AMD FirePro W5100 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a split decision between the AMD FirePro W5100 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, with each card claiming one benchmark victory in the two head-to-head tests. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M takes the OpenCL test with a score of 12,769 against the AMD FirePro W5100's 11,888, a margin of 6.9 percent. This is the more substantial of the two deltas, and it aligns with the raw compute specifications in the database: the GTX 780M carries 1,536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, while the FirePro W5100 is built around 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Doubling the shading units and TMUs does not translate to double the OpenCL score, but it does produce a clear lead.

The AMD FirePro W5100 reverses the outcome in the Vulkan test, posting 13,805 against the GTX 780M's 12,696, a delta of 8.7 percent in favor of the FirePro. This is a notable result because the FirePro W5100 achieves the higher Vulkan score despite being heavily outgunned on paper in most raw throughput metrics. The architectural maturity of the GCN 2.0 design, combined with the DirectX 12 (12_0) feature level support, appears to give the FirePro an advantage in this API. The GTX 780M's Kepler architecture is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0) support, which may explain part of the gap in Vulkan performance.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story of near-parity with a slight edge to the AMD card. The FirePro W5100 records an average benchmark score of 12,847 across its two tests, while the GTX 780M averages 11,261 across three tests. The GTX 780M's average is dragged down by its Metal benchmark score of 8,319, which has no counterpart in the FirePro W5100's test suite. When comparing only the shared OpenCL and Vulkan tests, the averages are much closer: the FirePro W5100 averages 12,846.5 across the two shared tests, while the GTX 780M averages 12,732.5. The delta between these averages is just under one percent, which matches the narrow margins seen in the individual tests.

The percentile rankings reinforce the closeness of this matchup. The FirePro W5100 sits at the 52nd percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the GTX 780M sits at the 50th percentile. Both cards are firmly in the middle of the pack, with neither presenting a compelling argument for dominance based on percentile position alone.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides additional context for where each card lands. The FirePro W5100's average score of 12,847 places it within 0.2 percent of the AMD Radeon 740M, which scores 12,870, and within 0.1 percent of both the AMD Radeon Pro 455 at 12,831 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 at 12,830. The FirePro also leads the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 by 0.6 percent, with that card scoring 12,773. The GTX 780M's average of 11,261 sits 0.3 percent above the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 and the AMD FirePro W4300, both at 11,228, and 1.6 percent above the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Max-Q and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000D Blackwell Max-Q, both at 11,088. These rival relationships suggest the FirePro W5100 is grouped with slightly faster cards overall, but the head-to-head comparison shows the GTX 780M is competitive in the right conditions.

FAQ

Q: Which card wins the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M wins the OpenCL test with a score of 12,769 against the AMD FirePro W5100's 11,888, a 6.9 percent advantage.

Q: Which card wins the Vulkan benchmark?

A: The AMD FirePro W5100 wins the Vulkan test with a score of 13,805 against the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M's 12,696, an 8.7 percent advantage.

Q: How do the two cards compare in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro W5100 has an average benchmark score of 12,847 across two tests, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M has an average of 11,261 across three tests. The GTX 780M's average is lowered by its Metal score of 8,319, a test the FirePro W5100 does not have.

Q: What are the percentile rankings of these two GPUs?

A: The AMD FirePro W5100 is at the 52nd percentile among all GPUs, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M is at the 50th percentile.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M has a 256 bit memory bus and 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD FirePro W5100 has a 128 bit bus and 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor count and larger die?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M has 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, while the AMD FirePro W5100 has 2,080 million transistors on a 160 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD FirePro W5100 is built on the GCN 2.0 architecture using the Bonaire chip, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M uses the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip, also on a 28 nm process at TSMC. Both cards are end-of-life products, but their internal designs diverge significantly.

The transistor counts reveal a substantial difference in complexity. The GTX 780M packs 3,540 million transistors onto a 294 mm² die, while the FirePro W5100 contains 2,080 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The transistor density works out to 12.0 million per square millimeter for the GTX 780M and 13.0 million per square millimeter for the FirePro W5100. The FirePro actually achieves a slightly higher density despite the smaller overall chip, which speaks to the efficiency of the GCN 2.0 layout.

The compute configurations are dramatically different. The GTX 780M fields 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, while the FirePro W5100 has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. These numbers explain the GTX 780M's leads in pixel rate (25.50 GPixel/s versus 14.88 GPixel/s) and texture rate (102.0 GTexel/s versus 44.64 GTexel/s). The FP32 throughput similarly favors the GTX 780M at 2.448 TFLOPS against the FirePro W5100's 1,428.5 GFLOPS.

