AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data presents a clear, if narrow, picture: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 wins both head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 780 scores 22,863 against the RX Vega M GL’s 19,549, a delta of -14.5% from the AMD part’s perspective. That is a substantial margin in raw compute throughput, placing the older NVIDIA card firmly ahead in this particular workload.

The Vulkan test narrows the gap considerably. The GTX 780 scores 24,514 while the RX Vega M GL reaches 22,757, a delta of -7.2%. While still a win for NVIDIA, the smaller margin suggests the AMD architecture’s newer feature set partially compensates for its lower raw compute resources in this API. The RX Vega M GL’s Vulkan score is notably closer to parity than its OpenCL result, indicating that API-level optimizations can shift the balance.

Looking at the broader average benchmark scores, the picture becomes more nuanced. The RX Vega M GL has an average benchmark score of 21,153, while the GTX 780 averages 19,164. That is a reversal of the head-to-head results—the AMD part holds a roughly 10.4% higher average across its full benchmark suite. This discrepancy highlights that the two head-to-head tests capture only a slice of performance; the aggregate data suggests the RX Vega M GL is more consistent across varied workloads.

In terms of overall percentile ranking, the RX Vega M GL sits at the 66th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 780 ranks at the 64th percentile. These are close figures, but the AMD part edges ahead, reinforcing the average score data. The nearest rivals for each part further contextualize their standing: the RX Vega M GL’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon HD 8970M at 21,237 (a -0.4% delta), while the GTX 780’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA TITAN Xp at 19,177 (a -0.1% delta). Both parts are tightly clustered with their peers, indicating that neither is an outlier in its performance class.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL uses the Polaris 22 chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 uses the GK110 chip with Kepler architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process gap is significant: the AMD part packs 5,000 million transistors into a 208 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 24.0M per mm², while the NVIDIA part holds 7,080 million transistors across a 561 mm² die, at just 12.6M per mm². The RX Vega M GL’s density advantage is a direct result of the newer process node.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The RX Vega M GL uses 4 GB of HBM2 on a 1024-bit bus, delivering 179.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 780 uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, providing 288.4 GB/s. Despite the GTX 780’s higher raw bandwidth, the HBM2 implementation on the AMD part offers a much wider interface, which can reduce latency in certain access patterns. The NVIDIA card has more shading units (2,304 vs. 1,280), more texture mapping units (192 vs. 80), and more ROPs (48 vs. 32), giving it a theoretical peak pixel rate of 43.30 GPixel/s and texture rate of 173.2 GTexel/s, versus 32.35 GPixel/s and 80.88 GTexel/s for the AMD part.

Clock speeds tell a similar story of divergent design. The RX Vega M GL runs at a base clock of 931 MHz and a boost of 1011 MHz, while the GTX 780 runs at 863 MHz base and 902 MHz boost. The AMD part’s higher clocks partially compensate for its fewer execution units. In floating-point compute, the GTX 780 reaches 4.156 TFLOPS FP32, while the RX Vega M GL achieves 2.588 TFLOPS—a notable gap that explains the OpenCL result. The AMD part also supports FP16 at 1:1 ratio (2.588 TFLOPS), while the GTX 780 has no FP16 capability listed.

Power and form factor differences are stark. The RX Vega M GL is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 65 W TDP, designed for portable devices. The GTX 780 is a dual-slot discrete card with a 250 W TDP, requiring one 6-pin and one 8-pin power connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. The NVIDIA card measures 267 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 38 mm in width. API support also differs: the RX Vega M GL supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the GTX 780 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the head-to-head Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 wins with a score of 22,863 versus the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL’s 19,549, a delta of -14.5% for the AMD part.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL ever outperform the GTX 780 in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The GTX 780 wins both head-to-head tests—OpenCL and Vulkan. However, the RX Vega M GL has a higher average benchmark score (21,153 versus 19,164) across the full suite.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two cards?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL has a TDP of 65 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 has a TDP of 250 W. The AMD part is designed as an integrated GPU (IGP), whereas the NVIDIA card is a dual-slot discrete solution.

