AMD FirePro W4170M vs Intel UHD Graphics 730 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a single direct benchmark comparison between the Intel UHD Graphics 730 and the AMD FirePro W4170M, and it is decisive. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5988 points, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034 points. That is a 19% advantage for the Intel part, representing the only head-to-head data point on record. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 wins the sole benchmark contest, giving it a 1-0 record in direct comparisons.

Looking beyond the direct matchup, the Intel UHD Graphics 730's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 5929, which places it in the 33rd percentile of all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score are the AMD Radeon HD 8730M (5955, just 0.4% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro K620M (5957, 0.5% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 8750M (5970, 0.7% ahead), and the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 (5982, 0.9% ahead). This clustering suggests the Intel UHD Graphics 730 sits in a tightly contested performance band, where the difference between competitors is measured in fractions of a percent.

The AMD FirePro W4170M, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 5034, placing it in the 30th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (5018, 0.3% behind), the AMD Radeon R7 M340 (5063, 0.6% ahead), the AMD Radeon R7 240 (5063, 0.6% ahead), and the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics (4998, 0.7% behind). The W4170M's position in this cluster indicates it competes with entry-level discrete and integrated graphics from the same era, and its 19% deficit to the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is a substantial gap compared to the narrow margins seen within each product's rival group.

It is worth questioning why the Intel part, an integrated graphics solution, outperforms a discrete mobile workstation GPU by such a wide margin. The data suggests that architectural generation plays a significant role: the Intel UHD Graphics 730 comes from the Rocket Lake generation, built on a 14 nm+++ process, while the AMD FirePro W4170M is based on the older GCN 1.0 architecture from the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation, manufactured on a 28 nm process. The Intel part also benefits from a later release date, with the database listing its release as 2021-03-29, while the AMD part was released on 2015-04-22. This six-year gap in release timing likely explains much of the performance delta, as the newer architecture brings efficiency and feature improvements that older designs cannot match.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is the clear winner in raw compute performance. Its 5988 OpenCL score versus the AMD FirePro W4170M's 5034 represents a 19% advantage, and its average benchmark score of 5929 versus 5034 reinforces that margin. The Intel part also holds a higher percentile ranking (33rd versus 30th), indicating it outperforms a slightly larger fraction of the GPU population.

However, the verdict is not simply about which GPU is faster. The data reveals that these are fundamentally different products with different intended use cases. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 15 W TDP, designed to share system memory, while the AMD FirePro W4170M is a discrete MXM module with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 64.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The FirePro W4170M also has more shading units (384 versus 192) and more texture mapping units (24 versus 12), yet it still loses in the benchmark. This suggests that raw compute resources alone do not determine performance; architectural efficiency and clock speeds matter enormously.

For users who prioritize maximum compute performance in the Geekbench OpenCL workload, the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is the data-backed choice. For users who require dedicated memory and a mobile workstation form factor, the AMD FirePro W4170M offers those features, but at a measurable performance cost. The data does not support choosing the AMD part for performance reasons, as it trails in every recorded metric.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from entirely different architectural lineages. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 is built on Generation 12.1 architecture, part of the HD Graphics (Rocket Lake) family, and is manufactured on a 14 nm+++ process at Intel's foundry. The AMD FirePro W4170M uses GCN 1.0 architecture from the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC.

The process node difference is significant: 14 nm+++ versus 28 nm. This newer, denser process allows the Intel part to achieve higher clock speeds while maintaining a modest 15 W TDP. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1300 MHz, while the AMD FirePro W4170M has a base clock of 825 MHz and a boost clock of 900 MHz. Despite the Intel part's lower base clock, its much higher boost clock (1300 MHz versus 900 MHz) contributes to its performance advantage.

The AMD FirePro W4170M does have a notable transistor advantage in absolute terms: the database lists 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 12.3M per mm². The Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded, so a direct comparison is impossible. However, the AMD part's higher shading unit count (384 versus 192) and TMU count (24 versus 12) suggest it was designed for higher theoretical throughput, yet the benchmark results show it cannot translate that theoretical advantage into real-world performance.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses system-shared memory, with the bus width also listed as system-shared and bandwidth described as system-dependent. The AMD FirePro W4170M uses 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth and a memory clock of 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective). This dedicated memory arrangement is typical for workstation-class GPUs, but it does not compensate for the architectural generation gap.

