AMD FirePro W4190M vs AMD Radeon Vega 3 Comparison

# AMD FirePro W4190M vs AMD Radeon Vega 3

These two AMD GPUs sit at opposite ends of the mobile graphics spectrum: the FirePro W4190M is a dedicated MXM workstation card from 2015, while the Vega 3 is a 2019 integrated graphics processor embedded in a laptop CPU. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the FirePro wins in raw compute, but the Vega 3 brings more modern API support and a significantly newer design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark in the data is Geekbench OpenCL, and the FirePro W4190M takes it decisively. The FirePro scores 4505 points against the Vega 3’s 3963, a 13.7% advantage. That is a meaningful gap for compute workloads, putting the dedicated card firmly ahead of the integrated part in raw GPGPU performance.

Contextualizing the FirePro’s score: it lands just 0.1% above the AMD Radeon R7 M260 (4499) and 1.2% below the Intel HD Graphics P530 (4560). Its 26th percentile ranking across all GPUs indicates it sits in the lower-middle tier of the entire GPU landscape. The Vega 3’s OpenCL score of 3963, meanwhile, puts it 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M (4282) and 0.6% behind the AMD FirePro W2100 (4295). Its 25th percentile is nearly identical to the FirePro’s, showing both parts occupy a similar global position despite their different architectures.

However, the Vega 3 has results in two additional APIs that the FirePro lacks entirely. In Geekbench Metal, the Vega 3 scores 4880, and in Geekbench Vulkan it scores 3961. These numbers suggest the Vega 3’s newer architecture handles modern graphics APIs more efficiently—its Metal score is notably higher than either GPU’s OpenCL result. The FirePro has no comparable data in these tests, so a direct cross-API comparison is not possible from the available facts.

The wins break down as 1 for the FirePro (OpenCL) and 0 for the Vega 3 in head-to-head tests, but that tally ignores the Vega 3’s additional API coverage. If you only care about OpenCL compute, the FirePro is the obvious choice. If you need Metal or Vulkan performance, the Vega 3 is the only option with data to show.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL score?

A: The AMD FirePro W4190M scores 4505 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 13.7% higher than the AMD Radeon Vega 3’s 3963. The FirePro wins this benchmark outright.

Q: Does the Vega 3 support any APIs that the FirePro does not?

A: Yes. The Vega 3 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the FirePro is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Vega 3 also has Geekbench Metal and Vulkan benchmark scores (4880 and 3961 respectively), which the FirePro lacks.

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

A: The FirePro sits 0.1% above the AMD Radeon R7 M260 (4499) and 1.4% below the AMD Radeon RX 560 (4569). The Vega 3 is 0.6% above the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (4241) and 1.5% below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335).

Q: Which GPU has the higher transistor density?

A: The Vega 3, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, has a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². The FirePro’s 28 nm TSMC process yields only 12.3M per mm². The Vega 3’s density is roughly 91% higher.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each GPU?

A: The FirePro has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 3 uses system shared memory with a system-dependent bandwidth and bus width—no dedicated VRAM.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Vega 3 boosts to 1100 MHz, while the FirePro boosts to 900 MHz. However, the FirePro’s base clock is 825 MHz versus the Vega 3’s 300 MHz, so the FirePro starts much higher but peaks lower.

Where Each One Wins

AMD FirePro W4190M wins on:

• OpenCL compute: 4505 vs 3963, a 13.7% lead.
• Dedicated memory: 2 GB GDDR5 with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, versus system shared memory.
• Pixel and texture rates: 7.200 GPixel/s and 21.60 GTexel/s, versus 4.400 GPixel/s and 13.20 GTexel/s.
• FP32 performance: 691.2 GFLOPS versus 422.4 GFLOPS.
• Shading units, TMUs, and ROPs: 384, 24, and 8 versus 192, 12, and 4.

