AMD Radeon R5 M230 vs AMD Radeon R5 M255
AMD Radeon R5 M230
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The AMD Radeon R5 M230 is an entry-level DirectX 12 graphics card for laptops, which is based on the Sun GPU (GCN architecture). The core is clocked at up to 855 MHz and the DDR3 graphics memory runs at 1000 MHz (64-bit interface).
Compared to the Mars chip (e.g. HD 8570M), Sun offers less hardware units. The GPU integrates 320 shaders, 20 TMUs and 4 ROPs and is therefore located in the low-end segment.
The performance of the Radeon R5 M230 is similar to the HD 8500M series, e.g. the HD 8570M. Accordingly, the performance is somewhat below a GeForce 820M and hardly beats Intels HD Graphics 4600. Current and demanding games of 2014 will run fluently only in low resolutions and detail settings.
The 320 shaders can be used with OpenCL 1.2 for general-purpose calculations (as 5 compute units). Compared to old TeraScale 2 chips, the GCN-based architecture offers improved performance in this framework.
The R5 series also supports automatic graphics switching between the integrated GPU and discrete GPU. Called Enduro, the technology supersedes AMD's Dynamic Switchable Graphics and is similar to Nvidia's Optimus. Furthermore, the R5 M230 can directly support multiple monitors using Eyefinity technology.
Other features of the R5 series include ZeroCore for reducing power consumption when the display is turned off and Power Gating to power down areas of the chip that are not used. PowerTune allows automatic overclocking and underclocking of the graphics card as long as the GPU is within its TDP limit. For example, the chip may be underclocked when running FurMark and OCCT, but will overclock in certain games.
The power consumption should be similar to slower models of the HD 8500M or 8600M series. As a result, the R5 M230 is suited for 13-inch notebooks or larger.
AMD Radeon R5 M255
► remove from comparison
The AMD Radeon R5 M255 is an entry-level DirectX 12 graphics card for laptops, which is based on the Sun GPU (GCN architecture). The core is clocked at up to 940 MHz and the DDR3 graphics memory runs at 1000 MHz (64-bit interface).
Architecture
Compared to the Mars chip (e.g. HD 8570M), Sun offers less hardware units. The GPU integrates 320 shaders, 20 TMUs and 4 ROPs and is therefore located in the low-end segment.
Performance
The performance of the Radeon R5 M255 is similar to the HD 8500M series, e.g. the HD 8570M. Due to a slightly higher core clock, the M255 beats the R5 M230. Overall, the GPU performs a bit better than a GeForce 820M and beats Intels HD Graphics 4600. Current and demanding games of 2014 will run fluently only in low resolutions and detail settings.
The 320 shaders can be used with OpenCL 1.2 for general-purpose calculations (as 5 compute units). Compared to old TeraScale 2 chips, the GCN-based architecture offers improved performance in this framework.
Features
The R5 series also supports automatic graphics switching between the integrated GPU and discrete GPU. Called Enduro, the technology supersedes AMD's Dynamic Switchable Graphics and is similar to Nvidia's Optimus. Furthermore, the R5 M255 can directly support multiple monitors using Eyefinity technology.
Other features of the R5 series include ZeroCore for reducing power consumption when the display is turned off and Power Gating to power down areas of the chip that are not used. PowerTune allows automatic overclocking and underclocking of the graphics card as long as the GPU is within its TDP limit. For example, the chip may be underclocked when running FurMark and OCCT, but will overclock in certain games.
Power Consumption
The power consumption should be similar to slower models of the HD 8500M or 8600M series. As a result, the R5 M255 is suited for 13-inch notebooks or larger.
