AMD FirePro W7100 vs AMD Radeon Pro W5500X Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in overall benchmark performance?

A: The data shows the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X holds a Geekbench Metal score of 27,973, while the AMD FirePro W7100's average benchmark score across OpenCL and Vulkan tests is 25,856. The W5500X lands in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, slightly ahead of the W7100's 71st percentile.

Q: What are the closest competing cards to each model according to the data?

A: The Radeon Pro W5500X sits within 0.5% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (28,020), AMD Radeon RX 7800M (27,883), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (27,839), and AMD FirePro S7150 (28,117). The FirePro W7100 is within 0.5% of the AMD FirePro D700 (25,842), AMD Radeon R9 M395X (25,891), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile (25,740), and AMD Radeon Pro W5700 (25,726).

Q: Which GPU has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Radeon Pro W5500X delivers 224.0 GB/s over a 128-bit interface using 8 GB of GDDR6, whereas the FirePro W7100 provides 160.0 GB/s over a 256-bit bus with 8 GB of GDDR5. The W5500X's bandwidth advantage is 40% higher despite the narrower bus.

Q: How do the architectures differ between the two cards?

A: The Radeon Pro W5500X uses the Navi 14 chip built on RDNA 1.0 architecture at TSMC's 7 nm process, while the FirePro W7100 uses the Tonga chip on GCN 3.0 architecture at 28 nm. The W5500X packs 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die, whereas the W7100 has 5,000 million transistors on a much larger 366 mm² die.

Q: What are the thermal and power specification differences?

A: The Radeon Pro W5500X has a 125 W TDP and suggests a 300 W power supply, while the FirePro W7100 draws 150 W TDP and recommends a 450 W PSU. The W5500X is dual-slot, and the W7100 is single-slot with a 6-pin power connector.

Q: Which card supports newer display outputs and APIs?

A: The Radeon Pro W5500X provides 2x HDMI 2.0b outputs and supports Vulkan 1.4, whereas the FirePro W7100 offers 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and tops out at Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support DirectX 12, but the W5500X reaches 12_1 while the W7100 stops at 12_0.

Where Each One Wins

The Radeon Pro W5500X wins decisively in raw compute performance. Its FP32 throughput of 5.398 TFLOPS is 64% higher than the FirePro W7100's 3.297 TFLOPS. The pixel fill rate also favors the newer card at 56.22 GPixel/s versus 29.44 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 168.7 GTexel/s against 103.0 GTexel/s. Memory bandwidth belongs to the W5500X at 224.0 GB/s over the W7100's 160.0 GB/s.

The FirePro W7100 retains advantages in specific areas. Its 256-bit memory bus is twice as wide as the W5500X's 128-bit interface, and it houses more shading units (1,792 vs. 1,536) and more texture mapping units (112 vs. 96). The W7100 also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, matching its FP32 throughput, whereas the W5500X achieves FP16 at 2:1 rate (10.80 TFLOPS). The W7100's single-slot design and four DisplayPort outputs make it more flexible for multi-display workstation setups.

The benchmark scores tell a clear story. The W5500X's Metal score of 27,973 places it 8.2% above the W7100's average score of 25,856. In the percentile ranking, the W5500X sits at 73 versus the W7100's 71. However, the W7100's Vulkan score of 27,529 is notably strong, nearly matching the W5500X's Metal result despite the older architecture.

Architecture Differences

The two cards represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by five years of GPU evolution. The Radeon Pro W5500X uses the Navi 14 chip on RDNA 1.0 architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. This advanced node allows 6,400 million transistors to fit on a 158 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 40.5 million per square millimeter. The FirePro W7100 relies on the Tonga chip with GCN 3.0 architecture, built on a 28 nm process with 5,000 million transistors spread across a 366 mm² die — a density of just 13.7 million per square millimeter.

The RDNA architecture fundamentally reworks the shader pipeline compared to GCN. The W5500X packs 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, while the W7100 fields 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Despite having fewer shaders, the W5500X achieves far higher clock speeds — 1,757 MHz boost versus unspecified clocks for the W7100 — and this clock advantage drives its superior throughput.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The W5500X uses GDDR6 at 1,750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) over a 128-bit bus, while the W7100 uses GDDR5 at 1,250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) over a 256-bit bus. The newer memory technology overcomes the narrower bus to deliver 40% more bandwidth. The W5500X also supports Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12_1, whereas the W7100 is limited to Vulkan 1.2.170 and DirectX 12_0.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ on nearly every measurable specification. The Radeon Pro W5500X uses a 7 nm process with 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die, while the FirePro W7100 uses 28 nm with 5,000 million transistors on a 366 mm² die. Clock speeds show the W5500X at 1,187 MHz base and 1,757 MHz boost, while the W7100 has no listed base or boost clocks.

