AMD FirePro W5100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Comparison

The AMD FirePro W5100 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 are two end-of-life graphics cards from different eras, targeting different segments. The data shows a near-perfect tie in average benchmark scores, yet their architectural philosophies and physical requirements diverge sharply. This analysis examines the benchmark results, architectural differences, and specification gaps to determine which card suits which workload, based strictly on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark available is Geekbench OpenCL. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 12,830, while the AMD FirePro W5100 scores 11,888. This gives the NVIDIA card a decisive win with a delta of -7.3% from the perspective of the AMD card. This means the GTX 590 is approximately 7.3% faster in this specific compute workload.

However, the broader picture is more nuanced. The average benchmark score for the FirePro W5100 is 12,847, while the GTX 590's average is 12,830. The AMD card leads by a razor-thin margin of 0.1%. This suggests that while the GTX 590 wins the OpenCL test, the FirePro W5100 may have other strengths that pull its average score slightly higher. For instance, the FirePro W5100 has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 13,805, a test the GTX 590 does not have a recorded result for. This Vulkan performance likely contributes to the AMD card's slightly higher average.

Looking at the nearest rivals, both cards are essentially in the same performance tier. The FirePro W5100's closest rival is the AMD Radeon Pro 455, which scores 12,831, a delta of just 0.1%. The GTX 590's closest rival is also the Radeon Pro 455, with a delta of 0%. The data implies that these two cards are performance peers, with the GTX 590 having an edge in one specific API test, but the FirePro W5100 showing more balance across different test types.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear split based on workload priorities. For raw compute performance in OpenCL, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is the winner, as it is 7.3% faster than the FirePro W5100 in that specific test. If a user's primary application relies heavily on OpenCL, the GTX 590 is the data-backed choice.

Conversely, the AMD FirePro W5100 is the more balanced card. Its average benchmark score is slightly higher than the GTX 590's, and it shows capability in Vulkan, a modern API that the GTX 590 lacks support for, as indicated by a null Vulkan version in its specifications. For users who need broader API support or who value a more consistent performance profile across different types of workloads, the FirePro W5100 is the logical pick.

The physical requirements also tell a story. The GTX 590 is a power-hungry dual-slot card requiring a 750 W suggested PSU and two 8-pin power connectors. The FirePro W5100 is a single-slot, 50 W card that needs no power connectors and only a 250 W PSU. From a system integration standpoint, the FirePro W5100 is far more accessible. The GTX 590's performance lead in OpenCL comes at a steep cost in power and size, making the FirePro W5100 the more practical choice for many systems.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD FirePro W5100 uses the Bonaire chip, based on the GCN 2.0 architecture. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 uses the GF110 chip, based on the older Fermi 2.0 architecture. This generational gap is significant, as GCN 2.0 is a newer design.

The manufacturing process highlights this gap. The FirePro W5100 is built on a 28 nm process, while the GTX 590 uses a 40 nm process. This difference in process node has major implications for efficiency and transistor density. The FirePro W5100 packs 2,080 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, yielding a density of 13.0 million transistors per mm². In contrast, the GTX 590 has 3,000 million transistors on a much larger 520 mm² die, resulting in a density of only 5.8 million transistors per mm². The newer 28 nm process allows AMD to fit more transistors in a smaller space, which contributes to its drastically lower power consumption.

Feature support also differs. The FirePro W5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTX 590 only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. This makes the AMD card more future-proof for modern applications and games that utilize these newer APIs. The GTX 590 is limited to older DirectX 11-level features and OpenGL 4.6, which it shares with the FirePro W5100.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal stark contrasts in nearly every category. The most obvious difference is in power consumption. The FirePro W5100 has a TDP of 50 W, while the GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W. This is a seven-fold difference. Consequently, the suggested PSU rating is 250 W for the AMD card and 750 W for the NVIDIA card. The FirePro W5100 is single-slot and requires no power connectors, while the GTX 590 is dual-slot and requires two 8-pin connectors.

Memory configurations are also very different. The FirePro W5100 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 590, despite being older, has 1,536 MB (1.5 GB) of GDDR5 memory on a much wider 384-bit bus, offering 164.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA card has significantly higher memory bandwidth, which can be crucial for certain high-resolution textures and compute tasks.

The compute unit configurations are interesting. The FirePro W5100 has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 590 has 512 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The AMD card has more shading units but fewer texture and pixel units. This leads to different theoretical performance rates. The FirePro W5100 achieves a pixel rate of 14.88 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 44.64 GTexel/s. The GTX 590 has a higher pixel rate at 19.46 GPixel/s but a lower texture rate at 38.91 GTexel/s. In raw FP32 compute, the FirePro W5100 leads with 1,428.5 GFLOPS versus the GTX 590's 1,244.2 GFLOPS.

The physical dimensions differ as well. The FirePro W5100 is a compact 173 mm (6.8 inches) long, while the GTX 590 is a massive 279 mm (11 inches) long. Both are 111 mm (4.4 inches) tall, but the GTX 590 is also 40 mm (1.6 inches) wide, making it a true dual-slot card. The FirePro W5100 uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the GTX 590 uses the older PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs also differ: the AMD card offers four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, while the NVIDIA card offers three DVI and one mini-DisplayPort output.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 12,830 compared to the AMD FirePro W5100's 11,888, making the GTX 590 7.3% faster in this specific test.

Q: Do the cards have similar overall performance?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The FirePro W5100 has an average score of 12,847, while the GTX 590 has an average score of 12,830, a difference of only 0.1%.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has higher memory bandwidth at 164.0 GB/s, compared to the AMD FirePro W5100's 96.00 GB/s, due to its wider 384-bit memory bus.

Q: Which card supports Vulkan?

A: Only the AMD FirePro W5100 supports Vulkan, with version 1.2.170. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has no Vulkan support listed in its specifications.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD FirePro W5100 has a TDP of 50 W and requires a 250 W PSU, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W and requires a 750 W PSU.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The AMD FirePro W5100 has 768 shading units, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has 512 shading units.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FirePro W5100 wins in scenarios that prioritize efficiency, modern API support, and compute density. Its 50 W power draw and single-slot design make it ideal for compact systems or multi-GPU setups where power and space are limited. Its support for Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12 (12_0) gives it an edge in newer applications that leverage these APIs. Furthermore, its higher FP32 compute rate of 1,428.5 GFLOPS and greater shading unit count suggest it may handle certain parallel compute workloads more effectively, despite losing the specific OpenCL test.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 wins in scenarios that demand raw memory bandwidth and higher pixel throughput. Its 164.0 GB/s bandwidth and 19.46 GPixel/s pixel rate are significantly higher than the FirePro W5100's figures. This makes it potentially better suited for tasks that are bandwidth-limited, such as high-resolution texture streaming or specific types of rendering. Its victory in the Geekbench OpenCL test also indicates a strength in that specific compute API, which could be relevant for legacy applications or workflows built around OpenCL. However, this performance comes with the caveat of requiring a 750 W PSU, two 8-pin connectors, and a large 279 mm dual-slot chassis, making it a challenging fit for most modern systems.