API support also differs. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The AMD FirePro W4170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Intel part has a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 11_1) and a newer Vulkan version, which may matter for compatibility with modern applications.

The bus interface and form factor also separate these parts. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses a Ring Bus interface and is an IGP, meaning it is integrated into the processor. The AMD FirePro W4170M uses PCIe 3.0 x8 and comes as an MXM module, a removable mobile graphics card format. Display outputs are motherboard-dependent for the Intel part and portable-device-dependent for the AMD part, reflecting their different integration approaches.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5988 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. The Intel part leads by 19% in this test.

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

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 sits within 0.9% of its closest rivals, which include the AMD Radeon HD 8730M, NVIDIA Quadro K620M, AMD Radeon HD 8750M, and NVIDIA Quadro K4000. The AMD FirePro W4170M sits within 0.7% of its closest rivals, which include the AMD Radeon R5 M430, R7 M340, R7 240, and R7 Graphics.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each GPU?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth. The AMD FirePro W4170M has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M has 384 shading units, double the 192 shading units of the Intel UHD Graphics 730. Despite this, the Intel part performs better in the benchmark.

Q: What are the release dates for these GPUs?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 was released on 2021-03-29, and the AMD FirePro W4170M was released on 2015-04-22.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses a 14 nm+++ process at Intel, while the AMD FirePro W4170M uses a 28 nm process at TSMC.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel UHD Graphics 730 wins in raw compute performance, as demonstrated by its 19% lead in the only head-to-head benchmark. It also holds a higher percentile ranking (33rd versus 30th) and a higher average benchmark score (5929 versus 5034). The Intel part additionally offers a newer architecture (Generation 12.1 versus GCN 1.0), a newer process node (14 nm+++ versus 28 nm), and a higher boost clock (1300 MHz versus 900 MHz). It also supports a newer DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 11_1) and a newer Vulkan version (1.4 versus 1.2.170).

The AMD FirePro W4170M wins in memory configuration, offering 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, whereas the Intel part relies on shared system memory. The AMD part also has double the shading units (384 versus 192) and double the texture mapping units (24 versus 12), though these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The AMD part's pixel rate is lower (7.200 GPixel/s versus 10.40 GPixel/s), but its texture rate is higher (21.60 GTexel/s versus 15.60 GTexel/s). The AMD part's FP32 throughput is 691.2 GFLOPS versus 499.2 GFLOPS for the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification. The Intel UHD Graphics 730 uses the Rocket Lake chip with Generation 12.1 architecture, while the AMD FirePro W4170M uses the Opal chip with GCN 1.0 architecture. Process nodes differ: 14 nm+++ at Intel versus 28 nm at TSMC. The AMD part has a recorded transistor count of 950 million and a die size of 77 mm², while the Intel part's transistor and die measurements are not recorded.

Clock speeds differ significantly: the Intel part has a 300 MHz base and 1300 MHz boost, while the AMD part has an 825 MHz base and 900 MHz boost. Memory differs fundamentally: the Intel part uses system-shared memory, while the AMD part has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD memory clock is 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the Intel memory clock is listed as system shared.

Compute resources differ: the Intel part has 192 shading units, 12 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, while the AMD part has 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. Pixel rates are 10.40 GPixel/s for Intel versus 7.200 GPixel/s for AMD. Texture rates are 15.60 GTexel/s for Intel versus 21.60 GTexel/s for AMD. FP32 performance is 499.2 GFLOPS for Intel versus 691.2 GFLOPS for AMD.

Power and form factor differ: the Intel part has a 15 W TDP and is an IGP, while the AMD part has no recorded TDP and is an MXM module with no power connectors. The bus interface is Ring Bus for Intel versus PCIe 3.0 x8 for AMD. Display outputs are motherboard-dependent for Intel and portable-device-dependent for AMD. API support differs in DirectX (12_1 versus 11_1) and Vulkan (1.4 versus 1.2.170), though both support OpenGL 4.6. Release dates differ by nearly six years: 2021-03-29 for Intel and 2015-04-22 for AMD.