AMD FirePro D500 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 and AMD FirePro D500 represent two distinct eras of GPU design, and their single shared benchmark result underscores the generational gap. In the only direct head-to-head test available, the Geekbench Vulkan benchmark, the RTX 2070 scores 82,521 points against the FirePro D500's 18,533 points. This yields a delta of 345.3% in favor of the NVIDIA card, a massive margin that reflects not just raw compute but also the fundamental architectural shifts between 2014 and 2018.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The lone comparable data point is decisive. The RTX 2070's Vulkan score of 82,521 is more than four times higher than the FirePro D500's 18,533. This 345.3% advantage is not a marginal improvement; it is a complete overhaul in graphics processing capability. The RTX 2070's closest rivals, according to average benchmark scores, include the NVIDIA Tesla K80 (18,866) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT (18,685), putting it in a performance tier that the FirePro D500 cannot approach. The FirePro D500, with an average benchmark score of 18,533, sits near the AMD Radeon RX 560X (18,626) and Intel Arc A770M (18,383), which are decidedly mid-range parts.

Looking at the broader benchmark suite for the RTX 2070, the data shows a consistent pattern of high performance across different APIs. Its Passmark G3D score is 16,094, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1,569. The FirePro D500 has no comparable scores in these tests, leaving only the Vulkan result for direct comparison. The RTX 2070's Geekbench OpenCL score of 79,966 further demonstrates its compute prowess, a metric that is absent for the FirePro D500. The delta in Vulkan alone tells the story: the RTX 2070 is not just faster; it is in a different computational class, with the data suggesting the FirePro D500's architecture is simply outmatched by the newer Turing design.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the available data, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 wins in every measurable metric. It holds the sole victory in the head-to-head Vulkan test, and its average benchmark score of 18,789 is 256 points higher than the FirePro D500's 18,533. The RTX 2070 also dominates in theoretical specifications that translate to real-world wins: its pixel rate is 103.7 GPixel/s versus 23.20 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 233.3 GTexel/s versus 69.60 GTexel/s. These figures indicate the RTX 2070 can fill frames and apply textures at a rate that is several times faster, making it the clear choice for any workload that relies on rasterization or pixel throughput.

The FirePro D500's only potential advantage lies in its legacy feature set. It offers six mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and one SDI output, which is a specialized configuration for multi-display professional setups. In contrast, the RTX 2070 has one DVI, one HDMI 2.0, two DisplayPort 1.4a, and one USB Type-C output. For a workstation driving multiple legacy monitors or SDI-based broadcast equipment, the FirePro D500 might have an edge in connectivity. However, in terms of raw score, the RTX 2070 is the unequivocal winner. The data shows zero benchmark categories where the FirePro D500 outperforms the RTX 2070, making the use-case split stark: the RTX 2070 wins on performance, while the FirePro D500's sole niche is its unique display output array.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures, which explains the performance gulf. The RTX 2070 uses the TU106 chip on NVIDIA's Turing architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at TSMC. This chip packs 10,800 million transistors into a 445 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 24.3 million per mm². In contrast, the FirePro D500 uses the Tahiti chip on AMD's GCN 1.0 architecture, built on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC. This older chip contains only 4,313 million transistors on a 352 mm² die, with a density of 12.3 million per mm². The RTX 2070 has more than double the transistor count and nearly double the density, giving it a massive computational head start.

The memory subsystems are also generational apart. The RTX 2070 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro D500 has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a wider 384-bit bus, but its bandwidth is just 243.8 GB/s. Even with a wider bus, the older GDDR5 memory at 5.1 Gbps effective cannot match the GDDR6 at 14 Gbps effective. Furthermore, the RTX 2070 includes 36 RT cores and 288 tensor cores, which are dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI workloads. The FirePro D500 has no such units, as its GCN 1.0 architecture predates these features. The RTX 2070 also has 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, versus the FirePro D500's 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This means the RTX 2070 can process more geometry, more pixels, and more compute threads simultaneously.

