AMD FirePro M5100 vs AMD Radeon R5 M435 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains a single head-to-head benchmark between the AMD FirePro M5100 and the AMD Radeon R5 M435: Geekbench OpenCL. This is a compute-oriented test that measures raw throughput for general-purpose GPU workloads, and the results are decisive.

The FirePro M5100 scores 6830 points, while the Radeon R5 M435 scores 5859 points. That is a 16.6% advantage for the FirePro M5100. In practical terms, for any OpenCL-accelerated task such as video encoding, image filtering, or scientific computation, the FirePro M5100 completes the work noticeably faster. The delta is not marginal; it represents a meaningful performance tier separation between the two mobile GPUs.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces this gap. The FirePro M5100 sits at the 38th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average score of 6830. Its closest competitors include the AMD Radeon R7 M370 at 6764 (1% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M at 6946 (1.7% faster), and the AMD Radeon R5 M240 at 6975 (2.1% faster). The FirePro M5100 is essentially bracketed by mid-range mobile parts from both AMD and NVIDIA, and it holds its own within that group.

The Radeon R5 M435, by contrast, sits at the 33rd percentile with an average score of 5859. Its nearest rivals are lower-tier parts: the AMD Radeon R7 M465 at 5841 (0.3% slower), the Intel UHD Graphics 730 at 5929 (1.2% faster), and the NVIDIA Quadro K620M at 5957 (1.6% faster). The R5 M435 is therefore clustered with entry-level integrated and discrete solutions, and it trails the FirePro M5100 by a substantial margin.

The head-to-head data shows a single winner, with the FirePro M5100 taking the only recorded test. There are zero benchmark wins for the Radeon R5 M435 in this comparison. The 16.6% delta is consistent across the entire score distribution, meaning there is no workload category where the R5 M435 flips the result.

Where Each One Wins

Given the single benchmark, the use-case split is straightforward. The FirePro M5100 wins in every compute-oriented scenario that relies on OpenCL. This includes general-purpose GPU computing, physics simulations, rendering tasks that offload to OpenCL, and any productivity application that leverages GPU acceleration for filters or effects. The 16.6% lead in raw compute throughput means the FirePro M5100 is the better choice for users who regularly run GPU-accelerated workloads beyond pure gaming.

The Radeon R5 M435 does not win any recorded benchmark. However, the data does not indicate where it might be competitive. It has a higher boost clock (1030 MHz versus 775 MHz), which could theoretically help in lightly threaded or latency-sensitive tasks, but the database contains no test that demonstrates this. Without a second benchmark, the R5 M435 cannot claim victory in any measured category.

For gaming, the database does not include DirectX or OpenGL frame rate tests, so any conclusions would be speculative. The FirePro M5100 has higher pixel rate (12.40 GPixel/s versus 8.240 GPixel/s) and texture rate (31.00 GTexel/s versus 20.60 GTexel/s), which suggests it would also lead in rasterization-heavy workloads, but the recorded data does not confirm this directly. The only factual statement is that the FirePro M5100 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the R5 M435 wins nothing.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The transistor density is nearly identical: 12.2M per mm² for the FirePro M5100 and 12.3M per mm² for the R5 M435. However, the physical scale differs greatly. The FirePro M5100 uses the Venus chip, which contains 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. The R5 M435 uses the Jet chip, with 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. The FirePro M5100 has more than twice the transistor count and more than twice the die area.

This scale difference translates directly into execution resources. The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The R5 M435 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Every resource count is exactly double on the FirePro M5100. This explains the 16.6% benchmark lead, although the lead is smaller than the resource doubling might suggest, likely due to clock speed differences.

The FirePro M5100 runs at a base clock of 725 MHz and a boost clock of 775 MHz. The R5 M435 runs at 780 MHz base and 1030 MHz boost. The R5 M435's boost clock is 32.9% higher, which partially compensates for its smaller resource pool. Memory configurations also differ: the FirePro M5100 has a 128-bit bus with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the R5 M435 has a 64-bit bus with 36.00 GB/s bandwidth. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5 at 4.5 Gbps effective, but the FirePro M5100 has twice the memory bandwidth.

The FirePro M5100 is an MXM module with an MXM-A (3.0) bus interface, indicating it is a replaceable mobile graphics card. The R5 M435 is an IGP (integrated graphics processor), which means it is soldered into the system and shares the PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, so API compatibility is identical.

