AMD FirePro W4170M vs NVIDIA GeForce MX130 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 and AMD FirePro W4170M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions, but the data shows a clear separation in their capabilities. The MX130 holds a decisive lead in the single available head-to-head benchmark, yet the FirePro W4170M counters with a wider memory bus and higher API support. This analysis breaks down where each GPU wins, how their architectures differ, and who should pick which—based strictly on the provided benchmark and specification facts.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is one-sided in this comparison. The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 wins the only head-to-head test, Geekbench OpenCL, with a score of 6102 against the AMD FirePro W4170M's 5034. That is a 21.2% delta in favor of NVIDIA, a substantial margin that places the MX130 in a different performance tier for compute workloads.

However, the AMD FirePro W4170M does not lose everywhere. Its memory subsystem is notably wider: a 128-bit bus versus the MX130's 64-bit bus, yielding 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth compared to 40.10 GB/s. In bandwidth-sensitive tasks, this 59.6% advantage in raw memory throughput could translate to wins, even if the overall compute score lags.

The API support also favors AMD. The FirePro W4170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the MX130 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). For applications that leverage the newer 11_1 feature set, the AMD part has a functional edge. Additionally, the FirePro W4170M's Vulkan support is version 1.2.170, compared to the MX130's Vulkan 1.4—a difference in maturity that may affect compatibility with older software stacks.

For overall percentile ranking, the MX130 sits at the 32nd percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro W4170M is at the 30th. This 2-percentile gap reflects the MX130's higher average benchmark score of 5508 versus 5034 for the AMD part. The NVIDIA chip also has a higher pixel rate (9.512 GPixel/s vs 7.200 GPixel/s) and texture rate (28.54 GTexel/s vs 21.60 GTexel/s), suggesting better rasterization throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations. The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 is built on the Maxwell architecture using the GM108S chip, while the AMD FirePro W4170M uses the older GCN 1.0 architecture with the Opal chip. Both are manufactured on the same 28 nm process node at TSMC, but the transistor counts differ: the MX130 packs 1,020 million transistors, while the FirePro W4170M has 950 million. Despite this, both have the same die size of 77 mm², giving the NVIDIA part a higher transistor density of 13.2M / mm² versus 12.3M / mm².

Clock speeds diverge significantly. The MX130 runs at a base clock of 1109 MHz and boosts to 1189 MHz, while the FirePro W4170M is much slower at 825 MHz base and 900 MHz boost. This 34.4% advantage in base clock and 32.1% in boost clock for NVIDIA explains much of the compute performance gap. Memory clocks also differ: the MX130's memory runs at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the FirePro W4170M's memory runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).

Both chips share the same core configuration: 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 raster operation units. The similarity ends there, as the FirePro W4170M uses a 128-bit memory bus to achieve its higher bandwidth, while the MX130 uses a narrower 64-bit bus. The bus interface also differs: the MX130 is PCIe 3.0 x4, while the FirePro W4170M is PCIe 3.0 x8—giving the AMD part double the PCIe lanes for data transfer to the host system.

The FirePro W4170M is offered as an MXM Module, whereas the MX130 is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors. The AMD part has no listed TDP, while the MX130 is rated at 30 W. Both use GDDR5 memory and have 2 GB capacity, but the FirePro W4170M's predecessor is listed as FirePro Mobility, and its successor is Radeon Pro Mobile; the MX130 has no listed predecessor or successor.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw compute performance: the NVIDIA GeForce MX130. Its 21.2% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL head-to-head, combined with higher clock speeds, higher pixel and texture rates, and a better overall benchmark average (5508 vs 5034), makes it the stronger choice for general-purpose GPU workloads. The MX130 also holds a 32nd percentile ranking versus the FirePro W4170M's 30th, reinforcing its position as the faster part.

The AMD FirePro W4170M is not without merit, but its advantages are narrower and more specialized. The 64.00 GB/s memory bandwidth is a genuine asset for memory-bound applications, and the DirectX 12 (11_1) support is a step ahead of the MX130's 11_0. The FirePro W4170M also offers a wider PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, which may reduce data transfer bottlenecks in certain workflows.

