Radeon R7 265 vs Radeon 540

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared R7 265 and Radeon 540 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

R7 265 outperforms Radeon 540 by ~10% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+10%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Higher catalog score: Radeon R7 265 (~14%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider R7 265

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • Higher catalog value index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported

Reasons to consider Radeon 540

  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
3431
Efficiency
76100
Price / performance
10054
Memory capacity
5656
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 195–200of 321
R7 265not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
Radeon 540not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon 540

168 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryR7 265Radeon 540
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
34Better
31
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
31Better
29
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
28Better
26
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
76
100Better
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
49Better
43

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

SpecificationR7 265Radeon 540
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
TFLOPSBetter
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
Power consumptionBetter
Length
Thickness
Launch price
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Compute API
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Transistor countBetter
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares R7 265 and Radeon 540 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.

R7 265Radeon 540
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
173 FPS
155 FPS
1080p Ultra
118 FPS
109 FPS
1440p Ultra
64 FPS
58 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
21 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2R7 265173 FPSRadeon 540155 FPSR7 265118 FPSRadeon 540109 FPSR7 26564 FPSRadeon 54058 FPSR7 26523 FPSRadeon 54021 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077R7 265111 FPSRadeon 540100 FPSR7 26593 FPSRadeon 54086 FPSR7 26546 FPSRadeon 54042 FPSR7 26516 FPSRadeon 54014 FPS
Forza Horizon 5R7 265140 FPSRadeon 540126 FPSR7 26588 FPSRadeon 54081 FPSR7 26558 FPSRadeon 54052 FPSR7 26534 FPSRadeon 54031 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyR7 26591 FPSRadeon 54081 FPSR7 26574 FPSRadeon 54068 FPSR7 26542 FPSRadeon 54038 FPSR7 26516 FPSRadeon 54014 FPS
Average FPSR7 265129 FPSRadeon 540116 FPSR7 26593 FPSRadeon 54086 FPSR7 26553 FPSRadeon 54048 FPSR7 26522 FPSRadeon 54020 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexR7 265Radeon 540Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10034319%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10037363%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10040385%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1007610027%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

H2H AI workload indices

Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.

IndexR7 265Radeon 540Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10044425%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10043415%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10040385%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10046452%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10040385%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
DirectX11.112.0
Vulkan1.21.3
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 2.1

Architecture and release

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
ArchitectureGCN 1.0Polaris
Process node28 nm14 nmBetter
Release date20142017
Device classDesktopMobile

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
Transistor count2800 millionBetter2200 million
Die size212 mm²103 mm²Better
Shader units / cores1024Better384
Base clock900 MHz1183 MHzBetter
Boost clock900 MHz1183 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
InterfacePCIe 3x16PCIe 3.0 x8
Length210 mmOEM dependent
ThicknessDual-slotSingle-slot
Recommended PSU450 W250 WBetter
Power connector6 pinNone

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
HDMIHDMI 1.4aOEM dependent
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.2DisplayPort 1.4a
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors42
Max resolution4096 × 21607680 × 4320

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsR7 265Radeon 540
VRAM2 GB GDDR5Better1 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus256 bitBetter32 bit
TFLOPS1.894Better0.908

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device AR7 26549
Device BRadeon 54043
What AI will explain

Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.

Evidence details

Data coverage

Verified gaming results
0
Verified synthetic results
0
Games with verified results
0
Verified community results
0
Estimated / unverified results
32
Specifications
0 / 69

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

Calculated scores · How is this calculated?

Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.

clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)
Price evidence · View sources (4)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (3)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record updated: products

Why you can trust this comparison

Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.

Report incorrect data

Owner experiences

Real builds, results, and community feedback.

Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges

Frequently asked comparison questions

Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.

01Which is better for gaming: R7 265 or Radeon 540?

R7 265 has the higher overall gaming score, while R7 265 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

R7 265 is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.

03Which is better for Blender?

R7 265 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

R7 265 offers more overall performance, while R7 265 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

R7 265 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

R7 265 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

R7 265 leads in combined 1440p performance. R7 265 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

R7 265 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

Radeon 540 is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.

10Which is better without replacing the power supply?

Radeon 540 is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.

11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?

Consider upgrading to R7 265 if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.