AMD FirePro M4150 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between these two GPUs is limited to a single recorded test in the database: Geekbench OpenCL. In that benchmark, the AMD FirePro M4150 scores 4013, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 scores 3847. The AMD part comes out ahead by a margin of 4.3 percent. This is a clear, if narrow, victory for the mobile workstation chip.

Looking at the broader context, the FirePro M4150's score places it in the 24th percentile of all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M at 4033, which is only 0.5 percent faster, and the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 at 3977, which the FirePro edges by 0.9 percent. The NVIDIA Quadro K2000 sits at 3964, 1.2 percent behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce 830M at 3957, 1.4 percent behind. The data shows a tightly clustered group where the FirePro M4150 holds a slight edge over most of its immediate competition.

The GeForce GT 740, by contrast, has a lower average benchmark score of 3431 across all its recorded tests, which places it in the 21st percentile. Its nearest rivals tell a different story. The NVIDIA Quadro 2000M scores 3434, essentially matching the GT 740 with a delta of negative 0.1 percent. The Intel HD Graphics P4600 scores 3389, which is 1.2 percent slower. The NVIDIA GeForce 920MX scores 3528, putting it 2.7 percent ahead of the GT 740, and the Intel HD Graphics 530 scores 3332, which the GT 740 beats by 3 percent.

The FirePro M4150's OpenCL score of 4013 is 4.3 percent higher than the GT 740's OpenCL score of 3847. However, the GT 740 also has recorded scores in other API tests. Its Geekbench Vulkan score reaches 4083, which is actually higher than the FirePro's OpenCL result. The GT 740's Metal score is 2363, a significantly lower figure that drags down its overall average.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural lineages. The AMD FirePro M4150 is built on GCN 1.0 architecture and uses the Opal chip. It belongs to the FirePro Mobile generation, specifically the Mx100 series. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 uses the Kepler architecture with the GK107 chip and sits in the GeForce 700 generation.

Both processors are manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, but their physical characteristics differ notably. The AMD chip contains 950 million transistors on a die size of 77 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 12.3 million per mm². The NVIDIA chip packs 1,270 million transistors into a larger 118 mm² die, giving it a lower density of 10.8 million per mm². This means the NVIDIA part has roughly 34 percent more transistors spread across a larger area.

Memory configurations share some common ground. Both cards feature 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. The memory clocks differ: the FirePro M4150 runs at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed, while the GT 740 runs at 1253 MHz with 5 Gbps effective speed. This translates to a bandwidth advantage for the NVIDIA part: 80.19 GB/s versus 64.00 GB/s, a difference of about 25 percent.

Compute resources show both similarities and divergences. Both GPUs have 384 shading units. The AMD card has 24 texture mapping units and 8 raster output pipelines. The NVIDIA card has 32 TMUs and 16 ROPs, giving it a clear advantage in texture and pixel processing. The pixel rate for the GT 740 is 7.944 GPixel/s, while the FirePro M4150 manages 5.720 GPixel/s. Texture rate follows the same pattern: 31.78 GTexel/s for the NVIDIA part versus 17.16 GTexel/s for the AMD part. The FP32 compute figures show the GT 740 at 762.6 GFLOPS, compared to 549.1 GFLOPS for the FirePro M4150.

The GT 740 carries a 64 W TDP and requires a single 6-pin power connector, with a suggested power supply of 250 W. The FirePro M4150 has no recorded TDP in the database. The AMD card uses an MXM Module form factor, while the GT 740 is a single-slot card measuring 145 mm in length, or 5.7 inches. The bus interface differs as well: the FirePro uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the GT 740 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for the AMD card, whereas the GT 740 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.4a.

API support shows minor differences. The FirePro M4150 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The GT 740 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both are end-of-life products, with the AMD part releasing in October 2013 and the NVIDIA part in May 2014.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data records one win for the AMD FirePro M4150 and zero wins for the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740, based on the OpenCL test. In that specific workload, the FirePro M4150 outperforms the GT 740 by 4.3 percent. This suggests the AMD card handles OpenCL compute tasks slightly better in this comparison.

