AMD FirePro D700 vs AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows two direct benchmark comparisons between the AMD FirePro D700 and the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, and in both cases the RX 580 2048SP comes out ahead by a substantial margin.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the FirePro D700 scores 23,716 while the RX 580 2048SP scores 29,668. That is a 20.1% advantage for the RX 580 2048SP. This is not a narrow win; the delta is large enough that it represents a meaningful performance gap in compute workloads that scale well with raw throughput.

The second head-to-head test, Geekbench Vulkan, shows an even wider gap. The FirePro D700 scores 27,968, while the RX 580 2048SP scores 38,666. The delta here is 27.7% in favor of the RX 580 2048SP. Vulkan is a lower-overhead API, and the data suggests the newer architecture handles it far more efficiently.

Looking at the average benchmark scores across all recorded tests, the picture is slightly more nuanced. The FirePro D700 has an average benchmark score of 25,842, which places it at the 71st percentile among all GPUs in the database. The RX 580 2048SP, despite winning both head-to-head tests, has a lower average score of 23,061 and sits at the 68th percentile. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that the two cards have different benchmark suites recorded. The RX 580 2048SP has three recorded benchmarks (including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 849), while the FirePro D700 has only two. The 3DMark result pulls the RX 580 2048SP's average down, even though it wins decisively in the two tests where both cards were measured.

For context on the FirePro D700, its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD FirePro W7100 with an average score of 25,856 (a 0.1% difference), the AMD Radeon R9 M395X at 25,891 (0.2% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile at 25,740 (0.4% difference), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700 at 25,726 (0.5% difference). These deltas are all tiny, meaning the FirePro D700 sits in a very tight cluster of similarly performing cards.

For the RX 580 2048SP, its nearest rivals are the Intel Arc B580 with an average score of 23,021 (0.2% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 at 23,172 (0.5% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 at 22,895 (0.7% difference), and the NVIDIA P106-100 at 23,249 (0.8% difference). Again, these are all close matches, indicating the RX 580 2048SP's average is representative of a specific performance tier.

The key takeaway from the head-to-head data is straightforward: in OpenCL and Vulkan compute workloads, the RX 580 2048SP is clearly faster, with a 20% to 28% lead depending on the test. The FirePro D700 does not win a single recorded head-to-head test.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP is the faster card in compute performance. It wins both head-to-head tests, and the margins are substantial: 20.1% in OpenCL and 27.7% in Vulkan. If raw compute throughput is the primary criterion, the RX 580 2048SP is the clear choice.

However, there is a nuance. The FirePro D700 has a higher average benchmark score (25,842 vs 23,061) and a higher percentile ranking (71st vs 68th). This is because the FirePro D700's recorded benchmarks are only OpenCL and Vulkan, both of which are compute-oriented tests, while the RX 580 2048SP also has a 3DMark DX12 result that is comparatively low (849) and drags down its average. If your workload is purely OpenCL or Vulkan compute, the RX 580 2048SP is the better pick. If you are looking at overall versatility across a broader range of tests, the FirePro D700's average suggests it is more consistent.

The FirePro D700 is a workstation-class card with 6 GB of memory, a 384-bit bus, and 263.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It was designed for professional use, as evidenced by its display outputs (6x mini-DisplayPort 1.2 and 1x SDI) and its 274 W TDP with a 600 W suggested PSU. The RX 580 2048SP, by contrast, is a consumer card with 4 GB of memory, a 256-bit bus, and 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It has a much lower 150 W TDP and a 450 W suggested PSU, plus a single 8-pin power connector.

For a builder deciding between these two, the data points to the RX 580 2048SP for compute performance per what the benchmarks show, but the FirePro D700 has double the memory capacity and a wider memory bus, which could matter for certain large datasets. The FirePro D700 also has more display outputs, which may be relevant for multi-monitor professional setups. The RX 580 2048SP is the better performer in the two tests where both were measured, but the FirePro D700 is the more capable professional card in terms of memory and connectivity.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP scores 29,668, which is 20.1% higher than the AMD FirePro D700's 23,716.

Q: How big is the Vulkan performance gap between the two cards?

A: The RX 580 2048SP scores 38,666 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the FirePro D700 scores 27,968. The RX 580 2048SP leads by 27.7%.

Q: Does the FirePro D700 have a higher average benchmark score?

A: Yes. The FirePro D700 has an average benchmark score of 25,842, which is higher than the RX 580 2048SP's average of 23,061. The FirePro D700 also sits at the 71st percentile, while the RX 580 2048SP is at the 68th.

Q: What is the memory size difference?

A: The FirePro D700 has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the RX 580 2048SP has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The FirePro D700 has a memory bandwidth of 263.0 GB/s, while the RX 580 2048SP has 224.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the TDP of each card?

