AMD FirePro W7000 vs AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT Comparison

The AMD FirePro W7000 and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT represent two distinct eras of professional GPU design. The FirePro W7000, built on GCN 1.0 architecture, was a workhorse for its time, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT leverages the modern RDNA 1.0 architecture to deliver massive generational leaps in compute capability. The data reveals a decisive shift in performance, but the comparison also highlights fundamental differences in design philosophy, memory configuration, and intended deployment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT dominates the AMD FirePro W7000 in every single head-to-head comparison available in the data. The most dramatic gap appears in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the Radeon Pro 5700 XT scores 59,467 points against the FirePro W7000’s 17,808 points. This represents a staggering 70.1% advantage for the newer card, showcasing the enormous boost in raw compute throughput. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT’s FP32 performance of 7.675 TFLOPS completely eclipses the FirePro W7000’s 2.432 TFLOPS, which explains the scale of this OpenCL victory.

The Vulkan API test tells a similar story, though with a slightly smaller margin. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT scores 56,593 points, while the FirePro W7000 trails at 22,001 points. This translates to a 61.1% deficit for the older card, confirming that the performance gap is not isolated to a single API but is a systemic advantage across modern compute workloads. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT’s support for Vulkan 1.4, compared to the FirePro W7000’s Vulkan 1.2.170, likely contributes to this superior result.

The overall benchmark averages reinforce this hierarchy. The FirePro W7000 has an average benchmark score of 19,905, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT averages 18,685. However, this aggregate number is misleading because the Radeon Pro 5700 XT’s average is pulled down by its Passmark DirectX 10 and DirectX 12 scores of 76 and 59 respectively, which are likely memory bandwidth or driver-bound in legacy tests. In the two modern compute tests that matter most for professional workloads—OpenCL and Vulkan—the Radeon Pro 5700 XT is in a completely different league. The data shows that the FirePro W7000’s nearest rival in average score is the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, which it edges by just 0.1%, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT’s closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 560X, which it leads by 0.3%. This places both cards in a similar overall performance percentile, yet the head-to-head tests reveal the Radeon Pro 5700 XT is the clear winner where it counts.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher raw compute performance in FP32?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT is the decisive winner with 7.675 TFLOPS, which is more than three times the FirePro W7000’s 2.432 TFLOPS.

Q: How do the two cards compare in memory capacity and bandwidth?

A: The Radeon Pro 5700 XT offers 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with 384.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the FirePro W7000 has only 4 GB of GDDR5 with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth. The newer card has four times the capacity and more than double the bandwidth.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two GPUs?

A: The FirePro W7000 uses the GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm process, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT uses the newer RDNA 1.0 architecture on a 7 nm process. This represents a massive node shrink and architectural overhaul.

Q: Is there a significant difference in power consumption?

A: Yes, the Radeon Pro 5700 XT has a lower TDP of 130 W compared to the FirePro W7000’s 150 W, despite delivering far higher performance. The newer card also requires a 300 W suggested PSU versus 450 W for the older one.

Q: Which card has better DirectX API support?

A: The Radeon Pro 5700 XT supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the FirePro W7000 only supports DirectX 12 (11_1). This means the newer card is better equipped for modern gaming and compute applications.

Q: Do both cards have the same display output capabilities?

A: No, they are fundamentally different in this regard. The FirePro W7000 has 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT has no display outputs at all, as it is designed as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) for Mac systems.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two cards is vast. The FirePro W7000 is built on AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) 1.0 architecture, which was a revolutionary design when it debuted. It uses a 28 nm manufacturing process at TSMC, packing 2,800 million transistors onto a 212 mm² die. This results in a transistor density of 13.2 million transistors per square millimeter. The chip, codenamed Pitcairn, features 1,280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). Its compute capabilities are anchored by the 2.432 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, which was competitive for its generation.

In stark contrast, the Radeon Pro 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture, a complete departure from GCN. It uses a advanced 7 nm process at TSMC, which allows for 10,300 million transistors on a 251 mm² die. The transistor density jumps to 41.0 million transistors per square millimeter, a more than threefold increase over the FirePro W7000. The Navi 10 chip inside doubles the execution resources to 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The FP32 performance of 7.675 TFLOPS is a massive leap, and the card also offers FP16 performance of 15.35 TFLOPS (2:1), a capability the FirePro W7000 lacks entirely. This architectural shift from GCN to RDNA is the primary reason for the generational performance gap.

