AMD FirePro W5130M vs NVIDIA Quadro K2100M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FirePro W5130M and NVIDIA Quadro K2100M are both end-of-life mobile workstation GPUs, but the recorded data shows a clear split in their capabilities. The AMD FirePro W5130M wins the only directly comparable benchmark in the database, the Geekbench OpenCL test, with a score of 4904 against the Quadro K2100M's 4587, a 6.9% advantage. This makes the FirePro the stronger choice for compute workloads that rely on OpenCL acceleration.

The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, however, has a broader benchmark footprint. It is the only one of the two with recorded results in Geekbench Metal (3524) and Geekbench Vulkan (4343). These scores indicate that the Quadro supports additional API paths that the FirePro cannot match in the database, making it the more versatile option for applications that can leverage Metal or Vulkan.

In terms of overall standing, the FirePro W5130M sits at the 29th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the Quadro K2100M sits at the 25th percentile. The FirePro's average benchmark score is 4904, whereas the Quadro's average is 4151, a difference that stems from the Quadro's lower OpenCL result and the inclusion of its Metal and Vulkan scores in the average. The data suggests that the FirePro is the better raw performer in OpenCL, but the Quadro offers a wider range of API support, which may matter more in certain workstation environments.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural lineages. The AMD FirePro W5130M uses the Tropo chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M uses the GK106S chip based on Kepler architecture, also built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. Both are manufactured by the same foundry on the same node, but their internal designs diverge significantly.

The transistor counts tell a notable story. The Quadro K2100M packs 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, while the FirePro W5130M has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. The Quadro's die is nearly twice the size, and its transistor density is 11.5M per mm², slightly lower than the FirePro's 12.2M per mm². This means the Quadro uses a larger, more complex chip to achieve its feature set.

Shading unit counts favor the Quadro. The K2100M has 576 shading units and 48 texture mapping units, while the FirePro has 512 shading units and 32 TMUs. Both have 16 ROPs. Despite having fewer shading units, the FirePro achieves a higher FP32 throughput of 947.2 GFLOPS versus the Quadro's 768.4 GFLOPS, because the FirePro runs at a much higher clock speed: 900 MHz base and 925 MHz boost, compared to the Quadro's fixed 667 MHz.

Memory configurations are similar in capacity and type, both 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128 bit bus, but the FirePro's memory runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) yielding 64.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the Quadro's memory runs at 752 MHz (3 Gbps effective) yielding 48.13 GB/s. The FirePro also has a higher pixel rate at 14.80 GPixel/s versus 8.004 GPixel/s, though the Quadro edges out the FirePro in texture rate at 32.02 GTexel/s versus 29.60 GTexel/s.

The API support differs as well. The FirePro supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Quadro supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Quadro has a slightly newer Vulkan version, and only the Quadro has recorded Metal and Vulkan benchmark scores in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the FirePro W5130M wins decisively. The FirePro scores 4904, while the Quadro K2100M scores 4587, a 6.9% delta. This is a meaningful gap in compute performance, especially for OpenCL-heavy workloads.

The FirePro's advantage in this test likely stems from its higher clock speeds and memory bandwidth. With 947.2 GFLOPS of FP32 throughput and 64.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth, the FirePro has a theoretical edge that the benchmark confirms. The Quadro, despite having more shading units and TMUs, is held back by its lower 667 MHz clock and 48.13 GB/s bandwidth.

The Quadro does have a counterpoint in the form of its Vulkan and Metal scores, but these are not directly comparable to the FirePro because the FirePro has no recorded results in those tests. The Quadro's Vulkan score of 4343 is lower than its OpenCL score of 4587, while its Metal score of 3524 is significantly lower. This suggests that the Quadro's performance varies by API, with OpenCL being its strongest recorded path.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the FirePro's OpenCL score of 4904 places it just ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4901, 0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (4893, 0.2% delta), while trailing the AMD Radeon R7 M265 (4929, -0.5% delta) and AMD Radeon R7 M360 (4931, -0.5% delta). The Quadro's average score of 4151 sits near the AMD Radeon R5 M330 (4170, -0.4% delta) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4193, -1% delta), while leading the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB (4093, 1.4% delta) and Intel HD Graphics 630 (4075, 1.9% delta). These comparisons show that both GPUs are firmly in the entry-level mobile segment, but the FirePro holds a measurable edge in OpenCL.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL benchmarks?

A: The AMD FirePro W5130M scores 4904 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 6.9% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M's 4587.

Q: Does the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the Quadro K2100M has a recorded Geekbench Vulkan score of 4343 and supports Vulkan 1.2.175. The FirePro W5130M supports Vulkan 1.2.170 but has no recorded Vulkan benchmark score.

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

A: The FirePro W5130M has 64.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Quadro K2100M has 48.13 GB/s. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128 bit bus.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has 576 shading units, while the AMD FirePro W5130M has 512. Despite this, the FirePro achieves higher FP32 throughput at 947.2 GFLOPS versus 768.4 GFLOPS.

Q: How do their transistor counts compare?

A: The Quadro K2100M has 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, while the FirePro W5130M has 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die.

Q: What are the process nodes for both GPUs?

A: Both the AMD FirePro W5130M and NVIDIA Quadro K2100M are built on a 28 nm process at TSMC.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion for OpenCL-centric workloads: the AMD FirePro W5130M is the stronger performer. Its 6.9% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with higher FP32 throughput, higher memory bandwidth, and a higher pixel rate, makes it the better choice for compute tasks that rely on OpenCL. Its 29th percentile standing versus the Quadro's 25th percentile reinforces this.

The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, however, has one distinct advantage: API breadth. It is the only GPU of the two with recorded Metal and Vulkan benchmark scores, and it supports Vulkan 1.2.175, a slightly newer version than the FirePro's 1.2.170. For environments that require Metal or Vulkan support, the Quadro is the only option between the two.

The Quadro also has a larger chip with more shading units and TMUs, and a higher texture rate of 32.02 GTexel/s versus the FirePro's 29.60 GTexel/s. This could favor the Quadro in texture-bound tasks, even though its overall compute throughput is lower.

For buyers choosing between these two end-of-life mobile workstation GPUs, the decision hinges on the software stack. If OpenCL performance is the priority, the FirePro W5130M is the data-backed winner. If Metal or Vulkan support is required, the Quadro K2100M is the only choice. The data does not support a universal winner, but it clearly defines the conditions under which each GPU excels.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FirePro W5130M | NVIDIA Quadro K2100M |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | Tropo | GK106S |

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Kepler |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 2,540 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 221 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 11.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 900 MHz | 667 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 925 MHz | 667 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) | 752 MHz (3 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 64.00 GB/s | 48.13 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 512 | 576 |

| TMUs | 32 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 14.80 GPixel/s | 8.004 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 29.60 GTexel/s | 32.02 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 947.2 GFLOPS | 768.4 GFLOPS |

| TDP | Not specified | 55 W |

| Slot Width | Not specified | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | Not specified | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | MXM-A (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | Not specified | Portable Device Dependent |

| DirectX | 12 (11_1) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2015-10-01 | 2013-07-22 |

| Predecessor | FirePro Mobility | Quadro Fermi-M |

| Successor | Radeon Pro Mobile | Quadro Maxwell-M |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 4904 | 4587 |

| Geekbench Metal | Not recorded | 3524 |

| Geekbench Vulkan | Not recorded | 4343 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 4904 | 4151 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 29 | 25 |