AMD FirePro M4150 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M Comparison

The AMD FirePro M4150 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from 2013, built on the same 28 nm TSMC process. Despite their age, benchmark data reveals a clear performance hierarchy, with the AMD part holding a notable lead in the one available head-to-head comparison. The data shows the FirePro M4150 winning the sole benchmark, while the GeForce GT 745M counters with a larger memory pool and higher feature-level API support.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a straightforward picture: the AMD FirePro M4150 wins the only direct comparison available. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the FirePro M4150 scores 4013, while the GeForce GT 745M scores 3580. This represents a 12.1% advantage for the AMD part, a significant margin for two mobile GPUs from the same era.

However, the NVIDIA card wins in other measurable areas that matter to users. The GT 745M comes with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, double the 1024 MB found on the FirePro M4150. This capacity advantage does not affect the raw compute benchmark, but it is a practical difference for workloads that require larger frame buffers. The GT 745M also supports Vulkan 1.2.175 compared to the FirePro’s Vulkan 1.2.170, a minor but real API version difference.

The GT 745M also has a multi-test benchmark profile, with results in Geekbench Metal (2777) and Geekbench Vulkan (5502) in addition to its OpenCL score. The FirePro M4150 only has a single OpenCL result, meaning the NVIDIA card offers broader API coverage in the data. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput on OpenCL, the AMD card is the clear pick. For those needing more memory or newer API support, the NVIDIA side has the edge.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural families. The AMD FirePro M4150 is based on GCN 1.0, using the Opal chip, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M uses the Kepler architecture with the GK107 chip. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, but the chips themselves differ significantly in size and complexity.

NVIDIA’s GK107 packs 1,270 million transistors onto a 118 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 10.8M per mm². AMD’s Opal chip is smaller, with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, giving it a higher density of 12.3M per mm². The AMD chip is physically smaller but more densely packed.

The compute configurations differ in interesting ways. Both GPUs have 384 shading units, but the NVIDIA card has 32 texture mapping units (TMUs) compared to AMD’s 24, and 16 raster output units (ROPs) versus AMD’s 8. The GT 745M has double the ROP count, which historically benefits fill-rate-bound workloads. The NVIDIA card also has a higher texture rate at 17.57 GTexel/s versus 17.16 GTexel/s for the AMD part.

Clock speeds are not provided in the data, but derived rates tell the story. The AMD FirePro M4150 achieves a pixel rate of 5.720 GPixel/s and an FP32 throughput of 549.1 GFLOPS. The NVIDIA card’s pixel rate is lower at 4.392 GPixel/s, and its FP32 is 421.6 GFLOPS, a 23% deficit in raw floating-point compute.

Both cards use GDDR5 memory running at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) on a 128-bit bus, yielding identical memory bandwidth of 64.00 GB/s. The memory interface is where the similarities end, as the NVIDIA card has 2 GB of capacity versus 1 GB on the AMD card. The GT 745M is rated at 45 W TDP and uses an IGP slot width, while the FirePro M4150 uses an MXM Module form factor with no TDP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single head-to-head benchmark available is Geekbench OpenCL, and the AMD FirePro M4150 wins decisively. The score is 4013 for the AMD part against 3580 for the NVIDIA GT 745M, a delta of 12.1% in favor of AMD. This is not a marginal win; it is a solid double-digit advantage in a compute-oriented workload.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces this result. The FirePro M4150’s average benchmark score is 4013, placing it just 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M (4033) and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 (3977). The GT 745M, by contrast, has an average score of 3953, sitting 0.1% behind both the AMD Radeon R5 M420 (3956) and the NVIDIA GeForce 830M (3957), and 0.3% behind the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 (3964).

The percentile rankings are close: the FirePro M4150 sits at the 24th percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 745M is at the 23rd percentile. This confirms that both are entry-level performers, but the AMD card holds a small edge in overall standing. The GT 745M’s best result comes from its Geekbench Vulkan score of 5502, which far exceeds its OpenCL score of 3580, suggesting the Kepler architecture is better optimized for that newer API. The FirePro M4150 has no Vulkan benchmark result in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The AMD FirePro M4150 scores 4013 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 12.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M’s 3580. This is the only direct head-to-head benchmark available.

Q: Does the NVIDIA card have more memory?

A: Yes, the GT 745M has 2 GB of GDDR5, while the FirePro M4150 has 1024 MB. Both use a 128-bit bus and have identical 64.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has better API support?

A: The GT 745M supports Vulkan 1.2.175 and DirectX 12 (11_0), while the FirePro M4150 supports Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (11_1). The NVIDIA card has a slightly newer Vulkan version.

Q: How do their transistor counts compare?

A: The NVIDIA GK107 chip has 1,270 million transistors, while the AMD Opal chip has 950 million. NVIDIA’s die is 118 mm² versus AMD’s 77 mm².

Q: What are the pixel rates for each card?

A: The FirePro M4150 has a pixel rate of 5.720 GPixel/s, which is higher than the GT 745M’s 4.392 GPixel/s. Conversely, the GT 745M has a higher texture rate at 17.57 GTexel/s versus 17.16 GTexel/s.

Q: Which card is better for Vulkan workloads?

A: The GT 745M has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 5502, which is its strongest benchmark result. The FirePro M4150 has no Vulkan benchmark data available.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for users prioritizing raw compute performance: the AMD FirePro M4150. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by 12.1% and posts higher FP32 throughput (549.1 GFLOPS vs 421.6 GFLOPS) and a higher pixel rate (5.720 GPixel/s vs 4.392 GPixel/s). Its average benchmark score of 4013 also places it higher than the GT 745M’s 3953, and it ranks at the 24th percentile versus the NVIDIA card’s 23rd.

However, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is not without merit. Its 2 GB memory capacity is double that of the AMD card, which is a practical advantage for modern workloads that exceed 1 GB frame buffers. It also offers broader API coverage in the benchmark data, with Metal and Vulkan results that the FirePro cannot match. The GT 745M’s Vulkan score of 5502 is particularly strong, suggesting that users running Vulkan-based applications would see better performance despite the OpenCL deficit.

For a builder choosing between these two, the decision hinges on workload. Compute-heavy tasks that rely on OpenCL favor the AMD card decisively. Memory-hungry applications or Vulkan-based titles lean toward the NVIDIA card. The GT 745M also has a listed 45 W TDP, giving a concrete power figure that the AMD card lacks. Both are end-of-life products, and neither is a modern performer, but the FirePro M4150 holds the performance crown in the available data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FirePro M4150 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Kepler |

| Chip | Opal | GK107 |

| Transistors | 950 million | 1,270 million |

| Die Size | 77 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.3M / mm² | 10.8M / mm² |

| Memory Size | 1024 MB | 2 GB |

| TMUs | 24 | 32 |

| ROPs | 8 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 5.720 GPixel/s | 4.392 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.16 GTexel/s | 17.57 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 549.1 GFLOPS | 421.6 GFLOPS |

| TDP | Not listed | 45 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

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

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.2.175 |

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

| Geekbench OpenCL | 4013 | 3580 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 4013 | 3953 |

| Percentile | 24 | 23 |

| Release Date | 2013-10-15 | 2013-03-31 |

| Predecessor | FirePro Mobility | GeForce 600M |

| Successor | Radeon Pro Mobile | GeForce 800M |