AMD FirePro M5100 vs AMD Radeon 540 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two AMD workstation-oriented GPUs along generational lines. The AMD Radeon 540 and the AMD FirePro M5100 are both end-of-life products, but they serve different eras of mobile and compact computing. The data shows a clear edge for the older FirePro M5100 in the only directly comparable test, but the Radeon 540 holds advantages in modern API support and interface flexibility.

The AMD FirePro M5100 wins the sole head-to-head benchmark. In Geekbench OpenCL, the FirePro M5100 scores 6830 against the Radeon 540's 6184. That is a 9.5% margin in favor of the older chip. This result places the FirePro M5100 in the 38th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the Radeon 540 sits slightly higher at the 41st percentile. The apparent contradiction, a lower percentile but a lower benchmark score in the direct comparison, is explained by the different benchmark suites each card was tested with. The Radeon 540 also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9162, which the FirePro M5100 lacks entirely.

The Radeon 540's wins are architectural rather than raw performance based. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the FirePro M5100 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_1). Vulkan support also favors the newer card, with version 1.3 versus 1.2.170. The Radeon 540 uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, whereas the FirePro M5100 is an MXM-A (3.0) module, meaning the two cards are physically and electrically incompatible for most systems. The Radeon 540 also has a lower power draw at 50 W, a single-slot form factor, and no power connectors required, making it the more flexible deployment option in standard desktop or low-profile chassis.

For users who need raw compute in a legacy mobile workstation, the FirePro M5100 is the stronger pick. For those who need modern API coverage, lower power consumption, and a standard PCIe slot, the Radeon 540 is the better fit.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different foundries and process nodes. The Radeon 540 uses the Lexa chip built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, with 2,200 million transistors on a 103 mm² die. The FirePro M5100 uses the Venus chip built on TSMC's 28 nm process, with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. The newer 14 nm process allows the Radeon 540 to pack more transistors into a smaller area, achieving a transistor density of 21.4 million per mm² versus 12.2 million per mm² for the FirePro M5100.

The FirePro M5100 belongs to the GCN 1.0 architecture from the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation. The Radeon 540 belongs to GCN 4.0 from the Polaris (RX 500) generation. This is a three-generation jump in architecture design. The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The Radeon 540 has fewer shading units at 384, fewer TMUs at 24, but the same 16 ROPs. Despite the lower shader count, the Radeon 540 achieves a higher pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s versus 12.40 GPixel/s for the FirePro M5100. The texture rates are closer, with the Radeon 540 at 28.39 GTexel/s and the FirePro M5100 slightly ahead at 31.00 GTexel/s.

Raw FP32 compute favors the FirePro M5100, which delivers 992.0 GFLOPS versus 908.5 GFLOPS for the Radeon 540. The Radeon 540 does offer FP16 at 908.5 GFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the FirePro M5100 has no listed FP16 capability. Memory configurations differ substantially. The Radeon 540 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 32-bit bus, yielding 24.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. That is three times the memory bandwidth for the older card, which explains its OpenCL advantage in memory-bound workloads.

Clock behavior also differs. The FirePro M5100 has a listed base clock of 725 MHz and a boost clock of 775 MHz, with memory at 1125 MHz or 4.5 Gbps effective. The Radeon 540 has no listed base or boost clock, but its memory runs at 1500 MHz or 6 Gbps effective. The higher memory clock on the Radeon 540 does not compensate for its narrow 32-bit bus.

The Radeon 540 is a single-slot card with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W, drawing 50 W TDP. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM Module with no listed TDP, no power connector details, and no suggested PSU. Display outputs also differ: the Radeon 540 offers 2x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the FirePro M5100's outputs are portable device dependent. The Radeon 540 is the newer release, dated 2017-04-19, while the FirePro M5100 launched earlier on 2013-10-15. The predecessor and successor lines also differ: the Radeon 540 follows Arctic Islands and precedes Vega, while the FirePro M5100 follows FirePro Mobility and precedes Radeon Pro Mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL. The FirePro M5100 scores 6830, and the Radeon 540 scores 6184. The delta is 9.5% in favor of the FirePro M5100. This is a notable margin for two cards that occupy similar performance percentiles. The Radeon 540's average benchmark score across all tests is 7673, which includes its Vulkan result, while the FirePro M5100's average is 6830, matching its single OpenCL result.

