AMD FirePro W5170M vs AMD Radeon HD 8870M Comparison

The AMD FirePro W5170M and AMD Radeon HD 8870M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions built on the same GCN 1.0 architecture and 28 nm process, but they target different segments of the laptop market. The data shows a single head-to-head benchmark result, along with a broader set of aggregate scores and rival comparisons that reveal how each card positions itself. This analysis will focus strictly on the provided facts to differentiate the two.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this test, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M scores 8462, while the AMD FirePro W5170M scores 8140. The delta percentage is -3.8%, indicating that the Radeon HD 8870M outperforms the FirePro W5170M by that margin in this specific workload. This is a notable reversal of expectations, as the FirePro branding typically suggests a professional-grade focus, yet the consumer-oriented Radeon part takes the lead in raw compute throughput as measured by OpenCL.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the picture becomes more nuanced. The Radeon HD 8870M has an average benchmark score of 8462, while the FirePro W5170M averages 8595. This puts the FirePro W5170M approximately 1.6% ahead of the Radeon HD 8870M when considering the full suite of available benchmarks. The discrepancy between the single OpenCL test and the average score suggests that the FirePro W5170M’s advantage lies in other performance metrics not captured in the head-to-head comparison.

The nearest rival data further contextualizes these scores. The FirePro W5170M sits very close to several other GPUs, with a delta of 0.4% against the Intel Arc A380 (average score 8558) and a delta of -1.1% against the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (average score 8686). The Radeon HD 8870M, meanwhile, matches the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 almost exactly, with a delta of 0.1% (both around 8458-8462), and sits just 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 880M (8436). These rival comparisons show that both cards operate in a tight performance band, with the FirePro W5170M edging slightly higher on average.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data presents a split decision. If the priority is a single OpenCL compute workload, the AMD Radeon HD 8870M is the clear winner, delivering a 3.8% higher score. However, for overall average performance across all recorded benchmarks, the AMD FirePro W5170M takes the lead by a slim 1.6% margin. Neither card represents a dominant victory, and the results are close enough that real-world application differences could easily flip the balance.

The FirePro W5170M is the better choice for users who need a slightly higher average performance profile and the form factor of an MXM Module. The Radeon HD 8870M, with its PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, is more suited to traditional laptop designs. Given the end-of-life status of both, the decision hinges on whether the specific OpenCL performance of the Radeon HD 8870M is more valuable than the marginally better all-around average of the FirePro W5170M. The data suggests the FirePro W5170M offers a more balanced overall package, while the Radeon HD 8870M is a specialist that wins the one test where they are directly compared.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the same fundamental architecture, GCN 1.0, and use the identical 28 nm process from TSMC. They share the same transistor count of 1,500 million and the same die size of 123 mm², resulting in an identical transistor density of 12.2M per mm². This means the core hardware layout is essentially the same at the architectural level, with no differences in the underlying compute units or memory subsystem design.

The chips themselves are different, however. The FirePro W5170M uses the Tropo chip, while the Radeon HD 8870M uses the Venus chip. Despite these different codenames, both are GCN 1.0 implementations with identical transistor counts and die sizes, suggesting they are very closely related silicon. The generation labels also differ: the FirePro W5170M belongs to the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation, while the Radeon HD 8870M is part of the Solar System (HD 8800M) generation. These are branding and marketing distinctions rather than fundamental architectural changes.

The API support is identical for both cards, with DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. This means software compatibility is essentially the same, and neither card has a feature advantage in terms of supported graphics APIs. The lack of RT cores and tensor cores in both confirms that neither supports ray tracing or AI acceleration hardware, which is consistent with their GCN 1.0 architecture and older release dates.

Specification Differences

The primary specification differences between the two cards lie in clock speeds and derived performance rates. The FirePro W5170M has a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 925 MHz, while the Radeon HD 8870M operates at a lower base clock of 725 MHz and a boost clock of 775 MHz. This clock advantage for the FirePro W5170M translates directly into higher pixel and texture fill rates: the FirePro achieves 14.80 GPixel/s and 37.00 GTexel/s, compared to 12.40 GPixel/s and 31.00 GTexel/s for the Radeon HD 8870M. The FP32 compute performance follows the same pattern, with the FirePro W5170M delivering 1,184.0 GFLOPS versus 992.0 GFLOPS for the Radeon HD 8870M.

Memory specifications are identical. Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, with the same 1125 MHz memory clock and 4.5 Gbps effective speed, yielding a matching bandwidth of 72.00 GB/s. The shading units (640), TMUs (40), and ROPs (16) are also the same, meaning the core compute resources are equal and the performance difference comes entirely from the clock speeds.

The physical interfaces differ. The FirePro W5170M uses an MXM-A (3.0) bus interface and comes in an MXM Module slot width, with no power connectors listed. The Radeon HD 8870M, by contrast, uses a standard PCIe 3.0 x16 bus interface, and its slot width and power connector requirements are not specified. The FirePro W5170M lists display outputs as "Portable Device Dependent," while the Radeon HD 8870M has no display output information provided.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro W5170M has an average benchmark score of 8595, while the AMD Radeon HD 8870M has an average score of 8462, putting the FirePro W5170M 1.6% ahead.

Q: What is the result of the direct Geekbench OpenCL comparison?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8870M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 8462, compared to the AMD FirePro W5170M's 8140, a delta of -3.8% for the FirePro.

Q: Are the clock speeds different between the two cards?

A: Yes. The FirePro W5170M has a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost of 925 MHz, while the Radeon HD 8870M has a base clock of 725 MHz and a boost of 775 MHz.

Q: Do the two GPUs share the same memory configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with a 72.00 GB/s bandwidth and a 4.5 Gbps effective memory speed.

Q: How does the FirePro W5170M compare to the NVIDIA Quadro P2200?

A: The FirePro W5170M's average score is 8595, which is 1.1% below the NVIDIA Quadro P2200's average score of 8686.

Q: Which card has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The FirePro W5170M delivers 1,184.0 GFLOPS, which is higher than the Radeon HD 8870M's 992.0 GFLOPS.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon HD 8870M wins in the specific Geekbench OpenCL test, making it the stronger choice for applications that rely heavily on that particular compute benchmark. Its performance there is 3.8% better than the FirePro W5170M, and it also matches the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 almost perfectly, with a delta of just 0.1%. For users whose workloads are dominated by OpenCL compute as measured in that test, the Radeon HD 8870M is the preferable option.

The AMD FirePro W5170M wins in overall average benchmark score, suggesting it has broader strengths across multiple types of workloads. Its 1.6% advantage over the Radeon HD 8870M in average score is complemented by higher clock speeds, which give it superior pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 compute. The FirePro W5170M also edges out the Intel Arc A380 by 0.4%, while the Radeon HD 8870M trails that same rival by 1.1%. For users who need the highest possible fill rates and raw compute throughput across a variety of tasks, the FirePro W5170M is the better choice. Its MXM Module form factor also distinguishes it as a swappable mobile workstation part, whereas the Radeon HD 8870M is a more conventional PCIe 3.0 x16 laptop component.