AMD FirePro W5130M vs AMD Radeon R8 M445DX Comparison

The AMD FirePro W5130M and AMD Radeon R8 M445DX are two end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from AMD, separated by roughly seven months in release timing and built on different generations of the Graphics Core Next architecture. The data shows a single benchmark result for each, with the FirePro W5130M taking the win in the head-to-head comparison, but the specifications reveal a more nuanced story about how each GPU is designed for different roles within portable systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, which measures raw compute throughput. The AMD FirePro W5130M scores 4,904 points, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4,727 points. This gives the FirePro a 3.7% advantage, a modest but consistent lead in general-purpose compute workloads. In isolation, a 3.7% delta is not transformative, but it places the two GPUs in different tiers when viewed against the broader competitive landscape.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each GPU clarifies what these scores mean. The FirePro W5130M sits at the 29th percentile of all GPUs, with its 4,904 score landing within 0.5% of both the AMD Radeon R7 M265 (4,929) and the AMD Radeon R7 M360 (4,931). It is also effectively tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4,901, a 0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4,893, a 0.2% delta). This clustering indicates that the FirePro W5130M is performing right at the expected level for its class, neither overachieving nor underperforming relative to similarly positioned parts.

The Radeon R8 M445DX, by contrast, scores in the 27th percentile overall. Its 4,727 points put it just 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon R5 M335 (4,752) and 1.3% behind both the AMD Radeon R5 M255 (4,788) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB (4,791). The fact that an entry-level R5-series part and a flagship RTX 3080 12 GB appear in the same rival cluster is a statistical artifact of the benchmark score, but it does show that the M445DX’s compute result is not exceptional for its generation. It is slightly ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro P400 (4,684, a 0.9% delta in favor of the M445DX), but that is a professional low-profile card with a different target market.

The benchmark data therefore shows a clear, if narrow, winner in the FirePro W5130M. The 3.7% lead is consistent with the architectural differences discussed below, but it is not a commanding margin. Neither GPU posts a score that would make it stand out in a modern context; both are firmly in the entry-level mobile segment, with the FirePro holding a slight edge in raw compute.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture. The FirePro W5130M is built on GCN 1.0, using the Tropo chip, while the Radeon R8 M445DX uses GCN 3.0 with the Meso chip. Both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, so the underlying transistor technology is identical, but the architecture generations differ significantly in feature support and efficiency.

The FirePro W5130M uses a larger chip: Tropo measures 123 mm² and contains 1,500 million transistors, giving a transistor density of 12.2 million per mm². The Meso chip in the Radeon R8 M445DX is slightly larger at 125 mm², with 1,550 million transistors and a density of 12.4 million per mm². This means the M445DX has slightly more raw silicon, but it is configured with fewer active execution units. The FirePro has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs, while the M445DX has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. This is a substantial difference in compute resource allocation; the FirePro has 60% more shading units and double the ROPs.

Clock speeds tell a different part of the story. The FirePro W5130M runs at a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 925 MHz, a narrow range. The Radeon R8 M445DX has a lower base clock of 780 MHz but a much higher boost clock of 1,021 MHz, indicating it is designed to ramp up aggressively under load. Despite this, the FirePro’s higher shading unit count gives it a significant throughput advantage. Pixel rate is 14.80 GPixel/s for the FirePro versus 8.168 GPixel/s for the M445DX, and texture rate is 29.60 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 947.2 GFLOPS for the FirePro and 653.4 GFLOPS for the M445DX, a 45% difference in favor of the FirePro.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The FirePro W5130M has a dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Radeon R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and instead borrows from the system’s main memory. Its bus width and bandwidth are listed as “System Shared” and “System Dependent,” respectively. This is a fundamental design difference: the FirePro is a discrete-class GPU with its own memory pool, while the M445DX is an integrated-style part that relies on shared system resources. The M445DX is classified as an IGP with a portable-device-dependent display output, confirming its role as a hybrid solution for thin laptops.

The FirePro also supports a wider set of features in some respects. It supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0), meaning the M445DX has a more complete DirectX 12 feature set. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170. The FirePro has a PCIe 3.0 x16 bus interface, while the M445DX is listed simply as IGP, indicating it does not use a standard PCIe slot.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The AMD FirePro W5130M scores 4,904 points, which is 3.7% higher than the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX’s 4,727 points.

Q: Do both GPUs use the same process node?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, though they use different chips: Tropo for the FirePro and Meso for the M445DX.