The FirePro M5100 was released in October 2015, while the R5 M435 came later in May 2016. The FirePro M5100 is part of the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation, with a predecessor of FirePro Mobility and a successor of Radeon Pro Mobile. The R5 M435 belongs to the Gem System (R5 M400) generation, with a predecessor of Solar System and a successor of Polaris Mobile. Both are end-of-life products.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830, which is 16.6% higher than the AMD Radeon R5 M435's 5859.

Q: Does the Radeon R5 M435 win any benchmark against the FirePro M5100?

A: No. The database records 1 win for the FirePro M5100 and 0 wins for the R5 M435 in their head-to-head comparison.

Q: How do the memory bandwidths compare?

A: The FirePro M5100 has 72.00 GB/s bandwidth on a 128-bit bus, while the R5 M435 has 36.00 GB/s on a 64-bit bus. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What are the shading unit counts?

A: The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, while the R5 M435 has 320 shading units. The FirePro M5100 also doubles the TMUs (40 versus 20) and ROPs (16 versus 8).

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Radeon R5 M435 has a boost clock of 1030 MHz, compared to the FirePro M5100's 775 MHz. The R5 M435 also has a higher base clock at 780 MHz versus 725 MHz.

Q: Are both GPUs the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use GCN 1.0 architecture on TSMC's 28 nm process. The transistor density is nearly identical (12.2M vs 12.3M per mm²), but the FirePro M5100 has a much larger die.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs in the database:

• Chip: Venus (FirePro M5100) versus Jet (R5 M435)
• Generation: FirePro Mobile (Mx100) versus Gem System (R5 M400)
• Transistors: 1,500 million versus 690 million
• Die Size: 123 mm² versus 56 mm²
• Base Clock: 725 MHz versus 780 MHz
• Boost Clock: 775 MHz versus 1030 MHz
• Memory Bus Width: 128 bit versus 64 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 72.00 GB/s versus 36.00 GB/s
• Shading Units: 640 versus 320
• TMUs: 40 versus 20
• ROPs: 16 versus 8
• Pixel Rate: 12.40 GPixel/s versus 8.240 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 31.00 GTexel/s versus 20.60 GTexel/s
• FP32: 992.0 GFLOPS versus 659.2 GFLOPS
• Slot Width: MXM Module versus IGP
• Bus Interface: MXM-A (3.0) versus PCIe 3.0 x8
• Release Date: October 2015 versus May 2016
• Predecessor: FirePro Mobility versus Solar System
• Successor: Radeon Pro Mobile versus Polaris Mobile

Fields that are identical include the 2 GB GDDR5 memory size, 4.5 Gbps effective memory clock, 28 nm process node, TSMC foundry, GCN 1.0 architecture, DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.2.170, and both are end-of-life with no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD FirePro M5100 is the faster GPU. It wins the only recorded benchmark by 16.6%, and it holds advantages in every major specification category that affects compute performance: double the shading units, double the TMUs, double the ROPs, double the memory bandwidth, and 50.5% higher FP32 throughput (992.0 GFLOPS versus 659.2 GFLOPS). The R5 M435 counters with a higher boost clock (1030 MHz versus 775 MHz), but that advantage is insufficient to overcome the resource deficit.

The FirePro M5100 is the appropriate choice for users who need consistent OpenCL compute performance in a mobile workstation context. Its MXM form factor suggests it was designed for upgradeable professional laptops, and its performance class places it alongside mid-range mobile GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (1.7% faster) and the AMD Radeon R5 M240 (2.1% faster). The 38th percentile ranking indicates it is above the median of all GPUs in the database.

The Radeon R5 M435, as an integrated part with a 33rd percentile ranking, is positioned for basic GPU acceleration in mainstream laptops. Its nearest rivals include the Intel UHD Graphics 730 (1.2% faster) and the NVIDIA Quadro K620M (1.6% faster), which places it in entry-level territory. For users whose workloads are limited to light acceleration, the R5 M435 may suffice, but the data shows it cannot match the FirePro M5100 in any measured test.

The verdict: choose the FirePro M5100 for compute-heavy tasks, larger memory bandwidth demands, or any workload where the 16.6% OpenCL lead matters. Choose the R5 M435 only if the integrated form factor and lower resource footprint are priorities, as the database provides no performance scenario where it wins.