AMD Radeon RX 5300M vs AMD Radeon RX 560 XT Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 5300M and the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT represent two distinct generations of AMD graphics technology, with the former built for mobile efficiency and the latter as a desktop-oriented part. The data shows a clear, if narrow, statistical edge for the newer mobile chip in the single available benchmark, though the desktop card counters with a broader feature set and a higher raw compute ceiling. The RX 5300M lands in the 80th percentile of all GPUs, while the RX 560 XT sits just one point behind at the 79th percentile, indicating they compete in a similar performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it delivers a decisive result. The AMD Radeon RX 5300M scores 36,529 points, while the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT trails at 31,387 points. That difference translates to a 16.4% advantage for the RX 5300M, a substantial margin in a single synthetic workload. This is not a marginal victory; it is a clear generational leap in compute efficiency, as the RX 5300M achieves this higher score while consuming significantly less power.

Looking at the broader context, the RX 5300M’s score of 36,529 places it in a dead heat with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X, which averages 36,530 points (a 0% delta). It also edges out the NVIDIA T1000 by 0.7% (36,289 points) and the AMD Radeon Pro Duo by 1.9% (35,860 points). The only card in its immediate vicinity that beats it is the AMD Radeon PRO W6400, which scores 37,157 points, a 1.7% lead over the RX 5300M. For the RX 560 XT, its OpenCL score of 31,387 is notably lower, but the card also has a separate Vulkan benchmark result of 36,879 points, which is actually higher than its own OpenCL score and even exceeds the RX 5300M’s OpenCL result.

The RX 560 XT’s average benchmark score across both tests is 34,133 points, which is lower than the RX 5300M’s single-test average of 36,529. However, the RX 560 XT’s Vulkan score of 36,879 suggests that in API-specific workloads, it can outperform its OpenCL showing. In the head-to-head comparison table, the RX 5300M wins the sole OpenCL test, giving it a 1-0 win count in the benchmark suite. The RX 560 XT has no direct wins in the head-to-head data, but its Vulkan score indicates untapped potential that is not reflected in the comparison table.

The performance delta is particularly striking given the power envelopes. The RX 5300M is rated at 85 W TDP, while the RX 560 XT consumes 150 W. This means the mobile chip delivers a 16.4% higher OpenCL score while using nearly half the power, proof of the efficiency gains of the newer RDNA architecture. In terms of raw throughput, the RX 5300M also leads in pixel rate, achieving 46.24 GPixel/s versus the RX 560 XT’s 39.23 GPixel/s, a 17.9% advantage. However, the RX 560 XT fights back in texture rate, posting 137.3 GTexel/s against the RX 5300M’s 127.2 GTexel/s, a 7.9% lead for the older card.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 5300M is the clear winner in compute performance as measured by OpenCL. Its 36,529 score is 16.4% ahead of the RX 560 XT’s 31,387 in the same test, making it the better choice for applications that rely heavily on general-purpose compute or OpenCL-accelerated workloads. Its higher pixel rate of 46.24 GPixel/s also suggests an advantage in fill-rate-bound scenarios, such as basic rasterization at lower resolutions. Additionally, its 85 W TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient, which is a critical factor for mobile or small-form-factor systems where thermal headroom is limited.

The AMD Radeon RX 560 XT, while losing the OpenCL head-to-head, has its own strengths. Its Vulkan score of 36,879 is higher than the RX 5300M’s OpenCL score, indicating that in Vulkan-based games or applications, it can perform at a level that rivals or exceeds the newer chip. The RX 560 XT also offers superior texture throughput at 137.3 GTexel/s, which can benefit texture-heavy workloads or older game engines that are not optimized for modern architectures. Furthermore, the RX 560 XT has a larger memory bus (256-bit vs. 96-bit) and more memory capacity (4 GB vs. 3 GB), which could be advantageous in scenarios where large textures or datasets exceed the RX 5300M’s smaller frame buffer.

In terms of API support, the RX 5300M supports DirectX 12_1 and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 560 XT supports DirectX 12_0 and Vulkan 1.3. The newer API versions on the RX 5300M suggest better forward compatibility with upcoming software. For users prioritizing raw compute in a power-constrained environment, the RX 5300M is the superior choice. For those who need a desktop card with dual-slot cooling, a 6-pin power connector, and a 450 W recommended PSU, the RX 560 XT offers a more traditional desktop experience with specific display outputs (1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a) that the mobile chip lacks entirely.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5300M has an average benchmark score of 36,529, while the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT averages 34,133 points across its two benchmark results.

