AMD FirePro M6100 vs AMD Radeon 740M Comparison

The AMD FirePro M6100 and the AMD Radeon 740M represent two distinct eras of mobile graphics. The FirePro M6100 is a dedicated, end-of-life workstation part built on the GCN 2.0 architecture, while the Radeon 740M is an active, integrated GPU (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture. The benchmark data shows a clear split between raw compute performance and modern feature support, with the older discrete card winning the sole OpenCL test while the newer integrated part counters with superior API compatibility and clock speeds. This analysis compares the two based strictly on the provided specifications and benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD FirePro M6100 scores 13,354 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 31.3% higher than the Radeon 740M’s 10,172 in the same test.

Q: What are the architectural generations of these two GPUs?

A: The FirePro M6100 uses the GCN 2.0 architecture, while the Radeon 740M is built on RDNA 3.0. The former is from the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation, and the latter belongs to the Navi III IGP (Phoenix) generation.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ between them?

A: The FirePro M6100 has a dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 740M uses System Shared memory, with a System Shared bus width and System Dependent bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports the newer version of DirectX?

A: The AMD Radeon 740M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), whereas the AMD FirePro M6100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0). The 740M also supports Vulkan 1.4 compared to Vulkan 1.2.170 on the M6100.

Q: What is the difference in their transistor densities?

A: The Radeon 740M has a transistor density of 152.6M / mm², which is significantly higher than the FirePro M6100’s 13.0M / mm². This is due to the 740M’s 4 nm process node versus the M6100’s 28 nm node.

Q: Do both GPUs have the same number of shading units?

A: No. The FirePro M6100 has 896 shading units, while the Radeon 740M has 256 shading units. The M6100 also has more TMUs (56 vs 16) and ROPs (16 vs 8).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FirePro M6100 wins decisively in raw compute throughput and memory bandwidth. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 13,354 places it in the 54th percentile of all GPUs, edging out rivals like the AMD Radeon Pro 555X and matching the AMD Radeon RX 5500M. This strength comes from its larger shading unit count (896) and dedicated GDDR5 memory with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. For workloads that rely on pure shader math and sustained memory access—typical of older compute tasks or legacy workstation applications—the M6100 holds a clear advantage.

The AMD Radeon 740M wins in architectural modernity and feature support. Although its average benchmark score of 12,870 is lower, it achieves a higher FP32 throughput of 2.867 TFLOPS compared to the M6100’s 1.971 TFLOPS. It also offers a much higher boost clock of 2800 MHz versus the M6100’s unspecified boost. The 740M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, making it compatible with modern graphics APIs and features like ray tracing, which the M6100 lacks entirely. Its 4 nm process node and 20,900 million transistors indicate a far more efficient design, though its performance is dependent on system memory.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures. The FirePro M6100 uses GCN 2.0, a design from 2014 that was optimized for compute-heavy parallel workloads. Its architecture is based on a 28 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 160 mm² containing 2,080 million transistors. This yields a transistor density of 13.0M / mm². The chip, codenamed Emerald, has 896 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, and it lacks any dedicated ray tracing cores.

In contrast, the Radeon 740M uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture, a modern design focused on efficiency and gaming features. Built on a 4 nm process, also from TSMC, it has a smaller die size of 137 mm² but packs 20,900 million transistors, resulting in a density of 152.6M / mm². The chip, codenamed Phoenix2, has fewer execution units with 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, but it includes 4 ray tracing cores. The 740M supports FP16 computation at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, whereas the M6100 has no listed FP16 capability. The 740M’s architecture also enables higher clock speeds, with a base of 800 MHz and a boost of 2800 MHz, while the M6100’s clocks are not specified beyond its memory speed.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification differences lie in memory and interface. The FirePro M6100 uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, offering a fixed bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s. The Radeon 740M uses System Shared memory, meaning its size, bus width, and bandwidth are all dependent on the host system. This makes the 740M’s memory performance variable, while the M6100’s is deterministic.

The process node is another major differentiator: the M6100 is on 28 nm, while the 740M is on 4 nm. This explains the massive difference in transistor density (13.0M vs 152.6M per mm²) and likely contributes to the 740M’s higher FP32 rate of 2.867 TFLOPS despite having fewer shading units. The M6100’s pixel rate is 17.60 GPixel/s, which is lower than the 740M’s 22.40 GPixel/s; however, the M6100’s texture rate of 61.60 GTexel/s is higher than the 740M’s 44.80 GTexel/s.

The bus interface also differs: the M6100 uses an MXM-B (3.0) slot with an MXM Module form factor, while the 740M is an IGP with a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The M6100 has a TDP that is not listed, whereas the 740M has a TDP of 45 W. Finally, the M6100 is end-of-life with a release date in 2014, while the 740M is active and was released in 2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and the AMD FirePro M6100 wins this test outright. It scores 13,354, which is 31.3% higher than the Radeon 740M’s 10,172. This is a substantial margin that aligns with the M6100’s higher shading unit count and dedicated memory bandwidth. The M6100’s score is also more consistent with its nearest rivals, which include the AMD Radeon RX 5500M (13,356) and the AMD Radeon Pro 555X (13,321), all within a 0.3% delta. In contrast, the 740M’s OpenCL score is its weakest showing, as its average benchmark score of 12,870 is buoyed by a much stronger Vulkan score of 15,568.

The Radeon 740M’s Vulkan score of 15,568 is not directly comparable to the M6100, as no Vulkan result is listed for the latter. However, this score demonstrates the 740M’s ability to leverage modern APIs effectively. Its nearest rivals in average score include the AMD FirePro W5100 (12,847) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830), with the 740M sitting slightly above them at 12,870. The data suggests that while the M6100 is the stronger OpenCL performer, the 740M’s architectural advantages position it better for contemporary software that utilizes newer graphics features. Ultimately, the M6100 wins the head-to-head benchmark count 1 to 0, but the 740M’s feature set and higher FP32 throughput indicate a trade-off between legacy compute strength and modern capability.