,521 is essentially identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's average score of 15,548, showing a delta of -0.2% in favor of the GTX 1080 Ti. This indicates near-parity in aggregate performance.

Q: Does the Vega 11 have any compute advantage over the R9 M380?

A: Yes, the Vega 11 has a higher FP32 throughput at 1.971 TFLOPS versus 1.536 TFLOPS for the R9 M380. Additionally, the Vega 11 supports FP16 computation at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio), a feature the R9 M380 does not have at all.

Q: What are the memory differences between the two GPUs?

A: The R9 M380 features 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 11 uses system-shared memory, with its bandwidth being system dependent. This gives the R9 M380 a fixed memory bandwidth advantage.

Q: Which GPU has better Vulkan API support?

A: The Vega 11 has better Vulkan support, with version 1.3 compared to version 1.2.170 on the R9 M380. The Vega 11 also has a direct Geekbench Vulkan score of 12,273, while the R9 M380 has no Vulkan benchmark recorded.

Q: How do the nearest rivals of the Vega 11 compare in average score?

A: The Vega 11's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN with an average score of 14,373, showing a delta of -0.1% in favor of the TITAN. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 scores 14,385, a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics scores 14,315, a +0.3% delta in favor of the Vega 11.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture of two balanced contenders. In terms of raw aggregate performance, the AMD Radeon R9 M380 edges out the Vega 11, holding a 58th percentile rank versus 56th and an average score that is roughly 1,169 points higher. For users prioritizing Metal-accelerated applications, the R9 M380's 6.2% lead in Geekbench Metal makes it the definitive choice. Its dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 memory with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth also provides a consistent, predictable performance baseline that does not depend on system RAM configurations.

The AMD Radeon Vega 11, however, is the more forward-looking part. Its GCN 5.0 architecture on a 12 nm process offers modern features that the R9 M380 cannot match: FP16 support at 3.942 TFLOPS, Vulkan 1.3 API compatibility, and DirectX 12 (12_1) support. Its victory in Geekbench OpenCL by 6.2% demonstrates superior compute efficiency, and its higher boost clock of 1400 MHz and texture rate of 61.60 GTexel/s show that newer architectural optimizations can overcome older, more generously provisioned specifications. The Vega 11's 15 W TDP and IGP form factor also represent a fundamentally different power envelope, though the R9 M380's TDP is not listed for direct comparison.

For users who need a dedicated mobile graphics solution with guaranteed memory bandwidth and strong Metal performance, the data supports choosing the R9 M380. For those who prioritize compute workloads, modern API support, and efficiency in an integrated package, the Vega 11 is the better option based on the benchmark evidence. The decision ultimately hinges on whether the user's workload favors Metal and fixed memory resources (R9 M380) or OpenCL, FP16, and newer architectural features (Vega 11). The perfect split in head-to-head wins means the choice is workload-specific, not a matter of overall superiority.