AMD Radeon RX 470 vs AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH Comparison

# AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH vs AMD Radeon RX 470

The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH and AMD Radeon RX 470 occupy the same percentile tier at 74% of all GPUs, yet their average benchmark scores differ by only 0.7% — a statistical tie. The RX 470 edges ahead with an average score of 28,996 versus 29,197 for the Vega M GH, but the rivalry is remarkably close. Both cards share the GCN 4.0 architecture and 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, but they diverge sharply in implementation: one is an integrated graphics processor built for portables, the other a dual-slot discrete card with its own power connector. The head-to-head data reveals a clear winner in raw compute, but the context of each card's intended environment complicates the story.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 470 wins every head-to-head benchmark recorded. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 33,568 against the Vega M GH's 27,125 — a 19.2% advantage. In Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 470 delivers 39,884 versus 31,268, a 21.6% gap. The RX 470 also holds a significant edge in raw throughput metrics: its FP32 compute reaches 4.940 TFLOPS compared to 3.656 TFLOPS for the Vega M GH, and its texture rate of 154.4 GTexel/s outpaces the Vega M GH's 114.2 GTexel/s. The RX 470's shading unit count of 2,048 versus 1,536 and TMU count of 128 versus 96 explain much of this performance differential.

The Vega M GH, however, wins in efficiency-oriented metrics. Its TDP is 100 W versus 120 W for the RX 470, and it achieves a higher pixel rate — 76.16 GPixel/s versus 38.59 GPixel/s — despite having double the ROP count advantage to the RX 470 (64 versus 32). The Vega M GH also boasts a smaller die at 208 mm² with fewer transistors (5,000 million versus 5,700 million), yet it manages comparable memory bandwidth at 204.8 GB/s versus 211.2 GB/s. This suggests the Vega M GH is optimized for space and power-constrained environments, while the RX 470 prioritizes raw compute throughput.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on GCN 4.0 architecture and manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, but their physical designs diverge considerably. The Vega M GH uses the Polaris 22 chip, while the RX 470 uses Ellesmere. The Vega M GH packs 5,000 million transistors into a 208 mm² die, yielding a density of 24.0M transistors per mm². The RX 470 is larger: 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, with a slightly higher density of 24.6M per mm².

Memory subsystems differ fundamentally. The Vega M GH employs 4 GB of HBM2 on a 1024-bit bus, achieving 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 470 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 211.2 GB/s. The HBM2 implementation allows the Vega M GH to reach comparable bandwidth through a vastly wider interface, which is notable given its integrated nature. The RX 470's memory runs at 1650 MHz (6.6 Gbps effective), while the Vega M GH's memory operates at 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective).

Clock speeds reveal another divergence. The Vega M GH has a higher base clock at 1063 MHz versus 926 MHz for the RX 470, but the RX 470's boost clock of 1206 MHz slightly exceeds the Vega M GH's 1190 MHz. The Vega M GH compensates with higher ROP count (64 versus 32), which explains its doubled pixel rate. The RX 470 counters with more shading units and TMUs for compute-heavy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 470 delivers 4.940 TFLOPS FP32 performance, which is 35% higher than the Vega M GH's 3.656 TFLOPS. This aligns with its 19.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL and 21.6% lead in Geekbench Vulkan.

Q: How do their memory configurations compare?

A: Both cards feature 4 GB of memory, but the Vega M GH uses HBM2 on a 1024-bit bus with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 470 uses GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 211.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 470 has a marginal bandwidth advantage of 3.1%.

Q: Which GPU is more power-efficient?

A: The Vega M GH has a 100 W TDP compared to the RX 470's 120 W TDP. The Vega M GH also achieves a higher pixel rate of 76.16 GPixel/s versus 38.59 GPixel/s, suggesting better efficiency in rasterization throughput per watt.

Q: What are the physical form factor differences?

A: The Vega M GH is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with portable-device-dependent display outputs, while the RX 470 is a dual-slot card measuring 240 mm in length, 95 mm in height, and 35 mm in width, requiring a 1x 6-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: Both are end-of-life products. The Vega M GH was released on January 31, 2018, while the RX 470 was released on August 3, 2016. The RX 470 has a predecessor (Pirate Islands) and successor (Polaris) listed, whereas the Vega M GH has neither.