A: The FirePro D700 has a TDP of 274 W, and the RX 580 2048SP has a TDP of 150 W. The suggested PSU ratings are 600 W and 450 W, respectively.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in several key specifications. The FirePro D700 uses a 384-bit memory bus, while the RX 580 2048SP uses a 256-bit bus. This contributes to the FirePro D700's higher memory bandwidth of 263.0 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s. Memory size also differs: 6 GB on the FirePro D700 versus 4 GB on the RX 580 2048SP. Both use GDDR5 memory, but the memory clock speeds differ: the FirePro D700 runs at 1370 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective), while the RX 580 2048SP runs at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective).

Clock speeds are only listed for the RX 580 2048SP, which has a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1284 MHz. The FirePro D700 does not have base or boost clock values recorded in the database. The pixel rate and texture rate show the RX 580 2048SP's advantage: 41.09 GPixel/s and 164.4 GTexel/s versus 27.20 GPixel/s and 108.8 GTexel/s for the FirePro D700. FP32 compute is also higher on the RX 580 2048SP at 5.259 TFLOPS versus 3.482 TFLOPS. The RX 580 2048SP also has FP16 performance of 5.259 TFLOPS (1:1), while the FirePro D700 has no FP16 figure recorded.

Power requirements differ significantly. The FirePro D700 has a 274 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 600 W, while the RX 580 2048SP has a 150 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 450 W. The RX 580 2048SP uses a single 8-pin power connector, while the FirePro D700 has no power connector information recorded. Physical dimensions also differ: the FirePro D700 is 279 mm (11 inches) long, while the RX 580 2048SP is 241 mm (9.5 inches) long. Both are dual-slot cards.

Display outputs are completely different. The FirePro D700 has 6x mini-DisplayPort 1.2 and 1x SDI, while the RX 580 2048SP has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The API support also differs: the FirePro D700 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, while the RX 580 2048SP supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two cards is significant. The FirePro D700 is based on the Tahiti chip, using GCN 1.0 architecture, and belongs to the FirePro Data Center (Dx00) generation. It is manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 4,313 million transistors on a die size of 352 mm², giving a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². The RX 580 2048SP, by contrast, uses the Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture and belongs to the Polaris (RX 500) generation. It is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 5,700 million transistors on a smaller die of 232 mm², resulting in a much higher transistor density of 24.6M per mm².

Both cards have 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. Neither has ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The architectural differences are therefore not in raw unit counts, but in efficiency and feature support. GCN 4.0 is a newer iteration of the Graphics Core Next architecture, bringing improvements in geometry processing and power efficiency. The 14 nm process node is a full node ahead of 28 nm, which explains the RX 580 2048SP's lower TDP (150 W vs 274 W) while delivering higher clock speeds and compute throughput.

The RX 580 2048SP supports newer API versions, including DirectX 12 (12_0) versus the FirePro D700's DirectX 12 (11_1), and Vulkan 1.3 versus Vulkan 1.2.170. These newer API versions likely contribute to the RX 580 2048SP's large Vulkan advantage in the benchmark data. The FirePro D700's predecessor is listed as FirePro Terascale, with a successor of Radeon Instinct. The RX 580 2048SP's predecessor is Arctic Islands, with a successor of Vega. Both cards are end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP wins in raw compute benchmarks. It is 20.1% faster in OpenCL and 27.7% faster in Vulkan. It also has higher pixel rate (41.09 GPixel/s vs 27.20 GPixel/s), higher texture rate (164.4 GTexel/s vs 108.8 GTexel/s), and higher FP32 throughput (5.259 TFLOPS vs 3.482 TFLOPS). If your workload is compute-heavy, especially in Vulkan, the RX 580 2048SP is the card to pick.

The AMD FirePro D700 wins in memory capacity (6 GB vs 4 GB), memory bus width (384-bit vs 256-bit), and memory bandwidth (263.0 GB/s vs 224.0 GB/s). It also has a wider array of display outputs, including 6x mini-DisplayPort and SDI, which is unusual and indicates professional video output capabilities. Its average benchmark score is higher (25,842 vs 23,061), and it ranks higher in the percentile standings (71st vs 68th). For workloads that are memory-bound or require large framebuffers, the FirePro D700 has the edge. For professional multi-display setups, the FirePro D700's output options are clearly superior.

The power draw is another differentiator. The RX 580 2048SP uses 150 W with a 450 W suggested PSU, while the FirePro D700 uses 274 W with a 600 W suggested PSU. The RX 580 2048SP is also physically shorter (241 mm vs 279 mm), which may fit in more cases. If power efficiency and ease of installation matter, the RX 580 2048SP is the better choice.

In summary, the RX 580 2048SP is the winner for compute performance, newer API support, and power efficiency. The FirePro D700 is the winner for memory capacity, memory bandwidth, and professional display connectivity. The decision depends on whether your priority is raw compute speed or memory/display capabilities.