The AMD Radeon 780M is an integrated graphics processing unit that is built into AMD’s RDNA 3 processors. These iGPUs can perform casual gaming and basic computing tasks well without a separate dedicated graphics card.
The performance benchmark tests have revealed that AMD and NVIDIA’s entry-level discrete gaming GPUs are almost matched by some of the latest RDNA 3 iGPUs. However, it’s worth noting that dedicated graphics cards still offer better overall performance, especially for more demanding tasks such as high-end gaming and professional workloads.
Whether or not AMD’s RDNA 3 iGPUs will pose a severe threat to NVIDIA’s discrete GPU business remains to be seen. Both companies are constantly innovating and developing new technologies to stay competitive. Ultimately, consumers will choose based on their specific needs and budget.
Integrated graphics have traditionally been considered a lower-performance option than dedicated discrete GPUs. However, with technological advancements, modern integrated graphics solutions, such as AMD’s latest RDNA 3 iGPUs, are becoming more powerful and capable of handling casual gaming and basic computing tasks.
The benchmark tests show that AMD’s Radeon 780M integrated graphics can deliver good performance and even double the performance of the Steam Deck handheld gaming device. This is an impressive achievement, considering the Steam Deck has a custom AMD APU and a dedicated RDNA 2 GPU.
It’s worth noting that the thermal and power constraints of the CPU package still limit the performance of integrated graphics. Dedicated discrete GPUs offer better performance, especially for high-end gaming and professional workloads. However, AMD’s latest RDNA 3 iGPUs are a significant step forward and provide a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers and mainstream users who don’t require the highest performance.
The recently conducted 3DMark Time Spy benchmark test of the Radeon 780M graphics chip in the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS APU is a remarkable achievement for an integrated GPU, scoring an impressive 3003 points. This performance level indicates that the Radeon 780M is capable of delivering a solid gaming experience and handling demanding graphic tasks, placing it in competition with some entry-level dedicated GPUs. Additionally, the use of LPDDR5 6400 MHz RAM modules in the tested hardware can contribute to enhancing the overall system performance.
Additionally, the Phoenix APU will support faster LPDDR5X 7500 MHz modules, which could further boost performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is a high-end mobile processor that is part of the Ryzen 7040 CPU family for laptops.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is constructed using the most recent Zen 3 architecture and has eight cores and 16 threads. It operates at a base clock speed of 4.0 GHz and can reach a maximum boost clock speed of 5.2 GHz. The CPU also comes with 40 MB of total cache, which should help to improve performance in multi-threaded workloads.
The Radeon 780M is an integrated RDNA 3 GPU that is a key component of the Ryzen 9 7940HS. With 12 Compute Units and a maximum operating speed of 3000 MHz, it is a significant feature of the processor. This GPU is expected to perform well for casual gaming and basic computing tasks without a separate dedicated graphics card.
Based on the performance comparison, AMD‘s Ryzen 9 7940HS with an integrated RDNA 3 GPU can deliver satisfactory performance for basic computing tasks and casual gaming and even compete with some of NVIDIA’s entry-level dedicated GPUs.
Even though integrated GPUs like the Radeon 780M are becoming more powerful, dedicated GPUs still offer superior overall performance, particularly for demanding tasks that require more processing power.
Furthermore, the comparison demonstrates how memory and thermal limitations can impact system performance. Upgrading to faster LPDDR5-6400 memory can enhance system performance, while operating at a lower TDP could reduce CPU scores in 3DMark Time Spy. This suggests that optimizing memory and thermal performance is crucial to maximizing the performance of an integrated GPU.
The comparison between the Radeon 780M and the AMD APU found in the Steam Deck highlights the significant improvement in performance that can be achieved with newer integrated GPUs. The Radeon 780M’s 8.9 TFLOPS rating is more than double the 3.3 TFLOPS rating of the RDNA 2 chip in the Steam Deck, and the Time Spy benchmark results suggest that the Radeon 780M can offer significantly better performance than the Steam Deck’s APU.
As integrated graphics continue to improve, we may see more powerful integrated GPUs in portable gaming devices like the Steam Deck or other portable PCs designed for gaming. This could provide a more affordable and portable alternative to dedicated gaming laptops, especially for gamers prioritize portability and battery life over the highest performance levels.