If you’re in the market for a new graphics card and you’re wondering if the AMD Radeon Vega 10 is a good option, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll look at the GPUs design, performance, value, and pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Table of Contents
Is the Vega 10 Good For Gaming?
Yes, the AMD Radeon Vega 10 is good for older games and can handle newer games if you lower the settings. It will not give you the same level of performance as a high-end graphics card, but it’s great for light gaming.
Pros and Cons of the AMD Radeon Vega 10
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The affordable price makes it a great option for budget-conscious gamers | Some games may require you to lower the settings to get playable framerates |
| The Vega architecture is designed for better performance and efficiency | Since it’s an integrated GPU, it doesn’t have its own memory and is limited by the system’s CPU and memory |
| Major improvements compared to previous AMD GPUs |
Design and Architecture
The AMD Radeon Vega is based on the Vega architecture and is manufactured on the 14nm process. It was released in August 2017. Major improvements compared to previous AMD GPUs include a new memory controller, higher clock speeds, and a redesigned shader core.
Regarding clock speeds, the base clock is 600MHz, and the boost clock is 1300MHz. Compared to the previous Polaris architecture, the boost clock is significantly higher, and it’s now possible to fully utilize DirectX 12.
It’s also fairly energy-efficient with a power consumption of 15W.
Who Is It For?
The AMD Radeon Vega is a good choice for gamers who are looking for a fast and energy-efficient GPU. It offers great value for the price and is capable of running most games at high settings. However, it’s not the best choice for gamers who are looking for the highest possible performance. If you’re looking for the best possible gaming experience, you should consider spending more money on a higher-end dedicated GPU such as the Nvidia RTX 3060.
Performance and Benchmarks
Gamers will be happy to know that the Radeon Vega can run most games at playable framerates. However, you’ll need to look elsewhere if you’re looking to game at high resolutions or on ultrawide monitors.
Some recent demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Halo Infinite are unplayable even at the lowest settings, while less demanding games such as Fortnite and CS: GO run just fine.
On CS: GO, for example, the Radeon Vega is able to maintain an average of 41 frames per second at 1080p on ultra settings.
The same can be said for games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, where the Radeon Vega is also able to maintain a consistent framerate. For example, Fortnite maintains an average of 32 frames per second on 1080p on medium settings, while Apex Legends is able to maintain a consistent 40+ frames per second on low settings.
The AMD Vega’s performance is on par with the Nvidia GeForce MX150, which is a budget card from 2017. So if you’re looking to game at 1080p and don’t mind turning down the settings a bit, the Radeon Vega is a good option.
The Radeon Vega 10 is faster than the Nvidia 940MX by a decent margin, with the former being up to 12% faster. It won’t quite reach up to the performance of the GeForce MX150, though.
When we ran the 3D Mark Time Spy benchmark, the Radeon Vega scored a lowly score of 825. The 16454 score on 3DMark 05 is also on the low side.
The bottom line is that, while it is possible to game on the AMD Radeon Vega, you’ll have to lower your expectations a bit if you’re looking to play the latest and greatest games at 1080p resolution. If you’re willing to do that, then the card is a decent option thanks to its low price point.
Value
Value is where the Radeon Vega really shines. tT’s one of the most affordable graphics cards on the market that is actually worth buying.
For the price, you get a card that is capable of running most games at 1080p resolution with decent frame rates.
Can The Vega 10 Run VR Games?
No, the Vega is not a good option for virtual reality gaming. VR games require a powerful dedicated graphics card to run smoothly, and the integrated Vega 10 just doesn’t have enough under the hood.
Verdict
The AMD Radeon Vega is a decent graphics card for gaming, especially if you’re on a budget. Of course, you’ll want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for the best possible performance. However, if you’re on a budget and willing to lower your expectations a bit, definitely consider a laptop with the AMD Radeon Vega 10 graphics card!