Q: How close are their average benchmark scores?

A: The Vega M GH averages 29,197, while the RX 470 averages 28,996 — a difference of only 0.7%. Both sit at the 74th percentile of all GPUs, and their nearest rival lists include each other along with the AMD FirePro W8000 and Intel Arc A370M.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH | AMD Radeon RX 470 |

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

| Chip | Polaris 22 | Ellesmere |

| Generation | Vega (Vega M) | Arctic Islands (RX 400) |

| Transistors | 5,000 million | 5,700 million |

| Die Size | 208 mm² | 232 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 24.0M / mm² | 24.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1063 MHz | 926 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1190 MHz | 1206 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 800 MHz / 1600 Mbps effective | 1650 MHz / 6.6 Gbps effective |

| Memory Type | HBM2 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 1024 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | 211.2 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1536 | 2048 |

| TMUs | 96 | 128 |

| ROPs | 64 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 76.16 GPixel/s | 38.59 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 114.2 GTexel/s | 154.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 3.656 TFLOPS | 4.940 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 100 W | 120 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | None | 300 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Dimensions | N/A | 240 mm x 95 mm x 35 mm |

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2016-08-03 |

| Launch MSRP | None | 179 USD |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only two head-to-head benchmark results both favor the AMD Radeon RX 470 decisively. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 470 scores 33,568 against the Vega M GH's 27,125, a delta of -19.2% for the Vega M GH. The Vulkan test shows an even larger gap: the RX 470 scores 39,884 versus 31,268, a -21.6% delta. These results are consistent with the FP32 compute differential — the RX 470's 4.940 TFLOPS versus 3.656 TFLOPS represents a 35% theoretical advantage, though real-world benchmark deltas are smaller.

The RX 470's wins are not merely numerical; they reflect architectural strengths. With 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs, the RX 470 processes parallel workloads more efficiently than the Vega M GH's 1,536 shading units and 96 TMUs. The texture rate gap — 154.4 GTexel/s versus 114.2 GTexel/s — aligns with the TMU disparity. Yet the Vega M GH's higher pixel rate (76.16 GPixel/s versus 38.59 GPixel/s) shows it excels in fill-rate-bound scenarios, a trait that does not translate into the recorded head-to-head tests.

The nearest rival data contextualizes these results. The RX 470's average score of 28,996 places it within 0.4% of the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (28,874) and 0.6% below the Intel Arc A370M (29,175). The Vega M GH's average of 29,197 is 0.1% above the Intel Arc A370M and 0% from the AMD FirePro W8000 (29,211). Both cards effectively trade places within the same performance cluster, making the RX 470's benchmark wins more about consistency than dominance.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 470 is the superior choice for compute-intensive workloads. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks by roughly 20%, offers 35% higher FP32 throughput, and provides more shading units and TMUs. Its dual-slot form factor, 1x 6-pin power connector, and 300 W suggested PSU make it a straightforward discrete GPU solution for desktop systems. The RX 470's launch MSRP of 179 USD reflects its position as a mainstream card, though it is now end-of-life.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH, by contrast, targets a different use case entirely. As an IGP with portable-device-dependent display outputs, it sacrifices raw compute (3.656 TFLOPS) for integration efficiency. Its 100 W TDP, lack of external power connectors, and smaller die (208 mm²) suggest it was designed for compact or mobile systems where the RX 470's 240 mm length and dual-slot footprint are impossible. Its higher pixel rate and ROP count (64 versus 32) indicate strengths in certain graphics pipelines that the recorded benchmarks do not capture.

For users building or upgrading a desktop with PCIe 3.0 x16 availability, the RX 470 is the clear pick based on benchmark results. For those constrained to integrated graphics in a portable device, the Vega M GH offers competitive average performance (29,197 versus 28,996) despite losing head-to-head tests. The 0.7% average score difference between these cards is negligible in real-world terms, but the RX 470's consistent 19-22% benchmark leads make it the performance winner. The Vega M GH's value lies in its form factor and efficiency, not its compute dominance.