AMD FirePro M5100 vs Intel Arc A310 Comparison

The Intel Arc A310 and AMD FirePro M5100 represent two very different eras of GPU design, and the benchmark data reflects a clear generational gulf. The Arc A310 is a modern, efficient entry-level desktop part, while the FirePro M5100 is a legacy mobile workstation component. The data shows that in the only shared benchmark, the Intel part delivers a decisive victory, but the story is more nuanced when considering their intended use cases and architectural foundations.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark results, the Intel Arc A310 is the clear winner in raw compute performance. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Arc A310 scores 30607, which is 348.1% higher than the FirePro M5100's score of 6830. This is not a marginal lead; it is a dominant performance advantage that places the Arc A310 in a completely different performance class. The Arc A310 also has a broader benchmark profile, with scores across Passmark DX10, DX11, DX12, DX9, G2D, G3D, and GPU compute tests, whereas the FirePro M5100 only has a single Geekbench OpenCL result in the data.

The FirePro M5100's only "win" is in the context of its form factor and intended environment. As an MXM Module with a bus interface of MXM-A (3.0), it is designed for portable workstations where upgradeability and low power draw in a mobile chassis are priorities. The Arc A310, being a single-slot desktop card with no power connectors, is a different class of hardware. The data does not provide any benchmark where the FirePro M5100 outperforms the Arc A310, so its advantage is purely qualitative, based on its mobile workstation design rather than performance metrics.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark and explains the performance gap. The Intel Arc A310 is built on the Xe-HPG architecture, specifically the DG2-128 chip, and belongs to the Alchemist generation (Arc 3). It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, packing 7,200 million transistors into a 157 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 45.9M / mm². In contrast, the AMD FirePro M5100 uses the older GCN 1.0 architecture with the Venus chip, part of the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation. It is built on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC, but contains only 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, yielding a much lower transistor density of 12.2M / mm².

The memory subsystems also differ significantly. The Arc A310 features 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 124.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a wider 128-bit bus, but its bandwidth is only 72.00 GB/s. The Arc A310’s memory clock runs at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective), while the FirePro’s runs at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). The Arc A310 also benefits from modern features like 6 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the FirePro M5100 lacks ray tracing support and is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Clock speeds further illustrate the gap. The Arc A310 operates at a base and boost clock of 1750 MHz, while the FirePro M5100 is significantly slower at 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost. This combination of a newer process, higher clocks, more memory bandwidth, and modern architectural features gives the Arc A310 a massive theoretical advantage in raw throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a landslide. The Intel Arc A310 scores 30607, while the AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830. The delta is 348.1%, meaning the Arc A310 is nearly four and a half times faster in this compute-oriented workload. This is a decisive result that reflects the combined impact of the Arc A310’s superior process node, higher clock speeds, and more advanced memory subsystem.

Beyond this single test, the Arc A310 has a full suite of Passmark results that provide additional context, even though there is no direct comparison for those tests. The Arc A310 scores 5433 in Passmark G3D, 2157 in GPU compute, and 625 in G2D. Its legacy DirectX scores are notably low, with 31 in DX10, 33 in DX11, and 29 in DX12, but it scores a much higher 69 in DX9. These numbers suggest that the Arc A310’s performance is heavily dependent on modern API support and driver optimization, which is typical for a newer architecture. The FirePro M5100 has no comparable Passmark data, so a broader head-to-head is impossible from the given facts.

The average benchmark score further emphasizes the divide. The Arc A310 has an average benchmark score of 7550, placing it in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. The FirePro M5100’s average score is 6830, which puts it in the 38th percentile. While the percentile ranking is close, the raw average score difference is still notable. The Arc A310’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R7 250 (avg 7557, -0.1%), AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 (avg 7580, -0.4%), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (avg 7472, +1%), showing it sits in a competitive entry-level desktop segment. The FirePro M5100’s rivals, such as the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (avg 6764, +1%) and NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (avg 6698, +2%), are similarly low-end, but the Arc A310’s raw score is higher.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in compute workloads?

A: The Intel Arc A310 is significantly faster. In the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, it scores 30607 compared to the FirePro M5100’s 6830, a 348.1% lead.

Q: Do these GPUs support modern graphics APIs?

A: No, they differ greatly. The Arc A310 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro M5100 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Arc A310 also has ray tracing cores, which the FirePro lacks.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each card?

A: The Arc A310 has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with 124.0 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are they comparable in power consumption?

A: The Arc A310 has a TDP of 30 W and requires no power connectors, with a suggested PSU of 200 W. The FirePro M5100 has no TDP listed, but as an MXM module, it is designed for mobile systems.

Q: Which card is more suitable for a desktop system?

A: The Intel Arc A310 is a single-slot desktop card with PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 outputs. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM Module with MXM-A (3.0) bus, intended for portable devices, making it unsuitable for standard desktop use.

Q: How do their legacy DirectX scores compare?

A: The Arc A310 scores 31 in Passmark DX10, 33 in DX11, 29 in DX12, and 69 in DX9. The FirePro M5100 has no Passmark DirectX scores in the data.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Arc A310 is the superior GPU in every measurable performance metric. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 348.1% higher than the FirePro M5100, and it offers a more modern feature set, including ray tracing, newer API support, and higher memory bandwidth. For any workload that relies on compute performance or modern graphics features, the Arc A310 is the only rational choice.

The FirePro M5100, however, is not without a niche. As an MXM module from 2013, it serves a specific purpose in legacy mobile workstations where the form factor is a constraint. Its 28 nm GCN 1.0 architecture and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory are outdated, but for someone maintaining an old portable workstation with an MXM-A slot, it is the appropriate replacement part. The Arc A310 cannot be used in such a system due to its PCIe 4.0 x8 slot and desktop form factor.

The verdict is straightforward: if you are building or upgrading a desktop system, the Intel Arc A310 is vastly superior in performance and features. If you are repairing a legacy mobile workstation, the FirePro M5100 is the only one of the two that physically fits and is designed for that environment, but you should be aware that its performance is minimal by modern standards. The Arc A310’s 40th percentile ranking and higher average score of 7550 versus the FirePro’s 38th percentile and 6830 average confirm that even in its own class, the Intel part is positioned better.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc A310 | AMD FirePro M5100 |

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

| Architecture | Xe-HPG | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 7,200 million | 1,500 million |

| Die Size | 157 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 45.9M / mm² | 12.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1750 MHz | 725 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1750 MHz | 775 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 124.0 GB/s | 72.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 768 | 640 |

| TMUs | 32 | 40 |

| ROPs | 16 | 16 |

| RT Cores | 6 | null |

| FP32 Performance | 2.688 TFLOPS | 992.0 GFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 5.376 TFLOPS (2:1) | null |

| TDP | 30 W | null |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | MXM-A (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 2.0 | Portable Device Dependent |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |