AMD FirePro W5100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits cleanly between two workloads, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti takes both recorded tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 660 Ti scores 15,113 against the FirePro W5100's 11,888, a 27.1% advantage. That is the largest gap in the comparison, and it reflects a substantial lead in general-purpose compute throughput. In Geekbench Vulkan, the margin narrows considerably: the GTX 660 Ti posts 15,012 versus 13,805, a 8.7% edge. The Vulkan result is the closer contest, suggesting that the FirePro W5100 is comparatively more competitive in API-level graphics workloads than in raw OpenCL compute.

The AMD FirePro W5100 does not win either of the two head-to-head tests. Its strengths, based on the database records, are not measured in these two specific benchmarks. The card carries 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, while the GTX 660 Ti has 2 GB on a 192-bit bus. The FirePro W5100 also draws only 50 W according to the TDP field, versus 150 W for the GTX 660 Ti. Those are architectural and power characteristics, not benchmark wins, but they indicate where the FirePro W5100 is positioned: lower power envelope, higher memory capacity, and a professional display output configuration with four DisplayPort 1.2 connections.

When placed against its nearest rivals in the database, the GTX 660 Ti sits at the 57th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15,063. The FirePro W5100 sits at the 52nd percentile, with an average score of 12,847. The GTX 660 Ti is effectively tied with the AMD Radeon Pro 560X (15,082, delta -0.1%) and slightly behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15,171, delta -0.7%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15,199, delta -0.9%). The FirePro W5100, meanwhile, is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12,831, delta 0.1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830, delta 0.1%), with the AMD Radeon 740M slightly ahead (12,870, delta -0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 slightly behind (12,773, delta 0.6%). These proximity values confirm that the GTX 660 Ti operates in a higher performance tier than the FirePro W5100, and that the FirePro W5100's closest peers are several generations older or lower-tier products.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different manufacturers with fundamentally different GPU designs. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti uses the GK104 chip, built on the Kepler architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The die measures 294 mm² and contains 3,540 million transistors, yielding a transistor density of 12.0 million per mm². The AMD FirePro W5100 uses the Bonaire chip, based on GCN 2.0, also on TSMC's 28 nm node, but with a much smaller die: 160 mm² and 2,080 million transistors, for a density of 13.0 million per mm². The density figures are close, but the GTX 660 Ti packs roughly 70% more transistors onto a die that is about 84% larger, which explains much of its compute advantage.

Shader resources differ significantly. The GTX 660 Ti has 1,344 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. The FirePro W5100 has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 660 Ti's raw throughput numbers follow: 2.634 TFLOPS FP32, 109.8 GTexel/s texture fill, and 27.44 GPixel/s pixel fill. The FirePro W5100 delivers 1,428.5 GFLOPS FP32, 44.64 GTexel/s, and 14.88 GPixel/s. In every measured throughput category, the GTX 660 Ti is well ahead: roughly 84% higher FP32, 146% higher texture rate, and 84% higher pixel rate.

Memory configurations also diverge. The GTX 660 Ti uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, with memory clocked at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) and bandwidth of 144.2 GB/s. The FirePro W5100 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, memory at 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective), and bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s. The FirePro W5100 has double the capacity but 33% less bandwidth. For workloads that fit within 2 GB, the GTX 660 Ti has the clear bandwidth advantage; for workloads that exceed 2 GB, the FirePro W5100's larger frame buffer is the relevant differentiator.

Power and physical design point to different intended environments. The GTX 660 Ti has a TDP of 150 W, requires a dual-slot cooler, two 6-pin power connectors, and a suggested 450 W power supply. It measures 241 mm (9.5 inches) in length. The FirePro W5100 has a TDP of 50 W, a single-slot cooler, no power connectors, and a suggested 250 W power supply. It measures 173 mm (6.8 inches) long and 111 mm (4.4 inches) tall. The FirePro W5100 is built for constrained chassis and low-power systems, while the GTX 660 Ti needs more cooling and power headroom.

API support differs in one notable way. The GTX 660 Ti supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The FirePro W5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The FirePro W5100 has the higher DirectX feature level, 12_0 versus 11_0, which matters for certain modern DirectX 12 titles and features. The Vulkan versions are nearly identical, differing only in the patch number.

Display outputs also signal different use cases. The GTX 660 Ti offers 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. The FirePro W5100 offers 4x DisplayPort 1.2 only. The FirePro W5100 is clearly aimed at multi-monitor professional setups, while the GTX 660 Ti retains legacy DVI and HDMI connectivity for consumer displays.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a straightforward conclusion for compute-oriented workloads: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti is the faster card. It wins both recorded head-to-head tests, with a 27.1% lead in OpenCL and an 8.7% lead in Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 15,063 places it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro W5100's 12,847 places it in the 52nd percentile. In raw FP32, texture, and pixel throughput, the GTX 660 Ti leads by wide margins.