The Radeon Pro 5700 XT also benefits from a modern memory subsystem. It uses GDDR6 memory operating at 1500 MHz with a 12 Gbps effective rate, delivering 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth across a 256-bit bus. The FirePro W7000, by contrast, uses GDDR5 memory at 1200 MHz with 4.8 Gbps effective, yielding only 153.6 GB/s on the same 256-bit bus. This doubling of memory bandwidth is crucial for compute-heavy professional workloads. Furthermore, the Radeon Pro 5700 XT supports PCIe 4.0 x16, doubling the bus bandwidth available to the FirePro W7000’s PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. These architectural advancements collectively explain why the Radeon Pro 5700 XT achieves such decisive wins in OpenCL and Vulkan benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two cards diverge on nearly every critical parameter. The most obvious difference is the manufacturing process: the FirePro W7000 uses 28 nm, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT uses 7 nm. This node shrink enables the massive transistor count increase from 2,800 million to 10,300 million, despite a relatively modest die size increase from 212 mm² to 251 mm². The memory configuration is another stark contrast. The FirePro W7000 has 4 GB of GDDR5, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT offers 16 GB of GDDR6. This fourfold capacity increase is accompanied by a bandwidth jump from 153.6 GB/s to 384.0 GB/s.

The compute resources differ by exactly a factor of two across the board. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT has 2,560 shading units versus 1,280 on the FirePro W7000, 160 TMUs versus 80, and 64 ROPs versus 32. The clock speeds are also notably different, with the Radeon Pro 5700 XT having a base clock of 1243 MHz and a boost clock of 1499 MHz, while the FirePro W7000 has no listed base or boost clocks. The pixel rate jumps from 30.40 GPixel/s to 95.94 GPixel/s, and the texture rate improves from 76.00 GTexel/s to 239.8 GTexel/s. Power requirements see the Radeon Pro 5700 XT draw less power (130 W TDP versus 150 W) and require a smaller PSU (300 W versus 450 W), despite its superior performance.

Form factor and connectivity are perhaps the most polarizing differences. The FirePro W7000 is a single-slot card with a 1x 6-pin power connector and 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. It has a physical length of 242 mm and a height of 111 mm. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT, however, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with no dimensions listed, no power connectors, and no display outputs whatsoever. The API support also differs, with the Radeon Pro 5700 XT supporting DirectX 12 (12_1) versus the FirePro W7000’s DirectX 12 (11_1), and Vulkan 1.4 versus 1.2.170. The release dates show a substantial time gap, with the FirePro W7000 launching on June 12, 2012, and the Radeon Pro 5700 XT on August 3, 2020.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT is the superior performer in every measurable compute benchmark. With a 70.1% lead in OpenCL and a 61.1% lead in Vulkan, it is the only choice for professionals who prioritize raw compute throughput, memory capacity, or modern API support. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory quadruples the FirePro W7000’s 4 GB, making it suitable for large datasets and high-resolution textures that would absolutely cripple the older card. The RDNA 1.0 architecture, with its doubled shading units, TMUs, and ROPs, delivers 7.675 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is more than triple the FirePro W7000’s output. Furthermore, the Radeon Pro 5700 XT achieves this superior performance while consuming less power (130 W versus 150 W) and requiring a smaller PSU (300 W versus 450 W), a remarkable efficiency gain enabled by the 7 nm process.

However, the choice is not universally obvious. The FirePro W7000 has distinct advantages in certain use cases. It is a standalone, single-slot card with 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, making it a viable option for multi-display workstation setups that require direct GPU output. The Radeon Pro 5700 XT, as an IGP with no outputs, is explicitly designed for Mac systems and cannot drive a display on its own. For users with legacy software that is optimized for GCN architecture, the FirePro W7000 might offer more stable compatibility, although its older DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170 support limit its future-proofing. The FirePro W7000 also has a launch MSRP of 899 USD, while the Radeon Pro 5700 XT has no listed launch price, suggesting it was sold as part of a larger system rather than as a standalone retail product.

In summary, the Radeon Pro 5700 XT is the clear winner for pure compute performance and modern workloads. Its dominance in OpenCL and Vulkan, combined with superior memory and efficiency, make it the superior choice for rendering, simulation, and compute-heavy tasks. The FirePro W7000 remains relevant only for specific legacy applications or for users who require a discrete card with display outputs. The benchmark data shows a generational leap that cannot be bridged, and the verdict is unequivocal: the Radeon Pro 5700 XT is the better card by every measure of performance.