However, the broader benchmark picture for the GT 740 reveals strengths in other areas. Its Vulkan score of 4083 exceeds the FirePro's OpenCL score of 4013, indicating that the NVIDIA card may be better suited for Vulkan-based workloads. The GT 740 also has a Metal score of 2363, which is relevant for macOS environments, though it is considerably lower than its other API scores.

The architecture data points to clear advantages for the GT 740 in bandwidth-heavy and fill-rate-limited scenarios. With a 25 percent higher memory bandwidth, double the TMUs, and double the ROPs, the GT 740 is positioned to excel in texture-heavy rendering and high-resolution pixel output. Its FP32 compute of 762.6 GFLOPS is roughly 39 percent higher than the FirePro's 549.1 GFLOPS, which should translate to better performance in general-purpose GPU compute tasks outside the OpenCL test.

The FirePro M4150 wins in the specific OpenCL benchmark recorded, but the GT 740 wins on raw hardware specifications. The AMD card benefits from a denser transistor layout, which can indicate better efficiency per unit area. Its MXM form factor makes it suitable for mobile workstations, while the GT 740 targets desktop systems with its single-slot design and standard display outputs.

For users relying on OpenCL acceleration, the data points to the FirePro M4150 as the better choice in this direct matchup. For workloads that leverage Vulkan, or that depend on texture throughput and pixel fill rates, the GT 740 appears more capable based on its hardware specifications and Vulkan score.

The Verdict

The benchmark data provides a nuanced verdict. The AMD FirePro M4150 wins the only direct head-to-head test, posting a 4.3 percent higher OpenCL score than the GT 740. It also holds a higher percentile ranking at 24 versus 21, and its average benchmark score of 4013 far exceeds the GT 740's average of 3431. For users who prioritize OpenCL compute performance, the FirePro M4150 is the clear pick.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740, however, presents a compelling case on paper. Its hardware specifications are superior in nearly every measurable category: higher memory bandwidth, more TMUs and ROPs, higher pixel and texture rates, and greater FP32 throughput. Its Vulkan score of 4083 indicates strong modern API performance, and its 64 W TDP with a 250 W suggested power supply makes it a straightforward desktop addition.

The GT 740's launch MSRP is 89 USD. It uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, which is the standard for desktop expansion slots, and its 145 mm length fits most cases. The FirePro M4150, with its MXM module form factor, is designed for portable devices and offers no standard display outputs, making it unsuitable for desktop use without proprietary hardware.

The recorded data shows the FirePro M4150 leads in the OpenCL benchmark, but the GT 740 leads in architectural capability. The choice depends on the use case. For a mobile workstation where OpenCL performance matters, the FirePro M4150 is the better option. For a desktop system requiring broad API support, higher fill rates, and more compute throughput, the GT 740 offers stronger fundamentals.

Given that the GT 740 has three recorded benchmark scores across different APIs, while the FirePro has only one, the overall picture favors the NVIDIA card for versatility. The single head-to-head win for AMD is notable, but it does not outweigh the GT 740's advantages in the wider dataset.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 scores 4013 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 4.3 percent higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740's score of 3847.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 has a memory bandwidth of 80.19 GB/s, while the AMD FirePro M4150 has 64.00 GB/s. The GT 740 leads by about 25 percent.

Q: What is the transistor count for each GPU?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 contains 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 contains 1,270 million transistors on a 118 mm² die.

Q: What form factors do these GPUs use?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 uses an MXM Module form factor, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 is a single-slot desktop card measuring 145 mm or 5.7 inches in length.

Q: What is the difference in shading units and ROPs?

A: Both GPUs have 384 shading units. The AMD FirePro M4150 has 8 ROPs and 24 TMUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 has 16 ROPs and 32 TMUs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher Vulkan benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4083. The AMD FirePro M4150 has no recorded Vulkan benchmark score in the database.