Radeon 540X vs. Vega 8 in the Acer Swift 3: Better with or without a dedicated GPU?

We check whether and at what level the CPU Turbo is used by running the multithread test of the Cinebench R15 benchmark in a continuous loop for at least 30 minutes. The SF314-41G does not reach the values of the SF314-41, either at the top scores or over a longer period. The following diagram shows the differences between the two Swift 3 models very clearly.

The Swift 3 SF314-41G's Radeon 540X GPU has advantages over the Vega 8 iGPU in GPU-heavy applications and computer games. The refresh rates within games can (but don't have to) be up to 50-60% higher. This depends on the game, the chosen resolution and the chosen quality settings. The lead is largely due to the fast GDDR5 memory.

The downside of the dedicated Radeon 540X GPU: Less CPU power.

Nevertheless, a majority of the games that run on the 540X GPU also run on the Vega 8 GPU - at lower resolutions or quality settings. Basically, both graphics cores are primarily suitable for games that have been around for a few years or do not place excessive demands on the hardware.

The extra power provided by the dedicated GPU comes at a price: The CPU of the SF314-41G delivers a significantly lower multithread performance than the CPU of the SF314-41 - both at the top scores and in the long run. The differences are not significant in single-thread performance, which is more important for everyday operation. The cooling system would probably be overwhelmed if all the components were working at full power.

The 540X Swift 3 model produces a bit more noise at the top and heats up more than the sister model, but that is all within a normal range. There are no differences in everyday use. In addition, the SF314-41G requires more energy under full load. Accordingly, the notebook comes with a 65-watt power supply (SF314-41: 45 watts). The battery runtimes are not negatively affected. The two Swift 3 models are on par in our practical Wi-Fi test.

Which model should you buy now? Basically, Acer makes the decision easy for potential customers. For most users, models without a dedicated GPU should be the first choice. They are available for less money and offer more CPU power. The latter is more important in the long run.