Q: How do their memory configurations differ?

A: The RX Vega M GL uses 4 GB of HBM2 on a 1024-bit bus with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 780 uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 288.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor density?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL has a transistor density of 24.0M per mm², far higher than the GTX 780’s 12.6M per mm². This is due to the AMD part’s 14 nm process versus the NVIDIA part’s 28 nm process.

Q: What is the release date disparity?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 was released on 2013-05-22, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL was released on 2018-01-31. The GTX 780 is from the GeForce 700 generation, while the RX Vega M GL is from the Vega (Vega M) generation.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 |

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

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Kepler |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 5,000 million | 7,080 million |

| Die Size | 208 mm² | 561 mm² |

| Base Clock | 931 MHz | 863 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1011 MHz | 902 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 3 GB |

| Memory Type | HBM2 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 1024 bit | 384 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 179.2 GB/s | 288.4 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1280 | 2304 |

| TMUs | 80 | 192 |

| ROPs | 32 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 32.35 GPixel/s | 43.30 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 80.88 GTexel/s | 173.2 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.588 TFLOPS | 4.156 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 2.588 TFLOPS (1:1) | Not specified |

| TDP | 65 W | 250 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | None | 600 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| DirectX Support | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | 1.2.175 |

| Dimensions | Not specified | 267 mm × 111 mm × 38 mm |

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2013-05-22 |

The Verdict

The data supports a split decision based on use case and priorities. In raw compute performance as measured by the head-to-head OpenCL and Vulkan tests, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 is the clear winner, taking both contests with deltas of -14.5% and -7.2% respectively. Its 4.156 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 288.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a decisive edge in bandwidth-hungry and compute-heavy workloads.

However, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL counters with a higher average benchmark score (21,153 versus 19,164) and a better percentile ranking (66th versus 64th). Its 65 W TDP, integrated form factor, and newer 14 nm process make it a fundamentally different product class. The GTX 780’s 250 W TDP and dual-slot design require a 600 W PSU and substantial case space, while the RX Vega M GL is portable-device dependent with no discrete power connectors.

For users constrained by power and space, the RX Vega M GL is the only viable choice—its IGP design and 65 W TDP are non-negotiable advantages. For users with a full desktop setup who prioritize raw OpenCL and Vulkan performance, the GTX 780 wins outright. The GTX 780 also has the advantage of a longer track record, having launched in 2013, while the RX Vega M GL launched in 2018. Neither part is currently in production, and the GTX 780’s launch MSRP was 649 USD, which can be stated for reference.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 wins decisively in the two head-to-head benchmark categories listed: Geekbench OpenCL (22,863 vs. 19,549) and Geekbench Vulkan (24,514 vs. 22,757). Its higher shading unit count (2,304 vs. 1,280), more TMUs (192 vs. 80), and greater memory bandwidth (288.4 GB/s vs. 179.2 GB/s) underpin these victories. It is also the only card of the two that supports a discrete PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, making it suitable for traditional desktop builds with multiple display outputs (2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2).

The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL wins in aggregate benchmark consistency, with an average score of 21,153 compared to the GTX 780’s 19,164. It also holds the advantage in transistor density (24.0M / mm² vs. 12.6M / mm²), which reflects its newer manufacturing process. Its Vulkan 1.3 support exceeds the GTX 780’s Vulkan 1.2.175, and its DirectX 12 (12_0) support is a full feature level higher than the GTX 780’s DirectX 12 (11_0). For portable devices, the RX Vega M GL is the only option, given its IGP form factor and 65 W TDP.

In summary, the GTX 780 is the performance leader in the specific benchmarks tested, but the RX Vega M GL offers better overall average performance, modern API support, and a dramatically lower power envelope. The choice hinges entirely on whether the user needs discrete desktop performance or integrated mobile capability.