The feature support differs as well. The RTX 2070 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the FirePro D500 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). Vulkan support is also newer on the RTX 2070 (1.4) versus the FirePro D500 (1.2.170). The RTX 2070's FP32 compute is rated at 7.465 TFLOPS, and it can reach 14.93 TFLOPS in FP16 with a 2:1 ratio. The FirePro D500's FP32 is only 2.227 TFLOPS, and it has no FP16 capability listed. This architectural disparity is the root cause of the benchmark results, showing a clear progression from a 2014 workstation part to a 2018 consumer-enthusiast card.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 in Vulkan benchmarks compared to the AMD FirePro D500?

A: The RTX 2070 scores 82,521 points in Geekbench Vulkan, while the FirePro D500 scores 18,533 points. This represents a 345.3% advantage for the RTX 2070.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two cards?

A: The RTX 2070 has a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s using 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus. The FirePro D500 has 243.8 GB/s bandwidth with 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus.

Q: Does the AMD FirePro D500 support ray tracing hardware?

A: No. The FirePro D500 has no RT cores listed, while the RTX 2070 includes 36 RT cores and 288 tensor cores for ray tracing and AI acceleration.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The RTX 2070 has a density of 24.3 million transistors per mm² (10,800 million total on 445 mm²). The FirePro D500 has a density of 12.3 million per mm² (4,313 million total on 352 mm²).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The RTX 2070 has an average benchmark score of 18,789, while the FirePro D500 averages 18,533. The RTX 2070 is ahead by 256 points.

Q: Are both cards still in production?

A: No. Both are listed as end-of-life products. The RTX 2070 was released in October 2018, and the FirePro D500 was released in January 2014.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 is the superior performer in nearly every measurable way. Its Vulkan score is 345.3% higher, its average benchmark score is 256 points higher, and its pixel and texture rates are over four times faster. For any workload involving modern APIs, high-resolution rendering, or compute tasks, the RTX 2070 is the only rational choice based on the numbers. The RTX 2070's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 also ensures compatibility with current and future software, while the FirePro D500's DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170 support is legacy.

The FirePro D500's case rests solely on its connectivity. With six mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and one SDI output, it is designed for specific multi-display or broadcast scenarios. If a workstation requires driving six displays through mini-DisplayPort or needs SDI output, the FirePro D500 might be the only option that fits that physical requirement. However, the RTX 2070's 1,569-point 3DMark Steel Nomad score and 16,094-point Passmark G3D score indicate it will handle any graphical task with far greater ease. The verdict is that the RTX 2070 wins on all performance metrics, while the FirePro D500 only wins on specialized output flexibility. Given the RTX 2070's 63rd percentile ranking versus the FirePro D500's 62nd, the performance gap is small in overall percentile but massive in the specific Vulkan test, showing that the RTX 2070 is the more future-proof and capable card.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every core specification. The RTX 2070 uses a 12 nm process with 10,800 million transistors and a 445 mm² die, while the FirePro D500 uses a 28 nm process with 4,313 million transistors and a 352 mm² die. The RTX 2070 has 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, versus the FirePro D500's 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The RTX 2070 also has 36 RT cores and 288 tensor cores, which are absent on the FirePro D500.

Memory specifications diverge sharply: the RTX 2070 offers 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the FirePro D500 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 243.8 GB/s. Clock speeds differ as well, with the RTX 2070 having a base of 1410 MHz and boost of 1620 MHz, while the FirePro D500 has no listed base or boost clocks but memory at 1270 MHz (5.1 Gbps effective). The RTX 2070's memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Compute rates are starkly different: the RTX 2070 delivers 7.465 TFLOPS FP32 and 14.93 TFLOPS FP16, while the FirePro D500 delivers 2.227 TFLOPS FP32 and no FP16. Pixel rate is 103.7 GPixel/s for the RTX 2070 versus 23.20 GPixel/s for the FirePro D500, and texture rate is 233.3 GTexel/s versus 69.60 GTexel/s. Power consumption also differs, with the RTX 2070 rated at 175 W TDP and a 450 W suggested PSU, while the FirePro D500 is rated at 274 W TDP and a 600 W suggested PSU. The RTX 2070 has one 8-pin power connector, while the FirePro D500's connector is not listed. Dimensions vary: the RTX 2070 is 229 mm long, 113 mm high, and 35 mm wide, whereas the FirePro D500 is 279 mm long with no listed height or width. Finally, the RTX 2070 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro D500 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.