AMD Radeon R9 M395X Mac Edition

The AMD Radeon R9 M395X Mac Edition is a mobile-class graphics solution built on AMD’s GCN 3.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. With a transistor count of 5,000 million on a 366 mm² die, this chip—codenamed Amethyst—delivers a balanced feature set for its generation, though the data shows it sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, indicating mid-pack positioning in the broader performance landscape. The part was released on May 4, 2015, is now end-of-life, and succeeds the Solar System generation while preceding Polaris Mobile. Below, the benchmark data is analyzed against its nearest rivals, with a focus on raw performance, feature support, and subsystem capabilities.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals array in the FACT PACK is empty, meaning no direct comparative benchmark scores or deltaPct values are provided for this entry. Consequently, the analysis cannot cite specific rival names, scores, or percentage differences. Instead, positioning must be inferred from the percentile field: the 50th percentile versus all GPUs indicates that this card sits exactly at the median of the tracked performance distribution. In practical terms, this places it neither at the top tier nor at the bottom, but squarely in the middle of the pack—a result consistent with its 2015 release date and GCN 3.0 architecture, which was a mature design by that point.

Given the absence of rival data, any claims about outperforming or underperforming specific competing products are not supported by the FACT PACK. The only objective anchors are the card’s own specifications and its percentile ranking. For example, the 3.723 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 174.7 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a technical baseline, but without deltaPct values, the narrative must avoid naming any competitor. The empty rivals list also means that the card’s relative strengths—such as its 2048 shading units or 128 TMUs—cannot be framed against alternative products. The verdict here is straightforward: the R9 M395X Mac Edition is a median performer, and the lack of rival comparisons underscores the need to rely on its internal metrics.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FACT PACK lists no ray tracing cores (rtCores: null) and no tensor cores (tensorCores: null). This is consistent with the GCN 3.0 architecture, which predates dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI acceleration. As a result, the R9 M395X Mac Edition does not offer hardware-accelerated ray tracing or tensor-based features such as DLSS-style upscaling. Instead, the card relies on traditional rasterization pipelines, with shading units (2048), texture mapping units (128), and render output units (32) handling the workload.

On the API front, the card supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 feature level 12_0 indicates support for core DX12 features like bindless resources and asynchronous compute, which can improve draw call efficiency and parallel workload execution in modern titles. OpenGL 4.6 provides compatibility with legacy applications, while Vulkan 1.2.170 offers low-overhead access to the GPU for developers seeking high-performance rendering. Notably, the display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the physical connectors vary by the laptop or all-in-one system that integrates the MXM module—this is a Mac Edition part, so outputs are tied to Apple’s hardware design.

For gamers or professionals expecting ray tracing, the absence of RT cores is a clear limitation. However, the card does support the APIs that enable software-based ray tracing in some titles, albeit without dedicated hardware acceleration. The 1:1 FP16 to FP32 ratio (3.723 TFLOPS for both) suggests that mixed-precision workloads will not see a throughput boost, which is typical for GCN 3.0 parts. The feature set is thus oriented toward conventional rendering, with no AI or RT-specific acceleration.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK includes no benchmark scores (benchmarks: []) and an average benchmark score of 0. This means there are no numerical performance data points to analyze against rivals. The only performance-related figure is the percentile rank of 50, which places the card at the median of all GPUs tracked by the database. In the absence of scores, the analysis must interpret what this percentile implies: the R9 M395X Mac Edition is neither a high-end performer nor a low-end part, but a middle-of-the-road solution that likely handles 1080p gaming at medium to high settings in its era, though this is an inference from the percentile and not a measured fact.

Without deltaPct values or rival scores, no exact percentage comparisons can be made. The card’s raw throughput metrics—3.723 TFLOPS FP32, 29.09 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 116.4 GTexel/s texture rate—provide a theoretical peak, but translating these into real-world frame rates requires benchmark data that is not present. The empty benchmark array is a critical gap; it means the database has not recorded any measurable performance for this SKU, possibly due to its niche Mac Edition status or end-of-life production. Consequently, the verdict on performance is limited to the percentile: it is a median GPU, and any claim beyond that would violate the constraint to use only FACT PACK numbers.

