AMD FirePro W2100 vs AMD Radeon Vega 3 Comparison

The AMD FirePro W2100 and AMD Radeon Vega 3 represent two very different approaches to low-power graphics, and the benchmark data shows a clear, though narrow, overall winner. The FirePro W2100, a dedicated workstation card from 2014, edges out the newer integrated Vega 3 GPU in raw compute tests. However, the comparison is far more nuanced than a simple score difference, as each part is built for entirely different environments and use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The data in the head-to-head benchmarks shows that the AMD FirePro W2100 wins in both of the tests where they are directly compared. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the FirePro W2100 scores 4093 against the Vega 3’s 3963, a 3.3% advantage. The gap widens significantly in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the FirePro W2100 scores 4497 compared to the Vega 3’s 3961, a substantial 13.5% lead. This means that in purely compute-oriented workloads that leverage OpenCL or Vulkan, the dedicated FirePro card holds a consistent edge.

However, the Vega 3 has its own territory. While it loses the two common benchmarks, its benchmark suite includes a Geekbench Metal score of 4880, which is actually higher than any score the FirePro W2100 achieves in any test. This suggests that in environments where the Metal API is prioritized—typically Apple-centric or specific professional applications—the Vega 3’s architecture is more efficient. The Vega 3 also wins on the basis of its context: as an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 15 W TDP, it is designed for systems where space and power are at an absolute premium. The FirePro W2100, while also low-power at 26 W, requires a dedicated PCIe slot and its own cooling, making the Vega 3 the clear choice for ultra-compact or battery-powered systems where a discrete card is simply not an option.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is a generational leap. The FirePro W2100 is built on GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. Its chip, codenamed Oland, contains 950 million transistors on a die size of 77 mm², giving it a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². In contrast, the Radeon Vega 3 uses the newer GCN 5.0 architecture, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. Its Picasso chip is significantly larger and more complex, packing 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, achieving a much higher density of 23.5M per mm². This newer process allows the Vega 3 to run at a much higher boost clock of 1100 MHz compared to the FirePro’s 680 MHz, despite the Vega 3 having a lower base clock of 300 MHz versus 630 MHz.

The core configurations also differ substantially. The FirePro W2100 has 320 shading units, 20 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 8 render output units (ROPs). The Vega 3 has fewer of each: 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. This lower core count is partially offset by the much higher boost clock, but it explains why the Vega 3's theoretical pixel rate (4.400 GPixel/s) and texture rate (13.20 GTexel/s) are lower than the FirePro's (5.440 GPixel/s and 13.60 GTexel/s, respectively). The FP32 performance is very close, with the FirePro at 435.2 GFLOPS and the Vega 3 at 422.4 GFLOPS. Crucially, the Vega 3 supports FP16 compute at 844.8 GFLOPS (2:1 ratio), a feature the FirePro W2100 lacks entirely.

Memory is another fundamental divide. The FirePro W2100 has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 3 has no dedicated VRAM; it uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth being "System Dependent." This means the Vega 3’s performance is heavily reliant on the speed of the host system’s RAM, while the FirePro has consistent, predictable memory performance. The FirePro also supports PCIe 3.0 x8, whereas the Vega 3 is an IGP with no bus interface, communicating directly with the system. API support also differs, with the Vega 3 supporting DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the FirePro supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD FirePro W2100 is the better choice for compute-heavy tasks that rely on OpenCL or Vulkan, particularly if you need a dedicated, stable memory pool and consistent performance. Its 13.5% lead in Vulkan and 3.3% lead in OpenCL make it the stronger performer in those specific APIs. The average benchmark score also slightly favors the FirePro W2100 at 4295 versus 4268 for the Vega 3. Both cards sit at the 25th percentile of all GPUs, indicating they are entry-level parts.

However, the Radeon Vega 3 is the only sensible option for systems where a discrete card cannot be installed. As an IGP with a 15 W TDP, it requires no power connectors and no slot space. Its higher boost clock and modern 12 nm process make it more efficient in some workloads, and its exclusive Metal score of 4880 shows it can outperform the FirePro in that specific API. If you are building a mini-PC or an ultra-thin laptop, the Vega 3 is the only one of these two that is even physically possible to use. The FirePro W2100’s 26 W TDP and requirement for a PCIe slot, plus its 168 mm length, make it a legacy part for older workstations with the right slots.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro W2100 has a higher average benchmark score of 4295, compared to the Radeon Vega 3's 4268, a difference of 0.6%.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon Vega 3 faster than the FirePro W2100 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Vega 3 has a Geekbench Metal score of 4880, which is higher than any score the FirePro W2100 achieves in its tested benchmarks (4093 in OpenCL and 4497 in Vulkan).

