AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition Specifications
Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition 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.
R9 M390 Mac Edition Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition'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 R9 M390 Mac Edition by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition'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 R9 M390 Mac Edition by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the R9 M390 Mac Edition, 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.
R9 M390 Mac Edition Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition. 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition 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 R9 M390 Mac Edition by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition
The AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition is a mobile graphics solution built on the 28 nm GCN 1.0 architecture, featuring the Pitcairn chip with 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die. It positions itself as a mid-range part from the Gem System (R9 M300) generation, targeting the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database. Its performance profile is defined by 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operations units, which produce a pixel rate of 30.66 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 61.31 GTexel/s. The card is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 174.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and it operates with a floating-point performance of 1.962 TFLOPS. The data indicates a part that is now end-of-life, released in May 2015, and primarily intended for portable devices, given its MXM Module slot width and lack of dedicated power connectors.
How It Compares
The nearestRivals array for this GPU is empty, which means the database provides no direct comparison points against other specific graphics cards. Consequently, the analysis must rely on the absolute performance indicators and the percentile rank to contextualize its standing. The 50th percentile placement suggests it sits exactly in the middle of the database’s GPU population, meaning half of all tracked GPUs are faster and half are slower. This is a critical midpoint, indicating that the R9 M390 Mac Edition is neither a high-end performer nor a low-end entry, but rather a balanced, mainstream offering. Without rival scores, the relative performance narrative is limited to this single positional data point, which still offers a clear signal: it is a dependable, mid-tier mobile chip that will handle standard workloads without excelling in demanding scenarios.
The lack of rival data also means the card’s strengths, such as its 174.7 GB/s memory bandwidth and 61.31 GTexel/s texture rate, cannot be contrasted with competitors. However, the 1.962 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is a tangible metric that, when combined with the 50th percentile ranking, suggests it is suitable for 1080p gaming at moderate settings in titles from its era, but it will struggle with modern high-fidelity content. The pixel rate of 30.66 GPixel/s further reinforces this, as it indicates a fill-rate capability that is adequate for lower resolutions but insufficient for 4K or high-refresh-rate workloads. In the absence of rivals, the data alone paints a picture of a card that is competent but not exceptional, a workhorse for everyday use rather than a flagship performer.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The R9 M390 Mac Edition does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these fields are null in the data. This absence is consistent with its GCN 1.0 architecture, which predates the hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-driven features found in modern GPUs. The card’s feature set is instead defined by its API support, which includes DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 support at the 11_1 feature level is a notable limitation, as it means the card can run DirectX 12 titles but only with the feature set of the earlier 11_1 specification, potentially restricting access to advanced rendering techniques like mesh shaders or variable rate shading.
Vulkan 1.2.170 support provides a modern, low-overhead API pathway, which can be leveraged for efficient draw call handling and multi-threaded rendering. OpenGL 4.6 is also present, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of applications and older titles. The absence of ray tracing hardware means any ray-traced effects, if present in a game, would have to be computed via software shaders, which would be prohibitively slow given the 1.962 TFLOPS FP32 throughput. The card’s feature set is therefore geared toward traditional rasterization, with no hardware support for the latest lighting or AI-enhanced upscaling technologies. For users seeking those features, this GPU is not a viable option, but for DirectX 11-era games and Vulkan-based titles, it offers a complete API stack.
Who Should Consider It
Benchmark results indicate that the R9 M390 Mac Edition is best suited for users operating at 1080p resolution with medium to high settings in games released around its 2015 launch period. The 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, while sufficient for that era, will be a bottleneck for modern titles with high-resolution textures, as the 174.7 GB/s bandwidth and 2 GB capacity can be quickly exhausted. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it will handle esports titles and older AAA games with ease, but it will require reduced settings for newer, more demanding releases. For 1440p gaming, the card is not recommended, as the pixel rate of 30.66 GPixel/s and FP32 performance of 1.962 TFLOPS are insufficient to maintain playable frame rates in graphically intensive scenes.
Users with portable devices, given the MXM Module form factor, should consider this card only if their system is specifically designed for it, as it is not a standard desktop component. The lack of display outputs beyond "Portable Device Dependent" means it is entirely reliant on the host laptop’s display, making it unsuitable for external monitor setups without additional hardware. For productivity workloads, the 1,024 shading units provide reasonable compute capability for tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering in older software, but the 2 GB memory limit will constrain larger projects. Overall, this card is a legacy part for users who require a moderate performance boost in a Mac-based portable system, but it is not a purchase recommendation for new builds or upgrades.
Power and Cooling
The R9 M390 Mac Edition has a TDP of 80 W, which is a modest power draw for a GPU with 2,800 million transistors. This low power envelope is achieved through the 28 nm process node from TSMC, which balances performance and efficiency. The card requires no dedicated power connectors, as its power is drawn entirely from the MXM Module slot, and the suggested PSU field is null, indicating that no external power supply recommendation is provided. The absence of power connectors simplifies installation in compatible laptops, but it also means the host system’s power delivery must be capable of sustaining the 80 W load without issue.
Cooling is handled by the laptop’s thermal solution, as the card uses an MXM Module form factor, which is a standardized, removable module. The 80 W TDP is a manageable thermal load for most portable chassis, but the data does not specify any cooling requirements beyond the module itself. The slot width is listed as "MXM Module," which implies a single-slot design, but the physical dimensions are not provided, so space constraints within the laptop are unknown. For users, the key takeaway is that this is a low-power, low-maintenance GPU that does not require custom cooling or additional power cabling, making it a straightforward drop-in replacement for compatible systems, provided the thermal design of the host device can handle the sustained heat output.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory configuration of the AMD Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition?
A: The card features 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a memory clock of 1365 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective) and a bandwidth of 174.7 GB/s.
Q: Does this GPU support hardware ray tracing?
A: No, the data lists null values for both ray tracing cores and tensor cores, and its GCN 1.0 architecture does not include hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Q: What is the maximum API level supported?
A: The card supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, with the DirectX 12 support limited to the 11_1 feature level.
Q: What is the power consumption and connector requirement?
A: The TDP is 80 W, and the card requires no external power connectors, drawing power solely from the MXM Module slot.
Q: What is the card’s performance position relative to all GPUs?
A: The R9 M390 Mac Edition is at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database, indicating it is exactly in the middle of the performance range.
Q: What form factor does this GPU use?
A: It uses an MXM Module slot width, and its display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning it is designed for laptop integration.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon R9 M390 Mac Edition
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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