The memory subsystems also differ. Both cards use 4 GB of GDDR5, but the GTX 780M employs a 256 bit bus for 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the FirePro W5100 uses a 128 bit bus for 96.00 GB/s. The memory clocks are 5 Gbps effective for the GTX 780M and 6 Gbps effective for the FirePro W5100, meaning the FirePro's memory runs faster per pin but the GTX 780M's wider bus wins on total bandwidth.

API support shows a meaningful split. The FirePro W5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the GTX 780M is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan, with the GTX 780M carrying a newer Vulkan version at 1.2.175 versus the FirePro W5100's 1.2.170. The FirePro W5100 also has explicit workstation features in its display outputs, offering 4x DisplayPort 1.2, while the GTX 780M's display outputs are listed as portable device dependent.

Specification Differences

The physical and electrical specifications differ considerably. The AMD FirePro W5100 is a single-slot card rated at 50 W TDP with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W. It measures 173 mm in length and 111 mm in height. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M is an MXM module with a 122 W TDP, also with no external power connectors, and no suggested PSU figure is recorded. The GTX 780M has no listed dimensions, as MXM modules are designed for laptop chassis rather than desktop slots.

The bus interfaces reflect their different markets. The FirePro W5100 uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GTX 780M uses MXM-B (3.0). The clock behavior also differs: the GTX 780M has recorded base and boost clocks of 771 MHz and 797 MHz respectively, while the FirePro W5100 has no base or boost clock listed in the database.

Release timing places the GTX 780M earlier, with a release date of May 2013, while the FirePro W5100 followed in March 2014. The GTX 780M's predecessor is the GeForce 600M and its successor is the GeForce 800M. The FirePro W5100's predecessor is the FirePro Terascale and its successor is the Radeon Pro Polaris. Neither card has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M wins in scenarios that favor raw compute throughput and memory bandwidth. Its OpenCL score of 12,769, which is 6.9 percent ahead of the FirePro W5100, suggests workloads that scale with shading units, texture units, and ROPs will favor the GTX 780M. The 2.448 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, 102.0 GTexel/s texture rate, and 25.50 GPixel/s pixel rate are all roughly double the FirePro W5100's corresponding figures, and the 160.0 GB/s memory bandwidth gives it a decisive edge in bandwidth-bound tasks. The 256 bit memory bus is the primary driver here, providing 66.7 percent more bandwidth than the FirePro W5100's 96.00 GB/s.

The AMD FirePro W5100 wins in Vulkan workloads, posting 13,805 against the GTX 780M's 12,696, an 8.7 percent advantage. This is the only head-to-head test the FirePro wins, but it is a meaningful one. The FirePro W5100's DirectX 12 (12_0) support and GCN 2.0 architecture appear to handle the Vulkan API more efficiently despite lower raw specs. The higher effective memory clock of 6 Gbps versus 5 Gbps may also contribute, even with the narrower 128 bit bus.

The FirePro W5100 also wins on power efficiency. Its 50 W TDP is less than half of the GTX 780M's 122 W, and it achieves comparable average benchmark scores in the shared tests while drawing far less power. The FirePro W5100's average score across its two tests is 12,847, and its Vulkan result is the highest single score recorded for either card in the shared test suite.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split based on the workload in question. For users prioritizing OpenCL compute performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M is the stronger choice. Its 6.9 percent lead in the OpenCL test, combined with roughly double the shading units, texture units, ROPs, and memory bandwidth, makes it the better option for compute-heavy tasks that leverage those resources.

For users working in Vulkan environments, the AMD FirePro W5100 is the better pick. Its 8.7 percent lead in the Vulkan test is the largest margin recorded in either direction, and it achieves this with far lower power consumption. The FirePro W5100's DirectX 12 (12_0) support and GCN 2.0 architecture give it a forward-looking API advantage despite its older release date relative to the GTX 780M in raw silicon terms.

The overall percentile standings favor the FirePro W5100 slightly, with its 52nd percentile rank against the GTX 780M's 50th. The nearest rival data also places the FirePro W5100 in slightly faster company, with its average score of 12,847 within 0.2 percent of the AMD Radeon 740M and within 0.1 percent of the Radeon Pro 455 and GeForce GTX 590. The GTX 780M's average of 11,261 places it 0.3 percent above the Radeon Pro WX 3200 and FirePro W4300.

The choice ultimately depends on which API and workload matters more. The GTX 780M is the compute brute, winning on raw throughput metrics and OpenCL performance. The FirePro W5100 is the efficiency pick, winning on Vulkan performance, power draw, and percentile standing. Both cards are end-of-life products, and neither represents a clear overall winner. The database shows a narrow matchup where the winner is determined entirely by the specific test being run.