AMD Radeon Vega 3 vs NVIDIA GeForce MX110 Comparison

AMD Radeon Vega 3 and NVIDIA GeForce MX110 are both end-of-life mobile-class graphics solutions, but they approach performance from very different angles. The data shows a split decision: NVIDIA wins in OpenCL compute, while AMD wins decisively in Vulkan graphics. The average benchmark scores reflect this, with the Vega 3 sitting at 4268 and the MX110 at 3834, a difference of roughly 11% in favor of AMD. However, that average masks a more complex picture where API choice determines the winner.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded head-to-head benchmarks tell a story of contrasting strengths. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 scores 4255 against the AMD Radeon Vega 3's 3963. That gives NVIDIA a 6.9% advantage. This is not a small margin; it is a clear, measurable lead in a compute-oriented workload. The MX110's higher shading unit count and dedicated memory bandwidth likely contribute to this result.

The situation reverses entirely in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the AMD Radeon Vega 3 scores 3961, while the MX110 manages only 3413. AMD wins by 16.1%, a substantial gap that is more than double the margin NVIDIA enjoyed in OpenCL. For modern gaming and graphics workloads that leverage Vulkan, this makes the Vega 3 the decisively faster part.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD part's average score of 4268 places it just ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (4282, a 0.3% deficit) and the AMD FirePro W2100 (4295, a 0.6% deficit). It also edges out the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241) by 0.6%. Interesting, the database lists the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 at 4335, which is 1.5% higher than the Vega 3, an outlier in this comparison group. The MX110's average of 3834 puts it 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 (3823) and 1.1% ahead of the Intel UHD Graphics 710 (3792). It trails the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (3883) by 1.2% and the NVIDIA Quadro 2000 (3898) by 1.6%. These rival deltas show that both parts sit in a similar performance tier, trading blows with older discrete and modern integrated solutions.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Vega 3 is the clear choice for Vulkan-based applications. Its 16.1% lead in the Vulkan benchmark is the single largest performance gap in this comparison. This makes it the better option for gaming scenarios that use Vulkan, such as many modern cross-platform titles and emulators. The Vega 3 also holds a higher overall average benchmark score (4268 vs 3834), meaning that across a broader set of mixed workloads, it tends to come out ahead.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX110 wins in OpenCL compute tasks. Its 6.9% advantage in the OpenCL test indicates better raw compute throughput for applications that rely on this API, such as certain video encoding tools, physics simulations, or OpenCL-accelerated productivity software. Additionally, the MX110 has a dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 memory with 40.10 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a significant structural advantage over the Vega 3's system-shared memory, whose bandwidth is described as system dependent. For workloads that are sensitive to memory latency and bandwidth, the MX110's dedicated pool can provide more consistent performance.

For raw graphics throughput, the MX110 also has higher theoretical pixel and texture rates. It delivers 8.048 GPixel/s and 16.10 GTexel/s, compared to the Vega 3's 4.400 GPixel/s and 13.20 GTexel/s. In fill-rate-bound scenarios, the NVIDIA part should excel, though the Vulkan benchmark results suggest that driver and architecture efficiency in the Vega 3 compensates in real-world API tests.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and manufacturing philosophies. The AMD Radeon Vega 3 uses the GCN 5.0 architecture on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with the Picasso chip. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². This is a relatively high-density design for an IGP. It supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX110 is built on the older Maxwell architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC using the GM108S chip. It packs 1,020 million transistors onto a 77 mm² die, with a density of 13.2M per mm². Maxwell is an efficient architecture, but the older process node means lower density. It supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Notably, the MX110 has a slightly newer Vulkan specification (1.4 vs 1.3), but the Vega 3 has a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 vs 11_0).

The memory architecture is a fundamental split. The Vega 3 uses system shared memory for both capacity and bandwidth, making its performance dependent on the host system's RAM. The MX110 has a fixed 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, delivering 40.10 GB/s. Clock speeds also differ: the Vega 3 has a 300 MHz base and 1100 MHz boost, while the MX110 runs at a much higher 978 MHz base and 1006 MHz boost. However, the Vega 3's GCN architecture can extract more from its lower clocked cores in certain APIs, as the Vulkan result proves.

The Vega 3 has 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. The MX110 has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The MX110 has more of everything at the hardware level, yet it loses in Vulkan. This points to architectural and driver efficiency differences rather than raw unit counts. The Vega 3's FP32 output is 422.4 GFLOPS, while the MX110's is 515.1 GFLOPS. The Vega 3 also supports FP16 at 844.8 GFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, a feature the MX110 does not expose.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 3 has an average benchmark score of 4268, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce MX110's 3834.

Q: How large is the Vulkan performance gap between the two?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 3 scores 3961 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 scores 3413. AMD leads by 16.1%.

Q: Does the NVIDIA MX110 have a dedicated memory advantage?

A: Yes, the MX110 has 2 GB of GDDR5 with a 64-bit bus and 40.10 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 3 relies on system shared memory with bandwidth described as system dependent.

Q: Which GPU supports a higher DirectX feature level?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 3 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: What are the transistor counts for each chip?

A: The AMD Vega 3's Picasso chip contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The NVIDIA MX110's GM108S chip contains 1,020 million transistors on a 77 mm² die.

Q: Is there a difference in Vulkan API version support?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA MX110 supports Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD Vega 3 supports Vulkan 1.3.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. For users prioritizing Vulkan-based gaming or applications, the AMD Radeon Vega 3 is the superior part. Its 16.1% lead in the Vulkan benchmark is decisive, and its higher average score (4268 vs 3834) suggests better all-around performance in the database's mixed workload testing. The Vega 3's support for DirectX 12 (12_1) also makes it more future-proof for newer Windows games that might use higher feature levels.

For users running OpenCL-heavy productivity tasks, the NVIDIA GeForce MX110 is the better choice. Its 6.9% lead in OpenCL, combined with dedicated GDDR5 memory that provides 40.10 GB/s of consistent bandwidth, makes it a more reliable option for compute workloads that cannot tolerate system memory contention. The MX110 also offers higher theoretical fill rates (8.048 GPixel/s and 16.10 GTexel/s), which can benefit certain older DirectX 11 titles that are fill-rate bound.

If the choice is for a general-purpose laptop where gaming is a secondary concern, the AMD part's Vulkan advantage and higher average score give it the edge. If the machine is intended for specific compute tasks that use OpenCL, the NVIDIA part's dedicated memory and compute lead are more valuable. Both are end-of-life products, so the decision should rest on which API the user's software relies on most. The benchmark results indicate that neither part is a universal winner; they are specialized tools for different jobs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | NVIDIA GeForce MX110 |

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

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | Maxwell |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 1,020 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 23.5M / mm² | 13.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 978 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1100 MHz | 1006 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 40.10 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 192 | 256 |

| TMUs | 12 | 16 |

| ROPs | 4 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 4.400 GPixel/s | 8.048 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 13.20 GTexel/s | 16.10 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 422.4 GFLOPS | 515.1 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 844.8 GFLOPS (2:1) | None |

| TDP | 15 W | 30 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x4 |

| DirectX Support | 12 (12_1) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2019-11-19 | 2017-11-16 |