AMD Radeon HD 8730M
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 8730M Specifications
Radeon HD 8730M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 8730M GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
HD 8730M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 8730M's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon HD 8730M by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 8730M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 8730M's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon HD 8730M by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 8730M, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
HD 8730M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 8730M against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
GCN 1.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 8730M is built on AMD's GCN 1.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the HD 8730M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 8730M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 8730M determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon HD 8730M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 8730M by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 8730M are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon HD 8730M. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon HD 8730M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 8730M is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon HD 8730M by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 8730M Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how AMD Radeon HD 8730M handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby PerformersAbout AMD Radeon HD 8730M
The AMD Radeon HD 8730M is an end-of-life mobile graphics solution built on the GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated by TSMC using a 28 nm process. The chip, codenamed Mars, contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². Its performance profile places it at the 33rd percentile among all GPUs, indicating a decidedly entry-level position in the modern landscape. The data set includes a single benchmark score from Geekbench OpenCL, which serves as the primary quantitative reference for analysis.
Memory Subsystem
The HD 8730M is equipped with 2 GB of DDR3 memory, operating on a 128-bit bus interface. The memory clock is rated at 900 MHz, translating to an effective data rate of 1800 Mbps. This configuration yields a total memory bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is modest by contemporary standards, and the reliance on DDR3 rather than GDDR5 or newer memory types directly impacts performance in memory-intensive workloads.
For high-resolution gaming or compute tasks, the 28.80 GB/s bandwidth presents a significant constraint. At elevated resolutions, the demand for texture data and framebuffer access scales considerably, and a bandwidth figure in this range can become a bottleneck, limiting the effective utilization of the 384 shading units. The 128-bit bus width is a common choice for entry-level parts, but it caps the theoretical throughput. In practice, the 2 GB capacity is adequate for modern game assets at lower resolutions, but the speed at which data can be moved is the limiting factor. The pixel rate is 5.600 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 16.80 GTexel/s, both of which are directly influenced by the memory subsystem's ability to feed the render back-end units and texture mapping units. The combination of DDR3 and a 128-bit bus suggests the card is designed for 720p or modest 1080p gaming, where the bandwidth demands are less punishing than at higher settings.
Benchmark Performance
The sole benchmark result for the HD 8730M is a Geekbench OpenCL score of 5970. This score serves as the aggregate measure of its compute capability. The average benchmark score is identical at 5970, confirming a single data point. To contextualize this score, the nearest rival, the AMD FirePro W4100, achieves an average score of 5972. The delta between these two is 0%, meaning the HD 8730M is statistically tied with the FirePro W4100 in this specific workload. This is a curious result, as the FirePro W4100 is a workstation-oriented card, yet the compute performance here is virtually indistinguishable.
The comparison with the NVIDIA Quadro K620M shows a delta of 0.2%, with the Quadro scoring 5957. This places the HD 8730M marginally ahead of the Quadro K620M, a difference of only 13 points, which is within run-to-run variance. The data suggests that in OpenCL compute, these two GPUs are functionally equivalent in performance. Moving up the list, the NVIDIA Quadro K4000M scores 5986, resulting in a delta of -0.3% for the HD 8730M. This indicates the Quadro K4000M is slightly faster, but again, the margin is minimal at just 16 points. Finally, the AMD Radeon 610M scores 5992, yielding a delta of -0.4%. This is the largest performance gap in the rival set, with the HD 8730M trailing the Radeon 610M by 22 points.
The data presents a clear picture: the HD 8730M sits in a tightly clustered performance band where all four nearest rivals score between 5957 and 5992. The differences are negligible in real-world terms, with the largest delta being just 0.4%. This indicates that the GPU's compute performance is highly consistent with other entry-level parts from its era, but it also implies that there is no single rival that it significantly outperforms. The 33rd percentile ranking reinforces this, showing that it falls in the lower third of all GPUs, but the tight clustering of rivals suggests that any performance advantage is measured in single-digit percentage points at best.
How It Compares
AMD FirePro W4100: The HD 8730M and the FirePro W4100 are exact performance equals, with a delta of 0%. Both score approximately 5970 in Geekbench OpenCL, making them interchangeable in raw compute throughput. The W4100 is a professional-grade card, but the benchmark data shows no compute advantage over the consumer-oriented HD 8730M.
NVIDIA Quadro K620M: The HD 8730M holds a razor-thin 0.2% lead over the Quadro K620M. With scores of 5970 versus 5957, the HD 8730M is nominally faster, but the 13-point difference is negligible. For OpenCL workloads, users would be hard-pressed to notice any distinction between these two in real-world applications.
NVIDIA Quadro K4000M: The Quadro K4000M edges out the HD 8730M by 0.3%, scoring 5986 against 5970. This is a modest deficit for the HD 8730M, but it remains within a margin that is unlikely to impact application performance materially. The two GPUs are effectively peers in compute performance.
AMD Radeon 610M: The Radeon 610M is the strongest rival in this group, leading the HD 8730M by 0.4% with a score of 5992. This is the largest performance gap observed, yet it still represents a sub-1% difference. The HD 8730M is the slowest of the four rivals, but only by a very narrow margin.
FAQ
Q: What is the Geekbench OpenCL score for the AMD Radeon HD 8730M?
A: The HD 8730M scores 5970 points in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark.
Q: How does the HD 8730M compare to the AMD FirePro W4100?
A: The two GPUs are effectively tied, with the FirePro W4100 scoring 5972 and the HD 8730M scoring 5970, resulting in a 0% delta.
Q: What is the memory configuration of the HD 8730M?
A: It features 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s and an effective memory clock of 1800 Mbps.
Q: Which rival is the fastest compared to the HD 8730M?
A: The AMD Radeon 610M is the fastest, with a score of 5992, leading the HD 8730M by 0.4%.
Q: What is the pixel and texture fill rate of the HD 8730M?
A: The pixel rate is 5.600 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 16.80 GTexel/s.
Q: What is the production status of the HD 8730M?
A: The production status is listed as end-of-life.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 8730M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores, as indicated by the null value for rtCores in the data. Similarly, there are no tensor cores present, which are used for AI acceleration and deep learning workloads in modern GPUs. This is consistent with its GCN 1.0 architecture and 2013 release date, as these features were not part of the hardware design at that time. The absence of these cores means that any ray tracing or AI-based features would need to be handled by the general-purpose shading units, which is not a viable approach for real-time performance.
In terms of API support, the HD 8730M supports DirectX 12 (feature level 11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 support at the 11_1 feature level is a crucial caveat; while the card can run DirectX 12 applications, it lacks the full feature set of higher-tier implementations. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170 provide broad compatibility with modern cross-platform titles and compute APIs. The FP32 compute performance is rated at 537.6 GFLOPS, which is the raw single-precision throughput available to shader and compute workloads. The card interfaces with the system via a PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface, which provides sufficient bandwidth for its memory subsystem but is a reduced lane count compared to full x16 implementations. The shading unit count is 384, with 24 texture mapping units and 8 raster operation units. These specifications, combined with the lack of RT and tensor cores, define the HD 8730M as a legacy part suited for basic 3D acceleration and compute tasks, rather than modern high-fidelity rendering or AI-accelerated applications.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 8730M
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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