AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD FirePro W4170M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two FirePro parts is clear-cut. The AMD FirePro W4170M wins the only recorded head-to-head test, the Geekbench OpenCL compute benchmark, with a score of 5034 against the FirePro W2100's 4093. That is a 23% advantage for the mobile part. The W2100 has no winning benchmark in the database.

The W4170M's victory is not a narrow one. A 23% delta in raw compute throughput places it in a different performance tier for OpenCL workloads. The W2100 does hold one unique data point: it has a recorded Vulkan score of 4497, while the W4170M has no Vulkan result in the database. However, that absence does not constitute a win; it simply means no comparable measurement exists for the mobile card.

Looking at the broader database percentiles, the W4170M sits at the 30th percentile of all GPUs, while the W2100 sits at the 25th. Both are low-range parts, but the W4170M is consistently ahead in the metrics that matter for compute. The W2100's average benchmark score is 4295 across its two tests, while the W4170M's average is 5034 from its single OpenCL run. The data suggests the W4170M is the stronger compute performer, while the W2100 is the only one of the two with a confirmed Vulkan result.

Architecture Differences

Both cards share the same fundamental architecture: GCN 1.0, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The transistor density is identical at 12.3M per mm². The chips differ in name, however. The W4170M uses the Opal chip, while the W2100 uses Oland. Both are GCN 1.0 designs, but they are configured differently.

The compute resources tell the story. The W4170M has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. The W2100 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and the same 8 ROPs. That means the W4170M has 20% more shaders and 20% more TMUs, which directly explains its higher texture and pixel fill rates. The W4170M outputs 21.60 GTexel/s and 7.200 GPixel/s, while the W2100 manages 13.60 GTexel/s and 5.440 GPixel/s. The FP32 compute is 691.2 GFLOPS for the W4170M versus 435.2 GFLOPS for the W2100, a 59% gap.

Memory is another major divider. The W4170M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, running at an effective 4 Gbps. That yields 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The W2100 uses 2 GB of DDR3 on the same 128-bit bus, but at an effective 1800 Mbps, yielding only 28.80 GB/s. The W4170M has more than double the memory bandwidth, a critical factor for OpenCL workloads that stream data.

Clock speeds also differ. The W4170M runs at 825 MHz base and 900 MHz boost. The W2100 runs at 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost. The W4170M is faster at every clock point. The W2100 does list a TDP of 26 W and a suggested PSU of 200 W, while the W4170M has no TDP listed in the database. The W2100 is a single-slot card with 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and dimensions of 168 mm by 69 mm. The W4170M is an MXM module with portable-device-dependent outputs. Both use PCIe 3.0 x8 and require no power connectors. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice for compute-focused workloads. The AMD FirePro W4170M is the faster card in OpenCL, with a 23% lead over the W2100. It has more shaders, more TMUs, higher clocks, and dramatically more memory bandwidth. If the task is GPGPU compute, the W4170M is the pick.

The W2100 has its own niche. It is the only one of the two with a recorded Vulkan score, 4497, which sits close to its OpenCL score of 4093. The W2100 is also a desktop card with a defined TDP of 26 W and a 200 W suggested PSU, making it a low-power single-slot option. The W4170M is a mobile module with no power specification in the database, which makes it harder to deploy in a standard desktop chassis.

For a professional workstation context, the choice depends on form factor. If the system accepts an MXM module, the W4170M delivers superior compute. If the system needs a PCIe single-slot card with DisplayPort outputs, the W2100 is the only option with that form factor listed. The W4170M's display outputs are marked as portable-device dependent, so it cannot be assumed to drive standard monitors without a carrier board.

Neither card is a high performer by modern standards. The W4170M sits at the 30th percentile of all GPUs; the W2100 at the 25th. Both are end-of-life products. The W4170M released in April 2015, the W2100 in August 2014. The W4170M's successor is Radeon Pro Mobile, while the W2100's successor is Radeon Pro Polaris. The W4170M's predecessor is FirePro Mobility, while the W2100's predecessor is FirePro Terascale.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher OpenCL score?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034 in Geekbench OpenCL, compared to 4093 for the FirePro W2100, a 23% advantage.

