AMD FirePro W5170M vs NVIDIA Tesla M10 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla M10 records an average benchmark score of 9724, while the AMD FirePro W5170M sits at 8595. The Tesla M10 sits at the 47th percentile among all GPUs, compared to the FirePro W5170M's 44th percentile.

Q: How large is the gap in OpenCL performance?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Tesla M10 scores 10318 versus the FirePro W5170M's 8140. That is a 26.8% advantage for the NVIDIA part.

Q: Is the Vulkan performance difference significant?

A: No. The Tesla M10 scores 9130 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the FirePro W5170M posts 9050. The delta is only 0.9%, making this a near tie.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each GPU according to the database?

A: For the Tesla M10, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (avg score 9716, 0.1% behind), GeForce GTX 1070 (9780, 0.6% ahead), Quadro P4000 (9665, 0.6% behind), and AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 (9653, 0.7% behind). For the FirePro W5170M, the nearest rivals are the Intel Arc A380 (8558, 0.4% behind), NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (8686, 1.1% ahead), AMD Radeon HD 8870M (8462, 1.6% behind), and GeForce MX330 (8458, 1.6% behind).

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor count?

A: The Tesla M10 packs 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, while the FirePro W5170M uses 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. Both are built on TSMC's 28 nm process.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: Both support DirectX 12, but with different feature levels. The Tesla M10 lists DirectX 12 (11_0), while the FirePro W5170M lists DirectX 12 (11_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6, but their Vulkan versions differ: the Tesla M10 has Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro W5170M has Vulkan 1.2.170.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA Tesla M10 is built on the Maxwell architecture using the GM107 chip, while the AMD FirePro W5170M uses the GCN 1.0 architecture with the Tropo chip. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, but the transistor densities differ slightly: the Tesla M10 achieves 12.6 million transistors per mm², while the FirePro W5170M reaches 12.2 million per mm². The Tesla M10's die is larger at 148 mm² versus 123 mm² for the AMD part.

The two GPUs share identical core counts in several areas. Each has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. However, clock speeds favor the Tesla M10. Its base clock is 1033 MHz with a boost of 1306 MHz, while the FirePro W5170M runs at 900 MHz base and 925 MHz boost. This clock advantage translates directly into higher fill rates and compute throughput. The Tesla M10 delivers 20.90 GPixel/s pixel rate and 52.24 GTexel/s texture rate, compared to 14.80 GPixel/s and 37.00 GTexel/s for the FirePro W5170M.

Memory configurations also differ significantly. The Tesla M10 carries 8 GB of GDDR5 across a 128-bit bus, yielding 83.20 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro W5170M has only 2 GB of GDDR5 on the same 128-bit bus, with 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. Memory clocks are also higher on the NVIDIA side: 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) versus 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective).

Compute output in FP32 is substantially higher on the Tesla M10 at 1.672 TFLOPS, while the FirePro W5170M manages 1,184.0 GFLOPS. Neither GPU lists FP16 support. The form factors are entirely different: the Tesla M10 is a dual-slot PCIe 3.0 x16 card with a 267 mm length (10.5 inches), requiring a 1x 8-pin power connector and a 550 W suggested power supply. The FirePro W5170M is an MXM Module using the MXM-A (3.0) interface, with no power connectors and portable-device-dependent display outputs.

API support shows a divergence in Vulkan versions. The Tesla M10 lists Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro W5170M lists Vulkan 1.2.170. DirectX support is nominally similar (12), but the feature level differs as noted. The Tesla M10 has no display outputs, whereas the FirePro W5170M's outputs depend on the host portable device.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct comparisons between these GPUs. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Tesla M10 scores 10318 against 8140 for the FirePro W5170M. This 26.8% margin is the largest single-test difference between the two parts. The NVIDIA GPU wins this test outright, reflecting its higher clock speeds, larger memory capacity, and greater bandwidth working together.

The Vulkan test is much closer. The Tesla M10 scores 9130, and the FirePro W5170M trails at 9050. The delta is just 0.9%, which is well within normal run-to-run variance. In practical terms, the Vulkan performance of these two GPUs is equivalent. The Tesla M10 wins this test on paper, but the margin is negligible.

Across the two recorded benchmarks, the Tesla M10 claims 2 wins and the FirePro W5170M has 0. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 9724 for the Tesla M10 versus 8595 for the FirePro W5170M, a difference of roughly 13%. The percentile rankings also separate them, with the Tesla M10 at the 47th percentile and the FirePro W5170M at the 44th.

