AMD FirePro W4170M vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single recorded head-to-head benchmark between these two mobile graphics solutions is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are remarkably close. The AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034 points, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 5042 points. This gives Intel a narrow 0.2% advantage, a margin that falls well within normal run-to-run variance for OpenCL workloads. In practical terms, these two GPUs are effectively tied in raw compute performance, with a difference of only 8 points out of roughly 5000.

The Intel part also has a Vulkan score of 3677 in the database, though no comparable Vulkan result exists for the AMD FirePro W4170M. This means the Intel iGPU has a measurable advantage in the Vulkan API, a feature the AMD part cannot match based on recorded data. The AMD part's API support includes Vulkan 1.2.170, while the Intel part supports only Vulkan 1.0, so the gap in actual Vulkan performance may be larger than the missing comparison suggests.

Looking at the broader context, the AMD FirePro W4170M sits at the 30th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 sits at the 26th percentile. Despite Intel winning the direct comparison, the AMD part ranks slightly higher overall, indicating that its strongest workloads may not be fully captured by the single OpenCL test.

The AMD FirePro W4170M's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (scoring 5018, a 0.3% difference), the AMD Radeon R7 M340 (scoring 5063, a 0.6% difference), the AMD Radeon R7 240 (scoring 5063, a 0.6% difference), and the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics (scoring 4998, a 0.7% difference). This cluster of scores, all within 1% of each other, shows that the FirePro W4170M lands in a very crowded performance tier where small architectural differences determine the winner.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200's nearest rivals paint a different picture. Its closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 at 4335 points (0.6% difference), followed by the NVIDIA GeForce 930M at 4388 points (0.6% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 645M at 4411 points (1.2% difference), and the AMD FirePro W2100 at 4295 points (1.5% difference). These rivals are all within 1.5% of the Intel part's average score of 4360, but note that the Intel part's OpenCL score of 5042 is substantially higher than its average score, which is pulled down by the Vulkan result.

The data shows a clear split: in OpenCL compute, both parts are within 0.2% of each other, but the Intel part has the edge in API coverage with its Vulkan capability. The AMD part counters with a slightly better overall percentile ranking and a higher Vulkan API version, though without a Vulkan benchmark score to prove its superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute workloads?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 5042 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, narrowly edging out the AMD FirePro W4170M's 5034. The 0.2% difference is negligible in real-world terms.

Q: Does the AMD FirePro W4170M support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the AMD part supports Vulkan 1.2.170, which is a newer version than the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200's Vulkan 1.0 support. However, the database only records a Vulkan benchmark score for the Intel part (3677), not for the AMD part.

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

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M has an average benchmark score of 5034, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 has an average score of 4360. The Intel part's average is lower because it includes a Vulkan score of 3677, which drags down its average compared to its OpenCL result.

Q: How do these GPUs rank against all other GPUs in the database?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M sits at the 30th percentile, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 sits at the 26th percentile. This means the AMD part ranks slightly higher overall, despite losing the direct OpenCL comparison.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M has 384 shading units, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 has 320 shading units. Despite having fewer shading units, the Intel part still scores slightly higher in OpenCL.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 uses system shared memory, with bandwidth that is system dependent.

Architecture Differences

The AMD FirePro W4170M is built on GCN 1.0 architecture, using the Opal chip, and manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This architecture uses 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 12.3 million per square millimeter. GCN 1.0 is AMD's first-generation Graphics Core Next design, which emphasizes compute throughput and asynchronous execution.

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 uses the Haswell GT3e chip, part of Intel's Generation 7.5 architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The database does not record transistor count, die size, or transistor density for this part. Generation 7.5 is Intel's integrated graphics architecture paired with Haswell CPUs, and the GT3e variant includes embedded DRAM (eDRAM) on the package, though the database does not list this as a separate specification.

The AMD part uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface, making it a discrete MXM module that can be installed in laptops with that form factor. The Intel part uses a Ring Bus interface, reflecting its integration into the CPU die as an IGP. This fundamental difference means the AMD FirePro W4170M has its own dedicated memory and power delivery, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 shares system resources.

In terms of API support, the AMD part supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Intel part supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.3, and Vulkan 1.0. Both support the same DirectX version, but the AMD part has newer OpenGL and Vulkan versions, which can affect compatibility with newer applications and drivers.

