AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a single head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs, and the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX takes the win decisively. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the R8 M445DX scores 4727 points against 4093 points for the AMD FirePro W2100. That is a 15.5% advantage for the integrated part, a substantial margin in a compute workload that stresses shader throughput and memory access patterns.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces this result. The R8 M445DX sits at the 27th percentile of all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 4727. Its closest competitor, the AMD Radeon R5 M335, scores 4752, which is only 0.5% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro P400 sits just behind at 4684, a 0.9% deficit for the R8 M445DX. Even the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB, a far more powerful card in other contexts, posts 4791 in this specific test, only 1.3% ahead of the R8 M445DX. This indicates that the R8 M445DX is competitive with a surprisingly wide range of hardware in OpenCL compute, at least in this benchmark.

The FirePro W2100, by contrast, lands at the 25th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 4295 across its two recorded tests. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M, scores 4282, a 0.3% margin in favor of the FirePro. The AMD Radeon Vega 3 is close behind at 4268, 0.6% lower. The NVIDIA Quadro K3000M trails at 4241, which is 1.3% behind the FirePro. The FirePro W2100 also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 4497, which is not directly comparable to the R8 M445DX since the database contains no Vulkan result for the latter, but it does show that the FirePro is capable in both OpenCL and Vulkan APIs.

The single head-to-head result is clear: the R8 M445DX wins the only directly comparable test. There are no recorded benchmark wins for the FirePro W2100 in this comparison. The margin of 15.5% is not a narrow one; it represents a meaningful gap in raw compute performance between the two chips.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD graphics technology, and the underlying silicon reflects that. The Radeon R8 M445DX uses the Meso chip built on GCN 3.0 architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It belongs to the Gem System Hybrid generation within the Rx M400 family. The FirePro W2100, on the other hand, uses the Oland chip based on the older GCN 1.0 architecture, also fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, and belongs to the FirePro GCN Wx100 generation.

The transistor counts differ notably. The R8 M445DX packs 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.4 million per square millimeter. The FirePro W2100 has 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, with a density of 12.3 million per square millimeter. The density is nearly identical, but the R8 M445DX has a larger die and roughly 63% more transistors. That additional silicon translates directly into higher clock rates and greater compute throughput.

Clock speeds reinforce the architectural gap. The R8 M445DX runs at a base clock of 780 MHz and boosts to 1021 MHz. The FirePro W2100 operates at a much lower 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost. The R8 M445DX therefore enjoys a 32% higher boost clock, which compounds with its newer architecture to produce the benchmark advantage seen above.

The memory configurations could not be more different. The R8 M445DX uses system shared memory, with the bus width and bandwidth listed as system dependent. This means it draws on the host system's RAM, and its performance is tied to whatever platform it is installed in. The FirePro W2100 has dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective data rate. Dedicated memory gives the FirePro predictable performance, but the R8 M445DX's shared memory can vary depending on system configuration.

The shading resources are identical in count: both have 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. However, the clock advantage of the R8 M445DX means those same resources are driven faster. The pixel rate for the R8 M445DX is 8.168 GPixel/s versus 5.440 GPixel/s for the FirePro, a 50% advantage. Texture rate is 20.42 GTexel/s versus 13.60 GTexel/s, a similar margin. FP32 compute is 653.4 GFLOPS for the R8 M445DX versus 435.2 GFLOPS for the FirePro, a 50% lead. The R8 M445DX also supports FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the FirePro lists no FP16 capability.

API support is broadly similar. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX support differs: the R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the FirePro W2100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1). The R8 M445DX is fully compliant with the newer DirectX feature level.

Where Each One Wins

The Radeon R8 M445DX wins in every measurable compute category in this comparison. Its 15.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is the headline result. The architecture is newer, the clocks are higher, and the raw throughput numbers are all superior. For tasks that rely on FP32 compute, texture filtering, or pixel output, the R8 M445DX is the stronger part. The 50% advantage in pixel rate and texture rate means it can handle higher resolutions and more complex scenes in graphics workloads. The FP16 support also gives it an edge in applications that use half-precision math, which is increasingly common in machine learning and image processing.

