Radeon RX 540 vs GeForce GTX 860M

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 860M and Radeon RX 540, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 860M
2014
4 GB GDDR5, 75 Watt
7.91
+9.4%

GTX 860M outperforms RX 540 by a small 9% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking518539
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Power efficiency7.3510.08
ArchitectureMaxwell (2014−2017)GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)
GPU code nameGM107Lexa
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date13 January 2014 (10 years ago)11 November 2017 (7 years ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores1152 or 640512
Core clock speed797 MHz1124 MHz
Boost clock speed1085 MHz1219 MHz
Number of transistors1,870 million2,200 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)75 Watt50 Watt
Texture fill rate43.4039.01
Floating-point processing power1.389 TFLOPS1.248 TFLOPS
ROPs1616
TMUs4032

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizemedium sizedlarge
Bus supportPCI Express 2.0, PCI Express 3.0no data
InterfaceMXM-B (3.0)PCIe 3.0 x8
Supplementary power connectorsNoneNone
SLI options+-

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount4 GB2 GB
Standard memory configurationGDDR5no data
Memory bus width128 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speedUp to 2500 MHz1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth80.0 GB/s96 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputsNo outputs
eDP 1.2 signal supportUp to 3840x2160no data
LVDS signal supportUp to 1920x1200no data
VGA аnalog display supportUp to 2048x1536no data
DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) supportUp to 3840x2160no data
HDMI+-
HDCP content protection+-
7.1 channel HD audio on HDMI+-
TrueHD and DTS-HD audio bitstreaming+-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

FreeSync-+
H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder+-
Optimus+-
Ansel+-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (11_0)12 (12_0)
Shader Model5.16.4
OpenGL4.54.6
OpenCL1.12.0
Vulkan1.1.1261.2.131
CUDA+-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 860M 7.91
+9.4%
RX 540 7.23

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 860M 3051
+9.4%
RX 540 2788

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 860M 4902
+5.5%
RX 540 4646

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 860M 19216
+40.1%
RX 540 13720

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 860M 3904
+5.9%
RX 540 3686

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 860M 27961
+15.7%
RX 540 24170

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

GTX 860M 10351
+9.9%
RX 540 9416

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 860M 215144
+55.7%
RX 540 138197

Unigine Heaven 3.0

This is an old DirectX 11 benchmark using Unigine, a 3D game engine by eponymous Russian company. It displays a fantasy medieval town sprawling over several flying islands. Version 3.0 was released in 2012, and in 2013 it was superseded by Heaven 4.0, which introduced several slight improvements, including a newer version of Unigine.

GTX 860M 50
+58.7%
RX 540 31

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p91
+13.8%
80−85
−13.8%
Full HD36
+56.5%
23
−56.5%
4K13
+30%
10−12
−30%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Battlefield 5 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+6.7%
14−16
−6.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+38.5%
13
−38.5%
Far Cry New Dawn 21−24
+10%
20−22
−10%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+8.3%
45−50
−8.3%
Hitman 3 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+7.1%
40−45
−7.1%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+10%
20−22
−10%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
−53.8%
40
+53.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+3.7%
50−55
−3.7%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Battlefield 5 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+6.7%
14−16
−6.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+80%
10
−80%
Far Cry New Dawn 21−24
+10%
20−22
−10%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+8.3%
45−50
−8.3%
Hitman 3 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+7.1%
40−45
−7.1%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+10%
20−22
−10%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+8.3%
24−27
−8.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 60
+173%
21−24
−173%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+3.7%
50−55
−3.7%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+6.7%
14−16
−6.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+157%
7
−157%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+8.3%
45−50
−8.3%
Hitman 3 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45−50
+7.1%
40−45
−7.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+8.3%
24−27
−8.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12
+71.4%
7
−71.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55−60
+3.7%
50−55
−3.7%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+10%
20−22
−10%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Forza Horizon 4 30−33
+15.4%
24−27
−15.4%
Hitman 3 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 16−18
+13.3%
14−16
−13.3%
Metro Exodus 10−11
+25%
8−9
−25%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 7−8
+40%
5−6
−40%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 50−55
+8.7%
45−50
−8.7%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+8.3%
12−14
−8.3%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
Hitman 3 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+21.7%
21−24
−21.7%
Metro Exodus 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Far Cry 5 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Watch Dogs: Legion 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%

This is how GTX 860M and RX 540 compete in popular games:

  • GTX 860M is 14% faster in 900p
  • GTX 860M is 57% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 860M is 30% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 860M is 173% faster.
  • in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RX 540 is 54% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 860M is ahead in 64 tests (89%)
  • RX 540 is ahead in 1 test (1%)
  • there's a draw in 7 tests (10%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 7.91 7.23
Recency 13 January 2014 11 November 2017
Maximum RAM amount 4 GB 2 GB
Chip lithography 28 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 75 Watt 50 Watt

GTX 860M has a 9.4% higher aggregate performance score, and a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount.

RX 540, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 50% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between GeForce GTX 860M and Radeon RX 540.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
GeForce GTX 860M
AMD Radeon RX 540
Radeon RX 540

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

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