AMD FirePro M4150 vs AMD Radeon Vega 3 Comparison

The AMD Radeon Vega 3 and AMD FirePro M4150 are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions, but they represent vastly different design philosophies from different eras. The Vega 3 is a modern 12 nm integrated processor (IGP) built on the GCN 5.0 architecture, while the FirePro M4150 is a 28 nm discrete MXM module based on the older GCN 1.0 architecture. Benchmark data from the database shows a remarkably close contest: in the only shared test, Geekbench OpenCL, the FirePro M4150 scores 4013 against the Vega 3's 3963, a margin of just 1.2%. This near-parity in average scores, with the Vega 3 at 4268 and the FirePro M4150 at 4013, sets the stage for a detailed comparison of where each part gains its advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test. Here, the AMD FirePro M4150 edges out the Radeon Vega 3 with a score of 4013 versus 3963. The deltaPct of -1.2% indicates that the FirePro M4150 is 1.2% ahead of the Vega 3 in this specific workload. While this is a narrow victory, it is consistent with the FirePro’s higher theoretical peak performance in raw compute metrics. The FirePro M4150 delivers 549.1 GFLOPS of FP32 throughput, compared to the Vega 3's 422.4 GFLOPS, a difference of roughly 30%. This raw compute advantage is likely why the FirePro wins the OpenCL test, as OpenCL workloads often scale with shader throughput.

However, the overall benchmark picture is more nuanced. The Vega 3 has three recorded benchmark scores: 4880 in Geekbench Metal, 3963 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 3961 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its average benchmark score across these tests is 4268. The FirePro M4150 only has a single recorded score of 4013 in OpenCL, which also serves as its average. When placed against their nearest rivals, the Vega 3’s average score of 4268 puts it 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241) and 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (4282). The FirePro M4150’s average of 4013 places it 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 (3977) and 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 830M (3957). These percentile positions, 25th for the Vega 3 and 24th for the FirePro, confirm that both are entry-level parts, yet the data shows the Vega 3 holds a slight overall average advantage despite losing the single head-to-head test.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data indicates a virtual tie, with the FirePro M4150 winning the one directly comparable benchmark by a hair. The Vega 3, however, demonstrates greater versatility in API support, which is a significant factor for modern software. The Vega 3 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the FirePro M4150 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. This means the Vega 3 is better equipped for newer applications that leverage Vulkan 1.3 features or the higher DirectX feature level. For users running legacy OpenCL workloads, the FirePro M4150’s slight edge in that specific test might be preferable, but its older GCN 1.0 architecture and limited API support make it a less future-proof option.

The architectural differences also dictate the intended use case. The Vega 3 is an IGP with system-shared memory, meaning its performance is dependent on the CPU’s memory bandwidth. The FirePro M4150 is a discrete part with 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This dedicated memory provides consistent performance that is not subject to system contention. For a workstation environment where the FirePro brand historically targets professional stability, the FirePro M4150’s dedicated memory and higher FP32 throughput are compelling. For a general-purpose or multimedia laptop, the Vega 3’s modern feature set and lower power footprint (15 W TDP versus the FirePro’s unspecified, but likely higher, draw) make it the more balanced choice. The data ultimately suggests: choose the FirePro M4150 for raw compute in legacy OpenCL environments, and the Vega 3 for broader API support and modern software compatibility.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are separated by three generations of GCN architecture and a significant process technology gap. The Radeon Vega 3 is built on the GCN 5.0 architecture using a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the FirePro M4150 uses the original GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process advantage allows the Vega 3 to pack 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 23.5 million per mm². The FirePro M4150, in contrast, has only 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, with a density of 12.3 million per mm². This three-fold difference in transistor count shows how much more complex the Vega 3 is, despite having fewer shading units.

