AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD Radeon R5 M230 Comparison

The Verdict

Benchmark data places the AMD Radeon R5 M230 and AMD FirePro W2100 in the same performance tier, but with distinct trade-offs. The R5 M230 wins the only head-to-head benchmark, posting a Geekbench OpenCL score of 4577 against the FirePro W2100's 4093, a delta of 11.8%. However, the FirePro W2100 counters with a dedicated Geekbench Vulkan score of 4497, a test the R5 M230 does not appear in. For compute workloads using OpenCL, the R5 M230 is the clear pick. For users needing Vulkan support or a physical, single-slot card with fixed display outputs, the FirePro W2100 is the only option that provides those features. The R5 M230 is an integrated part (IGP) with display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning it is tied to a laptop's design. The FirePro W2100 is a standalone card with a 168 mm length and two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. Strictly from the data: pick the R5 M230 for raw OpenCL compute performance; pick the FirePro W2100 for a discrete, slot-mounted workstation card with Vulkan capability and dual DisplayPort outputs.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the same GCN 1.0 architecture, a 28 nm process node, and are fabricated by TSMC. The transistor density is identical at 12.3M per mm², but the physical chips differ. The R5 M230 uses the Jet chip, which packs 690 million transistors into a 56 mm² die. The FirePro W2100 uses the Oland chip, with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. Despite the larger chip, the FirePro W2100 does not translate that into more execution resources: both have 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 raster operation units. The core difference lies in memory configuration. The R5 M230 has a 64-bit memory bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the FirePro W2100 has a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, an 80% increase in memory throughput. Clock speeds also differ: the R5 M230 has no listed base or boost clock, while the FirePro W2100 runs at 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost. The FirePro W2100's memory runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) versus the R5 M230's 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective), but the wider bus more than compensates. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The FirePro W2100 has a 26 W TDP and requires no power connectors; the R5 M230 has no TDP listed due to its integrated nature. The FirePro W2100 is a single-slot card measuring 168 mm by 69 mm; the R5 M230 has no physical dimensions listed.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance in OpenCL?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M230 scores 4577 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD FirePro W2100 scores 4093. The R5 M230 leads by 11.8%.

Q: Does the FirePro W2100 support Vulkan?

A: Yes. The FirePro W2100 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4497. The R5 M230 lists Vulkan 1.2.170 as a supported API, but no Vulkan benchmark score is provided for it.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The FirePro W2100 has 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, versus 16.00 GB/s for the R5 M230. This is due to the FirePro's 128-bit bus versus the R5 M230's 64-bit bus, despite the R5 M230's higher memory clock (1000 MHz vs 900 MHz).

Q: Are both GPUs based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use GCN 1.0 and are built on a 28 nm process by TSMC. However, they use different chips: the R5 M230 uses Jet (690 million transistors, 56 mm²), while the FirePro W2100 uses Oland (950 million transistors, 77 mm²).

Q: Can the R5 M230 be installed in a desktop as a discrete card?

A: No. The R5 M230 is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a slot width of "IGP" and display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent." The FirePro W2100 is a single-slot card with a 168 mm length, 69 mm height, and two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The FirePro W2100 has a pixel rate of 5.440 GPixel/s, while the R5 M230 has 4.880 GPixel/s. The FirePro also leads in texture rate: 13.60 GTexel/s versus 12.20 GTexel/s.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs share identical counts of shading units (320), TMUs (20), and ROPs (8). They also share the same API support: DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. Key differences:

