AMD FirePro W5170M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX Comparison

The AMD FirePro W5170M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions built on a 28 nm TSMC process, yet they target different workloads and deliver contrasting benchmark results. The data shows a clear split: NVIDIA holds a decisive lead in the only shared compute test, while AMD counters with superior API support and a more modern feature set. This analysis relies strictly on the provided specifications and benchmark scores to highlight where each part excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only overlapping benchmark between the two GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are lopsided. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX scores 10,723, while the AMD FirePro W5170M trails at 8,140. That represents a 24.1% deficit for the AMD part, as indicated by the deltaPct of -24.1 in the head-to-head data. This is not a marginal gap; it is a substantial margin that positions the GTX 675MX as the clear winner in raw compute throughput under this specific workload.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces the significance of this result. The GTX 675MX’s average benchmark score of 8,427 puts it just 0.4% behind the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (8,458) and 0.1% behind the AMD Radeon 880M (8,436). Meanwhile, the FirePro W5170M’s average score of 8,595 places it 1.6% ahead of both the AMD Radeon HD 8870M (8,462) and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (8,458), and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Arc A380 (8,558). Notably, the FirePro’s average score exceeds the GTX 675MX’s average, despite losing the OpenCL test badly. This is because the FirePro also has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9,050, which boosts its average; the GTX 675MX has no Vulkan score listed, instead offering a Geekbench Metal score of 6,131.

The OpenCL delta is the single most important number in this comparison. It shows that in a compute-heavy scenario, the NVIDIA part is not merely faster—it is significantly faster. However, the FirePro’s stronger average score, driven by its Vulkan result, indicates that the AMD card may be more versatile across different API environments. The data does not support a blanket statement of superiority; it supports a nuanced view where NVIDIA wins the one direct comparison, but AMD shows competitive strength in a broader context.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural families, which explains their divergent behaviors. The AMD FirePro W5170M uses the Tropo chip based on GCN 1.0 architecture, part of the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX uses the GK104 chip based on Kepler architecture, from the GeForce 600M generation. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, but the silicon itself is radically different in scale.

The GTX 675MX packs 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, while the FirePro W5170M has only 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. This leads to a transistor density of 12.0M per mm² for NVIDIA and 12.2M per mm² for AMD—nearly identical density, but the NVIDIA chip is more than twice the physical size and contains over twice the transistor count. This hardware disparity directly translates into the compute advantage seen in the OpenCL benchmark.

Core counts follow the same pattern. The GTX 675MX has 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). The FirePro W5170M has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. NVIDIA’s part has 50% more shading units, double the TMUs, and double the ROPs. These are not minor tweaks; they are fundamental differences in parallel processing capability. The NVIDIA card also posts a higher FP32 throughput at 1,255.7 GFLOPS versus 1,184.0 GFLOPS for AMD, and a higher texture rate at 52.32 GTexel/s versus 37.00 GTexel/s. However, AMD counters with a higher pixel rate of 14.80 GPixel/s versus 13.08 GPixel/s for NVIDIA, suggesting better efficiency in certain rasterization tasks despite fewer ROPs.

The memory subsystems also differ. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5, but the GTX 675MX has a 256-bit bus width providing 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the FirePro W5170M has a 128-bit bus width providing only 72.00 GB/s. Memory clocks differ as well: NVIDIA runs at 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective), while AMD runs at 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective). The higher effective clock on AMD cannot overcome the narrower bus. In terms of API support, AMD offers DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, while NVIDIA offers DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The DirectX version difference is small but real, with AMD supporting a slightly higher feature level.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX wins decisively in the compute benchmark that matters most for raw performance comparisons. Its OpenCL score of 10,723 versus 8,140 for AMD makes it the go-to choice for applications that leverage OpenCL for general-purpose GPU computing. The 24.1% lead is substantial, and the GTX 675MX’s higher shader count, TMU count, and FP32 throughput all support this outcome. For users prioritizing OpenCL-based workloads, the data leaves no ambiguity.

