AMD FirePro M5100 vs NVIDIA GRID K2 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable measurement in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is decisively one-sided. The NVIDIA GRID K2 scores 10,602 points against the AMD FirePro M5100's 6,830 points. That is a 55.2% advantage for the NVIDIA part, a massive gap for any single benchmark. The data shows the GRID K2 is not just faster, it is in a different performance tier entirely.

Looking at the broader database context, the GRID K2's average benchmark score of 8,080 places it in the 42nd percentile of all GPUs. Its OpenCL score of 10,602 is well above its own average, suggesting the GRID K2's compute-heavy architecture responds particularly well to OpenCL workloads. The FirePro M5100, by contrast, has an average score of 6,830, which sits in the 38th percentile. The FirePro's only recorded benchmark is the same OpenCL test, so its average equals that single result.

The nearest rivals for each card provide useful reference points. The GRID K2's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce 945M, which averages 8,099 points, a mere 0.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost sits at 8,067 (0.2% ahead), and the GeForce GTX 650 Ti at 8,053 (0.3% ahead). The GRID K2's 8,080 average is essentially tied with these three, which means the GRID K2's OpenCL peak of 10,602 is the outlier, not the baseline. The FirePro M5100's rivals cluster differently: the AMD Radeon R5 M240 averages 6,975 (2.1% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M averages 6,946 (1.7% higher), the AMD Radeon R7 M370 averages 6,764 (1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 averages 6,698 (2% lower). The FirePro sits near the middle of this group, slightly below two rivals and slightly above two others.

The head-to-head delta of 55.2% is far larger than any delta between the GRID K2 and its own nearest rivals. This indicates the GRID K2's OpenCL advantage over the FirePro is not a marginal one; it is a fundamental performance chasm. The FirePro M5100 would need a performance uplift of over half its current score to match the GRID K2 in this test.

FAQ

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

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 10,602 against the AMD FirePro M5100's 6,830, a 55.2% difference.

Q: How does the GRID K2's average score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GRID K2 averages 8,080 points. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce 945M, scores 8,099 (0.2% higher), while the GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost scores 8,067 (0.2% lower) and the GeForce GTX 650 Ti scores 8,053 (0.3% lower).

Q: Where does the FirePro M5100 sit among its nearest rivals?

A: The FirePro M5100 averages 6,830 points. The AMD Radeon R5 M240 is 2.1% higher, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M is 1.7% higher, the AMD Radeon R7 M370 is 1% lower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 is 2% lower.

Q: What percentile rank does each GPU hold in the database?

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 ranks in the 42nd percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD FirePro M5100 ranks in the 38th percentile.

Q: Does the FirePro M5100 have any benchmark where it beats the GRID K2?

A: No. The database records only one shared benchmark (Geekbench OpenCL), and the GRID K2 wins it. The FirePro has no recorded wins in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What is the GRID K2's peak benchmark score compared to its average?

A: The GRID K2's OpenCL score of 10,602 is significantly higher than its average of 8,080, indicating that this specific workload extracts more performance than typical tests.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The NVIDIA GRID K2 uses the GK104 chip, built on the Kepler architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The die is substantial at 294 mm², housing 3,540 million transistors, which yields a transistor density of 12.0 million per square millimeter. The AMD FirePro M5100 uses the Venus chip, based on the GCN 1.0 architecture, also fabricated by TSMC on 28 nm. However, the FirePro's die is much smaller at 123 mm², with 1,500 million transistors, giving a slightly higher density of 12.2 million per square millimeter.

The execution resources differ dramatically. The GRID K2 packs 1,536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operation units. The FirePro M5100 has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GRID K2 has more than double the shading units, more than triple the TMUs, and exactly double the ROPs. This resource disparity explains the benchmark gap.

Clock behavior also diverges. The GRID K2 has no recorded base or boost clock, but its memory runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The FirePro M5100 has explicit clocks: 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost, with memory at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). The GRID K2 does not rely on high clocks; instead, its raw hardware count carries the load.

