AMD FirePro M5100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL compute test, and it is a decisive win for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M. The GTX 770M scores 8,552 points, while the AMD FirePro M5100 manages 6,830. That is a delta of -20.1% for the AMD part, meaning NVIDIA's mobile GPU is roughly a fifth faster in raw compute throughput. In practical terms, the GTX 770M delivers 1.530 TFLOPS of FP32 performance against the FirePro M5100's 992.0 GFLOPS, so the gap in floating-point math aligns closely with the benchmark result.

The GTX 770M also holds advantages in fill rate and texture throughput. Its pixel rate is 15.94 GPixel/s versus 12.40 GPixel/s for the FirePro M5100, a lead of about 28%. Texture rate is even more lopsided: 63.76 GTexel/s for NVIDIA versus 31.00 GTexel/s for AMD, which is more than double. These numbers suggest the GTX 770M will handle resolution scaling and texture-heavy scenes with noticeably more headroom.

However, the FirePro M5100 is not without merit. Its architecture supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the GTX 770M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0). The AMD part also has a higher transistor density at 12.2M / mm² compared to 11.5M / mm² for NVIDIA, even though the NVIDIA chip is physically larger and packs more transistors overall. The FirePro M5100's memory clock is also higher at 4.5 Gbps effective versus 4 Gbps effective, but that advantage is muted by a narrower 128-bit bus, yielding 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth against the GTX 770M's 96.19 GB/s.

In the broader database context, the FirePro M5100 sits at the 38th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 770M sits at the 35th percentile. That seems counterintuitive given the head-to-head result, but the averages tell a different story. The FirePro M5100's average benchmark score is 6,830, while the GTX 770M's average across its recorded tests (OpenCL and Metal) is 6,000. The GTX 770M's Metal score of 3,448 drags its average down, even though its OpenCL score is superior. This highlights the importance of workload: on compute-heavy OpenCL tasks, NVIDIA wins clearly, but the AMD part is more consistent across the limited set of recorded tests.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is the stronger choice for raw OpenCL compute and gaming-oriented workloads. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark, offers more VRAM (3 GB versus 2 GB), a wider memory bus (192-bit versus 128-bit), and substantially higher texture and pixel rates. If your priority is maximum performance in GPU-accelerated tasks that rely on OpenCL, the GTX 770M is the clear pick.

The AMD FirePro M5100, however, is not a poor option. It carries a newer DirectX feature level (11_1 versus 11_0), which matters for certain legacy compatibility scenarios. It also has a higher transistor density and a more compact die (123 mm² versus 221 mm²), which could translate into lower thermal load per unit area, though the database does not list a TDP for the AMD part. The FirePro M5100's average benchmark score is higher than the GTX 770M's, but that is skewed by the NVIDIA part's weaker Metal result.

For a builder choosing between these two end-of-life mobile GPUs, the decision hinges on workload. If you need maximum OpenCL compute and are willing to accept a lower average score due to Metal, take the GTX 770M. If you prioritize consistency across different API tests and want the slightly newer DirectX feature set, the FirePro M5100 is defensible, but you will sacrifice roughly 20% performance in the one benchmark where both are directly compared.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 8,552 against the AMD FirePro M5100's 6,830, a delta of -20.1% in NVIDIA's favor.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD FirePro M5100 has an average benchmark score of 6,830, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M averages 6,000. The difference comes from the GTX 770M's additional Metal score of 3,448, which lowers its average despite winning the OpenCL test.

Q: Which GPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M has 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth with a 192-bit bus and 3 GB of GDDR5, versus the AMD FirePro M5100's 72.00 GB/s with a 128-bit bus and 2 GB of GDDR5.

Q: What is the DirectX feature level difference?

A: The AMD FirePro M5100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the GTX 770M has a slightly newer Vulkan version at 1.2.175 versus 1.2.170.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor count?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M uses 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, while the AMD FirePro M5100 uses 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. The AMD part has a higher density at 12.2M / mm² versus 11.5M / mm².

Q: Are both GPUs end-of-life products?

A: Yes, both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The FirePro M5100 was released later (2013-10-15) than the GTX 770M (2013-05-29), but neither is in active production.

Specification Differences

The two mobile GPUs differ across nearly every major specification except for process node, foundry, and slot width. Both are built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, and both use MXM modules, though the bus interfaces differ: the FirePro M5100 uses MXM-A (3.0) while the GTX 770M uses MXM-B (3.0).