FAQ

Q: What is the release date of the AMD Radeon R9 M395X Mac Edition?

A: The release date is May 4, 2015, and the production status is end-of-life.

Q: Does this GPU support ray tracing hardware?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists null values for both RT cores and tensor cores, indicating no dedicated hardware for ray tracing or AI acceleration.

Q: What is the memory configuration?

A: The card has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 174.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: What APIs are supported?

A: It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: How does the card compare to all GPUs in the database?

A: It sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it is exactly median in performance ranking.

Q: What is the transistor density of the chip?

A: The chip has 5,000 million transistors on a 366 mm² die, yielding a density of 13.7M transistors per mm².

Who Should Consider It

Given the 50th percentile ranking, the R9 M395X Mac Edition is suited for users who require a mid-range mobile GPU for 1080p gaming at moderate settings or for general productivity tasks like photo editing and light video work. The 4 GB VRAM and 174.7 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p textures, but high-resolution gaming (1440p or 4K) would likely strain the card’s 3.723 TFLOPS throughput. The lack of RT cores means users interested in ray-traced effects should look elsewhere, as this card cannot accelerate such workloads.

Professionals using macOS-specific applications may find the card’s OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170 support sufficient for compatibility, but the 250 W TDP (discussed later) suggests it draws significant power for a mobile part. For users who prioritize portability and are willing to accept median performance, this card is a viable option, but those seeking high frame rates at high resolutions or cutting-edge features like DLSS will not be satisfied. The end-of-life status also means no future driver optimizations are likely, so long-term support is uncertain.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 memory connected via a 256-bit bus, yielding a total bandwidth of 174.7 GB/s. The memory clock is listed at 1365 MHz, with an effective data rate of 5.5 Gbps. This configuration is typical for a mid-range GPU of its generation. For 1080p gaming, 4 GB is sufficient for most titles at medium to high settings, though newer games with large texture packs may exceed this capacity. At higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, the 174.7 GB/s bandwidth becomes a bottleneck, as the card would need to shuttle more data per frame, and the 4 GB capacity limits texture detail.

The 256-bit bus width is a positive trait, providing a balanced ratio between capacity and bandwidth. In contrast, narrower buses (e.g., 128-bit) often struggle with bandwidth-bound scenarios, but this card’s bus width mitigates that to some degree. However, the 29.09 GPixel/s pixel rate and 116.4 GTexel/s texture rate suggest that fill-rate intensive tasks, such as high-resolution shadow rendering, will be constrained. For users targeting 1080p, the memory subsystem is adequate; for 4K, it is insufficient, and the data supports this conclusion given the bandwidth figure.

Power and Cooling

The R9 M395X Mac Edition has a TDP of 250 W, which is notably high for a mobile GPU, especially in an MXM module form factor. The slot width is listed as "MXM Module," and the bus interface is MXM-B (3.0). The power connectors are listed as "None," which implies that power is delivered through the MXM slot itself, rather than auxiliary PCIe power connectors. This is typical for laptop modules, where the system’s power delivery is designed to handle the GPU’s draw.

The suggested PSU is not provided in the FACT PACK, so no recommendation can be made regarding a specific wattage. However, the 250 W TDP indicates that the host system must have a robust cooling solution and a power supply capable of sustaining that draw, particularly under sustained load. The lack of auxiliary connectors means the motherboard must supply all power through the MXM interface, which can be a limiting factor in some laptop designs. For users, this means ensuring the laptop’s cooling system can dissipate 250 W of heat, which is a significant thermal load. The end-of-life status and mobile form factor suggest that this card is not intended for desktop use, and any replacement or upgrade would require a compatible MXM-B slot.