AMD FirePro W4170M vs Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 scores 5712, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. That gives Intel a 13.5% lead in this test.

Q: How do these two compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel part sits at the 33rd percentile of all GPUs, with its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX, scoring 5721, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD FirePro W4170M sits at the 30th percentile, with its closest rival, the AMD Radeon R7 M340, scoring 5063, a 0.6% difference.

Q: What are the core counts of these two GPUs?

A: Both have 384 shading units. However, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 has 48 texture mapping units and 6 ROPs, while the AMD FirePro W4170M has 24 texture mapping units and 8 ROPs.

Q: What memory configurations do they use?

A: The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 uses system shared memory, with bandwidth listed as system dependent. The AMD FirePro W4170M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel part is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD part uses a 28 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which API versions do they support?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.0 for Intel versus Vulkan 1.2.170 for AMD. For OpenGL, Intel supports 4.4, while AMD supports 4.6.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 is built on the Broadwell GT3e chip, using Intel's Generation 8.0 architecture. This is a 14 nm part manufactured by Intel, and it belongs to the HD Graphics-W (Broadwell) generation. The AMD FirePro W4170M uses the Opal chip, which is based on GCN 1.0 architecture, made on a 28 nm process at TSMC, and belongs to the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation.

The transistor counts and die sizes are quite different. The AMD FirePro W4170M has 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². The Intel part does not have recorded transistor or die size data in the database, so no direct comparison can be made on that front.

Clock behavior also differs significantly. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 runs at a base clock of 300 MHz with a boost clock of 800 MHz. The AMD FirePro W4170M runs at a base clock of 825 MHz and boosts to 900 MHz, with its memory clocked at 1000 MHz or 4 Gbps effective. The Intel part uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth, while the AMD part uses dedicated GDDR5.

The bus interface is another differentiating factor. The Intel GPU uses a Ring Bus interface, while the AMD GPU uses PCIe 3.0 x8. The Intel part is an IGP (integrated graphics processor), whereas the AMD part is an MXM Module. The AMD FirePro W4170M has no power connectors, and the Intel part does not list any.

The memory architecture is a major architectural difference. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 relies on shared system memory, meaning its performance is dependent on the host system's memory configuration. The AMD FirePro W4170M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which provides more predictable memory performance for graphics workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 wins the only recorded head-to-head benchmark, the Geekbench OpenCL test, with a score of 5712 versus 5034 for the AMD FirePro W4170M. This 13.5% advantage makes the Intel part the better choice for compute-oriented tasks that leverage OpenCL, based on the database measurements.

The AMD FirePro W4170M does not win any recorded benchmark against the Intel part. However, it has architectural advantages that could matter in specific scenarios. It has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a significant advantage over system shared memory when memory bandwidth is the limiting factor. The AMD part also has a higher pixel rate at 7.200 GPixel/s versus 4.800 GPixel/s for the Intel part, suggesting it could handle certain pixel-bound workloads more efficiently.

The Intel part has a higher texture rate at 38.40 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s for the AMD part. This is because the Intel GPU has 48 TMUs compared to 24 TMUs on the AMD GPU, even though the AMD part runs at a higher clock speed. This makes the Intel part more capable in texture-heavy scenarios.

The AMD FirePro W4170M supports newer API versions, including OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170, compared to OpenGL 4.4 and Vulkan 1.0 on the Intel part. This could make the AMD part more compatible with modern software that relies on these newer API features.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 | AMD FirePro W4170M |

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

| Chip | Broadwell GT3e | Opal |

| Architecture | Generation 8.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 950 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 77 mm² |

| Transistor Density | Not listed | 12.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 825 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 800 MHz | 900 MHz |

| Memory Clock | System Shared | 1000 MHz, 4 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 64.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 384 |

| TMUs | 48 | 24 |

| ROPs | 6 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 4.800 GPixel/s | 7.200 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 38.40 GTexel/s | 21.60 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 614.4 GFLOPS | 691.2 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 15 W | Not listed |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | None |

| Bus Interface | Ring Bus | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| OpenGL | 4.4 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | 1.0 | 1.2.170 |

| Predecessor | Not listed | FirePro Mobility |

| Successor | Not listed | Radeon Pro Mobile |

| Release Date | 2014-09-04 | 2015-04-22 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs is the Geekbench OpenCL test. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 scores 5712, and the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. The Intel part wins with a 13.5% delta.

To put that score in context, the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX, which scores 5721, a delta of negative 0.1%. This means the Intel part is essentially tied with that NVIDIA GPU. The AMD FirePro W4170M's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon R7 M340, which scores 5063, a delta of negative 0.6%, meaning the AMD part is slightly behind that rival.

The Intel part also outperforms several other GPUs in the database. It is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti, which scores 5731, and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 8790M, which scores 5691. It is 1.9% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro M500M, which scores 5604.

The AMD FirePro W4170M is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon R5 M430, which scores 5018, and 0.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, which scores 4998. It is 0.6% behind both the AMD Radeon R7 M340 and the AMD Radeon R7 240, both scoring 5063.

The data shows that the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 sits in a slightly higher performance tier overall, with a 33rd percentile ranking versus the 30th percentile for the AMD FirePro W4170M. The 13.5% gap in the head-to-head benchmark is consistent with this percentile difference.

The Verdict

The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 is the faster GPU according to the database measurements. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by 13.5%, scoring 5712 versus 5034 in Geekbench OpenCL. It also has a higher texture rate at 38.40 GTexel/s, double the texture rate of the AMD part, and a higher average benchmark score overall.

The AMD FirePro W4170M does have some advantages. It offers 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is valuable for workloads that need consistent memory performance without depending on the host system. It also has a higher pixel rate at 7.200 GPixel/s, a higher FP32 throughput at 691.2 GFLOPS versus 614.4 GFLOPS for the Intel part, and support for newer API versions including OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170.

For users choosing between these two end-of-life mobile GPUs, the decision depends on the workload. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 is the better choice for OpenCL compute performance, as the benchmark data clearly shows. Its 13.5% lead in the head-to-head test is substantial enough to matter in practice.

The AMD FirePro W4170M is the better pick for scenarios where dedicated memory, higher pixel throughput, and newer API support matter more. Its 2 GB GDDR5 configuration with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth provides a predictable memory environment, something the Intel part simply cannot offer with system shared memory.

The Intel part uses a Ring Bus interface and is an IGP, making it suitable for systems where the motherboard dictates display outputs. The AMD part is an MXM module, making it dependent on the portable device for display connectivity. The AMD part also has a higher base clock speed and boost clock, running at 825 MHz base and 900 MHz boost, versus 300 MHz base and 800 MHz boost for Intel.

In the end, the database points to the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 as the stronger performer of the two, winning a 13.5% head-to-head victory. The AMD FirePro W4170M trails in that test, but its dedicated GDDR5 memory and higher FP32 performance of 691.2 GFLOPS gives it a distinct character for certain applications. Users should pick the Intel part for raw compute performance and texture-heavy workloads, and the AMD part for memory bandwidth-sensitive tasks and modern API compatibility.