Looking at nearest rivals provides context. The Radeon 540's average score of 7673 puts it within 0.6% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (7723), 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 (7580), 1.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 250 (7557), and 1.6% ahead of the Intel Arc A310 (7550). The FirePro M5100's average of 6830 puts it 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (6764), 1.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (6946), 2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (6698), and 2.1% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M240 (6975).

The Vulkan score for the Radeon 540, 9162, is substantially higher than its OpenCL score, suggesting the GCN 4.0 architecture translates more efficiently to modern graphics workloads. The FirePro M5100 has no Vulkan score recorded, so no comparison is possible. The Radeon 540's overall average benchmark score of 7673 is 12.3% higher than the FirePro M5100's 6830, but this reflects the inclusion of the Vulkan test rather than a direct performance advantage in compute.

The data indicates that in pure OpenCL compute, the FirePro M5100's wider memory bus and higher shader count give it a real edge. The Radeon 540 counters with better per-clock efficiency from the newer architecture and a faster pixel rate, but this does not translate into a win in the recorded OpenCL test. The 9.5% delta in that test is the single most important number for anyone choosing between these two for compute workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a split decision based on workload and platform. If the task is OpenCL compute and the system can accept an MXM module, the AMD FirePro M5100 is the stronger choice. Its 9.5% lead over the Radeon 540 in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with 72.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 640 shading units, makes it the better compute engine. The 2 GB memory capacity also doubles the Radeon 540's 1024 MB, which matters for larger datasets.

If the task involves modern graphics APIs or standard PCIe installation, the AMD Radeon 540 is the better option. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0) versus 11_1, Vulkan 1.3 versus 1.2.170, and runs on a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface rather than a proprietary MXM-A form factor. Its 50 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it easier to deploy in compact systems. The Radeon 540 also offers DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the FirePro M5100 is dependent on the host device for display connectivity.

The Radeon 540's percentile ranking of 41 versus the FirePro M5100's 38 indicates that, across the full database of recorded results, the newer card performs in a slightly higher tier. Its Vulkan score of 9162 shows strong modern API performance. The FirePro M5100's single OpenCL score of 6830 does not capture any Vulkan capability, which may understate its relevance for older software stacks but also reflects its 2013 origins.

Buyers should match the card to the platform. For a legacy mobile workstation with an MXM slot, the FirePro M5100 is the logical pick. For a desktop or low-profile system with a PCIe slot, the Radeon 540 offers modern features, lower power draw, and a cleaner installation path. Neither card is a performance leader, but each serves its intended ecosystem well.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 9.5% higher than the AMD Radeon 540's score of 6184.

Q: How do the two cards compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The FirePro M5100 has 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth from a 128-bit bus and 2 GB of GDDR5. The Radeon 540 has 24.00 GB/s from a 32-bit bus and 1024 MB of GDDR5.

Q: Does the Radeon 540 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the Radeon 540 supports Vulkan 1.3 and has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9162. The FirePro M5100 supports Vulkan 1.2.170 but has no recorded Vulkan benchmark score.

Q: What are the form factor differences?

A: The Radeon 540 is a single-slot PCIe 3.0 x8 card with no power connectors and a 50 W TDP. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM-A (3.0) module with no listed TDP.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, while the Radeon 540 has 384. The FirePro M5100 also has 40 TMUs versus 24, but both have 16 ROPs.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Radeon 540 has an average benchmark score of 7673 across its two tests, placing it in the 41st percentile. The FirePro M5100 has an average of 6830 from its single test, placing it in the 38th percentile.