GeForce MX450 vs Radeon R9 M290X

Place in the ranking	504	464
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Power efficiency	5.88	26.82
Architecture	GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)	Turing (2018−2022)
GPU code name	Neptune	N17S-G5 / GP107-670-A1
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Release date	9 January 2014 (11 years ago)	1 August 2020 (4 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 cores	1280	896
Compute units	20	no data
Core clock speed	850 MHz	1395 MHz
Boost clock speed	900 MHz	1575 MHz
Number of transistors	2,800 million	4,700 million
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	12 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	100 Watt	25 Watt (12 - 29 Watt TGP)
Texture fill rate	72.00	100.8
Floating-point processing power	2.304 TFLOPS	3.226 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	80	64

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 size	large	no data
Bus support	PCIe 3.0 x16	no data
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x4
Supplementary power connectors	None	None

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 type	GDDR5	GDDR5, GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	2 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	64 Bit
Memory clock speed	1200 MHz	10000 MHz
Memory bandwidth	153.6 GB/s	64.03 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 Connectors	No outputs	No outputs
Eyefinity	+	-

Supported technologies

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

FreeSync	+	-
HD3D	+	-
PowerTune	+	-
DualGraphics	+	-
ZeroCore	+	-
Switchable graphics	+	-
Optimus	-	+

API compatibility

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

DirectX	DirectX® 11	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	5.1	6.5
OpenGL	4.4	4.6
OpenCL	Not Listed	1.2
Vulkan	-	1.2
Mantle	+	-
CUDA	-	7.5

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.

R9 M290X 8.54

GeForce MX450 9.74
+14.1%

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.

R9 M290X 3282

GeForce MX450 3744
+14.1%

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.

R9 M290X 6817

GeForce MX450 8250
+21%

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.

R9 M290X 23961
+4.9%

GeForce MX450 22831

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.

R9 M290X 5294
+12%

GeForce MX450 4725

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.

R9 M290X 33147
+20.2%

GeForce MX450 27570

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.

R9 M290X 62
+8.4%

GeForce MX450 57

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:

Full HD	46 +58.6%	29 −58.6%
1440p	14−16 −21.4%	17 +21.4%
4K	21−24 −23.8%	26 +23.8%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	16−18 −11.8%	18−20 +11.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 −88.2%	32 +88.2%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	27−30 −14.3%	30−35 +14.3%
Counter-Strike 2	16−18 −11.8%	18−20 +11.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 −5.9%	18 +5.9%
Forza Horizon 4	30−35 −47.1%	50 +47.1%
Forza Horizon 5	21−24 −61.9%	34 +61.9%
Metro Exodus	21−24 −47.8%	34 +47.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	21−24 −95.7%	45 +95.7%
Valorant	30−35 −15.6%	35−40 +15.6%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	27−30 −14.3%	30−35 +14.3%
Counter-Strike 2	16−18 +113%	8 −113%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 +54.5%	11 −54.5%
Dota 2	30−33 −80%	54 +80%
Far Cry 5	35−40 −61.1%	58 +61.1%
Fortnite	50−55 −14%	55−60 +14%
Forza Horizon 4	30−35 −17.6%	40 +17.6%
Forza Horizon 5	21−24 −14.3%	24−27 +14.3%
Grand Theft Auto V	30−33 −26.7%	38 +26.7%
Metro Exodus	21−24 +43.8%	16 −43.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	65−70 −11.9%	75−80 +11.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2	21−24 +360%	5 −360%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	35 +20.7%	27−30 −20.7%
Valorant	30−35 +45.5%	22 −45.5%
World of Tanks	120−130 −11%	140−150 +11%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	27−30 −14.3%	30−35 +14.3%
Counter-Strike 2	16−18 −11.8%	18−20 +11.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 +183%	6 −183%
Dota 2	30−33 −170%	81 +170%
Far Cry 5	35−40 −11.1%	40−45 +11.1%
Forza Horizon 4	30−35 +13.3%	30 −13.3%
Forza Horizon 5	21−24 −4.8%	22 +4.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	65−70 −11.9%	75−80 +11.9%
Valorant	30−35 −15.6%	35−40 +15.6%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	10−11 −10%	11 +10%
Grand Theft Auto V	10−12 +0%	11 +0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	40−45 −11.9%	45−50 +11.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2	7−8 −14.3%	8−9 +14.3%
World of Tanks	60−65 −12.9%	70−75 +12.9%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	16−18 −18.8%	18−20 +18.8%
Counter-Strike 2	7−8 −14.3%	8−9 +14.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	7−8 −14.3%	8−9 +14.3%
Far Cry 5	18−20 −16.7%	21−24 +16.7%
Forza Horizon 4	18−20 +0%	18 +0%
Forza Horizon 5	12−14 −15.4%	14−16 +15.4%
Metro Exodus	14−16 −20%	18−20 +20%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	12−14 −8.3%	12−14 +8.3%
Valorant	21−24 −14.3%	24−27 +14.3%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	12−14 −7.7%	14−16 +7.7%
Dota 2	18−20 −5.3%	20−22 +5.3%
Grand Theft Auto V	18−20 −5.3%	20−22 +5.3%
Metro Exodus	4−5 −25%	5−6 +25%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	24−27 −12%	27−30 +12%
Red Dead Redemption 2	5−6 −20%	6−7 +20%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	18−20 −5.3%	20−22 +5.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	7−8 −28.6%	9−10 +28.6%
Counter-Strike 2	12−14 −7.7%	14−16 +7.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 +0%	3−4 +0%
Dota 2	18−20 −68.4%	32 +68.4%
Far Cry 5	10−11 −20%	12−14 +20%
Fortnite	9−10 −11.1%	10−11 +11.1%
Forza Horizon 4	10−11 −20%	12−14 +20%
Forza Horizon 5	6−7 −16.7%	7−8 +16.7%
Valorant	8−9 −25%	10−11 +25%

This is how R9 M290X and GeForce MX450 compete in popular games:

R9 M290X is 59% faster in 1080p
GeForce MX450 is 21% faster in 1440p
GeForce MX450 is 24% faster in 4K

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

in Red Dead Redemption 2, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the R9 M290X is 360% faster.
in Dota 2, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GeForce MX450 is 170% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

R9 M290X is ahead in 8 tests (13%)
GeForce MX450 is ahead in 53 tests (83%)
there's a draw in 3 tests (5%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	8.54	9.74
Recency	9 January 2014	1 August 2020
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	2 GB
Chip lithography	28 nm	12 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	100 Watt	25 Watt

R9 M290X has a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount.

GeForce MX450, on the other hand, has a 14.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, a 133.3% more advanced lithography process, and 300% lower power consumption.

The GeForce MX450 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon R9 M290X in performance tests.

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