AMD FirePro M4150 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 Comparison

The GeForce GT 545 and the FirePro M4150 represent two distinct approaches to mobile graphics, separated by over two years of architectural evolution. The data shows the AMD FirePro M4150 holds a decisive lead in the only available benchmark, but the NVIDIA card counters with superior legacy features and a broader output set. This analysis breaks down the performance gap, architectural differences, and the specific use cases where each card’s strengths matter most.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head data point is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a clear victory for the AMD FirePro M4150. The FirePro M4150 scores 4013 against the GeForce GT 545’s 3594, a delta of -10.4% from the perspective of the NVIDIA card. This is a substantial margin in a compute-oriented workload, indicating that the AMD part processes parallel data significantly faster.

Contextualizing the GT 545’s score within its nearest rivals shows it is not an outlier. The GT 545’s score of 3594 is within -0.1% of the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation (3596), a much newer high-end part. It is also just -0.6% behind the GeForce GT 735M (3616) and -1% behind the GeForce GTX 1050 (3629). This suggests that in pure OpenCL compute, the older GT 545 is competitive with a broad range of other NVIDIA products, despite its age.

The FirePro M4150’s score of 4013 places it in a similarly tight cluster. It is -0.5% behind the GeForce GT 755M (4033) and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 (3977). The FirePro also leads the Quadro K2000 (3964) by 1.2% and the GeForce 830M (3957) by 1.4%. The data indicates that while the FirePro M4150 wins the head-to-head, both cards are positioned within a dense pack of similarly performing GPUs, where a few percent separates a large number of products.

The overall win tally reinforces this single outcome: the FirePro M4150 wins 1 benchmark, while the GT 545 wins 0. This is a simple, unambiguous result. The performance gap of 10.4% is not a marginal difference; it represents a meaningful tier of separation in compute capability, likely stemming from the architectural differences detailed later in this analysis.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data provides only one arena for comparison: OpenCL compute. In this specific arena, the AMD FirePro M4150 is the clear winner, outperforming the GT 545 by 10.4%. This suggests that for any workload that leverages the GPU for general-purpose parallel computation—such as video encoding, scientific simulation, or data processing—the FirePro M4150 is the more capable option.

However, the GT 545 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its strengths must be inferred from its feature set and specifications. The GT 545 offers a 192-bit memory bus width, which is wider than the FirePro M4150’s 128-bit bus. While the FirePro compensates with faster GDDR5 memory, the GT 545’s wider bus could provide an advantage in certain memory-latency-sensitive scenarios, though the raw bandwidth data does not support this (the FirePro has 64.00 GB/s vs. the GT 545’s 38.40 GB/s).

The GT 545 also has a distinct advantage in display connectivity. It features a fixed output set of 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 1x VGA. In contrast, the FirePro M4150’s outputs are defined as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning its connectivity is at the mercy of the laptop manufacturer. For a user needing a guaranteed, standard set of display outputs for legacy monitors or projectors, the GT 545 is the safer choice.

Finally, the GT 545 is a single-slot desktop card with a 145 mm length and no additional power connectors, while the FirePro M4150 is an MXM Module. This makes the GT 545 a drop-in solution for a standard desktop PCIe slot, whereas the FirePro is a mobile-only part. The GT 545’s "None" power connector requirement and 250 W suggested PSU also make it simpler to install in a wide range of desktop systems.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 uses the GF116 chip, based on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The AMD FirePro M4150 uses the Opal chip, based on GCN 1.0, manufactured on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC. This process node difference is significant; the 28 nm node is denser, allowing the FirePro’s 950 million transistors to fit on a 77 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.3M / mm². The GT 545, on the other hand, uses 1,170 million transistors on a much larger 238 mm² die, with a density of only 4.9M / mm².

The compute architecture differs drastically. The GT 545 has 144 shading units, 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 render output units (ROPs). The FirePro M4150 has a higher count of 384 shading units, the same 24 TMUs, but only 8 ROPs. This configuration is typical of GCN’s design, which emphasizes shader throughput over pixel fill. The FirePro’s higher shading unit count directly contributes to its FP32 performance of 549.1 GFLOPS, which is notably higher than the GT 545’s 414.7 GFLOPS. This difference in raw compute power is the primary driver behind the FirePro’s benchmark victory.

Memory subsystem design also diverges. The GT 545 uses 1536 MB of DDR3 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding 38.40 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro M4150 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro’s use of GDDR5 provides a 67% bandwidth advantage over the GT 545’s DDR3, which is critical for feeding the larger number of shading units.

Feature support differs as well. The FirePro M4150 supports Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (11_1), while the GT 545 only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The FirePro also uses a newer PCIe interface, PCIe 3.0 x8, compared to the GT 545’s PCIe 2.0 x16. While the GT 545 has more lanes, the FirePro’s newer standard offers higher per-lane bandwidth.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal regarding raw performance: the AMD FirePro M4150 is the faster GPU. Its 10.4% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL test, combined with higher FP32 throughput (549.1 GFLOPS vs. 414.7 GFLOPS) and significantly higher memory bandwidth (64.00 GB/s vs. 38.40 GB/s), makes it the superior choice for any compute-intensive application. Benchmark results indicate that users prioritizing OpenCL performance should select the FirePro M4150.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545, however, is not without merits. Its lower power draw (70 W TDP) and lack of auxiliary power connectors make it a more accessible upgrade for existing desktop systems with modest power supplies. Its fixed set of display outputs (DVI, HDMI, VGA) provides plug-and-play connectivity without reliance on proprietary laptop docking solutions. For a user building or upgrading a legacy desktop system where power efficiency and standard display outputs are paramount, the GT 545 remains a viable option.

The choice depends entirely on the workload. For portable workstations requiring maximum OpenCL compute, the FirePro M4150 is the clear winner. For a stationary desktop needing a simple, low-power GPU with standard connectors, the GT 545 holds a specific, albeit niche, advantage. The FirePro’s higher percentile rank (24th vs. 21st) against all GPUs further confirms its overall performance superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 is faster, scoring 4013 compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 545’s 3594, a difference of 10.4%.

Q: How does the GT 545 compare to the GTX 1050 in OpenCL performance?

A: The GT 545 scores 3594, which is -1% behind the GeForce GTX 1050’s average score of 3629, making them nearly identical in this specific workload.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each card?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 has a memory bandwidth of 64.00 GB/s using GDDR5, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 has 38.40 GB/s using DDR3.

Q: Does the FirePro M4150 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the AMD FirePro M4150 supports Vulkan version 1.2.170. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 has no Vulkan support listed in the data.

Q: What is the transistor density difference between the two chips?

A: The FirePro M4150’s Opal chip has a density of 12.3M / mm², while the GT 545’s GF116 chip has a density of 4.9M / mm².

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GT 545?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 had a launch MSRP of 149 USD. No launch MSRP is listed for the AMD FirePro M4150.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 | AMD FirePro M4150 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 950 million |

| Die Size | 238 mm² | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 4.9M / mm² | 12.3M / mm² |

| Memory Size | 1536 MB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 192 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.40 GB/s | 64.00 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 800 MHz / 1600 Mbps effective | 1000 MHz / 4 Gbps effective |

| Shading Units | 144 | 384 |

| TMUs | 24 | 24 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 4.320 GPixel/s | 5.720 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.28 GTexel/s | 17.16 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 414.7 GFLOPS | 549.1 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 70 W | Not specified |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, 1x VGA | Portable Device Dependent |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan Support | Not specified | 1.2.170 |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | MXM Module |

| Release Date | 2011-05-13 | 2013-10-15 |