AMD FirePro W2100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Comparison

The AMD FirePro W2100 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 sit at opposite ends of the GPU spectrum, both in time and in intent. The FirePro W2100 is a workstation-oriented card from 2014, built for multi-display setups and professional software compatibility rather than raw throughput. The GTX 1050, released in 2016, is a mainstream consumer part designed for 1080p gaming and general-purpose compute. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner, but the story is more nuanced than a simple average score comparison. The W2100 holds its own in specific legacy and professional contexts, while the GTX 1050 dominates in raw compute and modern API performance.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 1050 wins outright in every head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database. It takes both the Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan tests, and its average benchmark score across all tests is higher than the FirePro W2100's average. The data shows the GTX 1050 is the card to choose for any workload that stresses raw GPU compute, modern rendering APIs, or high-resolution texture work. Its 2 GB of GDDR5 memory provides bandwidth that the W2100 cannot match, and its higher core counts and clock speeds translate directly into better framerates and faster compute times.

The FirePro W2100 does not win any of the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, but it is not without its strengths. Its niche is professional workstation use, specifically in environments that require multiple DisplayPort outputs or that rely on older software stacks. The card is a single-slot design, runs at a 26 W TDP, and requires no power connectors, which makes it an easy drop-in for compact or legacy systems. It also supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, so it can still run modern APIs, albeit at a lower performance level. For a user whose primary need is driving two 4K displays for productivity work rather than gaming, the W2100 remains a functional, low-power option.

The win breakdown is stark: zero wins for the FirePro W2100, two wins for the GTX 1050. The GTX 1050's 21st percentile ranking versus all GPUs is low in absolute terms, but it still places above the W2100's 25th percentile. The GTX 1050's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M (0.4% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 6770 (0.5% behind), and the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation (0.9% behind). The W2100's closest competitors are similarly low-end parts, with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M sitting 0.3% behind and the AMD Radeon Vega 3 sitting 0.6% behind. Neither card is fast by modern standards, but the GTX 1050 is clearly the faster of the two.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test is the largest gap between the two cards. The GTX 1050 scores 15,233, while the FirePro W2100 scores 4,093. That is a delta of -73.1% for the W2100, meaning the GTX 1050 delivers roughly 3.7 times the OpenCL compute performance. This is not a marginal difference; it is a generational leap in raw throughput. The GTX 1050's 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, combined with a 1.862 TFLOPS FP32 rate, simply overwhelm the W2100's 320 shaders, 20 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and 435.2 GFLOPS. OpenCL workloads such as video encoding, physics simulation, and GPU-accelerated rendering will run dramatically faster on the GTX 1050.

The Geekbench Vulkan test narrows the gap but still favors NVIDIA decisively. The GTX 1050 scores 8,995, while the FirePro W2100 scores 4,497. The delta is -50%, so the GTX 1050 is exactly twice as fast in this test. Vulkan is a low-overhead API that scales well with core counts and memory bandwidth, and the GTX 1050's Pascal architecture is better optimized for it. The W2100's GCN 1.0 architecture supports Vulkan 1.2.170, but its older design and slower memory hold it back. For any modern game or application that uses Vulkan, the GTX 1050 is the clear choice.

The GTX 1050 also has a much stronger benchmark portfolio overall. Its Passmark G3D score of 5,028 is its highest single-test result, and its Passmark GPU compute score of 2,091 shows solid compute performance outside of gaming. The FirePro W2100 has only two recorded benchmarks in the database, Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan, with an average score of 4,295. The GTX 1050's average benchmark score is 3,629, which is lower than the W2100's average because it includes several low-scoring Passmark DirectX tests (DirectX 9 at 83, DirectX 11 at 38, DirectX 10 at 24, DirectX 12 at 20). These low scores drag down the GTX 1050's average, but the head-to-head tests tell the real story: the GTX 1050 wins where it matters most for modern workloads.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test score of 122 for the GTX 1050, while low, still represents a functioning DirectX 12 result. The GTX 1050's DirectX 12 (12_1) support is a higher feature level 12_1 support than the W2100's DirectX 12 (11_1). The W2100 is limited to feature level 11_1, which means it cannot run the newest DirectX 12 features at the same level of compatibility. This is a significant differentiator for gamers, as most modern PC games require DirectX 12 support at some level, but the GTX 1050 is better equipped to handle those workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures from different fabrication nodes. The FirePro W2100 uses AMD's GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm TSMC process, while the GTX 1050 uses NVIDIA's Pascal architecture on a 14 nm Samsung process. The smaller 14 nm node allows the GTX 1050 to pack 3,300 million transistors into a 132 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 25.0M / mm². The W2100 has 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, with a density of 12.3M / mm². The difference in transistor count is enormous, roughly 3.5 times more transistors for NVIDIA, and it shows in every benchmark result.

The memory subsystem is another major divide. The GTX 1050 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s. The W2100 also has 2 GB of memory on a 128-bit bus, but it uses DDR3 at 28.80 GB/s. The GDDR5 memory bandwidth is nearly four times higher on the GTX 1050 (112.1 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s), and this directly impacts texture-heavy workloads. The GTX 1050's 58.20 GTexel/s texture rate versus the W2100's 46.56 GPixel/s pixel rate shows the GTX 1050 can fill pixels at a much higher rate.

