AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD Radeon R5 M420 Comparison

The AMD FirePro W2100 and the AMD Radeon R5 M420 are both legacy GCN 1.0 parts, but they target entirely different workloads. The FirePro W2100 is a professional workstation card, while the R5 M420 is an entry-level mobile GPU. Benchmark data shows the FirePro W2100 holds a clear, albeit modest, performance lead in the single available compute test, but the R5 M420 counters with a larger memory pool and higher clock speeds. The data indicates that the FirePro W2100 is the better choice for compute tasks, while the R5 M420 may be preferable in scenarios requiring more memory capacity.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results provide a clear, if narrow, split between these two GPUs. Based on the single head-to-head test available, the AMD FirePro W2100 is the outright winner in raw compute performance. It scores 4093 points in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 3.5% higher than the Radeon R5 M420's score of 3956. This makes the FirePro W2100 the superior option for any application that leverages OpenCL acceleration, such as video encoding, physics simulations, or general-purpose GPU computing.

The Radeon R5 M420, on the other hand, does not win any benchmark in this comparison. However, its advantage lies not in the benchmark suite but in its specifications. It offers double the memory capacity of the FirePro W2100, with 4 GB compared to 2 GB. In modern workloads that are memory-hungry, such as large texture sets or high-resolution frame buffers, this additional capacity could provide a practical edge, even if the raw compute throughput is lower. The R5 M420 also has significantly higher clock speeds, with a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 850 MHz, compared to the FirePro W2100's 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost.

The performance percentile rankings reinforce this picture. The FirePro W2100 sits at the 25th percentile of all GPUs, while the R5 M420 sits at the 23rd percentile. This indicates that both are entry-level performers, but the FirePro W2100 is marginally better positioned relative to the broader GPU landscape. Its average benchmark score of 4295 is also higher than the R5 M420's 3956, further confirming its superior compute capability.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD FirePro W2100 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 4093, which is 3.5% higher than the AMD Radeon R5 M420's score of 3956.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The AMD FirePro W2100 comes with 2 GB of DDR3 memory, while the AMD Radeon R5 M420 comes with 4 GB of DDR3 memory.

Q: Are these GPUs the same architecture?

A: Yes, both the AMD FirePro W2100 and the AMD Radeon R5 M420 are based on the GCN 1.0 architecture and are manufactured on a 28 nm process node.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M420 has a higher pixel rate of 6.800 GPixel/s, compared to the AMD FirePro W2100's pixel rate of 5.440 GPixel/s.

Q: What is the transistor count for each chip?

A: The FirePro W2100's Oland chip contains 950 million transistors, while the R5 M420's Jet chip contains 690 million transistors.

Q: Which GPU is better for professional workstations?

A: The AMD FirePro W2100 is the workstation-oriented card, featuring DisplayPort outputs and a single-slot design, while the R5 M420 is designed as an integrated mobile part with outputs dependent on the portable device.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data provides only a single direct benchmark comparison between these two GPUs, but it is a decisive one. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD FirePro W2100 achieves a score of 4093, outperforming the AMD Radeon R5 M420's score of 3956. This represents a delta of 3.5% in favor of the FirePro W2100. While this is not a massive margin, it is a consistent and measurable advantage in a test that is directly relevant to compute workloads.

This result is particularly telling when considering the specifications of each card. The R5 M420 operates at higher clocks, with a boost clock of 850 MHz compared to the FirePro W2100's 680 MHz. It also has a higher pixel rate (6.800 GPixel/s vs 5.440 GPixel/s) and a higher texture rate (17.00 GTexel/s vs 13.60 GTexel/s). Despite these apparent advantages, the FirePro W2100 still wins in the OpenCL benchmark. This suggests that the FirePro W2100's larger memory bus width of 128 bit, which gives it 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth, is a more critical factor in this test than the raw clock speeds of the R5 M420, which is limited to a 64-bit bus and 16.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