For a buyer who prioritizes compute performance, the MX130 is the obvious pick. For a user who needs maximum memory bandwidth or requires the 11_1 DirectX feature set, the FirePro W4170M is the only option between these two. However, the benchmark evidence is unambiguous: the MX130 wins the only measured test, and it does so by a wide margin. The FirePro W4170M's strengths are theoretical advantages that do not appear in the available scores.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the head-to-head benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 is faster, scoring 6102 in Geekbench OpenCL compared to the AMD FirePro W4170M's 5034, a 21.2% difference.

Q: Do both GPUs have the same memory capacity?

A: Yes, both the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 and the AMD FirePro W4170M have 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M has 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 has 40.10 GB/s. The AMD part's 128-bit bus is twice as wide as the MX130's 64-bit bus.

Q: Which GPU has a higher DirectX support level?

A: The AMD FirePro W4170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), whereas the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 supports DirectX 12 (11_0).

Q: Are the core counts the same?

A: Yes, both GPUs have 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs.

Q: What are the release dates for these GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 was released on 2017-11-16, and the AMD FirePro W4170M was released on 2015-04-22.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only available head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, and it is a landslide. The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 scores 6102, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. The delta is 21.2% in favor of NVIDIA, which is a substantial lead for a mobile GPU comparison. This score aligns with the clock speed differences: the MX130's 1189 MHz boost clock is 32.1% higher than the FirePro W4170M's 900 MHz boost, and its 913.2 GFLOPS FP32 output is 32.1% higher than the AMD part's 691.2 GFLOPS.

The nearest rival data for each GPU provides context. The MX130's closest competitors include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M (avg score 5501, delta 0.1%) and the AMD FirePro M4000 (avg score 5537, delta -0.5%). The FirePro W4170M's closest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (avg score 5018, delta 0.3%) and the AMD Radeon R7 M340 (avg score 5063, delta -0.6%). This shows the MX130 sits in a slightly higher performance cluster than the FirePro W4170M, even when comparing each to its own peer group.

The wins tally is 1-0 in favor of NVIDIA, with the MX130 taking the sole benchmark. There are no other measured tests in the data, so the narrative is straightforward: in the one test that exists, NVIDIA wins decisively. The FirePro W4170M's higher memory bandwidth and DirectX 11_1 support are real specification advantages, but they do not materialize into a benchmark victory in this dataset.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the NVIDIA GeForce MX130 and the AMD FirePro W4170M:

• Manufacturer: NVIDIA vs AMD
• Chip: GM108S vs Opal
• Architecture: Maxwell vs GCN 1.0
• Generation: GeForce MX (1xx) vs FirePro Mobile (Wx100M)
• Transistors: 1,020 million vs 950 million
• Transistor Density: 13.2M / mm² vs 12.3M / mm²
• Base Clock: 1109 MHz vs 825 MHz
• Boost Clock: 1189 MHz vs 900 MHz
• Memory Clock: 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) vs 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective)
• Memory Bus Width: 64 bit vs 128 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 40.10 GB/s vs 64.00 GB/s
• Pixel Rate: 9.512 GPixel/s vs 7.200 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 28.54 GTexel/s vs 21.60 GTexel/s
• FP32 Performance: 913.2 GFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS
• TDP: 30 W vs not listed
• Slot Width: IGP vs MXM Module
• Bus Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4 vs PCIe 3.0 x8
• DirectX Support: 12 (11_0) vs 12 (11_1)
• Vulkan Support: 1.4 vs 1.2.170
• Release Date: 2017-11-16 vs 2015-04-22
• Predecessor: not listed vs FirePro Mobility
• Successor: not listed vs Radeon Pro Mobile

Both GPUs share the same 28 nm process node, 77 mm² die size, 2 GB GDDR5 memory, 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and lack of power connectors. They also both use the TSMC foundry and have OpenGL 4.6 support. The lack of a TDP for the FirePro W4170M makes direct power comparison impossible, but the MX130's 30 W rating suggests it is a low-power part. The FirePro W4170M's MXM form factor and PCIe 3.0 x8 interface indicate it is designed for modular laptop designs, while the MX130's IGP slot width points to a more integrated solution.