AMD Radeon R5 M230 | AMD Radeon R5 M255 | |||||||||||||||||||
Radeon R5 M200 Series |
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Codename | Jet / Sun | Topaz Pro / Sun | ||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | GCN | GCN | ||||||||||||||||||
Pipelines | 320 - unified | 320 - unified | ||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 855 MHz | 940 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 1800 - 2000 MHz | 1800 - 2000 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 64 Bit | 64 Bit | ||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | DDR3 | DDR3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Max. Amount of Memory | 4 GB | 4 GB | ||||||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | no | ||||||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 12, Shader 5.0, OpenGL 4.3 | DirectX 12, Shader 5.0, OpenGL 4.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
technology | 28 nm | 28 nm | ||||||||||||||||||
Features | App Acceleration, PowerPlay, PowerTune, ZeroCore, Enduro, Eyefinity, Mantle | PCI Express 3.0 x8, App Acceleration, PowerPlay, PowerTune, ZeroCore, Enduro, Eyefinity, Mantle | ||||||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 07.01.2014 | 01.05.2014 | ||||||||||||||||||
Link to Manufacturer Page | www.amd.com | www.amd.com |
Benchmarks
3DM Vant. Perf. total + AMD Radeon R5 M255
specvp12 sw-03 + AMD Radeon R5 M255
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + AMD Radeon R5 M230
Average Benchmarks AMD Radeon R5 M230 → 100% n=12
Average Benchmarks AMD Radeon R5 M255 → 134% n=12

* 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.

Ready or Not
2023
EA Sports WRC
2023
Total War Pharaoh
2023
Counter-Strike 2
2023
Armored Core 6
2023
Atlas Fallen
2023
Dead Island 2
2023
Company of Heroes 3
2023
Sons of the Forest
2023
Atomic Heart
2023
Hogwarts Legacy
2023
The Witcher 3 v4.00
2023
High On Life
2023
The Quarry
2022
Vampire Bloodhunt
2022
Ghostwire Tokyo
2022
Cyberpunk 2077 1.6
2022
GRID Legends
2022
Farming Simulator 22
2021
Forza Horizon 5
2021
Riders Republic
2021
Back 4 Blood
2021
Alan Wake Remastered
2021
F1 2021
2021
Yakuza Like a Dragon
2020
Crysis Remastered
2020
Horizon Zero Dawn
2020
Death Stranding
2020
F1 2020
2020
Gears Tactics
2020
Doom Eternal
2020
Hunt Showdown
2020
Escape from Tarkov
2020
Need for Speed Heat
2019
Borderlands 3
2019
The Division 2
2019
Dirt Rally 2.0
2019
Far Cry New Dawn
2019
Metro Exodus
2019
Apex Legends
2019
Just Cause 4
2018
Darksiders III
2018
Battlefield V
2018
Farming Simulator 19
2018
Fallout 76
2018
Forza Horizon 4
2018
Monster Hunter World
2018
The Crew 2
2018
X-Plane 11.11
2018
Call of Duty WWII
2017
The Evil Within 2
2017
FIFA 18
2017
Ark Survival Evolved
2017
Team Fortress 2
2017
Dirt 4
2017
Rocket League
2017
Resident Evil 7
2017
Watch Dogs 2
2016
Dishonored 2
2016
Titanfall 2
2016
Farming Simulator 17
2016
Battlefield 1
2016
Civilization VI
2016
FIFA 17
2016
No Man's Sky
2016
Overwatch
2016
Doom
2016
Need for Speed 2016
2016
Hitman 2016
2016
The Division
2016
Far Cry Primal
2016
XCOM 2
2016
Rainbow Six Siege
2015
Just Cause 3
2015
Fallout 4
2015
Anno 2205
2015
FIFA 16
2015
World of Warships
2015
Metal Gear Solid V
2015
Dota 2 Reborn
2015
The Witcher 3
2015
Dirt Rally
2015
GTA V
2015
Battlefield Hardline
2015
Evolve
2015
The Crew
2014
Far Cry 4
2014
F1 2014
2014
The Evil Within
2014
Ryse: Son of Rome
2014
Alien: Isolation
2014
Fifa 15
2014
Sims 4
2014
Risen 3: Titan Lords
2014
GRID: Autosport
2014
Watch Dogs
2014
Thief
2014
X-Plane 10.25
2013
Call of Duty: Ghosts
2013
Battlefield 4
2013
Fifa 14
2013
Total War: Rome II
2013
Saints Row IV
2013
Company of Heroes 2
2013
Metro: Last Light
2013
BioShock Infinite
2013
Tomb Raider
2013
Crysis 3
2013
Dead Space 3
2013
Hitman: Absolution
2012
Dishonored
2012
Borderlands 2
2012
Sleeping Dogs
2012
Diablo III
2012
Alan Wake
2012
Anno 2070
2011
Mafia 2
2010
StarCraft 2
2010
Metro 2033
2010Average Gaming AMD Radeon R5 M230 → 100%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%
Average Gaming AMD Radeon R5 M255 → 147%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 147%
For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List