Q: Does the FirePro W2100 have any benchmark where it beats the W4170M?

A: No. The database records only one head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, and the W4170M wins it. The W2100 does have a Vulkan score of 4497, but the W4170M has no Vulkan result recorded.

Q: What memory type does each card use?

A: The W4170M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The W2100 uses 2 GB of DDR3 with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. Both have a 128-bit bus.

Q: Are the two cards based on the same architecture?

A: Yes. Both use GCN 1.0, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The chips are named Opal for the W4170M and Oland for the W2100.

Q: What is the form factor difference?

A: The W4170M is an MXM module with portable-device-dependent display outputs. The W2100 is a single-slot card, 168 mm by 69 mm, with 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The W4170M has 384 shading units, while the W2100 has 320. The W4170M also has 24 TMUs versus 20, and both have 8 ROPs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded head-to-head test is Geekbench OpenCL. The W4170M scores 5034, the W2100 scores 4093. The delta is 23%, favoring the W4170M. This is a substantial margin, driven by the hardware differences: 20% more shaders, higher clocks (825 MHz vs 630 MHz base), and more than double the memory bandwidth (64.00 GB/s vs 28.80 GB/s).

The W4170M's compute advantage is even larger in raw FP32: 691.2 GFLOPS versus 435.2 GFLOPS, a 59% gap. The OpenCL score gap is smaller than the FP32 gap, which suggests the W2100's memory subsystem or driver overhead partially compensates in the real-world test. Still, a 23% win is decisive.

The W2100's Vulkan score of 4497 deserves context. It is higher than its own OpenCL score of 4093, indicating that Vulkan compute on this architecture is more efficient than OpenCL. However, without a W4170M Vulkan result, no comparison is possible. The W2100's nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M at 4282 (0.3% behind) and the AMD Radeon Vega 3 at 4268 (0.6% behind). The W4170M's nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon R5 M430 at 5018 (0.3% behind) and the AMD Radeon R7 M340 at 5063 (0.6% ahead).

In the open market, the W4170M competes directly with low-end mobile Radeon parts, while the W2100 trades blows with older NVIDIA mobile GPUs and an entry-level Vega. The W4170M's percentile rank of 30 versus the W2100's 25 places the mobile part ahead of roughly 5% more of the GPU population. The data consistently favors the W4170M in compute, with the W2100 only offering the Vulkan measurement as a unique feature.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across most compute-critical specifications. The W4170M has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The W2100 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The W4170M has higher clocks: 825 MHz base and 900 MHz boost, versus 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost for the W2100. The W4170M's memory runs at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective, while the W2100 runs at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective. The W4170M uses GDDR5, the W2100 uses DDR3. Bandwidth is 64.00 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s. Pixel rate is 7.200 GPixel/s versus 5.440 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 21.60 GTexel/s versus 13.60 GTexel/s. FP32 is 691.2 GFLOPS versus 435.2 GFLOPS.

The form factors differ entirely. The W4170M is an MXM module; the W2100 is a single-slot card. The W2100 has defined dimensions of 168 mm by 69 mm, a TDP of 26 W, and a suggested PSU of 200 W. The W4170M has no TDP, no dimensions, and no PSU suggestion in the database. The W2100 has 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs; the W4170M's outputs are portable-device dependent. Both use PCIe 3.0 x8 and have no power connectors. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Release dates differ: the W4170M launched on April 22, 2015, the W2100 on August 11, 2014. The W4170M's generation is FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) with the Opal chip; the W2100's generation is FirePro GCN (Wx100) with the Oland chip. Both are end-of-life. The W4170M has no launch MSRP in the database, and neither does the W2100. The transistor count, die size, process node, foundry, and transistor density are identical for both cards. The only shared compute spec is the 8 ROPs and the 128-bit memory bus. Everything else favors the W4170M, except the W2100's defined power envelope and desktop form factor.