AMD Radeon R5 M335

The AMD Radeon R5 M335 is a mobile graphics solution from the Gem System (R5 M300) generation, built on the GCN 1.0 architecture using a 28 nm process at TSMC. It is an end-of-life product, and benchmark data indicates it sits at the 26th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 4700. This places it firmly in entry-level territory, where its performance is tightly clustered with a small group of rivals.

Benchmark Performance

The R5 M335’s average benchmark score of 4700 is derived from its Geekbench OpenCL result of 4673 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 4727. This narrow spread between the two API tests suggests consistent compute performance regardless of the workload type. The data reveals a remarkably tight competitive cluster; the nearest rival, the AMD Radeon R5 M255, scores 4680, which is only 0.4% behind the R5 M335. This effectively means the two are performance twins, with the margin well within typical run-to-run variance.

Moving up the list, the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4670, a 0.6% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M scores 4655, a 1% difference. The final listed rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, scores 4635, representing a 1.4% gap. Interpreting these numbers is straightforward: the R5 M335 is not categorically faster or slower than any of these four products. Instead, benchmark results indicate a performance parity band where the R5 M335 holds a marginal lead, ranging from 0.4% to 1.4% over each competitor. The practical implication is that in real-world gaming or compute tasks, the differences would be imperceptible, as all five GPUs effectively deliver the same level of frame throughput. The 26th percentile ranking reinforces this view, showing that the R5 M335 outperforms only about a quarter of all GPUs in the database, situating it at the low end of the performance spectrum.

Power and Cooling

The fact pack does not list a TDP value for the R5 M335, nor does it provide a suggested PSU rating. However, the power connector field states "None," which is a significant indicator. This means the card draws all its power from the PCIe slot, implying a low overall power draw suitable for portable devices. The display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," confirming this is a mobile-part design intended for laptops rather than desktop installations. Because there is no auxiliary power connector, any cooling solution would be modest; the data suggests a simple heat sink and fan arrangement would suffice, though the exact thermal design is not specified. The lack of a PSU recommendation further reinforces that this GPU is not meant for DIY desktop builds where power supply sizing would be a consideration. The 28 nm process node, while older, contributes to a power profile that is compatible with thin-and-light chassis, as evidenced by the absence of external power requirements.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The R5 M335 has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as those fields are null in the specification. This is expected for a GPU from the GCN 1.0 architecture era, which predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The feature set is defined by its API support: DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 (11_1) designation is notable — it supports the DirectX 12 API but at the feature level 11_1, which means it lacks certain higher-tier features like bindless resources or conservative rasterization that later architectures support. Vulkan 1.2.170 support does provide access to modern compute and graphics pipelines, which can be leveraged for efficient draw calls. The shading units number 320, with 20 texture mapping units and 8 raster operation pipelines, yielding a pixel rate of 8.240 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 20.60 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 659.2 GFLOPS. For a user, this means the GPU can handle DirectX 12 titles, but likely at lower settings and resolutions, and any ray tracing workloads are entirely out of scope, as the hardware lacks the necessary acceleration structures.

How It Compares

AMD Radeon R5 M255: This is the closest competitor, with a score of 4680 against the R5 M335’s 4700. The 0.4% delta is negligible. The data suggests these are essentially the same GPU with a different name, and benchmark results indicate no practical performance difference between them. A user upgrading from an R5 M255 to an R5 M335 would see zero real-world gain.

AMD Radeon R8 M445DX: Scoring 4670, this part trails the R5 M335 by 0.6%. Despite the higher "R8" naming tier, which might imply superior performance, the numbers show it is actually slightly slower. This is a curious data point, as it suggests the branding hierarchy does not align with actual benchmark outcomes. The R5 M335 holds a slim but consistent edge in this matchup.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M: The GTX 970M scores 4655, which is 1% lower than the R5 M335. This is a surprising result given the GTX 970M is typically associated with higher-end gaming laptops. The benchmark data, however, places it in the same performance class here. This does not imply the R5 M335 is a gaming powerhouse; rather, it indicates the specific benchmark suite used (Geekbench compute) may not reflect gaming workloads accurately. The 1% delta is too small to draw any meaningful conclusion about gaming superiority.

NVIDIA Quadro M3000M: With a score of 4635, the Quadro M3000M is 1.4% behind the R5 M335. This is the largest deficit among the listed rivals, yet still within a margin that would be considered a statistical tie. The Quadro is a professional workstation GPU, and its slightly lower score in this compute test does not diminish its capabilities in certified professional applications. The R5 M335’s lead here is purely academic, as the two target entirely different markets.

Memory Subsystem

The R5 M335 is equipped with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, running at 900 MHz with an effective 1800 Mbps data rate. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s. This is a modest figure by modern standards, and it directly impacts performance at high resolutions. The 64-bit bus width is a primary bottleneck, as it limits the amount of data that can be transferred between the GPU and memory in a given clock cycle. For 1080p gaming, the 2 GB capacity may be sufficient for older titles or low-detail settings, but texture-heavy scenes could exceed this limit. At higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, the 14.40 GB/s bandwidth and 2 GB frame buffer would quickly become saturated, leading to stuttering or texture pop-in. The DDR3 type, as opposed to GDDR5, further compounds this limitation, as DDR3 offers lower bandwidth per pin. The pixel rate of 8.240 GPixel/s, derived from the 8 ROPs and the clock speed, suggests the GPU is not designed for high-resolution output. For the target market of entry-level laptops, the memory subsystem is adequate for light workloads but will not withstand demanding modern games at high settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the AMD Radeon R5 M335?

A: The average benchmark score is 4700, based on a Geekbench OpenCL score of 4673 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4727.

Q: How does the R5 M335 compare to its closest rival, the Radeon R5 M255?

A: The R5 M335 scores 4700, which is 0.4% higher than the R5 M255’s 4680. This difference is negligible, putting the two GPUs in a performance tie.

Q: Does the R5 M335 support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The specification lists no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, meaning hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the R5 M335?

A: The memory bandwidth is 14.40 GB/s, derived from 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus at an effective 1800 Mbps data rate.

Q: What power connectors does the R5 M335 require?

A: The power connector field is "None," indicating the GPU draws power exclusively from the PCIe slot and has no external power connector requirement.

Q: What is the production status of the R5 M335?

A: The production status is listed as end-of-life, with a release date of 2015-10-20.

Who Should Consider It

The R5 M335 is a GPU for users with modest expectations. Given its 26th percentile ranking and an average score of 4700 that is within 1.4% of all listed rivals, it is suitable for light, casual gaming at 720p or 1080p with reduced graphical settings. Its 2 GB DDR3 memory and 14.40 GB/s bandwidth mean that high-resolution textures and modern AAA titles at 1080p ultra settings are out of reach. The data shows it handles DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170 workloads, so users can run many e-sports titles like League of Legends or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at playable frame rates, provided settings are lowered. For productivity, the 659.2 GFLOPS FP32 performance is adequate for basic photo editing or video playback, but not for 3D rendering or machine learning tasks. The lack of a PSU requirement and "Portable Device Dependent" outputs make it clear this is a laptop-only part. Users who purchased a laptop with this GPU should stick to older games or indie titles, and should avoid pushing resolution beyond 1080p. Those seeking any form of modern gaming performance at high settings would need to look at a different class of GPU entirely, as the R5 M335’s benchmark results place it firmly at the entry level with no headroom for demanding workloads.