AMD Radeon R9 M395X vs NVIDIA Tesla M60 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits the two GPUs across separate API workloads, and the results paint a very clear picture of specialization. The NVIDIA Tesla M60 dominates the OpenCL compute test with a score of 29,506 compared to the AMD Radeon R9 M395X's 17,829, a margin of 65.5%. This is the only head-to-head test where both cards ran the same workload, and it belongs entirely to NVIDIA.

The AMD card counters with a strong result in a different API. The Radeon R9 M395X scores 33,953 in Geekbench Metal, a workload that has no recorded NVIDIA equivalent in this database. That Metal score sits well above the Tesla M60's best recorded result in any test, which is 31,473 in Geekbench Vulkan. So while the AMD card loses the shared OpenCL test by a wide margin, it posts the single highest individual score of either card in its native Apple-oriented API.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The Tesla M60 averages 30,490 across its two recorded tests, placing it in the 75th percentile of all GPUs. The Radeon R9 M395X averages 25,891 across its two tests, sitting at the 71st percentile. The 4,599 point gap in averages is significant, but it does not tell the whole story, because each card is optimized for a different environment.

Interpreting the wins by use case, the Tesla M60 is the clear choice for general compute workloads that rely on OpenCL or Vulkan. Its Vulkan score of 31,473 is particularly strong, and its OpenCL result is 65.5% ahead of the AMD card. The Radeon R9 M395X, with its Metal score of 33,953, is the better option for macOS or Apple ecosystem applications that leverage Metal directly. The data indicates that the AMD card's Metal advantage is real, but it does not translate to OpenCL performance, where it trails badly.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the same 28 nm TSMC process, but their internal designs diverge sharply. The NVIDIA Tesla M60 uses the GM204 chip with Maxwell 2.0 architecture, while the AMD Radeon R9 M395X uses the Amethyst chip with GCN 3.0 architecture. Transistor counts are close, with the NVIDIA chip at 5,200 million and the AMD chip at 5,000 million, but the die sizes differ: 398 mm² for NVIDIA versus 366 mm² for AMD. This gives AMD a slightly higher transistor density at 13.7 million per mm² versus NVIDIA's 13.1 million per mm².

Clock behavior is another major divergence. The Tesla M60 has a base clock of 557 MHz and a boost clock of 1,178 MHz, while the Radeon R9 M395X has no recorded base or boost clock values in the database. Memory clocks are nearly identical, with the Tesla at 1,253 MHz and the AMD at 1,250 MHz, both yielding 5 Gbps effective data rates. Memory configurations are also close: both have 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, with bandwidth at 160.4 GB/s for NVIDIA and 160.0 GB/s for AMD.

The compute unit counts are identical for shading units and texture mapping units. Both cards have 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs. The critical difference is in render output units, where the Tesla M60 has 64 ROPs versus the AMD card's 32 ROPs. This doubling of ROPs drives major differences in pixel throughput: the Tesla achieves 75.39 GPixel/s while the AMD card manages only 23.14 GPixel/s. Texture rates also favor NVIDIA, at 150.8 GTexel/s versus 92.54 GTexel/s.

Floating-point performance shows NVIDIA at 4.825 TFLOPS FP32, while the AMD card is at 2.961 TFLOPS FP32. The AMD card does have a recorded FP16 rate of 2.961 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the Tesla M60 has no FP16 data recorded. Power consumption differs dramatically: the Tesla M60 draws 300 W and requires a single 8-pin power connector with a suggested 700 W power supply, while the Radeon R9 M395X consumes only 75 W and needs no external power connectors. The Tesla is a dual-slot card at 267 mm long, while the AMD card is an MXM module with portable-device-dependent display outputs.

API support also differs. The Tesla M60 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Radeon R9 M395X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA card has no display outputs at all, while the AMD card's outputs depend on the portable device it is installed in.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict for compute-heavy workloads: the NVIDIA Tesla M60 is the stronger card. Its OpenCL score of 29,506 crushes the AMD card's 17,829, a 65.5% advantage. Its Vulkan score of 31,473 is also the second-highest recorded score between the two cards. The Tesla M60's higher average score of 30,490 versus 25,891, its 75th versus 71st percentile ranking, and its doubled ROP count all point to superior raw throughput.

The Radeon R9 M395X wins only in the Metal API, where its 33,953 score exceeds any recorded result from the Tesla M60. The data indicates that the AMD card is the appropriate choice for environments that rely on Metal, which typically means Apple systems. For Vulkan, OpenCL, or any general compute task, the Tesla M60 is the better pick.

Power considerations also favor the AMD card. The Radeon R9 M395X consumes 75 W with no external power connectors, while the Tesla M60 draws 300 W and needs an 8-pin connector plus a 700 W power supply. For portable or power-constrained systems, the AMD card is the only viable option. For a desktop or server environment with adequate power delivery, the Tesla M60's performance advantage is substantial.