Clock speeds favor AMD at the base level: 725 MHz versus 706 MHz. At boost, NVIDIA pulls ahead with 797 MHz versus 775 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: the FirePro M5100 runs at 1,125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) while the GTX 770M runs at 1,002 MHz (4 Gbps effective). Despite the higher clock, AMD's narrower bus limits bandwidth.

Memory configuration is a major split. The FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 72.00 GB/s. The GTX 770M has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, yielding 96.19 GB/s. The NVIDIA part also has more execution hardware: 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 24 ROPs versus AMD's 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs.

Raw throughput numbers reflect this hardware gap. The GTX 770M produces 1.530 TFLOPS of FP32, 15.94 GPixel/s, and 63.76 GTexel/s. The FirePro M5100 produces 992.0 GFLOPS, 12.40 GPixel/s, and 31.00 GTexel/s. The GTX 770M is the only one with a listed TDP at 75 W; the FirePro M5100 has no TDP listed. The GTX 770M also lists no power connectors, while the AMD part leaves that field empty.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is fundamental: AMD uses GCN 1.0 with the Venus chip, while NVIDIA uses Kepler with the GK106 chip. These are different designs from different eras of mobile graphics, and the data shows the consequences.

GCN 1.0, as implemented in the FirePro M5100, is a compute-oriented architecture built around 640 shading units arranged in a design that emphasizes parallel throughput. The Venus die is compact at 123 mm² with 1,500 million transistors, giving a density of 12.2M / mm². This is a smaller, denser chip that likely runs cooler per area, though the database does not list a TDP to confirm.

Kepler, as implemented in the GTX 770M, is NVIDIA's efficiency-focused architecture from the same 28 nm era. The GK106 die is substantially larger at 221 mm² with 2,540 million transistors, but its density is slightly lower at 11.5M / mm². Kepler's design favors higher shader counts and wider memory interfaces, which explains the GTX 770M's 960 shading units and 192-bit bus.

The feature sets diverge in API support. AMD's GCN 1.0 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), which is one feature level higher than NVIDIA's Kepler at DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan versions are close (1.2.170 for AMD, 1.2.175 for NVIDIA). The GTX 770M has a recorded Metal benchmark score of 3,448, indicating macOS or iOS-style compute workloads, while the FirePro M5100 has no Metal record.

The FirePro M5100 belongs to the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation, while the GTX 770M belongs to the GeForce 700M generation. The predecessor and successor lines reflect this: AMD's line goes from FirePro Mobility to Radeon Pro Mobile, while NVIDIA's goes from GeForce 600M to GeForce 800M. Neither GPU has ray tracing or tensor cores listed, consistent with their 2013-era designs.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M wins in every scenario where raw compute throughput matters. Its OpenCL score of 8,552 versus 6,830 is a 20% advantage, and its FP32 output of 1.530 TFLOPS versus 992.0 GFLOPS reinforces that gap. For GPU-accelerated rendering, physics simulation, or any OpenCL-based workload, the GTX 770M is the stronger option. Its higher texture rate (63.76 GTexel/s versus 31.00 GTexel/s) also makes it better for texture-heavy games and 3D applications. The 3 GB VRAM on a 192-bit bus gives it more capacity and bandwidth for larger assets.

The AMD FirePro M5100 wins in scenarios that favor its architectural strengths. Its DirectX 12 (11_1) support is a small but real advantage for legacy compatibility with certain applications. Its higher transistor density (12.2M / mm² versus 11.5M / mm²) suggests a more efficient use of silicon, which could matter in thermally constrained laptop chassis, though the database does not provide TDP numbers to confirm. Its higher base clock (725 MHz versus 706 MHz) and memory clock (1,125 MHz versus 1,002 MHz) may help in lightly threaded or memory-latency-sensitive tasks, but those advantages are overwhelmed by the GTX 770M's wider bus and higher boost clock.

The FirePro M5100 also has a better average benchmark score (6,830 versus 6,000) when all recorded tests are considered. This is because the GTX 770M's Metal score of 3,448 drags its average down. If your workload is heterogeneous, mixing OpenCL and Metal, the AMD part shows more consistency. But for pure OpenCL performance, the data is unambiguous: the GTX 770M is the winner.

In the end, the use case splits cleanly. Choose the GTX 770M for maximum compute and gaming performance, especially where texture throughput and memory bandwidth dominate. Choose the FirePro M5100 if you need the slightly newer DirectX feature level, value consistency across different API tests, or prefer the denser, smaller chip for thermal reasons. The database records one head-to-head win for NVIDIA, and that win carries the most weight.