• Chip: R5 M230 uses Jet; FirePro W2100 uses Oland.
• Transistors: R5 M230 has 690 million; FirePro W2100 has 950 million.
• Die Size: R5 M230 is 56 mm²; FirePro W2100 is 77 mm².
• Base Clock: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 has 630 MHz.
• Boost Clock: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 has 680 MHz.
• Memory Clock: R5 M230 runs at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective); FirePro W2100 runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).
• Memory Bus: R5 M230 has a 64-bit bus; FirePro W2100 has a 128-bit bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: R5 M230 has 16.00 GB/s; FirePro W2100 has 28.80 GB/s.
• Pixel Rate: R5 M230 has 4.880 GPixel/s; FirePro W2100 has 5.440 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: R5 M230 has 12.20 GTexel/s; FirePro W2100 has 13.60 GTexel/s.
• FP32 Performance: R5 M230 has 390.4 GFLOPS; FirePro W2100 has 435.2 GFLOPS.
• TDP: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 is 26 W.
• Slot Width: R5 M230 is IGP; FirePro W2100 is single-slot.
• Power Connectors: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 has none (does not require them).
• Suggested PSU: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 lists 200 W.
• Display Outputs: R5 M230 is "Portable Device Dependent"; FirePro W2100 has 2x DisplayPort 1.2.
• Dimensions: R5 M230 has none listed; FirePro W2100 is 168 mm (6.6 inches) long and 69 mm (2.7 inches) high.
• Release Date: R5 M230 launched on 2014-01-06; FirePro W2100 launched on 2014-08-11.
• Generation: R5 M230 is from "Gem System (R5 M200)"; FirePro W2100 is from "FirePro GCN (Wx100)".
• Predecessor: R5 M230 follows "Solar System"; FirePro W2100 follows "FirePro Terascale".
• Successor: R5 M230 leads to "Polaris Mobile"; FirePro W2100 leads to "Radeon Pro Polaris".

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL. The AMD Radeon R5 M230 scores 4577, while the AMD FirePro W2100 scores 4093. This gives the R5 M230 a decisive 11.8% advantage. The R5 M230's nearest rivals bracket the score: it sits 0.2% above the AMD Radeon RX 560 (4569) and 0.4% above the Intel HD Graphics P530 (4560), while trailing the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M (4621) by 0.9% and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M (4628) by 1.1%. The FirePro W2100's OpenCL score of 4093 places it near a different set of competitors: it is 0.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (4282) and 0.6% above the AMD Radeon Vega 3 (4268), while trailing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335) by 0.9% and the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241) by 1.3%. The 11.8% gap between the two reviewed cards is substantial enough to be meaningful in compute workloads, but the FirePro W2100 has a separate Geekbench Vulkan score of 4497, indicating it has been validated for Vulkan compute tasks where the R5 M230 has no recorded result. In terms of theoretical throughput, the FirePro W2100 leads in FP32 (435.2 GFLOPS vs 390.4 GFLOPS), pixel rate (5.440 vs 4.880 GPixel/s), and texture rate (13.60 vs 12.20 GTexel/s), yet it loses in the actual OpenCL test. This suggests the R5 M230's higher memory clock (1000 MHz vs 900 MHz) and driver optimization may compensate for its narrower bus in this specific workload.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R5 M230 wins in the only direct benchmark: Geekbench OpenCL, with an 11.8% higher score. Its percentile ranking is 27 versus the FirePro W2100's 25, indicating slightly better standing across all GPUs. The R5 M230 also has a higher average benchmark score (4577 vs 4295). For compute tasks leveraging OpenCL — common in scientific, analytical, and rendering workloads — the R5 M230 is the faster option. Its integrated nature means it is designed for portable devices, where power draw is not listed and display outputs are device-dependent. It is the better choice for laptop users who prioritize OpenCL compute performance over expandability.

The AMD FirePro W2100 wins in several quantitative metrics without a direct benchmark win. It has higher memory bandwidth (28.80 GB/s vs 16.00 GB/s), higher pixel rate (5.440 vs 4.880 GPixel/s), higher texture rate (13.60 vs 12.20 GTexel/s), and higher FP32 throughput (435.2 vs 390.4 GFLOPS). It also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4497, demonstrating a validated Vulkan compute path that the R5 M230 lacks in the data. Its physical design as a single-slot, 168 mm card with two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs makes it suitable for desktop workstations requiring multiple monitors or specific display connections. The FirePro W2100 has a listed 26 W TDP and requires no power connectors, with a suggested PSU of 200 W, making it easy to install in modest systems. For users running Vulkan-based applications, needing a discrete card with fixed outputs, or requiring higher theoretical fill rates, the FirePro W2100 is the appropriate selection despite its 11.8% deficit in OpenCL. The data shows a split decision: compute performance favors the R5 M230, while memory bandwidth, Vulkan support, and physical flexibility favor the FirePro W2100.