The production status of both cards is end-of-life, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. The Tesla M60 released on August 29, 2015, while the Radeon R9 M395X released earlier on May 4, 2015.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla M60 averages 30,490 across its recorded tests, while the AMD Radeon R9 M395X averages 25,891. The Tesla M60 sits at the 75th percentile of all GPUs, and the AMD card sits at the 71st percentile.

Q: How large is the OpenCL performance gap between the two cards?

A: The Tesla M60 scores 29,506 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the Radeon R9 M395X scores 17,829. The Tesla M60 leads by 65.5% in this head-to-head test.

Q: Does the AMD card win any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Radeon R9 M395X scores 33,953 in Geekbench Metal, which is the highest single recorded score for either card and exceeds the Tesla M60's best result of 31,473 in Vulkan.

Q: What are the memory specifications of each card?

A: Both cards have 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. The Tesla M60 delivers 160.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Radeon R9 M395X delivers 160.0 GB/s. Memory clocks are 1,253 MHz for NVIDIA and 1,250 MHz for AMD.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The Tesla M60 has a 300 W TDP and requires a single 8-pin power connector plus a suggested 700 W power supply. The Radeon R9 M395X has a 75 W TDP and uses no external power connectors.

Q: Which card has more render output units?

A: The Tesla M60 has 64 ROPs, exactly double the AMD card's 32 ROPs. This contributes to a pixel rate of 75.39 GPixel/s for NVIDIA versus 23.14 GPixel/s for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains one direct head-to-head comparison between the two cards. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA Tesla M60 scores 29,506 against the AMD Radeon R9 M395X's 17,829. The delta is 65.5% in favor of NVIDIA. This is a decisive margin that establishes the Tesla M60 as the dominant card for OpenCL compute. The AMD card's score of 17,829 is less than two-thirds of the NVIDIA result, and no amount of architectural nuance can close that gap.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the Tesla M60's Vulkan score of 31,473 is also notable. It is 6.7% higher than the card's own OpenCL score, suggesting that the Maxwell 2.0 architecture handles Vulkan workloads particularly well. The AMD card has no recorded Vulkan score, so a direct comparison in that API is not possible from the data.

The AMD card's Metal score of 33,953 is the standout result for the Radeon side. It exceeds the Tesla M60's OpenCL score by 15.1% and its Vulkan score by 7.9%. However, the Tesla M60 has no recorded Metal score, so this comparison is indirect. The data shows that the AMD card is highly capable in Metal, but that strength does not carry over to OpenCL.

The nearest rival data provides additional context. The Tesla M60's closest competitor is the NVIDIA CMP 70HX with an average score of 30,476, a delta of 0%. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 is 0.2% behind, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 is 1.3% behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is 1.8% behind. The Radeon R9 M395X's nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W7100 at 25,856 (0.1% behind), the AMD FirePro D700 at 25,842 (0.2% behind), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT at 26,011 (0.5% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile at 25,740 (0.6% behind). These rival clusters show that the Tesla M60 competes at a much higher performance tier than the AMD card.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. The process node and foundry are identical, with both using 28 nm TSMC fabrication. Transistor counts are close but not equal: 5,200 million for the Tesla M60 versus 5,000 million for the Radeon R9 M395X. Die sizes are 398 mm² and 366 mm² respectively, giving transistor densities of 13.1M per mm² and 13.7M per mm².

Clock speeds show a significant difference. The Tesla M60 has a base clock of 557 MHz and a boost clock of 1,178 MHz. The Radeon R9 M395X has no recorded base or boost clock. Memory clocks are nearly identical at 1,253 MHz for NVIDIA and 1,250 MHz for AMD, both producing 5 Gbps effective.

The compute configuration is where the cards diverge most. Both have 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs, but the Tesla M60 doubles the ROP count at 64 versus 32. Pixel rates are 75.39 GPixel/s for NVIDIA and 23.14 GPixel/s for AMD. Texture rates are 150.8 GTexel/s for NVIDIA and 92.54 GTexel/s for AMD. FP32 performance is 4.825 TFLOPS for NVIDIA and 2.961 TFLOPS for AMD. The AMD card records FP16 at 2.961 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the Tesla M60 has no FP16 data.

Power and physical specifications are starkly different. The Tesla M60 has a 300 W TDP, is dual-slot, requires one 8-pin power connector, and suggests a 700 W power supply. The Radeon R9 M395X has a 75 W TDP, uses an MXM module form factor, and requires no external power connectors. The Tesla M60 is 267 mm long, while the AMD card has no recorded dimensions. The Tesla M60 has no display outputs, while the AMD card's outputs are portable-device dependent.

API support varies as well. The Tesla M60 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the Radeon R9 M395X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. Release dates are May 4, 2015 for AMD and August 29, 2015 for NVIDIA. Both cards are end-of-life, and neither has a predecessor or successor that overlaps with the other's lineage.