AMD FirePro W5130M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

AMD FirePro W5130M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M

The AMD FirePro W5130M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M are two end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from different eras, with the AMD part arriving in 2015 and the NVIDIA part in 2011. The single benchmark data point available—Geekbench OpenCL—shows the AMD FirePro W5130M scoring 4904 against the GTX 560M’s 4855, a margin of exactly 1%. While this delta is narrow, the underlying specifications and architectural approaches reveal substantial differences that affect real-world usability beyond the raw score. The AMD part sits at the 29th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA part sits at the 28th, placing both in the lower-middle range of the performance spectrum, but the path each takes to get there is distinct.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL compute test. The AMD FirePro W5130M records 4904 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855. This gives AMD a win by a 1% delta, which is a narrow but consistent margin. To contextualize this, both cards are closely bracketed by the same set of rivals in their respective nearestRivals lists. The AMD FirePro W5130M sits within 0.5% of the AMD Radeon R7 M265 (4929) and R7 M360 (4931), and within 0.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893). The GTX 560M, meanwhile, is within 0.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (4844) and within 0.8% of the GTS 450. Notably, both cards are within 0.9% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, which scores 4901—meaning the FirePro W5130M is 0.1% above that modern part, while the GTX 560M is 0.9% below it.

The 1% delta between the two contenders translates to a 49-point difference in raw score. This is not a transformative gap; in many workloads, the difference would be imperceptible. However, the FirePro W5130M achieves this score with 512 shading units at a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost of 925 MHz, delivering 947.2 GFLOPS of FP32 compute. The GTX 560M, by contrast, uses 192 shading units and achieves 595.2 GFLOPS. The AMD part’s higher compute throughput is offset by its narrower 128-bit memory bus (64.00 GB/s bandwidth) versus the GTX 560M’s 192-bit bus (60.00 GB/s bandwidth). The GTX 560M has more ROPs (24 vs. 16) and a larger memory pool in terms of bus width, but the FirePro W5130M has a higher pixel rate (14.80 GPixel/s vs. 6.200 GPixel/s) and texture rate (29.60 GTexel/s vs. 24.80 GTexel/s). The benchmark result, therefore, reflects a balance where AMD’s raw shader throughput edges out NVIDIA’s memory bandwidth advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher benchmark score in the available tests?

A: The AMD FirePro W5130M scores 4904 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M scores 4855, giving AMD a 1% advantage.

Q: How do these two compare to modern entry-level GPUs?

A: The FirePro W5130M is 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4901), while the GTX 560M is 0.9% behind that same modern part. Both are also close to the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893), with AMD 0.2% ahead and NVIDIA 0.8% behind.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The FirePro W5130M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 60.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD FirePro W5130M has 512 shading units, compared to 192 on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M. This contributes to AMD’s higher FP32 throughput of 947.2 GFLOPS versus 595.2 GFLOPS.

Q: Do these GPUs support modern graphics APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6. The FirePro W5130M supports Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 560M has no listed Vulkan support.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The FirePro W5130M is built on a 28 nm process with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, while the GTX 560M uses a 40 nm process with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FirePro W5130M wins in compute-oriented scenarios. Its 947.2 GFLOPS FP32 performance, driven by 512 shading units, gives it a clear edge in OpenCL workloads, as reflected in the benchmark result. The higher texture rate (29.60 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (14.80 GPixel/s) suggest it handles fill-rate-dependent tasks better. The 2 GB memory capacity, while on a narrower 128-bit bus, still offers 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for moderate resolution textures. The Vulkan 1.2.170 support also makes it more future-proof for modern cross-platform titles that leverage Vulkan.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M wins in specific memory-bound and rasterization scenarios. Its 192-bit memory bus, despite the lower 60.00 GB/s bandwidth, provides better memory addressability, which can help in certain large data sets. The 24 ROPs (versus 16 on AMD) give it a theoretical advantage in pixel write operations, despite the lower pixel rate—the higher ROP count allows more concurrent pixel processing. The 1536 MB memory, while smaller in capacity, is paired with a wider bus, which can be beneficial for certain compute kernels that are sensitive to memory latency rather than raw throughput. The card’s 75 W TDP and MXM module form factor suggest it was designed for specific laptop chassis, making it a fit for systems that require that interface.

