AMD FirePro W4100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly separates these two mobile workstation GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M wins the only recorded head-to-head test, the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, by a substantial 26.8% margin. Its score of 6946 against the AMD FirePro W4100's 5478 places it in the 39th percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro sits in the 34th percentile. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in OpenCL workloads, the GTX 675M is the stronger choice based on recorded measurements.

However, the AMD FirePro W4100 counters with a decisive advantage in power efficiency and physical design. Its 50 W TDP is exactly half of the GTX 675M's 100 W, making it the preferred option for compact, thermally constrained systems. The FirePro also offers a Vulkan API score of 6496, a capability the GTX 675M lacks entirely in the database. Users targeting Vulkan-based applications or requiring a single-slot, low-power workstation card should select the FirePro W4100 despite its lower OpenCL score.

The GTX 675M's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon R5 M240, scores 6975, a delta of only -0.4%, indicating the GTX 675M sits at the top of its performance tier. Conversely, the FirePro W4100's closest competitor, the NVIDIA Quadro K4000M, matches it exactly with a 0% delta, showing the FirePro is a median performer in its class. The data does not support a universal winner; the choice depends entirely on whether compute performance or efficiency and API coverage matters more.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M scores 6946 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 26.8% higher than the AMD FirePro W4100's 5478.

Q: Does the AMD FirePro W4100 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the FirePro W4100 has a recorded Geekbench Vulkan score of 6496 and its API list includes Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTX 675M has no Vulkan entry in the database.

Q: Which card consumes less power?

A: The AMD FirePro W4100 has a 50 W TDP, exactly half of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M's 100 W TDP.

Q: How do their transistor densities compare?

A: The FirePro W4100 has a transistor density of 12.2M per square millimeter, more than double the GTX 675M's 5.9M per square millimeter, despite having fewer total transistors (1,500 million vs. 1,950 million).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The GTX 675M offers 96.00 GB/s over a 256-bit bus, while the FirePro W4100 provides 64.00 GB/s over a 128-bit bus. The GTX 675M has 50% more bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD FirePro W4100 has 512 shading units, compared to 384 on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M, yet the GTX 675M still achieves higher FP32 performance.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent fundamentally different architectural generations. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M uses the GF114 chip built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This older, larger design incorporates 1,950 million transistors across a 332 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 5.9M per square millimeter. The Fermi 2.0 architecture dates to the GeForce 600M generation and supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but has no Vulkan support recorded.

The AMD FirePro W4100 employs the Cape Verde chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, fabricated on a more advanced 28 nm process, also at TSMC. This newer process allows AMD to pack 1,500 million transistors into just 123 mm², achieving a transistor density of 12.2M per square millimeter. GCN 1.0 belongs to the FirePro GCN (Wx100) generation and supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The architectural shift from Fermi to GCN explains the W4100's higher shading unit count (512 vs. 384) despite its smaller die.

The physical form factors differ significantly. The GTX 675M comes as an MXM Module with an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, designed for laptop replacement and portable device integration. The FirePro W4100 is a single-slot card with a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, measuring 171 mm in length and 69 mm in height, with four mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The GTX 675M's display outputs are listed as portable-device dependent, reflecting its laptop-oriented design.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications reveal complementary strengths. The GTX 675M leads in memory bandwidth: 96.00 GB/s compared to the FirePro's 64.00 GB/s, achieved through a 256-bit bus versus 128-bit. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, though the GTX 675M's memory clock is 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective) versus the FirePro's 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).

The texture and pixel processing rates favor different cards. The GTX 675M delivers 39.68 GTexel/s and 9.920 GPixel/s, while the FirePro provides 20.16 GTexel/s and 10.08 GPixel/s. The FirePro edges out the GTX 675M in pixel fill rate by 1.6%, but the GTX 675M has nearly double the texture fill rate. The GTX 675M also leads in FP32 compute: 952.3 GFLOPS versus 645.1 GFLOPS, a 47.6% advantage.

The FirePro wins decisively on power: 50 W TDP versus 100 W. The GTX 675M has no suggested PSU rating, while the FirePro lists a 250 W suggested PSU. The FirePro's single-slot design contrasts with the GTX 675M's MXM module. Neither card requires external power connectors. The release dates show the GTX 675M launching on March 21, 2012, with the FirePro following on August 12, 2014. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records one head-to-head benchmark: Geekbench OpenCL. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M scores 6946 against the AMD FirePro W4100's 5478, yielding a 26.8% delta in favor of NVIDIA. This is a substantial margin, placing the GTX 675M well ahead in raw OpenCL compute workloads.

Contextualizing this result: the GTX 675M's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M, scores 7023, just 1.1% higher. The AMD Radeon R5 M240 scores 6975, a mere 0.4% above the GTX 675M. These tight margins indicate the GTX 675M is competitive with higher-tier mobile GPUs, despite its older architecture.

The FirePro W4100's OpenCL score of 5478 places it near its nearest rivals: the NVIDIA Quadro K4000M scores 5986 (0% delta), the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 scores 5982 (0.1% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 6000 (-0.2% delta). The FirePro's score is essentially tied with these cards, confirming it sits in a lower performance tier than the GTX 675M.

However, the FirePro W4100 records a Geekbench Vulkan score of 6496, which is close to the GTX 675M's OpenCL score of 6946. This Vulkan result shows the FirePro can deliver competitive compute performance in APIs the GTX 675M cannot access. The GTX 675M has no Vulkan benchmark recorded, reflecting its lack of Vulkan support in the API specifications.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M wins in raw compute throughput. Its 26.8% OpenCL advantage over the FirePro W4100, combined with 47.6% higher FP32 performance and double the texture fill rate, makes it the choice for OpenCL-heavy workloads such as general-purpose GPU computing, video processing, and scientific simulations. The 96.00 GB/s memory bandwidth also supports bandwidth-intensive tasks. Users needing maximum compute density in a portable MXM form factor should favor the GTX 675M.

The AMD FirePro W4100 wins in efficiency and modern API support. Its 50 W TDP allows deployment in systems where the GTX 675M's 100 W draw would be prohibitive. The single-slot, 171 mm length design fits in compact chassis. The Vulkan 1.2.170 support and 6496 Vulkan score open access to modern graphics and compute APIs. The four mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs provide multi-display capability, a feature the GTX 675M lacks with its portable-device-dependent outputs.

The pixel fill rate slightly favors the FirePro (10.08 vs. 9.920 GPixel/s), suggesting marginal advantages in certain rasterization-bound tasks. The FirePro also benefits from a more recent release date (August 2014 vs. March 2012) and a smaller die (123 mm² vs. 332 mm²), indicating a more modern design. For workstation users prioritizing low power, Vulkan compatibility, and compact physical dimensions, the FirePro W4100 is the appropriate selection. For users demanding maximum OpenCL performance, the GTX 675M has no equal in this comparison.