Q: What is the performance difference in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The RX 5300M scores 36,529 points in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 16.4% higher than the RX 560 XT’s score of 31,387 points.

Q: Does the RX 560 XT have any benchmark where it outperforms the RX 5300M?

A: The RX 560 XT does not win the head-to-head OpenCL test, but its Geekbench Vulkan score of 36,879 is higher than the RX 5300M’s OpenCL score, suggesting it can be competitive in Vulkan workloads.

Q: How do the two cards compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The RX 560 XT offers higher memory bandwidth at 224.0 GB/s compared to the RX 5300M’s 168.0 GB/s, due to its wider 256-bit bus and 4 GB of GDDR5 memory versus the RX 5300M’s 96-bit bus and 3 GB of GDDR6.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient based on the data?

A: The RX 5300M has a TDP of 85 W, while the RX 560 XT has a TDP of 150 W. The RX 5300M achieves a higher OpenCL score while using less power, indicating significantly better efficiency.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each card?

A: For the RX 5300M, the closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X with a 0% delta, followed by the NVIDIA T1000 (0.7%), AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (-1.7%), and AMD Radeon Pro Duo (1.9%). For the RX 560 XT, the nearest rival is the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB with a -0.1% delta, followed by the NVIDIA RTX A1000 (-0.2%), AMD Radeon RX 480 (0.4%), and AMD Radeon HD 7950 (0.5%).

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every core specification field. The RX 5300M uses a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, while the RX 560 XT uses a 14 nm node from GlobalFoundries. The RX 5300M has a smaller die size at 158 mm² with 6,400 million transistors, whereas the RX 560 XT has a larger die at 232 mm² with 5,700 million transistors. This results in a transistor density of 40.5M/mm² for the RX 5300M versus 24.6M/mm² for the RX 560 XT.

Clock speeds also differ: the RX 5300M has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1445 MHz, while the RX 560 XT has a base clock of 1074 MHz and a boost clock of 1226 MHz. The RX 5300M also has a game clock of 1181 MHz, which the RX 560 XT lacks. Memory configurations are distinct, with the RX 5300M offering 3 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, and the RX 560 XT offering 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus. The RX 5300M has 1408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, while the RX 560 XT has 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

The RX 5300M is rated at 85 W TDP with no power connectors, while the RX 560 XT is rated at 150 W TDP with a 1x 6-pin connector and a suggested PSU of 450 W. The RX 560 XT is a dual-slot card measuring 241 mm (9.5 inches) in length, whereas the RX 5300M has no listed dimensions. The RX 5300M uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, while the RX 560 XT uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs also differ: the RX 5300M is "Portable Device Dependent," while the RX 560 XT has 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is generational. The RX 5300M is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture, specifically using the Navi 14 chip, while the RX 560 XT uses the older GCN 4.0 architecture with the Ellesmere chip. This places the RX 5300M in the Navi Mobile generation (RX 5000M series) and the RX 560 XT in the Polaris generation (RX 500 series). The RX 5300M’s predecessor is Polaris Mobile, while the RX 560 XT’s predecessor is Arctic Islands and its successor is Vega.

The process technology is a major differentiator: the 7 nm TSMC node on the RX 5300M allows for higher transistor density and efficiency compared to the 14 nm GlobalFoundries node on the RX 560 XT. In terms of compute capabilities, the RX 5300M delivers 4.069 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 8.138 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (at a 2:1 ratio), while the RX 560 XT delivers 4.394 TFLOPS of FP32 and 4.394 TFLOPS of FP16 (at a 1:1 ratio). This gives the RX 5300M a significant advantage in FP16 workloads, which is useful for AI and certain compute tasks, while the RX 560 XT has a slight edge in FP32.

Neither card features ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The RX 5300M supports DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 560 XT supports DirectX 12_0, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The newer API versions on the RX 5300M reflect its more modern architecture. Both cards are end-of-life products, with the RX 5300M released on November 12, 2019, and the RX 560 XT released on March 12, 2019. The release dates confirm that the RX 5300M is the newer design, and its architecture demonstrates the efficiency and feature improvements that came with the RDNA transition.