The FirePro W5100 is not without rationale. It offers 4 GB of memory, double the GTX 660 Ti's 2 GB, and it does so with a 50 W TDP, no external power connectors, a single-slot cooler, and a shorter 173 mm board. For systems where power draw, chassis space, or multi-monitor output count matters more than compute throughput, the FirePro W5100 is the more suitable choice. The four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs are a professional workstation feature that the GTX 660 Ti cannot match with its single DisplayPort 1.2 and legacy DVI/HDMI mix.

The DirectX feature level also favors the FirePro W5100: DirectX 12 (12_0) versus DirectX 12 (11_0) on the GTX 660 Ti. For applications that require the newer feature level, the FirePro W5100 is the only one of the two that qualifies. That is a narrow but real advantage in modern API compatibility.

In short: the GTX 660 Ti is the choice for raw performance, compute workloads, and gaming-style tasks where its higher fill rates and bandwidth translate directly into better scores. The FirePro W5100 is the choice for low-power, multi-display professional environments where 4 GB of memory and a 50 W envelope are more important than peak throughput. The data does not support calling the FirePro W5100 a faster card in any measured test, but it does support calling it a more efficient and more display-centric option.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti has an average score of 15,063, compared to 12,847 for the AMD FirePro W5100. The GTX 660 Ti also holds the 57th percentile among all GPUs, while the FirePro W5100 sits at the 52nd percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 660 Ti scores 15,113 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 11,888 for the FirePro W5100, a delta of 27.1% in favor of the GTX 660 Ti.

Q: Does the FirePro W5100 have any memory capacity advantage?

A: Yes. The FirePro W5100 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, while the GTX 660 Ti has 2 GB on a 192-bit bus. However, the GTX 660 Ti has higher memory bandwidth at 144.2 GB/s versus 96.00 GB/s.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The GTX 660 Ti has a TDP of 150 W, requires two 6-pin power connectors, and a suggested 450 W power supply. The FirePro W5100 has a TDP of 50 W, requires no power connectors, and a suggested 250 W power supply.

Q: Which card supports more simultaneous display outputs?

A: The FirePro W5100 has four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The GTX 660 Ti has two DVI, one HDMI 1.4a, and one DisplayPort 1.2, for a total of four outputs as well, but only one of them is DisplayPort.

Q: Is there any API feature where the FirePro W5100 is ahead?

A: Yes, in DirectX support. The FirePro W5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the GTX 660 Ti supports DirectX 12 (11_0). The FirePro W5100 also has a slightly older Vulkan version at 1.2.170 versus 1.2.175 for the GTX 660 Ti.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The OpenCL test is the decisive one. The GTX 660 Ti records 15,113 points, and the FirePro W5100 records 11,888 points. That 27.1% delta is the largest single margin in the comparison. The GTX 660 Ti's shading unit count, 1,344 versus 768, and its FP32 throughput of 2.634 TFLOPS versus 1,428.5 GFLOPS, align with this result. The FirePro W5100's narrower 128-bit memory bus and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth likely constrain its OpenCL performance in memory-heavy kernels.

The Vulkan test is closer. The GTX 660 Ti scores 15,012, and the FirePro W5100 scores 13,805, a delta of 8.7%. The FirePro W5100 closes about two-thirds of the gap seen in OpenCL. This could reflect the FirePro W5100's DirectX 12 (12_0) feature level and GCN architecture's handling of modern API workloads, though the recorded data cannot confirm the mechanism. What the data shows is that the FirePro W5100 is more competitive in Vulkan than in OpenCL, but still behind.

Looking at the nearest rivals provides context for each card's standing. The GTX 660 Ti's average of 15,063 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro 560X at 15,082, a delta of -0.1%. It is also within 1% of the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15,171, -0.7%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15,199, -0.9%). The FirePro W5100's average of 12,847 is effectively tied with the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12,831, 0.1%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12,830, 0.1%), while trailing the AMD Radeon 740M (12,870, -0.2%) and leading the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 (12,773, 0.6%). These comparisons show that the FirePro W5100 competes with much older or lower-tier hardware, while the GTX 660 Ti sits near the performance level of far newer mainstream GPUs.

The physical and power characteristics reinforce the performance split. The GTX 660 Ti is a 150 W, dual-slot, 241 mm card with two 6-pin connectors. The FirePro W5100 is a 50 W, single-slot, 173 mm card with no power connectors. The GTX 660 Ti has a 294 mm² die with 3,540 million transistors; the FirePro W5100 has a 160 mm² die with 2,080 million transistors. The GTX 660 Ti's larger silicon budget buys substantially more compute and memory bandwidth, while the FirePro W5100's smaller die buys efficiency and compactness.

In the end, the head-to-head record is 2-0 in favor of the GTX 660 Ti. The OpenCL margin is decisive, and the Vulkan margin, while smaller, is still a clear win. The FirePro W5100's advantages are not found in these two benchmark scores; they are found in its 4 GB memory capacity, 50 W power draw, single-slot footprint, and four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. For a buyer optimizing purely for measured performance, the GTX 660 Ti is the stronger choice. For a buyer optimizing for low power and multi-display professional use, the FirePro W5100 has characteristics the GTX 660 Ti cannot offer, even if it loses every recorded benchmark.