When placed against their nearest rivals, the Tesla M10's average is nearly identical to the Tesla C2070 (9716, 0.1% difference) and the Quadro P4000 (9665, 0.6% behind). It is slightly below the GeForce GTX 1070 (9780, 0.6% ahead). The FirePro W5170M, by contrast, sits close to the Intel Arc A380 (8558, 0.4% behind) and the Quadro P2200 (8686, 1.1% ahead). This places the Tesla M10 in a higher performance tier overall.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The most impactful differences are:

• Architecture: Maxwell (NVIDIA) versus GCN 1.0 (AMD)
• Chip: GM107 versus Tropo
• Transistors: 1,870 million versus 1,500 million
• Die size: 148 mm² versus 123 mm²
• Transistor density: 12.6M / mm² versus 12.2M / mm²
• Base clock: 1033 MHz versus 900 MHz
• Boost clock: 1306 MHz versus 925 MHz
• Memory clock: 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps) versus 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps)
• Memory size: 8 GB versus 2 GB
• Memory bandwidth: 83.20 GB/s versus 72.00 GB/s
• Pixel rate: 20.90 GPixel/s versus 14.80 GPixel/s
• Texture rate: 52.24 GTexel/s versus 37.00 GTexel/s
• FP32 compute: 1.672 TFLOPS versus 1,184.0 GFLOPS
• TDP: 225 W versus not listed
• Slot width: Dual-slot versus MXM Module
• Power connectors: 1x 8-pin versus none
• Suggested PSU: 550 W versus not listed
• Bus interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 versus MXM-A (3.0)
• Display outputs: none versus portable device dependent
• DirectX feature level: 12 (11_0) versus 12 (11_1)
• Vulkan version: 1.4 versus 1.2.170
• Dimensions: 267 mm length versus not listed
• Release date: May 2016 versus August 2014

Both GPUs share 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Both use GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus. Both are end-of-life products from TSMC on 28 nm. Neither lists FP16 performance or RT/tensor cores.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Tesla M10 wins decisively in compute-heavy workloads. Its 26.8% OpenCL advantage and higher FP32 throughput (1.672 TFLOPS versus 1,184.0 GFLOPS) make it the clear choice for general-purpose GPU computing, particularly tasks that leverage OpenCL. The 8 GB memory capacity also provides a substantial buffer for larger datasets compared to the FirePro W5170M's 2 GB. The Tesla M10's higher pixel rate (20.90 GPixel/s) and texture rate (52.24 GTexel/s) indicate stronger rasterization throughput as well.

The AMD FirePro W5170M shows no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its closest showing is in Vulkan, where it trails by only 0.9%. However, the FirePro W5170M holds advantages in form factor and power delivery. As an MXM module with no power connectors, it is designed for portable or compact systems where a dual-slot PCIe card cannot fit. Its portable-device-dependent display outputs also mean it can drive displays directly, whereas the Tesla M10 has no outputs at all.

The FirePro W5170M also supports a slightly higher DirectX feature level (11_1 versus 11_0), which could matter for specific legacy applications. Its older release date (August 2014 versus May 2016) and lower transistor count suggest a less demanding power profile, though the database does not list a TDP for the AMD part.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the NVIDIA Tesla M10 is the stronger performer. It wins both recorded head-to-head tests, holds a higher average score (9724 versus 8595), and sits at a higher percentile among all GPUs. The 26.8% OpenCL gap is substantial and indicates a meaningful advantage in compute tasks. The Vulkan test shows near parity, so the Tesla M10's edge is not universal, but it is consistent.

The Tesla M10 is the appropriate choice for a dual-slot PCIe workstation or server where maximum compute throughput, high memory capacity (8 GB), and full-size cooling are available. Its 225 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU requirement indicate a need for robust power delivery.

The AMD FirePro W5170M is the appropriate choice for a mobile or compact system that uses the MXM-A interface. Its lack of a listed TDP, absence of power connectors, and portable-device-dependent outputs make it a flexible option for embedded or laptop designs. Its Vulkan performance is nearly on par with the Tesla M10, and its 2 GB memory is sufficient for lighter workloads. However, the recorded data shows no scenario where the FirePro W5170M outperforms the Tesla M10.

For buyers who can accommodate the Tesla M10's physical size and power demands, the data clearly favors it. For those constrained to an MXM form factor, the FirePro W5170M remains a viable, albeit slower, alternative. The choice ultimately depends on the host system's mechanical and power constraints rather than raw performance, since the Tesla M10 leads in every measured category.