The FirePro W2100's win is also reflected in its average benchmark score of 4295, which is higher than its individual OpenCL score. In contrast, the R5 M420's average score is exactly its OpenCL score of 3956, as that is its only benchmark entry. In terms of relative positioning, the FirePro W2100 is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M and 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M. The R5 M420 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce 830M, with a 0% delta, and is 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs reveal several key differences that explain their respective strengths. The most obvious difference is in memory configuration. The AMD FirePro W2100 offers 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, resulting in 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Radeon R5 M420 doubles the capacity to 4 GB of DDR3 but halves the bus width to 64-bit, which reduces its bandwidth to just 16.00 GB/s. This trade-off means the R5 M420 can hold more data but moves it at a slower rate.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The R5 M420 has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 850 MHz, while the FirePro W2100 runs at a lower 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost. This allows the R5 M420 to achieve higher pixel and texture rates, with 6.800 GPixel/s and 17.00 GTexel/s, respectively, compared to the FirePro W2100's 5.440 GPixel/s and 13.60 GTexel/s.

The chips themselves are different. The FirePro W2100 uses the Oland chip with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The R5 M420 uses the smaller Jet chip with 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. Both are built on the same 28 nm process and have a transistor density of 12.3M / mm². The FirePro W2100 is a single-slot card with a 26 W TDP and requires a 200 W power supply, while the R5 M420 is an IGP with no specified TDP or power supply requirement. The FirePro W2100 has a 168 mm length and 69 mm height, whereas the R5 M420 has no listed dimensions as it is integrated into a portable device.

Architecture Differences

Both the AMD FirePro W2100 and the AMD Radeon R5 M420 share the same fundamental GCN 1.0 architecture, which dictates their core compute resources. Both GPUs feature 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. They also support the same API suite, including DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The core architectural design is therefore identical, and the differences in performance come down to implementation details rather than design philosophy.

The key architectural differences lie in the physical chip and its configuration. The FirePro W2100's Oland chip is larger, with 950 million transistors compared to the Jet chip's 690 million. This larger chip is paired with a wider 128-bit memory interface, which is the primary architectural reason for its superior memory bandwidth. The R5 M420's Jet chip, while smaller, is configured with a higher clock speed profile, which boosts its fill rates.

The production status and release dates also differ. The FirePro W2100 was released on 2014-08-11, while the R5 M420 was released later on 2016-05-14. Both are now end-of-life products. The FirePro W2100 is part of the FirePro GCN (Wx100) generation, while the R5 M420 belongs to the Gem System (R5 M400) generation. The FirePro W2100's predecessor is the FirePro Terascale, and its successor is the Radeon Pro Polaris. The R5 M420's predecessor is the Solar System, and its successor is the Polaris Mobile.

The Verdict

From the data available, the AMD FirePro W2100 is the clear winner for compute performance. Its 3.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with its higher average benchmark score of 4295, makes it the superior choice for users who need to run OpenCL-accelerated applications. The FirePro W2100's professional workstation pedigree, evidenced by its DisplayPort outputs and single-slot design, further solidifies its role as a tool for productivity tasks. Its wider 128-bit memory bus provides significantly more bandwidth, which is likely why it outperforms the higher-clocked R5 M420 in the benchmark.

The AMD Radeon R5 M420, however, is not without its merits. Its primary advantage is its 4 GB of memory, which is double that of the FirePro W2100. For users who work with large datasets or textures that exceed 2 GB, the R5 M420 could be the more practical choice, despite its lower compute scores. Its higher clock speeds also give it better fill rates, which might benefit certain graphics-intensive tasks that do not rely heavily on memory bandwidth.

In summary, the data suggests that the FirePro W2100 is the better overall GPU for raw performance and professional use. The R5 M420 is a viable alternative only for those who specifically require more memory capacity and are willing to sacrifice compute speed and bandwidth. For anyone else, the benchmark results point firmly toward the FirePro W2100 as the superior product.