AMD FirePro M5100 vs AMD Radeon R7 M350 Comparison

The AMD FirePro M5100 and the AMD Radeon R7 M350 are two end-of-life mobile GPUs from different eras, targeting different workloads. The data shows that while the newer R7 M350 takes a narrow lead in the single available compute benchmark, the FirePro M5100 holds significant advantages in raw architectural throughput and memory bandwidth. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and practical implications based solely on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The FACT PACK provides one direct comparison point: the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this benchmark, the AMD Radeon R7 M350 scores 6991, while the AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830. This yields a victory for the R7 M350 with a delta of -2.3% from the perspective of the FirePro M5100. That is a narrow margin, representing just a 161-point difference. The data indicates the R7 M350 is marginally faster in this specific compute test, but the result is close enough that it does not represent a generational leap.

However, the OpenCL score is only one measure. The FirePro M5100 counters with decisive wins in theoretical peak performance metrics. Its FP32 compute is rated at 992.0 GFLOPS, compared to the R7 M350’s 779.5 GFLOPS. This translates to a substantial 27.3% advantage for the FirePro. Similarly, the FirePro’s texture fill rate of 31.00 GTexel/s outpaces the R7 M350’s 24.36 GTexel/s, a 27.2% lead. The pixel rate advantage is even more pronounced: the FirePro M5100 delivers 12.40 GPixel/s versus the R7 M350’s 8.120 GPixel/s, a lead of over 52%. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a fundamentally different class of silicon in terms of raw rendering capability.

The memory subsystem further splits the two. The FirePro M5100 uses a 128-bit GDDR5 interface, yielding 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The R7 M350, despite having a larger 4 GB frame buffer, uses a 64-bit DDR3 bus, capping bandwidth at just 16.00 GB/s. This is a massive 4.5x difference in favor of the FirePro. In bandwidth-sensitive workloads, this disparity is likely to be far more impactful than the small OpenCL score gap. The data suggests the R7 M350’s single benchmark win does not reflect its overall hardware capability.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R7 M350 wins in the specific Geekbench OpenCL workload, scoring 6991 versus 6830. This indicates a slight edge in this synthetic compute task. It also offers double the memory capacity (4 GB vs. 2 GB), which can be beneficial for holding larger datasets or texture sets that exceed the FirePro’s limit. For applications that are not heavily bandwidth-constrained and fit within the R7 M350’s compute profile, this could translate to a practical advantage.

The AMD FirePro M5100 wins in nearly every other measurable hardware category. Its higher FP32 throughput (992.0 GFLOPS) makes it stronger for general-purpose compute tasks that are not limited by the OpenCL scheduler. Its vastly superior memory bandwidth (72.00 GB/s) is a critical win for gaming at higher resolutions, anti-aliasing, and any workload that streams large amounts of texture or geometry data. The higher pixel rate (12.40 GPixel/s) and texture rate (31.00 GTexel/s) give it a clear edge in traditional 3D rendering pipelines. The data positions the FirePro as the more capable graphics processor, while the R7 M350 is a more balanced entry-level part with a single benchmark highlight.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. The FirePro M5100 is built on GCN 1.0, while the R7 M350 is built on GCN 3.0. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process node, but the silicon designs differ. The FirePro M5100 uses a chip codenamed Venus, measuring 123 mm² with 1,500 million transistors. The R7 M350 uses a chip codenamed Meso, which is slightly larger at 125 mm² with 1,550 million transistors. Transistor density is nearly identical, at 12.2M / mm² for the FirePro and 12.4M / mm² for the R7 M350.

The core configuration shows a stark difference in execution resources. The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 ROPs. The R7 M350 has only 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This means the FirePro has 66% more shaders, 66% more TMUs, and double the ROPs. Despite the newer GCN 3.0 architecture, the R7 M350 simply has fewer hardware resources. Clock speeds partially compensate: the R7 M350 runs at a base of 1000 MHz and a boost of 1015 MHz, while the FirePro M5100 runs at a lower 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost. This higher clock speed narrows the performance gap but does not erase the resource deficit.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally. The FirePro M5100 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, which provides the high bandwidth figure of 72.00 GB/s. The R7 M350 uses 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus, resulting in only 16.00 GB/s. The effective memory speed also differs: 4.5 Gbps for the FirePro versus 2 Gbps for the R7 M350. In terms of API support, the FirePro M5100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and OpenGL 4.6, while the R7 M350 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and OpenGL 4.6. Both support Vulkan 1.2.170. The FirePro also has a different form factor, using an MXM Module (MXM-A 3.0), whereas the R7 M350 uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. The FirePro’s display outputs are listed as portable device dependent, while the R7 M350’s are unspecified.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD FirePro M5100 is the superior graphics processor for most traditional and compute-heavy tasks. Its higher FP32 rating (992.0 GFLOPS), texture fill rate (31.00 GTexel/s), and pixel rate (12.40 GPixel/s) are decisive advantages that outweigh the R7 M350’s higher clock speeds. The FirePro’s memory bandwidth of 72.00 GB/s is in a different league entirely, making it the clear choice for any workload where data transfer is a bottleneck. The only area where the R7 M350 wins is the single Geekbench OpenCL test, with a score of 6991 versus 6830, and its larger 4 GB memory capacity.

The AMD Radeon R7 M350 is the choice for users who prioritize the specific OpenCL workload tested or need double the frame buffer capacity. Its higher base and boost clocks (1000 MHz / 1015 MHz) and newer GCN 3.0 architecture are notable, but the benchmark data shows these do not translate to a broad performance lead. For gaming or general GPU compute, the FirePro M5100’s raw throughput and bandwidth will likely provide a better experience, despite its lower benchmark score in that single test. The R7 M350 sits at the 36th percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro M5100 sits at the 38th percentile, suggesting they are broadly comparable in overall standing, but the FirePro edges ahead in overall capability.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher score in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 M350 scores 6991, which is higher than the AMD FirePro M5100’s score of 6830.

Q: How much faster is the FirePro M5100 in terms of FP32 performance?

A: The FirePro M5100 delivers 992.0 GFLOPS, while the R7 M350 delivers 779.5 GFLOPS, giving the FirePro a 27.3% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two cards?

A: The FirePro M5100 has a memory bandwidth of 72.00 GB/s, while the R7 M350 has only 16.00 GB/s. This is a 4.5x difference in favor of the FirePro.

Q: Does the R7 M350 have more memory than the FirePro M5100?

A: Yes, the R7 M350 has 4 GB of DDR3 memory, while the FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The FirePro M5100 has a pixel rate of 12.40 GPixel/s, compared to the R7 M350’s 8.120 GPixel/s.

Q: What are the core clock speeds for the two GPUs?

A: The FirePro M5100 has a base clock of 725 MHz and a boost clock of 775 MHz. The R7 M350 has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1015 MHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FirePro M5100 | AMD Radeon R7 M350 |

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

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 3.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 1,550 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 125 mm² |

| Base Clock | 725 MHz | 1000 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 775 MHz | 1015 MHz |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 72.00 GB/s | 16.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 384 |

| TMUs | 40 | 24 |

| ROPs | 16 | 8 |

| FP32 Performance | 992.0 GFLOPS | 779.5 GFLOPS |

| Pixel Rate | 12.40 GPixel/s | 8.120 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 31.00 GTexel/s | 24.36 GTexel/s |

| Bus Interface | MXM-A (3.0) | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Release Date | 2013-10-15 | 2015-05-04 |