Pixel and texture rates tell the same story. The GRID K2 achieves 23.84 GPixel/s and 95.36 GTexel/s, while the FirePro M5100 manages 12.40 GPixel/s and 31.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute rating is 2.289 TFLOPS for the GRID K2 versus 992.0 GFLOPS (roughly 0.992 TFLOPS) for the FirePro. The GRID K2 is more than twice as powerful in raw floating-point throughput.

API support differs slightly. Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6. The GRID K2 supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the FirePro supports Vulkan 1.2.170. The GRID K2's DirectX 12 is rated at 11_0 feature level, while the FirePro's is 11_1.

Specification Differences

The memory subsystem shows a clear separation. The GRID K2 offers 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 offers 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GRID K2 has double the memory capacity, double the bus width, and more than double the bandwidth.

Physical specifications differ as well. The GRID K2 is a dual-slot card, 267 mm (10.5 inches) long, requiring a 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connector and a 550 W suggested PSU. Its TDP is rated at 225 W. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM Module with no recorded TDP, power connectors, or suggested PSU. The GRID K2 uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the FirePro uses MXM-A (3.0).

Display outputs are another differentiator. The GRID K2 has no display outputs, indicating a compute or virtualization-focused card. The FirePro M5100 has display outputs that are "Portable Device Dependent," meaning it relies on the host laptop's connectors.

Release timing differs by several months. The GRID K2 launched on 2013-05-10 with a launch MSRP of 5,199 USD. The FirePro M5100 launched on 2013-10-15 with no recorded launch MSRP. Both are now end-of-life products.

The FirePro has a documented lineage: its predecessor is "FirePro Mobility" and its successor is "Radeon Pro Mobile." The GRID K2 has no predecessor or successor listed in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins the only direct comparison by 55.2%, and its average score is 18.3% higher than the FirePro M5100's (8,080 versus 6,830). The GRID K2 also ranks higher in the overall percentile (42nd versus 38th).

The GRID K2 is the choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 10,602 is exceptional, far exceeding its own average and every recorded rival score. The card's 4 GB VRAM, 256-bit bus, and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth provide a memory architecture suited for large datasets. The lack of display outputs indicates a server or virtualized environment, where compute density matters more than video output.

The FirePro M5100 is a mobile workstation GPU, as its MXM form factor and portable-device-dependent outputs suggest. Its 2 GB VRAM and 72.00 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for lighter workloads, but the data shows it cannot compete with the GRID K2 on raw throughput. Its nearest rivals cluster tightly around its score, indicating it is a mid-pack performer within its own class.

Neither card is current, and both are end-of-life. For a system builder looking at legacy hardware, the GRID K2 offers substantially more compute capability. The FirePro M5100's only advantages are its smaller footprint, lower power connector requirements (none listed), and mobile form factor.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins in every scenario where raw performance is the deciding factor. The 55.2% OpenCL lead over the FirePro M5100 is the headline number. The GRID K2's 2.289 TFLOPS FP32 performance, 95.36 GTexel/s texture rate, and 23.84 GPixel/s pixel rate make it suitable for compute-heavy tasks such as rendering, simulation, or data processing. Its 4 GB VRAM and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth allow larger working sets without swapping. The dual-slot, 225 W design with 6-pin and 8-pin connectors suggests it belongs in a desktop or server chassis with adequate power delivery.

The AMD FirePro M5100 wins in the category of physical adaptability. As an MXM module, it can fit into laptops and compact systems where the GRID K2's 267 mm dual-slot card cannot. Its display outputs, while dependent on the portable device, mean it can drive a screen, whereas the GRID K2 has no outputs at all. The FirePro's 725 MHz base and 775 MHz boost clocks are lower than the GRID K2's unspecified clocks, but the power envelope is not recorded, so thermal behavior cannot be compared directly.

The database shows one benchmark, one winner, and zero wins for the FirePro M5100. Yet the FirePro's existence makes sense for a different use case: mobile workstations requiring moderate GPU acceleration without the bulk of a desktop card. The GRID K2 is a compute accelerator; the FirePro M5100 is a mobile workstation companion. The data supports the GRID K2 for performance, and the FirePro M5100 for portability. Neither is a general-purpose consumer card, and the choice depends entirely on whether the system is stationary or mobile.