AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD Radeon R5 M430 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute workloads?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 M430 wins decisively. It scores 5152 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 4093 for the FirePro W2100, a 25.9% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in Vulkan performance?

A: The R5 M430 again leads, scoring 4884 versus 4497, an 8.6% difference. The R5 M430 wins both recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each card?

A: The R5 M430 has 4 GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro W2100 has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both cards use the same graphics architecture?

A: Yes, both are built on GCN 1.0. The R5 M430 uses the Jet chip, while the FirePro W2100 uses the Oland chip, both fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process.

Q: Which card has a higher boost clock?

A: The R5 M430 boosts to 855 MHz, while the FirePro W2100 boosts to 680 MHz. The R5 M430 also has a higher base clock at 780 MHz versus 630 MHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The R5 M430 averages 5018, placing it in the 30th percentile of all GPUs. The FirePro W2100 averages 4295, placing it in the 25th percentile.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the GCN 1.0 architecture and the same 28 nm TSMC process, but their physical implementations differ significantly. The R5 M430 uses the Jet chip with 690 million transistors on a 56 mm² die. The FirePro W2100 uses the Oland chip with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. Notably, both achieve the same transistor density of 12.3M per mm².

The compute core configuration is identical in count: 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs on each side. However, clock speeds diverge. The R5 M430 runs at 780 MHz base and 855 MHz boost, while the FirePro W2100 runs at 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost. This clock advantage translates directly into higher theoretical throughput for the R5 M430 in every rate category.

Memory subsystems take different design paths. The R5 M430 pairs 4 GB of DDR3 with a 64-bit bus, yielding 16.00 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro W2100 uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, doubling the bus width and achieving 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, an 80% higher figure. The R5 M430 runs memory at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective), while the FirePro runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).

The R5 M430 is an integrated GPU (IGP) with portable-device-dependent display outputs, suggesting it lives in laptops or small form factor systems. The FirePro W2100 is a single-slot discrete card measuring 168 mm (6.6 inches) long and 69 mm (2.7 inches) tall, with 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. It carries a 26 W TDP and requires no power connectors, with a suggested 200 W PSU.

Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, so API feature parity is complete. The production status for both is end-of-life. The R5 M430's generation is "Gem System (R5 M400)" with a predecessor of "Solar System" and successor "Polaris Mobile". The FirePro W2100 belongs to the "FirePro GCN (Wx100)" generation, with predecessor "FirePro Terascale" and successor "Radeon Pro Polaris". The FirePro W2100 has a recorded release date of 2014-08-11, while the R5 M430's release date is unlisted in the data.

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon R5 M430 is the outright performance winner. It beats the FirePro W2100 in both recorded benchmarks, by 25.9% in OpenCL and 8.6% in Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 5018 versus 4295 represents a 16.8% overall advantage.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the R5 M430 is the clear choice. Its higher clocks (780/855 MHz versus 630/680 MHz) drive faster pixel fill (6.840 GPixel/s versus 5.440 GPixel/s), texture fill (17.10 GTexel/s versus 13.60 GTexel/s), and FP32 performance (547.2 GFLOPS versus 435.2 GFLOPS). The R5 M430 also offers double the memory capacity at 4 GB versus 2 GB.

The FirePro W2100, however, holds advantages in specific areas that matter for certain workloads. Its 128-bit memory bus delivers 28.80 GB/s versus 16.00 GB/s, an 80% bandwidth advantage. This could benefit tasks that are memory-bandwidth-bound rather than compute-bound. The FirePro W2100 is also a discrete, single-slot card with dual DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, making it suitable for workstation setups requiring multiple external displays. The R5 M430, being an IGP with portable-device-dependent outputs, is tied to the host system's display capabilities.