The AMD FirePro W5170M, however, wins in the broader benchmark aggregate. Its average score of 8,595 edges out the GTX 675MX’s 8,427, driven by a strong Vulkan score of 9,050. This suggests that in Vulkan-based tasks, the AMD card is likely to perform better, even though no direct head-to-head Vulkan test exists in the data. The FirePro also offers a higher pixel rate (14.80 GPixel/s versus 13.08 GPixel/s), which could translate to advantages in certain rendering scenarios that are pixel-bound rather than texture-bound.

The use-case split is therefore clean: choose the GTX 675MX for OpenCL-heavy compute, and choose the FirePro W5170M for Vulkan-based workloads or for tasks where the slightly higher average score indicates more consistent performance across different APIs. The GTX 675MX also has a Geekbench Metal score of 6,131, which is not matched by any Metal score for the FirePro, giving NVIDIA an edge on Apple platforms that use Metal. The FirePro has no Metal score listed, so any advantage there is unquantified but likely absent.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. The most striking differences are in the chip and core configuration. The GTX 675MX uses a GK104 chip with 3,540 million transistors and a 294 mm² die, while the FirePro W5170M uses a Tropo chip with 1,500 million transistors and a 123 mm² die. Transistor density is nearly identical at 12.0M versus 12.2M per mm², but the absolute numbers favor NVIDIA overwhelmingly.

Core counts show a similar pattern: the GTX 675MX has 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, versus 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs for the FirePro. The NVIDIA card also has higher texture rate (52.32 GTexel/s versus 37.00 GTexel/s) and higher FP32 throughput (1,255.7 GFLOPS versus 1,184.0 GFLOPS). The AMD card counters with a higher pixel rate (14.80 GPixel/s versus 13.08 GPixel/s) and a higher memory clock (1125 MHz versus 900 MHz), but the memory bus width and bandwidth favor NVIDIA: 256-bit and 115.2 GB/s versus 128-bit and 72.00 GB/s.

Power consumption is another differentiator. The GTX 675MX has a TDP of 100 W, while the FirePro W5170M has no TDP listed in the data. This absence is notable; it suggests that the AMD card may have a lower power draw, but without a number, no quantitative claim can be made. Both use MXM modules, but with different bus interfaces: the FirePro uses MXM-A (3.0), while the GTX 675MX uses MXM-B (3.0). Display outputs are portable device dependent for both, and neither requires power connectors.

The release dates also differ, with the GTX 675MX launching on 2012-09-30 and the FirePro W5170M on 2014-08-24. The NVIDIA card is older, and its successor is the GeForce 700M, while the AMD card’s successor is the Radeon Pro Mobile. The NVIDIA part’s predecessor is the GeForce 500M, and AMD’s is the FirePro Mobility.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX scores 10,723 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD FirePro W5170M scores 8,140. This gives NVIDIA a 24.1% advantage in that specific test.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD FirePro W5170M has an average benchmark score of 8,595, which is higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX’s average of 8,427. The AMD card’s score is 1.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 8870M and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330, while the NVIDIA card is 0.4% behind the MX330.

Q: What are the key differences in memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX has a 256-bit memory bus providing 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD FirePro W5170M has a 128-bit bus providing 72.00 GB/s. Both have 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX has 960 shading units, compared to 640 shading units on the AMD FirePro W5170M. NVIDIA also has double the TMUs (80 versus 40) and double the ROPs (32 versus 16).

Q: Does the AMD FirePro W5170M have any benchmark advantage?

A: Yes, the AMD FirePro W5170M has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9,050, which is not matched by any Vulkan score for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX. This contributes to the AMD card’s higher average benchmark score.

Q: Are there any differences in API support?

A: Yes, the AMD FirePro W5170M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan versions are similar (1.2.170 for AMD and 1.2.175 for NVIDIA).