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

A: The FirePro W5130M has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the Radeon R8 M445DX uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The FirePro W5130M has 512 shading units, compared to 320 shading units on the Radeon R8 M445DX.

Q: Do the GPUs support the same API versions?

A: Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170, but the FirePro supports DirectX 12 (11_1) while the M445DX supports DirectX 12 (12_0).

Q: What is the pixel rate for each GPU?

A: The FirePro W5130M has a pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s, while the Radeon R8 M445DX has a pixel rate of 8.168 GPixel/s.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The FirePro W5130M uses the Tropo chip on GCN 1.0 architecture, while the Radeon R8 M445DX uses the Meso chip on GCN 3.0. Die size is 123 mm² for the FirePro and 125 mm² for the M445DX, with transistor counts of 1,500 million and 1,550 million, respectively. Transistor density is 12.2M / mm² versus 12.4M / mm².

Clock speeds differ noticeably: the FirePro has a 900 MHz base and 925 MHz boost, while the M445DX has a 780 MHz base and 1,021 MHz boost. Memory configuration is starkly different: the FirePro has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the M445DX has System Shared memory on a System Shared bus with System Dependent bandwidth. The FirePro’s memory clock is 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), which the M445DX lacks entirely.

Compute resources show the FirePro with 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, versus 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs for the M445DX. Pixel rate is 14.80 GPixel/s versus 8.168 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 29.60 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 947.2 GFLOPS versus 653.4 GFLOPS, and the M445DX adds FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1), which the FirePro does not list.

The bus interface differs: PCIe 3.0 x16 for the FirePro versus IGP for the M445DX. Display outputs are not specified for the FirePro but are listed as “Portable Device Dependent” for the M445DX. The M445DX is classified with a slot width of IGP, while the FirePro has no listed slot width. DirectX support differs: 12 (11_1) for the FirePro and 12 (12_0) for the M445DX. The FirePro’s generation is FirePro Mobile (Wx100M), while the M445DX’s is Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400). Release dates are October 2015 for the FirePro and May 2016 for the M445DX.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FirePro W5130M wins in raw compute throughput across the board. Its FP32 performance of 947.2 GFLOPS is 45% higher than the M445DX’s 653.4 GFLOPS, and its pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s is 81% higher than 8.168 GPixel/s. Texture rate is also higher at 29.60 GTexel/s versus 20.42 GTexel/s. The dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth gives it a substantial advantage in memory-bound workloads, as the M445DX must rely on system memory with bandwidth that is dependent on the host platform. The FirePro also has a higher benchmark score, winning the only head-to-head test by 3.7%.

The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX wins in architectural modernity and integration. It uses the newer GCN 3.0 architecture with full DirectX 12 (12_0) support, whereas the FirePro is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1). Its higher boost clock of 1,021 MHz versus 925 MHz suggests better burst performance in short workloads. The M445DX also has a higher transistor count (1,550 million versus 1,500 million) and a slightly larger die (125 mm² versus 123 mm²), indicating more raw silicon despite fewer active execution units. Its IGP classification and System Shared memory make it suitable for compact portable devices where a discrete memory pool is not feasible. The M445DX also lists FP16 support at 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1), which the FirePro does not provide.

The Verdict

The data consistently points to the AMD FirePro W5130M as the more capable GPU for compute and graphics workloads. It wins the sole benchmark by 3.7%, and its specification sheet shows overwhelming advantages in shading units, ROPs, memory bandwidth, pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput. For any task that relies on dedicated graphics memory or sustained compute, the FirePro is the clear choice. Its 947.2 GFLOPS FP32 performance and 64.00 GB/s memory bandwidth are decisive advantages that the M445DX cannot overcome with its System Shared memory and lower execution unit count.

The Radeon R8 M445DX, however, is not without its merits. Its newer GCN 3.0 architecture provides better DirectX 12 feature support, and its high boost clock of 1,021 MHz allows it to approach the FirePro’s compute in short bursts despite having fewer cores. Its IGP form factor and System Shared memory make it a practical choice for ultra-portable laptops where a discrete GPU is not an option. The M445DX also has a slight edge in raw transistor count and die size, suggesting that AMD intended it as a more efficient integrated solution.

For users who need a dedicated mobile GPU for professional or compute-heavy applications, the FirePro W5130M is the better pick. Its 2 GB of GDDR5 memory and 512 shading units provide a level of performance that the M445DX cannot match. For users who prioritize portability and do not require dedicated VRAM, the Radeon R8 M445DX offers a more modern feature set in an integrated package. The benchmark data makes the FirePro the winner, but the M445DX serves a different purpose in the mobile landscape.