Specification Differences

The most glaring difference is the process node: AMD uses 28 nm, NVIDIA uses 40 nm. This leads to a transistor density disparity—12.2M transistors per mm² for AMD versus 4.9M for NVIDIA—even though the GTX 560M has a larger die (238 mm² vs. 123 mm²) and fewer total transistors (1,170 million vs. 1,500 million). The FirePro W5130M has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the GTX 560M has 192 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Clock speeds also differ: AMD lists a base of 900 MHz and boost of 925 MHz, while NVIDIA lists no base or boost clocks, only a memory clock of 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective) versus AMD’s 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).

Memory capacity is 2 GB versus 1536 MB, and bus width is 128-bit versus 192-bit. Bandwidth is 64.00 GB/s for AMD and 60.00 GB/s for NVIDIA. The bus interface differs: AMD uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while NVIDIA uses MXM-B (3.0). The GTX 560M has a listed TDP of 75 W and is an MXM Module with no power connectors, while the FirePro W5130M has no TDP, slot width, or power connector data. Display outputs are listed for NVIDIA as "Portable Device Dependent," with no data for AMD. The GTX 560M also has a listed API set including DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but no Vulkan, while AMD has DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.

Architecture Differences

The AMD FirePro W5130M is based on the Tropo chip using GCN 1.0 architecture, a design that emphasizes parallel compute throughput. This is evident in the 512 shading units arranged for high FP32 output. The 28 nm process allows a higher transistor density, enabling more compute units in a smaller die area. The FirePro W5130M belongs to the FirePro Mobile generation (Wx100M), positioned as a professional mobile workstation part. The GTX 560M, in contrast, uses the GF116 chip with Fermi 2.0 architecture, which is an older design focused on a different balance of shader and raster resources. The Fermi architecture’s 192 shading units are fewer but paired with 24 ROPs, suggesting a design that prioritizes pixel throughput over raw compute. The 40 nm process is less dense, hence the larger die despite fewer transistors.

Both cards are end-of-life, but their architectural lineages differ significantly. The FirePro W5130M’s GCN 1.0 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170, making it more compatible with modern APIs. The GTX 560M’s Fermi 2.0 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) but lacks Vulkan support entirely. The AMD part has a successor (Radeon Pro Mobile) and predecessor (FirePro Mobility), while the GTX 560M sits between GeForce 400M and GeForce 600M generations. The memory clock difference—1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) for AMD versus 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective) for NVIDIA—reflects the newer memory controller design in the AMD part.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the AMD FirePro W5130M is the better choice for users who prioritize compute performance and modern API support. Its 1% benchmark lead over the GTX 560M is small, but its architectural advantages—512 shading units, 947.2 GFLOPS FP32, Vulkan support, and a denser 28 nm process—provide a more capable foundation for OpenCL workloads and future software compatibility. The 2 GB memory capacity, while on a narrower bus, is still larger than the GTX 560M’s 1536 MB.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M, however, is not without merit. Its 192-bit memory bus and 24 ROPs make it a stronger candidate for memory-intensive rasterization tasks, even if its raw compute is lower. The 75 W TDP and MXM module form factor indicate it fits specific mobile workstation designs. For users with a system that requires MXM-B (3.0) connectivity, the GTX 560M is the only option of the two. The data shows the FirePro W5130M winning the only available benchmark, but the GTX 560M’s wider memory interface could be preferable in certain niche scenarios where memory addressability matters more than raw shader count. Ultimately, the FirePro W5130M offers a more modern feature set and higher compute ceiling, making it the recommended pick for general-purpose compute and modern API usage.