Q: What is the difference in their power consumption?

A: The Radeon Vega 3 has a TDP of 15 W, while the FirePro W2100 has a higher TDP of 26 W.

Q: How do these GPUs compare to a modern high-end card like the RTX 4070 GDDR6?

A: According to the nearest rivals data, the FirePro W2100 is 0.9% behind the RTX 4070 GDDR6 in average score, while the Vega 3 is 1.5% behind it.

Q: Which GPU supports Vulkan 1.3?

A: Only the AMD Radeon Vega 3 supports Vulkan 1.3. The FirePro W2100 supports up to Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: Do these GPUs have the same amount of memory?

A: No. The FirePro W2100 has a dedicated 2 GB of DDR3 memory, while the Vega 3 uses System Shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most telling number is the 13.5% delta in the Geekbench Vulkan test. The FirePro W2100 scores 4497, while the Vega 3 trails at 3961. This is a massive gap for two parts that are otherwise comparable in average score. The Vulkan API is designed to reduce driver overhead and provide more direct hardware control, which appears to benefit the FirePro's dedicated architecture and its higher ROP count of 8 versus 4. This makes the FirePro W2100 the clear choice for any Vulkan-based application or game.

The OpenCL test shows a much tighter race. The FirePro W2100 wins with a score of 4093 against the Vega 3's 3963, a 3.3% difference. This smaller margin suggests that OpenCL workloads are less sensitive to the architectural differences. The Vega 3’s higher boost clock of 1100 MHz helps it close the gap against the FirePro’s 680 MHz, even though the FirePro has more shading units (320 vs 192) and a higher texture fill rate (13.60 GTexel/s vs 13.20 GTexel/s). The FP32 compute is nearly identical (435.2 GFLOPS vs 422.4 GFLOPS), which explains why this benchmark is so close.

The absence of a direct head-to-head Metal benchmark is notable. The Vega 3 has a Metal score of 4880, which if compared against the FirePro’s OpenCL score of 4093, would represent a 19.2% win for the Vega 3. This indicates that in the Metal API, the newer GCN 5.0 architecture with its FP16 support provides a significant advantage. The FirePro W2100 has no Metal score listed, suggesting it either lacks support or was not tested in that environment. This makes the Vega 3 the better option for any workflow that leverages Apple's Metal graphics API.

Specification Differences

The most fundamental difference is the memory architecture. The FirePro W2100 uses a dedicated 2 GB DDR3 memory with a 128-bit bus and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 3 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning its bus width, type, and bandwidth are all "System Dependent." This gives the FirePro a massive advantage in memory consistency and bandwidth in its default configuration, though the Vega 3 can potentially use faster system RAM if the host system has it.

The core specifications also diverge. The FirePro W2100 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Vega 3 has 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. The theoretical pixel rate of the FirePro is 5.440 GPixel/s versus 4.400 GPixel/s for the Vega 3. The texture rates are 13.60 GTexel/s and 13.20 GTexel/s, respectively. FP32 performance is close at 435.2 GFLOPS vs 422.4 GFLOPS, but the Vega 3 uniquely offers FP16 performance of 844.8 GFLOPS.

The process technology is a clear generational split: the FirePro uses a 28 nm process from TSMC with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, while the Vega 3 uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The clock speeds reflect this, with the FirePro running at a 630 MHz base and 680 MHz boost, while the Vega 3 runs at a 300 MHz base and 1100 MHz boost. The TDP also differs, with the FirePro at 26 W and the Vega 3 at 15 W. The FirePro is a single-slot card requiring a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface and a 200 W suggested PSU, while the Vega 3 is an IGP with no slot, power connectors, or suggested PSU. The FirePro has specific display outputs (2x DisplayPort 1.2), while the Vega 3's outputs are "Motherboard Dependent."