Gaming on a portable device seems like a bit of a compromise since it’s a type of activity that requires high performance with stable power efficiency. Every gamer is looking for something that comes with a dedicated GPU and CPU. And there is no better option in GPUs than the R9 M270x.
AMD Radeon R9 M270x is a graphics card usually graded into gaming laptops. This graphics card is one of the direct competitors of Nvidia that gives up to 100% relative performance.
This article will explore the Radeon R9 M270x graphics card and how it is still a competitive choice in the affordable range.
AMD Radeon R9 M270x – An intro
Many gamers might think that they have heard of the AMD Radeon R9 270x, but what is the M270x, right? Well, let us clarify that for you. The M in the name of 270x stands for Mobile, indicating that this GPU was made for laptop processors.
The Radeon R9 M270x was released in 2014, and in the day, GPU and CPU processors had their dedicated space in the motherboard. As we see in the PC, the PCI slot is responsible for powering and handling the GPU, which gives the graphics power output.
Bringing it back to 2023, nowadays, the gaming laptops are coming embedded with the APU processors. An APU is the combination of CPU and GPU and is something that makes the AMD Radeon R9 M270x an outdated GPU.
However, for laptops that are older than 2017, it is a far more competitive piece of hardware than any of its competitors released by Nvidia. As for the price factor, the full GPU version 270x costs around $199.
However, the M270x can vary for the price since it is not sold separately. However, due to the fact that M270x was released in 2015, such a laptop that includes this process can be bought under $150 in mint condition.
Technical Features AMD Radeon R9 M270x
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Pixel Rate | 16.00 GPixel/s |
| Texture Rate | 48.00 GTexel/s |
| FP32 (float) | 1.536 TFLOPS |
| FP64 (double) | 96.00 GFLOPS (1:16) |
| Memory Size | 2GB |
| Memory Bus | GDDR5 |
| Bandwidth | 88.00 GB/s |
| Direct X | 12 |
What are the Capabilities of AMD Radeon R9 M270x
AMD Radeon R9 M270x mobile graphics card is built on the 28 nm technology. It is based on the Saturn graphics processor. It is the chip that supports DirectX 12 in its Saturn PRO form. This assures that the Radeon R9 M270X can run all contemporary games. The Saturn graphics processor is a medium-sized device with a 160 mm2 die area and 2,080 million transistors.
Unlike the fully unlocked Radeon R9 M280X, which utilizes the identical GPU but has all 896 shaders activated, AMD disabled certain shading units on the Radeon R9 M270X to meet the product’s shader count objective. There are 768 shading units in it. The texture mapping units are 48. It also has 16 ROPs.
AMD has coupled it with 2,048 MB GDDR5 RAM. They did itvia a 128-bit memory interface. It operate at 900 MHz. It can be increased to 1000 MHz. Its RAM operates at 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective).
How is Radeon R9 270X different from M270X
The M270x is the mobile chip version of the 270x with the same name and variant. But a significant difference in the size of their form factor. First, let’s talk about the 270x, a proper dedicated GPU designed for desktop gaming PCs. Ithas a dedicated fan to keep the thermal elements balanced. It also comes with a wide range of display output ports to run with.
On the other hand, we got the M270x mobile GPU, which is only a chip. And it’s 10% of the size of an actual 270x. As you can see in the image below, the M270x is only a chip with the AMD engraving on it that is lodged into the laptop’s motherboard. The chip works for graphics processing. And you do not get additional support like fan control and other perks with it because of its compact size.
Pros and Cons of AMD Radeon R9 M270x:
| Pros | Cons |
| It can be found in several gaming laptops. | It is outdated by today’s standards. |
| Consumes low power. | Limited Memory options |
| The card can handle decent video editing tasks. |
Does M270x Perform Better than the 270x?
M270x is simply the compact version of the fully arranged 270x GPU. The processing mechanism for the graphics is the same, too. However, 270x performs way better than the M270x since it has a dedicated cooling system lodged to it.
In addition to that, the M270x GPU may have to maintain power levels when the gaming laptop is not charging and running on the DC power of the battery. However, the 270x gets the full power advantage of the AC power. And lodges the complete power of the PSU to work with the enhanced gaming performance.
In a different, we can say that M270x performs a bit less than the 270x because of its compact factor. In the benchmarks, we got 29 FPS on a game with M270x, whereas the 270x delivered over 31 FPS with the same game. Hence, the difference is only minor as most of the games also rely on the CPU as well.
Summing Up
AMD Radeon R9 M270x is one of the most versatile and efficient GPUs of its time. It can still handle modern-day tasks without a challenge due to its higher GDDR5 support. Although, it is an outdated card, it still can handle a lot of important stuff. Includes light gaming and video editing.
We have discussed its important elements in the information given above. All of this data is described so that you can understand the details of GPU.
FAQs:
Is AMD Radeon R9 M270x good for gaming?
The AMD Radeon R9 M270x is good for old games. It’s an old card and cannot handle heavy modern games.
What are memory options available on AMD Radeon R9 M270x card?
You can find 2GB and 4GB memory options on this card.
Can the 4GB variant handle modern games?
Yes. its variant can handle most of the modern games. You may have to change the graphic quality settings of the game, however.
Can the AMD Radeon R9 M270x card be upgraded in any way?
No. It’s not possible to upgrade this card in any way.