AMD FirePro M5100 vs NVIDIA Quadro P5000 Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro P5000 and AMD FirePro M5100 occupy very different positions in the professional graphics landscape. The recorded data shows a single head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, where the Quadro P5000 delivers a score of 52509 against the FirePro M5100's 6830. This represents a 668.8% difference, a massive gap that defines their relative standing. The Quadro P5000 sits at the 41st percentile among all GPUs, while the FirePro M5100 is at the 38th percentile, placing both in the lower half of the overall distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate a clear and overwhelming advantage for the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 in compute workloads. In the only directly comparable test, Geekbench OpenCL, the Quadro P5000 achieves 52509 points, which is nearly eight times the FirePro M5100's score of 6830. This suggests that for any task leveraging OpenCL compute, such as rendering, simulation, or data processing, the Quadro P5000 is the superior choice by a wide margin.

The AMD FirePro M5100, however, does not show a single benchmark win in the recorded data. Its average benchmark score of 6830 comes solely from the Geekbench OpenCL test, meaning there are no other recorded measurements where it outperforms the Quadro P5000. The data does not provide any scenario where the FirePro M5100 takes the lead, whether in compute, graphics, or any other workload category.

Looking at the broader context, the Quadro P5000's additional benchmark scores cover a range of tests. It records 1330 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 6342 in Geekbench Vulkan, and passmark scores of 77 in DirectX 10, 102 in DirectX 11, 44 in DirectX 12, 170 in DirectX 9, 674 in G2D, 12634 in G3D, and 6508 in GPU Compute. These figures paint a picture of a versatile card capable of handling modern graphics APIs. The FirePro M5100, with only a single recorded benchmark, cannot be analyzed across these dimensions.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 is the clear choice for any professional seeking maximum compute performance. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 52509 dwarfs the FirePro M5100's 6830, indicating a fundamental difference in capability. The Quadro P5000 also offers a richer feature set, including support for DirectX 12 (12_1), Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6, whereas the FirePro M5100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and an older Vulkan version.

The AMD FirePro M5100, while end-of-life and with limited recorded data, may appeal to scenarios requiring a compact MXM module form factor. Its small die size of 123 mm² and lower transistor count of 1,500 million suggest a more power-efficient design, though no TDP is recorded. However, with no benchmark wins and a single recorded score, the data cannot support any performance advantage for this card.

For users prioritizing compute performance, the Quadro P5000 is the only viable option based on these measurements. Its 16 GB of GDDR5X memory and 288.5 GB/s bandwidth provide substantial resources for large datasets. The FirePro M5100, with 2 GB of GDDR5 and 72.00 GB/s bandwidth, is severely limited in comparison. The verdict is unambiguous: the Quadro P5000 wins in every measurable category, and the FirePro M5100 should only be considered if the MXM form factor is an absolute requirement.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are stark. The NVIDIA Quadro P5000 scores 52509, while the AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830. The delta percentage of 668.8% means the Quadro P5000 is roughly 7.7 times faster in this test. This is not a marginal difference; it represents a generational leap in compute throughput.

To contextualize this within the database's rival comparisons, the Quadro P5000's nearest rivals are NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M (avg score 8040, delta 0%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti (avg score 8053, delta -0.2%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost (avg score 8067, delta -0.3%), and NVIDIA GRID K2 (avg score 8080, delta -0.5%). These rivals are all within 0.5% of each other, clustering around the 8040-8080 range. The Quadro P5000's average benchmark score of 8039 places it right at this cluster, meaning its OpenCL dominance is offset by weaker performance in other tests.

The FirePro M5100's nearest rivals are AMD Radeon R7 M370 (avg score 6764, delta 1%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (avg score 6946, delta -1.7%), NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 (avg score 6698, delta 2%), and AMD Radeon R5 M240 (avg score 6975, delta -2.1%). Its average score of 6830 sits between these, indicating modest performance relative to its peers. The delta between the two cards in the head-to-head test is so large that it outweighs all other considerations.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro P5000 scores 52509, while the AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6830, making the Quadro P5000 668.8% higher.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference between the two cards?

A: The Quadro P5000 has 16 GB of GDDR5X memory with a 256-bit bus and 288.5 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus and 72.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The Quadro P5000 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro M5100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: How do the two cards compare in terms of process node?

A: The Quadro P5000 uses a 16 nm process, while the FirePro M5100 uses a 28 nm process, both fabricated by TSMC.

Q: What is the transistor count for each GPU?

A: The Quadro P5000 has 7,200 million transistors on a 314 mm² die, while the FirePro M5100 has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the FirePro M5100 wins?

A: No, the recorded data shows zero wins for the FirePro M5100. The Quadro P5000 wins the only head-to-head benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures. The NVIDIA Quadro P5000 uses the GP104 chip with the Pascal architecture, belonging to the Quadro Pascal (Px000) generation. The AMD FirePro M5100 uses the Venus chip with the GCN 1.0 architecture, part of the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation. This architectural divide explains the significant performance gap.

The process nodes differ substantially. The Quadro P5000 is manufactured on a 16 nm process, while the FirePro M5100 uses a 28 nm process, both by TSMC. This allows the Quadro P5000 to pack 7,200 million transistors into a 314 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 22.9 million per mm². The FirePro M5100, with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, has a density of 12.2 million per mm². The newer process node gives the Quadro P5000 a significant advantage in both density and efficiency.

The compute resources are vastly different. The Quadro P5000 features 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units. The FirePro M5100 has only 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. This translates to a pixel rate of 110.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 277.3 GTexel/s for the Quadro P5000, versus 12.40 GPixel/s and 31.00 GTexel/s for the FirePro M5100. The FP32 compute is 8.873 TFLOPS for the Quadro P5000, compared to 992.0 GFLOPS for the FirePro M5100.

The memory subsystems also differ architecturally. The Quadro P5000 uses GDDR5X memory clocked at 1127 MHz with 9 Gbps effective speed, providing 288.5 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 uses GDDR5 memory at 1125 MHz with 4.5 Gbps effective speed, yielding only 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Quadro P5000's memory interface is 256-bit, while the FirePro M5100's is 128-bit.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several key differences beyond the core architecture. The Quadro P5000 has a base clock of 1607 MHz and a boost clock of 1733 MHz, while the FirePro M5100 operates at a base of 725 MHz and a boost of 775 MHz. This clock speed difference compounds with the architectural advantage.

Form factors diverge significantly. The Quadro P5000 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, requiring a 1x 8-pin power connector and a suggested 450 W power supply. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM module, with no recorded dimensions or power requirements, making it suitable for mobile workstations. The bus interface for the Quadro P5000 is PCIe 3.0 x16, while the FirePro M5100 uses MXM-A (3.0).

Display outputs differ as well. The Quadro P5000 offers 1x DVI and 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, allowing for multi-monitor setups. The FirePro M5100's display outputs are described as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning they vary based on the host system. The Quadro P5000's TDP is recorded as 180 W, while the FirePro M5100 has no TDP listed.

The release dates and market positioning show a generational gap. The Quadro P5000 was released on 2016-09-30, succeeding Quadro Maxwell and preceding Quadro Volta. The FirePro M5100 was released on 2013-10-15, succeeding FirePro Mobility and preceding Radeon Pro Mobile. Both are end-of-life products, but the Quadro P5000 is three years newer. The launch MSRP for the Quadro P5000 is 2,499 USD, while the FirePro M5100 has no recorded launch price.