Let’s get it out there: you’re having a hard time finding a budget GPU but wondering if AMD Radeon R7 is a good way to go. So, really, is the AMD Radeon R7 good for gaming? That we’ll find out today.
For instance, this guide breaks down detailed benchmarks of the performance of AMD Radeon R7 in gaming. Plus, I’ve also laid down my personal verdict at the end, helping you determine a suitable way and make the best use of your bucks.
Ready? Let’s roll in.
Is AMD Radeon R7 Good For Gaming?
AMD Radeon R7 240 is a good option for playing old and low-demanding games. If you’re willing to run the most graphics-intensive games like Tomb Raider, know that R7 240 won’t work. But if old games like GTA V or less intensive games like CSGO are your concern, R7 240 is a good way to go.
With that out of the way, why is AMD R7 a good option for less demanding games?
The 2 GB VRAM of the GPU makes way for running most of the old games with smooth FPS. In fact, 2 GB VRAM lets you run many of the demanding games on low settings too. So, AMD Radeon R7 becomes a good budget option for mid-level gaming.
On the flip side, why is AMD Radeon R7 240 bad? Well, if we look into the same part of the specifications, the VRAM, 2 GB is way too little in this era. In today’s age, 4 GB is considered the minimum VRAM for gaming at 1080p resolution. For the smooth running of demanding games, people opt-in for 8 GB and 12 GB GPUs.
If you’re wondering about the specifications of AMD Radeon R7 240, well, here they are:
Specifications of AMD Radeon R7 240
Below is a breakdown of the specifications of AMD Radeon R7 240:
| Graphics Engine: | RADEON R7 240 |
| Video Memory: | 2GB DDR3 |
| Memory Interface: | 128bit |
| DirectX® Support: | 11.2 |
| Bus Standard: | PCI Express 3.0 |
| Core Speed: | 780MHz |
| Memory Speed: | 800MHz x2 |
| VGA Output: | VGA |
| DVI Output: | SL DVI-D |
| HDMI Output: | HDMI (video/audio) |
| UEFI Ready: | Support |
If you’d like to see the specification table of AMD Radeon R7 430 rather than AMD Radeon R7 240, well, here it is:
Specifications of AMD Radeon R7 430
The table below shows the specifications of AMD Radeon R7 430:
| GPU Name | Oland |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 |
| Foundry | TSMC |
| Process Size | 28 nm |
| Transistors | 950 million |
| Die Size | 77 mm² |
| Base Clock | 730 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 780 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 900 MHz 1800 Mbps effective |
| Slot Width | Single-slot |
| TDP | 50 W |
| Suggested PSU | 250 W |
| Outputs | ● 1x DVI
● 1x HDMI ● 1x VGA |
| Power Connectors | None |
| Release Date | Jun 30th, 2016 |
| Generation | Arctic Islands
(R7 400) |
| Predecessor | Pirate Islands |
| Successor | Polaris |
| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 |
| Memory Size | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | DDR3 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bit |
| Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s |
AMD Radeon R7 Vs AMD Radeon Vega 8
If you’re wondering about what sets AMD Radeon R7 and AMD Radeon Vega 8 apart, well, the major difference is that AMD Radeon R7 is a dedicated GPU while AMD Radeon Vega 8 is an integrated GPU. Now, what are dedicated and integrated GPUs? Let’s find out.
A dedicated GPU, as the name shows, comes separately, in one piece as in the image below:
On the other hand, an integrated GPU is fit into the motherboard like this:
The fun fact is, the integrated GPU is available on nearly all the motherboards as GPU is essential for display. So, why do you need a dedicated GPU?
Well, as you might have guessed, the integrated GPU is pretty small and cannot have that much power. That’s where dedicated GPUs come in. With better cooling and more processing power, they’re much more efficient than an integrated GPU could be.
That said, if you’re wondering what the GPU temperature limit your graphics card shouldn’t exceed, learn that with our definitive guide on what is hot for a GPU.
Secondly, do you have to take off the integrated GPU before installing a dedicated GPU? Absolutely not! It remains in place. This way, a normal gaming computer has two GPUs, an integrated one, and a dedicated one.
Now, coming to the point, AMD Radeon R7 is a much better approach compared to AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPUs. Also, AMD Radeon R7 can only be installed on computers and is a good option for desktops. AMD Radeon Vega 8 cards, on the other hand, usually come in laptops.
That said, there is a Radeon Vega 8 series GPU that outran R7 240 in performance, known as Ryzen iGPU. But if you’re looking for a GPU for gaming, of course, AMD Radeon R7 is a better option, of course.
AMD Radeon R7 240 Vs 430
As the names suggest R7 240 and R7 430 are the GPUs of the same series. Surprisingly, both of these come with the same VRAM of 2 GB and a comparative clock rate of 730 MHz. With that kind of specification, it becomes interesting to compare both and find out the winner.
In our testings, R7 430, being a later card of the series, performs better. However, the point to note is, the performance difference is not that significant. It’s only a matter of one or two frames per second in gaming.
So, if you’re having a hard time deciding between R7 240 and R7 430, don’t stress out, take a rest, both are comparative options. Go for the one that goes easier on your pocket since the performance difference is not that noticeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to the most-searched questions regarding the AMD Radeon R7 series.
Is the AMD Radeon R7 200 series good for gaming?
AMD Radeon R7 200 series cannot run the demanding games at good graphics settings. However, the series still lets you play the less-demanding games like CSGO, GTA V, Fortnite, etc., at low graphics settings.
Can AMD Radeon R7 run Fortnite?
AMD Radeon R7 can run Fortnite at low settings at either 720p or 1080p. According to our tests, the AMD Radeon R7 240 offers around 35 FPS on running Fortnite at 1080p. While the FPS at 720p jumps to over 40. The lowest recommended FPS is 30.
Can AMD Radeon R7 run GTA V?
AMD Radeon R7 240 can run GTA V but you won’t be able to enjoy a high-FPS or high-resolution gaming experience. In fact, you’ll have to go with the lowest graphics settings to achieve an FPS above 30. According to our tests, the card offers 35 FPS on GTA V at 720p.
Is AMD R7 260x good for gaming?
R7 260X is a good budget card from AMD. Though it cannot run the most graphics-intensive games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare at high settings, it still lets you enjoy many demanding games at low settings, without having to pay with an arm and a leg. So, if a budget-friendly GPU is your concern, AMD R7 260x may be a good approach.
Which Nvidia graphics is equivalent to AMD Radeon R7 graphics?
The Nvidia graphics equivalent to AMD Radeon R7 graphics is the Nvidia GeForce 920M for laptops. These come with nearly the same specifications and bring forth almost the same performance. However, neither one is recommended for gaming considering the specs.
Key Takeaways
To sum things up, here are the key answers to “Is AMD Radeon R7 good for gaming?”:
- AMD Radeon R7 240 is not an ideal GPU for gaming. It cannot run the AAA titles at max settings. However, if you’re willing to play the mid-end games like GTA V, CSGO, etc., at low graphics settings R7 240 might work just well
- AMD Radeon R7 240 comes with 2 GB VRAM while the minimum recommended VRAM for gaming is 4 GB at the moment
- AMD Radeon R7, being a series of dedicated GPUs, outruns AMD Radeon Vega 8 series in performance
- AMD Radeon R7 430 performs slightly better compared to AMD R7 240. However, the difference in performance and specifications is not significant. You can get away with any of these
- Nvidia is known best for offering the best performance while AMD puts the best performance in cheap pricing. People looking for a cost-effective GPU should aim for AMD
