Qualcomm Adreno 512 vs Qualcomm Adreno 540 vs Qualcomm Adreno 506

Qualcomm Adreno 512

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The Qualcomm Adreno 512 is a mobile graphics card for mid-range smartphones and tablets (mostly Android based). It is included in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoCs and based on the Adreno 500 architecture (like the Adreno 520 in the S820, which should be fully compatible in software).

According to Qualcomm up to 30% faster than the previous generation (Adreno 510?).

The GPU supports modern standards like Vulkan 1.0 (according to Wikipedia), OpenGL ES 3.1 + AE (3.2 in other sources), OpenCL 2.0 and DirectX 12 (FL 12.1 according to Wikipedia, 11.1 according to Qualcomm). Furthermore, the GPU supports Universal Bandwidth Compression (UBWC) to save memory bandwidth.

 

Qualcomm Adreno 540

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The Qualcomm Adreno 540 is an integrated graphics card in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC for smartphones. It was introduced in early 2017 and can be found in high-end Android smartphones. 

The integrated GPU is based on the optimized architecture of the Adreno 530, but features clearly improved clock speeds (710 versus 624 MHz according to Anandtech) and better thermal stability. This is also thanks to the new 10 nm process the Snapdragon 835 is produced in. In the reference smartphone from Qualcomm, the Adreno 540 is able to beat or perform at a similar level as the fastest smartphone graphics cards on the market (e.g. the ARM Mali-T880MP12, ARM Mali-G71MP8 or Apple A10 GPU). Therefore, it should be perfectly suited for demanding 3D gaming and also mobile VR and 4K displays.

Qualcomm Adreno 506

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The Qualcomm Adreno 506 is a mobile graphics card for mid-range smartphones and tablets (mostly Android based). It is included in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoCs and based on the Adreno 500 architecture (like the Adreno 520 in the S820, which should be fully compatible in software).

The GPU supports modern standards like Vulkan 1.0 (according to Wikipedia), OpenGL ES 3.1 + AE (3.2 in other sources), OpenCL 2.0 and DirectX 12 (FL 12.1 according to Wikipedia, 11.1 according to Qualcomm). Furthermore, the GPU supports Universal Bandwidth Compression (UBWC) to save memory bandwidth.

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Qualcomm Adreno 512Qualcomm Adreno 540Qualcomm Adreno 506
ManufacturerQualcommQualcommQualcomm
Adreno 500 Series
Adreno 540 @ 0.71 GHz
Adreno 530 @ 0.62 GHz
Adreno 512
Adreno 510
Adreno 509
Adreno 508 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 506 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 505 @ 0.45 GHz
Adreno 504 @ 0.45 GHz
Adreno 540 @ 0.71 GHz
Adreno 530 @ 0.62 GHz
Adreno 512
Adreno 510
Adreno 509
Adreno 508 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 506 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 505 @ 0.45 GHz
Adreno 504 @ 0.45 GHz
Adreno 540 @ 0.71 GHz
Adreno 530 @ 0.62 GHz
Adreno 512
Adreno 510
Adreno 509
Adreno 508 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 506 @ 0.65 GHz
Adreno 505 @ 0.45 GHz
Adreno 504 @ 0.45 GHz
ArchitectureAdreno 500Adreno 500
Shared Memoryyesyesyes
DirectXDirectX 12.1DirectX 12DirectX 12.1
technology14 nm10 nm14 nm
FeaturesOpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Direct3D 12 (FL 12_1)OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0, DirectX 12OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Direct3D 12 (FL 12_1)
Date of Announcement15.12.2015 22.03.2017 15.12.2015
Core Speed710 MHz650 MHz
CPU in Adreno 512GPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6608 x 2200 MHz? MHz850 MHz
CPU in Adreno 540GPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998)8 x 2450 MHz? MHz710 MHz
CPU in Adreno 506GPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6328 x 1800 MHz? MHz? MHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6268 x 2200 MHz? MHz? MHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6258 x 2000 MHz? MHz? MHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4508 x 1800 MHz? MHz? MHz
min. - max.? MHz? - 850 MHz