Clock speeds are far apart as well. The GTX 1050 runs at a base clock of 1354 MHz base clock boost clock 1455 MHz, with memory clock of 1752 MHz memory clock 7 Gbps effective 1752 MHz. The W2100's clocks are much lower at 630 MHz base clock boost clock 680 MHz boost clock 900 MHz memory clock 1800 Mbps effective 900 MHz. The GTX 1050's boost clock of 1455 MHz is over twice the W2100's boost clock of 680 MHz. The FP32 performance of the GTX 1050 is 1.862 TFLOPS versus 435.0 GFLOPS for the GTX 1050's FP32 performance of 1.862 TFLOPS versus 435.0 GFLOPS for the W2100. The FP16 performance of the GTX 1050 is 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio for the GTX 1050's FP16 performance of 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio, which is a speed for FP16 workloads.

The power and physical design differ too. The GTX 1050 has a TDP of 75 W and requires a 250 W suggested PSU, it is a dual-slot card. The W2100 is a single-slot card with a 26 W TDP and a 200 W suggested PSU. The W2100 has no power connectors, the GTX 1050 also has no power connectors, but the GTX 1050's higher power consumption needs better cooling. The GTX 1050 is 145 mm long and 111 mm high, while the W2100 is 168 mm long and 69 mm high. The W2100 is longer but shorter, the GTX 1050 is shorter but taller.

The Verdict

Choose the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 if you need raw performance, gaming capability, or modern API support. The data is unambiguous: the GTX 1050 wins both head-to-head benchmark tests, with a 73.1% lead in OpenCL and a 50% lead in Vulkan. Its 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 112.1 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 1.862 TFLOPS FP32 performance make it the superior choice for any compute-heavy task. Its 14 nm Pascal architecture is more efficient and more capable than the 28 nm GCN 1.0 in the W2100. The GTX 1050 also supports DirectX 12 (12_1), which is a higher feature level than the W2100's DirectX 12 (11_1). For gaming, the GTX 1050 is the only realistic option between the two.

Choose the AMD FirePro W2100 only if your workload is specifically tied to professional workstation features, low power consumption, or legacy software compatibility. The W2100's 26 W TDP, single-slot design, and lack of power connectors make it a low-power, low-noise card for office PCs or embedded systems. Its 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs are useful for multi-monitor setups. However, the data shows it loses both head-to-head tests, and its 25th percentile ranking versus all GPUs is below the GTX 1050's 21st percentile. The W2100 is end-of-life, as is the GTX 1050, but the GTX 1050 is the better card in nearly every measurable way.

The GTX 1050's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M (0.4% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 6770 (0.5% behind), and the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation (0.9% behind). The W2100's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (0.3% behind) and the AMD Radeon Vega 3 (0.6% behind). Both cards sit in the low end of the GPU performance spectrum, but the GTX 1050 sits meaningfully higher.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro W2100 has an average benchmark score of 4,295, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 has an average score of 3,629. However, the GTX 1050's average is dragged down by several low-scoring Passmark tests, and it wins both head-to-head benchmarks against the W2100.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 1050 in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 1050 scores 15,233 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the W2100 scores 4,093, resulting in a -73.1% delta for the W2100. The GTX 1050 is approximately 3.7 times faster in this test.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 has a TDP of 75 W and requires a 250 W suggested PSU. The AMD FirePro W2100 has a TDP of 26 W and requires a 200 W suggested PSU.

Q: Do both cards support Vulkan?

A: Yes. The GTX 1050 supports Vulkan 1.4, while the W2100 supports Vulkan 1.2.170. In the Geekbench Vulkan test, the GTX 1050 scores 8,995 versus the W2100's 4,497, a -50% delta.

Q: What are the memory types and bandwidths?

A: The GTX 1050 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 112.1 GB/s bandwidth. The W2100 uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The GTX 1050 has 640 shading units, while the W2100 has 320. The GTX 1050 also has 40 TMUs and 32 ROPs, compared to the W2100's 20 TMUs and 8 ROPs.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every specification category. The GTX 1050 uses a 14 nm Samsung process, the W2100 uses a 28 nm TSMC process. The GTX 1050 has 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die, the W2100 has 950 million on a 77 mm² die. Transistor density is 25.0M / mm² for the GTX 1050, 12.3M / mm² for the W2100.

Clock speeds: GTX 1050 base 1354 MHz, boost 1455 MHz, memory 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective). W2100 base 630 MHz, boost 680 MHz, memory 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). Memory: GTX 1050 uses 2 GB GDDR5 on 128-bit bus, 112.1 GB/s. W2100 uses 2 GB DDR3 on 128-bit bus, 28.80 GB/s.

Compute units: GTX 1050 has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, 32 ROPs, pixel rate 46.56 GPixel/s, texture rate 58.20 GTexel/s, FP32 1.862 TFLOPS, FP16 29.10 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio). W2100 has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, 8 ROPs, pixel rate 5.440 GPixel/s, texture rate 13.60 GTexel/s, FP32 435.2 GFLOPS.

Power and physical: GTX 1050 TDP 75 W, dual-slot, no power connectors, 250 W suggested PSU, PCIe 3.0 x16, 145 mm length, 111 mm height. W2100 TDP 26 W, single-slot, no power connectors, 200 W suggested PSU, PCIe 3.0 x8, 168 mm length, 69 mm height. Display outputs: GTX 1050 has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. W2100 has 2x DisplayPort 1.2. APIs: GTX 1050 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4. W2100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTX 1050 was released on 2016-10-24, the W2100 on 2014-08-11. The GTX 1050 has a launch MSRP of 109 USD.