Did you know the AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 is in over 15 million laptops worldwide? This built-in graphics chip has been key to AMD’s laptop strategy since late 2017. It uses AMD’s Vega design and gives good performance for a built-in GPU. It works well in thin laptops and light computers. But how good is it in 2025 with today’s apps and games? Let’s look at what this GPU offers, if it’s still worth buying, and how it compares to other options now!
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10: Architecture and Specifications
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 uses a smart design that helps it run well while using less power. This makes it perfect for thin laptops where battery life matters. Let’s look at what’s inside this GPU and how it works.
The Vega 10 has these key specs:
- Architecture: Vega (Raven Ridge) – 5th gen GCN
- Compute Units: 10 CUs with 640 shader cores total
- Core Speed: Up to 1300 MHz boost clock
- Process: 14nm manufacturing
- Transistors: 4.5 billion
- DirectX Support: DirectX 12_1
- TDP Range: 9-25W (based on laptop design)
Most Vega 10 GPUs come in Ryzen 7 APUs, mainly in the 2700U model. The GPU uses shared system memory instead of its own VRAM. This design helps save power but can limit performance in some tasks.
Feature | AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 |
---|---|---|
Type | Built-in GPU | Separate GPU |
Shader Units | 640 unified | 384 CUDA cores |
Clock Speed | Up to 1300 MHz | 1468-1532 MHz (Boost) |
Memory | Shared system RAM | 2GB/4GB GDDR5 |
TDP | ~15W | 25W |
Gaming Performance and Capabilities
In 2025, many gamers want to know if the Vega 10 can still handle modern games. While it’s not made for the latest AAA titles, it still works well for many popular games, especially at lower settings.
The Vega 10 gaming performance in 2025:
- Esports Titles: Still runs well at 720p to 1080p with low to medium settings
- League of Legends: 50-60 FPS at 1080p medium
- CS:GO: 60-70 FPS at 1080p low
- Dota 2: 45-55 FPS at 1080p low
- Overwatch: 30-40 FPS at 720p low
- Older AAA Games: Playable at 720p with low settings
- GTA V: 30-35 FPS at 720p low
- Witcher 3: 25-30 FPS at 720p low
- Modern AAA Games: Struggles even at lowest settings
- Most 2024-2025 big titles run below 30 FPS even at 720p
For better gaming on the Vega 10, make sure you have dual-channel RAM and keep your drivers up to date. Many gamers also lower the resolution to 720p for smoother gameplay.
Also Read: AMD Radeon RX 550: Is This Budget Graphics Card Worth Buying in 2025?
Memory Architecture and Impact on Performance
The way the Vega 10 handles memory plays a big role in how well it works. Unlike separate GPUs with their own memory, the Vega 10 shares system RAM, which affects its speed.
Key points about Vega 10’s memory:
- Uses shared system DDR4 memory instead of dedicated VRAM
- Works best with dual-channel DDR4-2400 or faster RAM
- Memory bandwidth depends on your system RAM setup
- Limited by memory bandwidth compared to GPUs with GDDR5/6
- Adding more system RAM helps with multitasking but not always with GPU speed
To get the best performance:
- Use two RAM sticks (dual-channel) instead of one
- Get the fastest RAM your laptop supports
- Make sure your system has at least 8GB total RAM, 16GB is better
Comparison: Vega 10 vs. NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Many laptop buyers in 2025 compare the Vega 10 with NVIDIA’s entry-level GPUs. The MX150, though older now, is still a common comparison point. Let’s see how they stack up today.
The main differences:
- Gaming: MX150 is about 50-80% faster in most games
- CS:GO: MX150 gets 117 FPS vs. Vega 10’s 71 FPS at 1080p low
- GTA V: MX150 delivers 82 FPS vs. Vega 10’s 43 FPS at 1080p low
- Power Use: Vega 10 uses less power (15W vs. 25W)
- Better battery life with Vega 10
- Less heat output from Vega 10
- Memory: MX150 has its own 2GB/4GB GDDR5 memory
- Faster memory bandwidth helps the MX150 perform better
- Vega 10 relies on system RAM which is typically slower
- Price: Laptops with Vega 10 often cost less than those with MX150
The MX150 performs better in games and heavy tasks, but the Vega 10 uses less power and often comes in cheaper laptops.
Also Read: AMD Radeon RX 480 Review: Looking Back at a Budget Gaming Legend (2025)
Comparison: Vega 10 vs. Vega 64
While both share the Vega name, these chips serve very different purposes. The Vega 10 is a built-in GPU for laptops, while the Vega 64 is a powerful desktop graphics card.
The key differences are huge:
- Computing Power: Vega 64 has 64 CUs (4096 shaders) vs. Vega 10’s 10 CUs (640 shaders)
- Memory: Vega 64 uses 8GB HBM2 with 484 GB/s bandwidth
- Power Use: Vega 64 needs 290W vs. Vega 10’s 15W
- Performance: Vega 64 is about 8-10 times faster in most tasks
These GPUs target different users – Vega 10 for everyday laptop users, Vega 64 for serious desktop gamers and pros.
Real-World Applications Beyond Gaming
The Vega 10 isn’t just for games. Many people use it for work, media, and creative tasks in 2025. Here’s how it handles different jobs:
- Video Editing: Works for basic 1080p editing but struggles with 4K
- Photo Editing: Handles Photoshop and Lightroom for casual use
- 3D Modeling: Can run basic models but slow with complex scenes
- Video Playback: Smooth 4K video playback with hardware acceleration
- Web Browsing & Office Work: Excellent performance, no issues
- Coding & Development: Works well for most programming tasks
For everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and media playback, the Vega 10 still performs well in 2025. It only shows its age with newer, demanding creative apps.
System Requirements and Optimization
To get the most from your Vega 10 in 2025, you need the right system setup and settings. Here’s what helps it run best:
Best system setup:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 (2000 series or newer)
- RAM: 16GB dual-channel DDR4-2400 or faster
- Storage: SSD for faster loading times
- Cooling: Good laptop cooling system or cooling pad
Optimization tips:
- Keep drivers updated through AMD Radeon Software
- Use AMD’s built-in performance tuning options
- Make sure power settings are set to “Better Performance” when plugged in
- Close background apps when gaming or using heavy programs
- Consider using AMD FSR in supported games for better frame rates
Also Read: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: Complete Guide & Performance Review (2025)
Wrapping UP
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 still gives good performance for a built-in GPU in 2025. It works well for daily tasks and casual gaming. While it can’t match newer separate GPUs for big games and pro work, it uses power well and fits nicely in thin laptops. For users who mostly do office work with some light gaming, the Vega 10 is still a solid choice that balances speed and power use well.
If you have a laptop with Vega 10 graphics, it’s still good for everyday use in 2025. For gamers wanting to play newer titles, you might want to look at newer options or gaming laptops with dedicated GPUs. But for web browsing, work, and light gaming, the Vega 10 remains a capable chip even years after its launch.