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy - Adreno 540
2.1 pt (2%)
AMD Radeon HD 8180 -33%
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) -33%
Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) -23%
AMD Radeon HD 7310 -20%
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell) -17%
AMD Radeon HD 7340 -14%
AMD Radeon HD 8210 -11%
AMD Radeon HD 8250 -10%
Qualcomm Adreno 540
Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) 4%
Intel HD Graphics 2500 6%
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell) 7%
AMD Radeon R2 (Mullins/Beema/Carrizo-L) 8%
AMD Radeon HD 8240 8%
Intel UHD Graphics 600 10%
Intel HD Graphics 500 10%
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell) 22%
AMD Radeon HD 8280 26%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 4594%
0%
100%
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics
min: 25561     avg: 28454     median: 29060 (5%)     max: 29496 Points
min: 16794     avg: 53776     median: 56046.5 (9%)     max: 58360 Points
min: 7668     avg: 13091     median: 13240 (2%)     max: 14741 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
17290 Points (2%)
min: 7040     avg: 7261     median: 7309 (1%)     max: 7435 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Score
2359 Points (3%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics
4259 Points (2%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Score
min: 451     avg: 452     median: 452 (1%)     max: 453 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics
min: 508     avg: 513     median: 513 (1%)     max: 518 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Graphics
17180 Points (2%)
12169 Points (2%)
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot (ES 3.0) Unlimited
min: 1887     avg: 2054     median: 2117 (16%)     max: 2151 Points
min: 3586     avg: 4690     median: 4956 (37%)     max: 5269 Points
min: 533     avg: 847     median: 852 (6%)     max: 951 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot (ES 3.0) Unlimited Graphics
min: 1734     avg: 1935     median: 1991 (7%)     max: 2033 Points
min: 3682     avg: 5894     median: 6245.5 (22%)     max: 6475 Points
min: 440     avg: 732     median: 734.5 (3%)     max: 814 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited
min: 1270     avg: 1397     median: 1432 (15%)     max: 1442 Points
min: 2866     avg: 3801     median: 3840 (40%)     max: 4101 Points
min: 488     avg: 525     median: 512 (5%)     max: 882 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics
min: 1134     avg: 1235     median: 1256 (10%)     max: 1268 Points
min: 3324     avg: 4231     median: 4347 (36%)     max: 4490 Points
min: 403     avg: 435     median: 422 (3%)     max: 761 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
min: 826     avg: 831     median: 831 (2%)     max: 836 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
min: 786     avg: 791     median: 791 (1%)     max: 796 Points
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 512
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 540
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 506
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Onscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 512
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Onscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 540
GLBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Onscreen C24Z16 + Qualcomm Adreno 506
GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen
min: 20     avg: 22.2     median: 23 (3%)     max: 23 fps
min: 43     avg: 55.2     median: 54 (6%)     max: 64 fps
min: 3.1     avg: 9.6     median: 9.8 (1%)     max: 11 fps
GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan
min: 19     avg: 21.2     median: 21 (6%)     max: 23 fps
min: 29     avg: 42.3     median: 40 (11%)     max: 58 fps
min: 7.4     avg: 12.4     median: 10 (3%)     max: 20 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen
min: 4.7     avg: 5.1     median: 5 (3%)     max: 6.3 fps
min: 8.9     avg: 12.9     median: 15 (10%)     max: 16 fps
min: 1.9     avg: 3.1     median: 3.7 (2%)     max: 4.3 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
min: 3     avg: 3.2     median: 3.2 (1%)     max: 3.2 fps
min: 9.3     avg: 9.7     median: 9.7 (4%)     max: 9.9 fps
min: 1.1     avg: 1.2     median: 1.2 (0%)     max: 1.4 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen
min: 7.5     avg: 8.1     median: 7.9 (4%)     max: 9.7 fps
min: 14     avg: 20.8     median: 24 (12%)     max: 26 fps
min: 3.2     avg: 5.2     median: 6.1 (3%)     max: 7 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
min: 7.9     avg: 8.5     median: 8.6 (1%)     max: 8.7 fps
min: 25     avg: 25.6     median: 26 (4%)     max: 26 fps
min: 3.3     avg: 3.6     median: 3.6 (1%)     max: 3.9 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench Car Chase Offscreen
min: 8     avg: 8.8     median: 9 (2%)     max: 9.1 fps
min: 22     avg: 24.5     median: 24 (6%)     max: 26 fps
min: 3.3     avg: 3.6     median: 3.5 (1%)     max: 3.9 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench Car Chase Onscreen
min: 7.5     avg: 8.5     median: 8.5 (3%)     max: 9.8 fps
min: 11     avg: 19.5     median: 15 (6%)     max: 50 fps
min: 3.1     avg: 4.7     median: 3.6 (1%)     max: 7.9 fps
Basemark ES 2.0 - Basemark ES 2.0
44 fps (73%)
Basemark X 1.1 - Basemark X 1.1 High Quality
min: 38752     avg: 38763     median: 38762.5 (88%)     max: 38773 Points
10438 Points (24%)
Basemark X 1.1 - Basemark X 1.1 Medium Quality
44696 Points (99%)
21210 Points (47%)
Basemark GPU 1.2 - Basemark GPU 1.2 Vulkan Official Medium Offscreen 1080
12.8 fps (1%)
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1 - PerformanceTest Mobile 2D Graphics Tests
min: 6741     avg: 6821     median: 6820.5 (14%)     max: 6900 Points
8356 Points (18%)
min: 2337     avg: 3197     median: 3197 (7%)     max: 4057 Points
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1 - PerformanceTest Mobile 3D Graphics Tests
min: 2286     avg: 2288     median: 2288 (8%)     max: 2290 Points
3409 Points (12%)
min: 1371     avg: 1472     median: 1472 (5%)     max: 1573 Points
Smartbench 2012 - Smartbench 2012 Gaming Index
3466 (75%)

Average Benchmarks Qualcomm Adreno 512 → 100% n=17

Average Benchmarks Qualcomm Adreno 540 → 238% n=17

Average Benchmarks Qualcomm Adreno 506 → 47% n=17

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile

2018
low
100%
Adreno 512:
30 fps  fps
93%
Adreno 506:
26 fps 26 fps 29 fps 30 fps 30 fps ~ 28 fps
med.
100%
Adreno 512:
24 fps 30 fps ~ 27 fps
93%
Adreno 506:
23 fps 25 fps 26 fps 26 fps ~ 25 fps
high
100%
Adreno 512:
30 fps 30 fps 30 fps ~ 30 fps
133%
Adreno 540:
40 fps  fps
World of Tanks Blitz

World of Tanks Blitz

2018
low
Adreno 540:
91 fps  fps
high
100%
Adreno 512:
30 60 fps ~ 45 fps
202%
Adreno 540:
91 fps  fps
Arena of Valor

Arena of Valor

2018
low
100%
Adreno 512:
60 fps  fps
102%
Adreno 540:
60 fps 62 fps ~ 61 fps
52%
Adreno 506:
30 fps 31 fps 31 fps 31 fps 31 fps 32 fps ~ 31 fps
ultra
100%
Adreno 512:
30 fps 60 fps 60 fps ~ 50 fps
122%
Adreno 540:
60 fps