The compute unit configuration is counterintuitive. The FirePro M4150 has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 render output units (ROPs). The Vega 3 has only 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. This means the FirePro has double the shader count and texture units, which explains its higher theoretical fill rates: 5.720 GPixel/s pixel rate and 17.16 GTexel/s texture rate, versus the Vega 3's 4.400 GPixel/s and 13.20 GTexel/s. However, the Vega 3’s newer architecture allows for higher clock speeds, with a boost clock of 1100 MHz compared to the FirePro’s unspecified clock (memory clock is 1000 MHz / 4 Gbps effective). The Vega 3 also supports FP16 at 844.8 GFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, while the FirePro M4150 has no listed FP16 capability.

Memory architecture is a fundamental differentiator. The Vega 3 uses system-shared memory, with its size, type, and bus width all listed as "System Shared" and bandwidth as "System Dependent." This is typical for an IGP, relying on the host system’s DDR4 RAM. The FirePro M4150 is a discrete solution with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a fixed 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. This gives the FirePro a massive memory bandwidth advantage in practice, as even fast system memory cannot match dedicated GDDR5 bandwidth. The bus interface also differs: the Vega 3 is an IGP with no bus interface (listed as "IGP"), while the FirePro M4150 is an MXM Module using PCIe 3.0 x8.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 3 has a higher average benchmark score of 4268, compared to the AMD FirePro M4150's average of 4013. This is based on the Vega 3's scores across Geekbench Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan, while the FirePro only has a single OpenCL score.

Q: What is the difference in FP32 floating-point performance?

A: The FirePro M4150 delivers 549.1 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is approximately 30% higher than the Radeon Vega 3's 422.4 GFLOPS. This raw compute advantage is reflected in the FirePro's win in the Geekbench OpenCL test.

Q: How do their memory systems compare?

A: The Vega 3 uses system-shared memory with bandwidth that is "System Dependent," meaning performance varies with the host CPU's memory. The FirePro M4150 has 1024 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a fixed 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The Radeon Vega 3 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The FirePro M4150 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Vega 3 has the edge in both DirectX feature level and Vulkan version.

Q: What are their positions relative to all GPUs?

A: The Radeon Vega 3 sits at the 25th percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro M4150 is at the 24th percentile. Both are entry-level parts, but the Vega 3's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (deltaPct -0.3%), and the FirePro's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M (deltaPct -0.5%).

Q: What is the production status and release timeline?

A: Both GPUs are end-of-life. The FirePro M4150 was released on October 15, 2013, and its predecessor is FirePro Mobility, with a successor of Radeon Pro Mobile. The Vega 3 was released on November 19, 2019, succeeding GCN 3.0 IGP and preceding Vega II IGP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Vega 3 wins in scenarios that demand modern software compatibility and architectural efficiency. Its support for Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_1) makes it the superior choice for running recent games and applications that utilize these newer APIs. The Vega 3’s 12 nm process and GCN 5.0 architecture also enable FP16 support, which is beneficial for machine learning inference and certain compute workloads that can leverage half-precision arithmetic. Its lower 15 W TDP and IGP form factor make it ideal for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency and space are at a premium. The data supports this: the Vega 3’s Geekbench Metal score of 4880 is its strongest result, indicating solid performance in Apple’s Metal API, which is widely used in creative applications on macOS.

The AMD FirePro M4150 wins in legacy compute and memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks. Its 64.00 GB/s of dedicated GDDR5 bandwidth is a significant advantage over the Vega 3's system-dependent memory, ensuring consistent performance in workloads that thrash memory, such as high-resolution texture processing or scientific simulations. The FirePro's 384 shading units and 549.1 GFLOPS FP32 throughput give it a raw compute edge that is evident in its 1.2% win in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark. This makes it a better fit for older professional applications that are optimized for OpenCL and do not require the newest API features. Its higher pixel rate (5.720 GPixel/s) and texture rate (17.16 GTexel/s) also make it slightly faster for pixel-heavy 2D rendering tasks. For users with a library of legacy OpenCL-based tools, the FirePro M4150’s dedicated memory and higher shader count provide a more stable and predictable performance profile.