The data suggests two different use cases. The R5 M430 is for users who want maximum compute performance in a mobile or integrated context. The FirePro W2100 is for users who need a low-profile discrete card with professional display connectivity and superior memory bandwidth, and who can accept lower compute throughput.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R5 M430 | AMD FirePro W2100 |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | Jet | Oland |

| Generation | Gem System (R5 M400) | FirePro GCN (Wx100) |

| Transistors | 690 million | 950 million |

| Die Size | 56 mm² | 77 mm² |

| Base Clock | 780 MHz | 630 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 855 MHz | 680 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective) | 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 16.00 GB/s | 28.80 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 6.840 GPixel/s | 5.440 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.10 GTexel/s | 13.60 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 547.2 GFLOPS | 435.2 GFLOPS |

| TDP | Not listed | 26 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Single-slot |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | None |

| Suggested PSU | Not listed | 200 W |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 2x DisplayPort 1.2 |

| Dimensions | Not listed | 168 mm (6.6 inches) length, 69 mm (2.7 inches) height |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2014-08-11 |

Shared specifications include the 28 nm TSMC process, 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, 8 ROPs, PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, and identical API support (DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.2.170).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test reveals the largest gap between the two cards. The R5 M430 scores 5152, while the FirePro W2100 scores 4093. This 25.9% delta is substantial and reflects the R5 M430's higher clock speeds across the board. With identical core counts, the clock advantage translates almost linearly into compute throughput. The R5 M430's 547.2 GFLOPS FP32 versus the FirePro's 435.2 GFLOPS is a 25.7% difference, closely matching the OpenCL delta.

The Vulkan benchmark narrows the gap considerably. The R5 M430 scores 4884, and the FirePro W2100 scores 4497, an 8.6% difference. This smaller delta suggests that Vulkan workloads may be more sensitive to memory bandwidth, where the FirePro W2100's 128-bit bus and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth partially compensate for its lower compute rates. Still, the R5 M430 maintains its lead.

Context from nearest rivals reinforces the standings. The R5 M430's average score of 5018 sits within 0.3% of the AMD FirePro W4170M (5034, delta -0.3%) and 0.4% above the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics (4998). It also edges out the NVIDIA Quadro 4000 by 0.8% and beats the AMD Radeon R7 M340 by 0.9%. The FirePro W2100's average of 4295 is 0.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (4282), 0.6% above the AMD Radeon Vega 3 (4268), and 1.3% above the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241). Interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335) sits 0.9% above the FirePro W2100, showing how close the W2100 is to that modern card in this particular benchmark.

The R5 M430 wins both head-to-head tests, giving it a 2-0 record. The FirePro W2100 has no recorded wins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R5 M430 wins in every recorded benchmark, but the magnitude of its victories tells a nuanced story. Its largest advantage comes in OpenCL compute, where it leads by 25.9%. This makes it the stronger choice for general-purpose GPU compute tasks, OpenCL-accelerated applications, and any workload that leverages FP32 throughput. Its higher pixel rate (6.840 GPixel/s versus 5.440 GPixel/s) and texture rate (17.10 GTexel/s versus 13.60 GTexel/s) further solidify its position for graphics-intensive rendering. The 4 GB memory capacity, double that of the FirePro W2100, also provides more headroom for large datasets, even if the bandwidth is lower.

The AMD FirePro W2100 wins in the specific category of memory bandwidth. Its 28.80 GB/s is 80% higher than the R5 M430's 16.00 GB/s. For workloads that are constrained by memory access rather than compute throughput, such as certain database operations, image processing with large textures, or multi-display compositing, this bandwidth advantage could translate into better real-world performance despite lower raw compute scores. The Vulkan benchmark, where the W2100 closes the gap to 8.6%, hints at this possibility.

The FirePro W2100 also wins on connectivity and form factor. As a single-slot discrete card with 2x DisplayPort 1.2, it offers predictable, professional-grade display outputs. The R5 M430's outputs are portable-device-dependent, meaning its display capabilities vary by laptop or embedded system implementation. For workstation users who need reliable multi-monitor setups, the FirePro W2100's fixed output configuration is an advantage.

The R5 M430 is the better choice for users who prioritize compute performance and memory capacity in a mobile context. The FirePro W2100 is the better choice for users who need a discrete, low-power (26 W) card with wide memory bandwidth and dual DisplayPort outputs for professional display configurations. The data shows two competent but differently optimized entries in AMD's GCN 1.0 lineup, with the R5 M430 taking the overall performance crown.