AMD Radeon HD 8790M
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 8790M Specifications
Radeon HD 8790M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 8790M'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 8790M by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 8790M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 8790M'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 8790M by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 8790M, 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 8790M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M 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 8790M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 8790M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 8790M by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M. 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 8790M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 8790M 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 8790M by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 8790M Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how AMD Radeon HD 8790M handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how AMD Radeon HD 8790M performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads. Vulkan offers better CPU efficiency than older APIs like OpenGL.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About AMD Radeon HD 8790M
The AMD Radeon HD 8790M is a mobile graphics processor built on the 28 nm process at TSMC, with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die (a transistor density of 12.3M per mm²). It uses the GCN 1.0 architecture, carries 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs, and is clocked at 850 MHz base with a 900 MHz boost. Memory is 2 GB of GDDR5 over a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU posts an average benchmark score of 5456 across Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan tests, placing it at the 31st percentile of all GPUs in the database. It was released in early 2013 and is now end-of-life.
How It Compares
Against the AMD Radeon R7 M365X, the HD 8790M is 0.9% ahead in average benchmark score. The R7 M365X scores 5409, a difference of just 47 points. This is a near-tie; in real-world terms the two GPUs are effectively interchangeable, though the HD 8790M holds a slight edge in the aggregate.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M posts an average score of 5526, which is 1.3% higher than the HD 8790M’s 5456. That puts the GTX 765M ahead by 70 points. While the delta is small, the GTX 765M consistently outperforms the HD 8790M in the two benchmark tests used here.
The AMD FirePro M4000 also scores 5530, again 1.3% above the HD 8790M. This workstation-oriented GPU is 74 points ahead, mirroring the GTX 765M’s margin. The HD 8790M sits in a tight cluster where a few percent separates it from its closest competitors.
Finally, the AMD Radeon R7 M440 scores 5377, which is 1.5% lower than the HD 8790M. The HD 8790M leads by 79 points, the largest gap among its four nearest rivals. Still, the margin is modest, and all five GPUs fall within a 2.8% band of each other, indicating that the HD 8790M occupies a narrow performance tier.
Power and Cooling
The FACT PACK does not list a TDP for the HD 8790M, so no thermal design power figure is available for analysis. The GPU is an MXM Module with a slot width of MXM Module, and it uses the MXM-A (3.0) bus interface. It requires no additional power connectors, meaning all power is drawn from the MXM slot itself. This design is typical for mobile GPUs intended for thin and light laptops, where the system’s power delivery is integrated into the motherboard. Because no suggested PSU is provided, the power draw must be inferred from the absence of connectors and the modest performance class. The 28 nm process and 950 million transistor count suggest a relatively low-power part, but without a TDP number, any quantitative power estimate is outside the data.
Benchmark Performance
In Geekbench OpenCL, the HD 8790M scores 5073, while its Vulkan score is 5839. The average of these two is 5456. The Vulkan result is 15.1% higher than the OpenCL result, indicating that the GCN 1.0 architecture handles the Vulkan API more efficiently in these tests. The percentile rank of 31 means that 69% of all GPUs in the database score higher, placing the HD 8790M in the lower third of the performance distribution.
Relative to its nearest rivals, the HD 8790M’s average score of 5456 is 0.9% above the R7 M365X (5409) and 1.5% above the R7 M440 (5377). It trails the GTX 765M (5526) and the FirePro M4000 (5530) by 1.3% each. These deltas are small enough that the HD 8790M cannot be considered clearly superior or inferior to any of its immediate competitors. The FirePro M4000, despite being a professional part, lands within 1.3% of the HD 8790M, suggesting that the two GPUs have similar raw compute capabilities. The GTX 765M’s lead, while consistent, is not large enough to change the overall gaming experience in a dramatic way at typical settings.
The FP32 compute throughput is 691.2 GFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 7.200 GPixel/s with a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s. These figures align with the benchmark scores: the HD 8790M is a low-to-mid-range mobile GPU that can handle older titles and light workloads, but it is not designed for high-end gaming or compute-heavy tasks.
Who Should Consider It
Given its 31st percentile standing, the HD 8790M is best suited for users who need a functional mobile GPU for basic 3D acceleration, legacy games, or productivity applications that benefit from OpenCL or Vulkan. The 2 GB GDDR5 memory and 64.00 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p gaming at low to medium settings in titles from the early 2010s, but the data does not support any claim of high-refresh or high-resolution capability. The Vulkan score of 5839 suggests that modern API-based games may run acceptably at low presets, while the OpenCL score of 5073 indicates moderate compute performance for tasks like video encoding or image processing.
The HD 8790M is not a candidate for 4K gaming or ray-traced workloads; its 8 ROPs and 691.2 GFLOPS are far below what those tasks require. Instead, it fits into systems where the primary goal is energy efficiency and compact size—the MXM-A form factor and lack of power connectors point to thin laptops. Users who play competitive e-sports titles at reduced settings might find the performance adequate, but anyone expecting smooth frame rates in demanding modern games should look at higher-scoring GPUs in the database.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 8790M has no dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as indicated by the null values in the FACT PACK. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported. The GPU does support DirectX 12 (feature level 11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 support is limited to the 11_1 feature set, which means it can run DirectX 12 titles but without the full feature set of newer hardware. Vulkan 1.2.170 provides access to modern rendering techniques, and the higher Vulkan benchmark score compared to OpenCL suggests that the driver stack is well-optimized for this API. The GCN 1.0 architecture, first introduced in 2012, is mature and well-supported in legacy drivers, but it lacks the specialized hardware found in later generations. For users relying on Vulkan or OpenGL, the HD 8790M offers functional compatibility, but it cannot deliver ray-traced effects or AI-accelerated features. The absence of tensor cores also rules out DLSS or similar upscaling technologies. Overall, the feature set is basic but adequate for standard rasterization workloads.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 8790M
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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