Memory configurations diverge: both have 8 GB, but the W5500X uses GDDR6 at 14 Gbps effective with a 128-bit bus, and the W7100 uses GDDR5 at 5 Gbps effective with a 256-bit bus. Bandwidth is 224.0 GB/s versus 160.0 GB/s. The W5500X has 1,536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs; the W7100 has 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

Pixel rate is 56.22 GPixel/s for the W5500X versus 29.44 GPixel/s for the W7100. Texture rate is 168.7 GTexel/s versus 103.0 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 5.398 TFLOPS versus 3.297 TFLOPS. FP16 is 10.80 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 3.297 TFLOPS (1:1). TDP is 125 W versus 150 W, and suggested PSU is 300 W versus 450 W.

The W5500X uses an Apple MPX bus interface with 2x HDMI 2.0b outputs, while the W7100 uses PCIe 3.0 x16 with 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The W7100 is single-slot with a 6-pin power connector and measures 241 mm by 111 mm, whereas the W5500X is dual-slot with no listed dimensions or power connector. The W5500X was released in December 2019 with a launch MSRP of 599 USD; the W7100 launched in August 2014 with no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct benchmark comparison shows the Radeon Pro W5500X ahead in the primary metric. The W5500X scores 27,973 in Geekbench Metal, while the FirePro W7100's average benchmark score is 25,856 across its OpenCL (24,182) and Vulkan (27,529) results. This gives the W5500X a 8.2% advantage over the W7100's average.

Breaking down the W7100's individual scores reveals nuance. Its Vulkan score of 27,529 comes within 1.6% of the W5500X's Metal score, suggesting the older card remains competitive in compute-heavy workloads that leverage Vulkan. The OpenCL score of 24,182 lags further behind, representing a 13.6% deficit to the W5500X's Metal result.

The percentile ranks corroborate the average score gap. The W5500X sits in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, while the W7100 sits in the 71st. This modest percentile difference masks the larger gap in raw scores — the W5500X's 27,973 versus the W7100's 25,856 average. The W7100's nearest rivals include the FirePro D700 (25,842) and Radeon Pro W5700 (25,726), both scoring within 0.5%, whereas the W5500X's rivals cluster around 27,800-28,100, a full 7-8% higher tier of performance.

The specification deltas explain the benchmark outcomes. The W5500X's FP32 output of 5.398 TFLOPS is 64% higher than the W7100's 3.297 TFLOPS. Pixel fill rate is 91% higher at 56.22 versus 29.44 GPixel/s. Texture fill is 64% higher at 168.7 versus 103.0 GTexel/s. Memory bandwidth is 40% higher at 224.0 versus 160.0 GB/s. Each of these advantages compounds in compute-heavy workstation tasks.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X as the stronger performer in most workload categories. Its higher FP32 throughput, pixel rate, texture rate, and memory bandwidth translate directly into superior benchmark scores. The 8.2% average score advantage and the 73rd versus 71st percentile placement confirm this. Users running Metal-based applications or compute-heavy tasks in macOS environments should favor the W5500X, which also benefits from a 7 nm process and newer RDNA architecture for better efficiency at 125 W versus 150 W.

The AMD FirePro W7100 still holds relevance for specific use cases. Its 256-bit memory bus, 1,792 shading units, and four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs make it a viable option for multi-display professional setups where the single-slot form factor is advantageous. The 1:1 FP16 ratio at 3.297 TFLOPS could benefit workloads that need consistent precision across data types. Its Vulkan score of 27,529 shows the GCN architecture is not obsolete, particularly in Vulkan-optimized applications.

For users prioritizing raw compute and modern API support, the Radeon Pro W5500X is the clear choice. For those needing multiple display outputs, a narrower chassis footprint, or specific legacy workload compatibility, the FirePro W7100 remains a functional option. The W5500X's higher launch MSRP of 599 USD reflects its newer technology and performance advantages, while the W7100's older design offers a different set of trade-offs in connectivity and form factor. Ultimately, the benchmark data shows the W5500X delivers better performance across the board, making it the superior choice unless the W7100's specific I/O and physical characteristics are mandatory requirements.