AMD FirePro W5170M vs AMD Radeon 540 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly between these two AMD mobile graphics solutions. The AMD FirePro W5170M claims victory in the Geekbench OpenCL test, which typically stresses general-purpose compute workloads. It records a score of 8140 against the Radeon 540's 6184, a decisive 31.6% advantage. This makes the W5170M the stronger choice for tasks that lean heavily on raw compute throughput, such as rendering, simulation, or any OpenCL-accelerated professional application.

The AMD Radeon 540 takes the win in the Geekbench Vulkan test, a graphics-oriented benchmark that measures performance through modern graphics APIs. Here, the Radeon 540 scores 9162, slightly edging out the FirePro W5170M's 9050. The margin is narrow, just 1.2%, but it is enough to give the Radeon 540 the upper hand in Vulkan-based gaming or graphics workloads. This suggests that while the older FirePro card has a compute advantage, the newer Radeon part holds its own in API-specific rendering tasks.

Looking at the overall average benchmark score, the FirePro W5170M sits at 8595, which places it at the 44th percentile among all GPUs in the database. The Radeon 540 averages 7673, landing at the 41st percentile. The FirePro's average is roughly 12% higher, reflecting its stronger OpenCL showing. However, the Radeon 540's nearest rival data shows it trading blows with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, a delta of -0.6%, while the FirePro W5170M sits close to the Intel Arc A380 with a delta of 0.4%. These context points show that both cards operate in a similar performance tier, but with distinct strengths depending on the workload type.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD's graphics architecture. The FirePro W5170M uses the Tropo chip built on GCN 1.0, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 1,500 million transistors onto a 123 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.2 million per square millimeter. The Radeon 540, in contrast, uses the Lexa chip based on GCN 4.0, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,200 million transistors on a smaller 103 mm² die, achieving a much higher density of 21.4 million per square millimeter.

The core configurations differ substantially. The FirePro W5170M has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The Radeon 540 has fewer shading units at 384, along with 24 TMUs but the same 16 ROPs. This means the FirePro has a wider compute pipeline, which helps explain its OpenCL dominance. The Radeon 540 compensates with higher clock speeds in some respects: its pixel rate is 18.93 GPixel/s versus 14.80 GPixel/s for the FirePro, even though its texture rate is lower at 28.39 GTexel/s versus 37.00 GTexel/s. The FirePro's FP32 performance is 1,184.0 GFLOPS compared to 908.5 GFLOPS for the Radeon 540.

Memory architecture also sets them apart. The FirePro W5170M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The Radeon 540 is limited to 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 32-bit bus, which caps bandwidth at 24.00 GB/s. The Radeon 540 does have faster memory clocks at 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective) versus 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) for the FirePro, but the narrow bus width severely limits overall throughput. The Radeon 540 also supports FP16 at 908.5 GFLOPS in a 1:1 ratio, a feature the FirePro does not list.

API support differs as well. The FirePro W5170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Radeon 540 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The newer Vulkan version and full DirectX 12_0 support on the Radeon 540 reflect its more modern architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded benchmark comparisons tell a straightforward story. In Geekbench OpenCL, the FirePro W5170M scores 8140 against the Radeon 540's 6184. This is a 31.6% lead, a substantial gap that cannot be explained by clock speed alone. The FirePro's larger shading unit count and wider memory bus are the likely contributors. The 128-bit memory interface delivers three times the bandwidth of the Radeon 540's 32-bit bus, which is critical for memory-intensive compute workloads.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn slightly. The Radeon 540 scores 9162, while the FirePro W5170M trails at 9050. The delta is -1.2%, meaning the Radeon 540 is about 1.2% faster. This is a much closer margin than the OpenCL result, indicating that Vulkan performance is more balanced between the two. The Radeon 540's newer GCN 4.0 architecture and Vulkan 1.3 support may give it an edge in driver optimization for modern APIs, even though its raw compute resources are fewer.

The wins are split exactly one apiece. This parity in benchmark victories means neither card is universally superior. The FirePro W5170M is the compute leader, while the Radeon 540 leads in Vulkan-specific tasks. For a user who prioritizes OpenCL workloads, the FirePro is clearly ahead. For someone focused on Vulkan gaming or rendering, the Radeon 540 offers a slight but real advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The AMD FirePro W5170M. It scores 8140 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 6184 for the AMD Radeon 540, a 31.6% difference. Its FP32 throughput is also higher at 1,184.0 GFLOPS compared to 908.5 GFLOPS.

Q: Does the newer Radeon 540 outperform the FirePro in any benchmark?

A: Yes. In Geekbench Vulkan, the Radeon 540 scores 9162 against the FirePro W5170M's 9050, a 1.2% advantage. This is the only head-to-head benchmark where it wins.

Q: How do their memory systems compare?

A: The FirePro W5170M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 540 has 1024 MB on a 32-bit bus with 24.00 GB/s. The FirePro's wider bus provides significantly more bandwidth despite slower memory clocks.

Q: What are their respective positions relative to other GPUs?

A: The FirePro W5170M sits at the 44th percentile with an average score of 8595. The Radeon 540 is at the 41st percentile with an average of 7673. The FirePro's closest rival is the Intel Arc A380 at a 0.4% delta, while the Radeon 540's closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti at -0.6%.

Q: Do they support different DirectX versions?

A: Yes. The FirePro W5170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the Radeon 540 supports DirectX 12 (12_0). The Radeon 540 also supports Vulkan 1.3, whereas the FirePro supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The FirePro W5170M has 640 shading units. The Radeon 540 has 384. The FirePro also has 40 TMUs versus 24 for the Radeon 540, though both have 16 ROPs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FirePro W5170M | AMD Radeon 540 |

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

| Chip | Tropo | Lexa |

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 4.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 2,200 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 103 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 21.4M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 900 MHz | Not listed |

| Boost Clock | 925 MHz | Not listed |

| Memory Clock | 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) | 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 32 bit |

| Bandwidth | 72.00 GB/s | 24.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 384 |

| TMUs | 40 | 24 |

| ROPs | 16 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 14.80 GPixel/s | 18.93 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 37.00 GTexel/s | 28.39 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,184.0 GFLOPS | 908.5 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | Not listed | 908.5 GFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | Not listed | 50 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | Single-slot |

| Bus Interface | MXM-A (3.0) | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 2x DisplayPort 1.4a |

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

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.3 |

| Release Date | 2014-08-24 | 2017-04-19 |

| Predecessor | FirePro Mobility | Arctic Islands |

| Successor | Radeon Pro Mobile | Vega |

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload. The AMD FirePro W5170M is the choice for compute-intensive tasks. Its 31.6% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with 640 shading units and 72.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth, makes it the stronger candidate for OpenCL-accelerated professional workloads. The 2 GB memory capacity also doubles the Radeon 540's 1024 MB, which matters for larger datasets.

The AMD Radeon 540 is the better option for Vulkan-based graphics. Its 1.2% edge in Geekbench Vulkan, along with newer GCN 4.0 architecture, Vulkan 1.3 support, and DirectX 12_0, positions it as the more modern graphics card. Its higher pixel rate of 18.93 GPixel/s also suggests better fill-rate performance in certain rendering scenarios.

For users who rely on OpenCL compute, the FirePro W5170M is the clear winner. For those who prioritize Vulkan performance or need a single-slot card with modern API support, the Radeon 540 is the better fit. The two cards are closely matched overall, with the FirePro's average benchmark score of 8595 versus the Radeon's 7673, but each leads in its respective domain. The choice ultimately comes down to the specific application and API in use.