AMD Radeon 780M vs AMD Radeon RX 460 Comparison

AMD Radeon RX 460 vs AMD Radeon 780M is a matchup between a dedicated entry-level GPU from 2016 and a modern integrated graphics processor. The benchmark data shows a clear generational shift, with the 780M taking both head-to-head wins, but the RX 460 still holds its own in raw compute tests. The data indicates that the newer integrated solution has pulled ahead in graphics-heavy workloads, while the older discrete card remains competitive in general-purpose compute.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench Vulkan result is the most decisive victory for the AMD Radeon 780M. It scores 33683, which is a massive 40% lead over the RX 460's 20198. This is a substantial gap that reflects the architectural improvements in RDNA 3.0, particularly in graphics-centric APIs like Vulkan. For any modern gaming or GPU-accelerated application that leverages Vulkan, the 780M is the clear choice based on this data.

The Geekbench OpenCL result is much closer. The 780M scores 18602, edging out the RX 460's 17855 by just 4%. While still a win for the 780M, this narrow margin suggests that in compute-heavy tasks that rely on OpenCL, the older RX 460 is not far behind. The RX 460's 896 shading units versus the 780M's 768 likely helps keep this gap small, despite the 780M's higher clock speeds and newer architecture.

Looking at the overall averages, the RX 460 actually has a higher average benchmark score of 18373 compared to the 780M's 17588. However, this average includes the RX 460's Geekbench Metal score of 17065, which has no direct counterpart for the 780M. The 780M's average is pulled down by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 480, a test the RX 460 did not run. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with the RX 460 at the 62nd percentile and the 780M at the 61st.

The nearest rivals for each card put their performance in context. The RX 460's average score of 18373 is within 1.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159) and just 0.1% behind the Intel Arc A770M (18383). The 780M's average of 17588 sits between the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (17639), with a delta of 0.2% and -0.3% respectively. These comparisons show that while the 780M wins the head-to-head, the RX 460 is not an obsolete performer in compute tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 780M wins in Vulkan graphics performance by a wide margin, making it the stronger choice for modern gaming and applications that use Vulkan. Its 40% lead in that benchmark is significant enough to translate into real-world performance differences in games that support Vulkan, which includes many modern titles.

The AMD Radeon RX 460, despite losing both head-to-head tests, shows competitive OpenCL compute performance. Its score of 17855 is only 4% behind the 780M, which means for OpenCL-based workloads like certain rendering, physics simulation, or productivity tasks, the RX 460 is nearly as capable. This is notable because the RX 460 is a discrete card with its own 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 112.0 GB/s of bandwidth, whereas the 780M relies on system memory, making the RX 460 potentially more consistent in memory-bound scenarios.

The 780M also has advantages in raw throughput specs that suggest it would win in other scenarios not directly benchmarked. It has an FP32 performance of 8.909 TFLOPS compared to the RX 460's 2.150 TFLOPS, and a texture rate of 139.2 GTexel/s versus 67.20 GTexel/s. These specifications, combined with the Vulkan win, indicate the 780M is the more capable overall graphics processor.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 460 has a higher average benchmark score of 18373, compared to the AMD Radeon 780M's 17588. However, the 780M won both head-to-head tests they share.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Radeon 780M in Vulkan?

A: The 780M scores 33683 in Geekbench Vulkan, which is 40% higher than the RX 460's 20198. This is the largest performance gap between the two cards.

Q: Is the RX 460 competitive in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Geekbench OpenCL the RX 460 scores 17855, just 4% behind the 780M's 18602. This shows the RX 460 is still competitive for OpenCL compute workloads.

Q: What is the 780M's performance relative to a desktop RTX 4060?

A: The 780M has an average score of 17588, which is 0.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's 17639. The two are effectively tied in average benchmark performance.

Q: How does the RX 460 compare to an RTX 3060 Mobile?

A: The RX 460's average score of 18373 is 1.2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile's 18159, meaning the RX 460 has a slight edge in overall average performance.

Q: Which card has the better pixel rate?

A: The AMD Radeon 780M has a pixel rate of 92.80 GPixel/s, which is significantly higher than the RX 460's 19.20 GPixel/s. This indicates the 780M can fill pixels much faster.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is in memory. The RX 460 has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 112.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 780M uses "System Shared" memory with a "System Dependent" bandwidth, meaning its performance is tied to the system's RAM speed and configuration.

Clock speeds tell a story of efficiency versus brute force. The RX 460 has a base clock of 1090 MHz and a boost of 1200 MHz. The 780M has a lower base clock of 800 MHz but a much higher boost of 2900 MHz. This higher boost clock contributes significantly to the 780M's superior throughput.

The power and physical requirements differ drastically. The RX 460 has a 75 W TDP and requires a 250 W power supply, while the 780M has a 15 W TDP and needs no power supply recommendation. The RX 460 is a dual-slot card at 170 mm (6.7 inches) long, while the 780M is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no physical dimensions listed.

Bus interface and display outputs also differ. The RX 460 uses PCIe 3.0 x8 and has specific outputs: 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The 780M uses the newer PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and its display outputs are "Motherboard Dependent," meaning they vary based on the system board.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The RX 460 uses the Baffin chip based on GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The 780M uses the Phoenix chip based on RDNA 3.0, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference from 14 nm to 4 nm is a major factor in the 780M's efficiency and clock speeds.

Transistor counts and die sizes illustrate the complexity difference. The RX 460 has 3,000 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, giving a density of 24.4M per mm². The 780M packs 25,390 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, achieving a density of 142.6M per mm². This is a massive increase in transistor density.

Compute unit configurations also differ. The RX 460 has 896 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The 780M has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Notably, the 780M has 12 ray tracing cores, a feature the RX 460 lacks entirely. The 780M also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 460 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3.

The FP32 and FP16 performance shows the 780M's dominance: 8.909 TFLOPS versus 2.150 TFLOPS for both formats. The 780M also has a higher texture rate (139.2 GTexel/s vs 67.20 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (92.80 GPixel/s vs 19.20 GPixel/s). The production status reflects their lifecycles: the RX 460 is end-of-life, while the 780M is active.

The Verdict

The data is straightforward: the AMD Radeon 780M is the better performer in graphics workloads, winning the Vulkan test by 40% and the OpenCL test by 4%. Its higher boost clock, more advanced RDNA 3.0 architecture, and ray tracing support make it the superior choice for modern graphics applications. The 780M also does this at a fraction of the power draw, with a 15 W TDP versus the RX 460's 75 W.

However, the RX 460 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score is actually higher than the 780M's, and it comes within 4% of the 780M in OpenCL performance. For users with an existing system that supports a discrete PCIe card, the RX 460 could still handle OpenCL compute tasks adequately. Its dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 memory provides predictable bandwidth that doesn't depend on the system's main memory.

For most users, the choice is clear. If you are building a new system or have a motherboard that supports the 780M's integrated graphics, the 780M is the superior option. It offers better Vulkan performance, significantly higher FLOPS, and newer feature support. The RX 460 only makes sense if you need a discrete card for a legacy system and your workloads are primarily OpenCL-based, where the performance gap narrows considerably. The 780M wins the head-to-head, and the specification sheet confirms it is the more capable and efficient processor.