AMD Radeon Vega 3 wins on:

• API support: DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, both newer than the FirePro’s versions.
• Boost clock: 1100 MHz versus 900 MHz.
• Process node: 12 nm versus 28 nm, leading to higher transistor density (23.5M vs 12.3M per mm²).
• FP16 performance: 844.8 GFLOPS (2:1) versus none listed for the FirePro.
• Metal and Vulkan benchmark coverage, with scores of 4880 and 3961 respectively.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs diverge sharply on process technology. The FirePro uses a 28 nm TSMC process with 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die. The Vega 3 uses a 12 nm GlobalFoundries process with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. That is over 5 times more transistors on a die nearly 3 times larger, and the density difference is stark: 23.5M per mm² versus 12.3M per mm².

Clock behavior is also inverted. The FirePro’s base clock is 825 MHz with a 900 MHz boost, while the Vega 3 starts at 300 MHz but boosts to 1100 MHz. The Vega 3’s boost is 22% higher, but its base is 64% lower—indicating a more aggressive dynamic clocking strategy.

Memory is the biggest practical difference. The FirePro has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 with a 128-bit bus and 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 3 has no dedicated memory at all, relying entirely on system shared memory with bandwidth described as “System Dependent.” This makes the FirePro far more predictable in memory-heavy workloads.

The compute resources favor the FirePro: 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs versus the Vega 3’s 192, 12, and 4. Consequently, the FirePro’s pixel rate (7.200 GPixel/s) and texture rate (21.60 GTexel/s) are both roughly 64% higher. FP32 throughput is 691.2 GFLOPS versus 422.4 GFLOPS, a 64% advantage for the FirePro. The Vega 3 counters with 844.8 GFLOPS FP16 performance, which the FirePro does not list.

Form factors differ completely: the FirePro is an MXM module with no power connectors, while the Vega 3 is an IGP with a 15 W TDP. The FirePro has no listed TDP. Bus interfaces are PCIe 3.0 x8 for the FirePro versus IGP for the Vega 3.

Architecture Differences

The FirePro uses GCN 1.0 architecture on the Opal chip, part of the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation. The Vega 3 uses GCN 5.0 on the Picasso chip, part of the Vega IGP generation. This is a four-generation architecture leap.

The process node improvement is substantial: 28 nm TSMC for the FirePro versus 12 nm GlobalFoundries for the Vega 3. The Vega 3’s transistor count of 4,940 million dwarfs the FirePro’s 950 million, though much of that is likely consumed by the CPU cores on the Picasso die. The FirePro is a pure GPU on a 77 mm² die, while the Vega 3 shares its 210 mm² die with CPU components.

API support reflects the newer architecture. The Vega 3 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the FirePro is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The Vega 3 also lists FP16 capability at 844.8 GFLOPS (2:1), a feature absent from the FirePro’s specifications.

The Vega 3’s predecessor is listed as GCN 3.0 IGP, and its successor is Vega II IGP. The FirePro’s predecessor is FirePro Mobility, and its successor is Radeon Pro Mobile. Both are marked end-of-life production status. The Vega 3 released on 2019-11-19, while the FirePro released on 2015-11-11—a four-year gap that explains the architectural differences.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD FirePro W4190M if your priority is raw compute performance in OpenCL workloads. The data shows a 13.7% advantage over the Vega 3 in Geekbench OpenCL, backed by significantly higher pixel rate, texture rate, FP32 throughput, and dedicated GDDR5 memory. The 2 GB VRAM with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth makes it the more capable option for memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks. Its 26th percentile ranking is marginally better than the Vega 3’s 25th, and it sits closer to higher-performing rivals like the Radeon RX 560 (within 1.4%).

Choose the AMD Radeon Vega 3 if you need modern API support or work with Metal or Vulkan. It is the only one of the two with benchmark data in those APIs, scoring 4880 in Metal and 3961 in Vulkan. Its newer GCN 5.0 architecture, 12 nm process, and higher boost clock (1100 MHz) suggest better efficiency, and its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for ultraportable designs. The Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_1) support mean better forward compatibility with newer games and applications.

For general users, the Vega 3’s integrated nature means zero additional hardware cost and lower power draw, but the FirePro’s dedicated memory and compute resources make it the stronger performer in absolute terms. The FirePro wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark, and it does so by a wide margin. The Vega 3 wins on modernity and API coverage. If you must choose one for OpenCL compute, the FirePro is the data-backed pick. If you need Vulkan or Metal, the Vega 3 is the only option with proven results.