The FirePro W2100 has no benchmark wins against the R8 M445DX, but it does have strengths outside of raw compute. The dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth provides deterministic performance that does not depend on the host system's RAM. The R8 M445DX's system shared memory means its effective bandwidth is system dependent, which introduces variability. In a workstation environment where consistent behavior matters, the FirePro's dedicated memory is a practical advantage. The FirePro also has a Vulkan score of 4497, while the R8 M445DX has no recorded Vulkan result, so for Vulkan-specific workloads the FirePro at least has verified performance data.

The FirePro is a single-slot card with 26 W TDP and no power connectors, requiring only a 200 W suggested PSU. It has a 168 mm length and 69 mm height, with 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The R8 M445DX is an IGP, meaning it is integrated into a portable device and its display outputs are portable device dependent. For a desktop workstation with dedicated display outputs, the FirePro is the more practical choice. For a laptop or hybrid system, the R8 M445DX is the only option of the two.

The release dates also matter. The FirePro W2100 launched in August 2014, while the R8 M445DX launched in May 2016. The R8 M445DX benefits from two additional years of architecture development. Both are now end-of-life products, but the R8 M445DX is the more recent design.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727, which is 15.5% higher than the AMD FirePro W2100's 4093.

Q: Does the FirePro W2100 have any benchmark where it wins against the R8 M445DX?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the FirePro W2100 in this head-to-head comparison. The only recorded test, Geekbench OpenCL, is won by the R8 M445DX.

Q: How does the R8 M445DX compare to the NVIDIA Quadro P400?

A: The R8 M445DX scores 4727 versus 4684 for the Quadro P400, a 0.9% advantage for the R8 M445DX.

Q: How does the FirePro W2100 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M?

A: The FirePro W2100 has an average benchmark score of 4295, while the GTX 460M scores 4282, giving the FirePro a 0.3% lead.

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs use?

A: The R8 M445DX uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. The FirePro W2100 has 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports DirectX 12 (12_0)?

A: Only the R8 M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0). The FirePro W2100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1).

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R8 M445DX | AMD FirePro W2100 |

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

| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Chip | Meso | Oland |

| Generation | Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400) | FirePro GCN (Wx100) |

| Transistors | 1,550 million | 950 million |

| Die Size | 125 mm² | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.4M / mm² | 12.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 780 MHz | 630 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1021 MHz | 680 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 28.80 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 8.168 GPixel/s | 5.440 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 20.42 GTexel/s | 13.60 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 653.4 GFLOPS | 435.2 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1) | None |

| TDP | None listed | 26 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Single-slot |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

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

| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_1) |

| Release Date | 2016-05-14 | 2014-08-11 |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 4727 | 4093 |

| Geekbench Vulkan | None recorded | 4497 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 4727 | 4295 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 27 | 25 |

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX as the stronger compute part. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by 15.5%, and its architectural advantages are consistent across every measured specification. The GCN 3.0 architecture, higher clocks, larger die, and greater transistor count all contribute to a clear performance lead. For anyone evaluating raw compute capability, the R8 M445DX is the choice.

The FirePro W2100 is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside of raw performance. The dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory provides stable, predictable bandwidth that the R8 M445DX cannot guarantee with system shared memory. The single-slot form factor, 26 W TDP, and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs make it a practical workstation card for a desktop system. The PCIe 3.0 x8 interface is a standard connection, while the R8 M445DX is an IGP that cannot be installed in a desktop.

The choice depends on the use case. If the system is a portable device with the R8 M445DX integrated, then that is the only option. If the system is a desktop workstation requiring a dedicated card with display outputs and low power draw, the FirePro W2100 fills that role. But for pure benchmark performance, the R8 M445DX is the winner, and the 15.5% margin in OpenCL is the definitive number in this comparison. The FirePro's Vulkan score of 4497 is notable, but it does not offset the OpenCL deficit. The R8 M445DX is the better GPU in this matchup.