The pixel rate for the AMD part is 7.200 GPixel/s, while the Intel part achieves 4.600 GPixel/s. The texture rate tells a different story: the AMD part has 21.60 GTexel/s, while the Intel part has 46.00 GTexel/s. The Intel part's higher texture rate comes from having 40 TMUs compared to the AMD part's 24 TMUs, even though the AMD part has more ROPs (8 vs. 4).

Specification Differences

The AMD FirePro W4170M operates at a base clock of 825 MHz with a boost clock of 900 MHz, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 has a base clock of 200 MHz and a boost clock of 1150 MHz. The AMD part's memory runs at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective speed, while the Intel part uses system shared memory.

Memory capacity is a major difference: the AMD part has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part has system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. This means the AMD part has predictable memory performance, while the Intel part's performance varies with the host system's memory configuration.

The AMD part has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The Intel part has 320 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. This gives the AMD part a higher pixel rate (7.200 GPixel/s vs. 4.600 GPixel/s) but a lower texture rate (21.60 GTexel/s vs. 46.00 GTexel/s). The FP32 compute is close: 691.2 GFLOPS for AMD vs. 736.0 GFLOPS for Intel.

The AMD part has no recorded TDP, while the Intel part has a TDP of 45 W. The AMD part is an MXM Module with no power connectors, while the Intel part is an IGP with no separate power connectors listed. The AMD part's display outputs are portable device dependent, while the Intel part's outputs are motherboard dependent.

Release dates differ significantly: the AMD FirePro W4170M launched on April 22, 2015, while the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 launched on June 2, 2013. Both are end-of-life products. The AMD part has a predecessor (FirePro Mobility) and a successor (Radeon Pro Mobile), while the Intel part has neither listed.

The Verdict

The data points to a near-tie in OpenCL compute, with the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 taking a 0.2% lead in the only direct benchmark. However, the AMD FirePro W4170M holds a better percentile ranking (30th vs. 26th), which suggests its overall performance profile is slightly stronger across the database's full set of measurements.

For users who prioritize OpenGL compatibility, the AMD part is the clear choice, supporting OpenGL 4.6 compared to Intel's 4.3. For users who need Vulkan performance, the database only has a score for the Intel part (3677), so the Intel part is the proven option in that API, despite the AMD part supporting a newer Vulkan version.

The AMD FirePro W4170M is the right pick for workloads that benefit from dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth and a higher pixel rate. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is the right pick for systems where power consumption matters, with its 45 W TDP, and for texture-heavy workloads, given its 46.00 GTexel/s texture rate.

The Intel part's system shared memory is a double-edged sword: it can be faster or slower depending on the host system's memory, but it is never as predictable as the AMD part's dedicated VRAM. For mobile workstations where consistent performance is critical, the AMD FirePro W4170M's dedicated memory is a structural advantage that the benchmark scores do not fully capture.

Where Each One Wins

AMD FirePro W4170M wins in pixel throughput. With a pixel rate of 7.200 GPixel/s compared to Intel's 4.600 GPixel/s, the AMD part is better suited for fill-rate-limited scenarios like high-resolution rendering with heavy overdraw.

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 wins in texture throughput. Its 46.00 GTexel/s texture rate is more than double the AMD part's 21.60 GTexel/s. Games and applications that sample many textures per pixel will favor the Intel part.

AMD FirePro W4170M wins in API version coverage. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170 are both newer than Intel's OpenGL 4.3 and Vulkan 1.0. Applications that require newer API features will only work, or work better, on the AMD part.

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 wins in OpenCL compute. The 5042 score edges out the AMD part's 5034, and the Intel part has a proven Vulkan score of 3677. For compute workloads using these APIs, Intel has the recorded advantage.

AMD FirePro W4170M wins in memory consistency. Dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth provides fixed performance. The Intel part's system shared memory means performance depends on the host system, introducing uncertainty.

Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 wins in power efficiency. With a 45 W TDP and IGP form factor, it integrates into the CPU package without additional power connectors. The AMD part has no TDP recorded, but its MXM module form factor implies a discrete power budget.

AMD FirePro W4170M wins in overall ranking. The 30th percentile versus Intel's 26th percentile indicates that across all database benchmarks, the AMD part has a slight edge in aggregate performance, even if the single head-to-head test favors Intel.