AMD FirePro W4100 vs AMD Radeon HD 7730M Comparison

AMD Radeon HD 7730M and AMD FirePro W4100 are both built on AMD's GCN 1.0 architecture, but they target different corners of the market: one is a mobile GPU for laptops, the other a low-profile workstation card for desktops. The recorded data shows they share the same fundamental silicon heritage, yet their benchmark scores and physical characteristics diverge in ways that matter for real-world use. This analysis draws strictly from the database measurements to compare their performance, features, and suitability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581 points, while the AMD FirePro W4100 scores 5478 points. That translates to a delta of 20.1 percent in favor of the mobile part. In practical terms, the HD 7730M delivers over a fifth more compute throughput in this OpenCL workload, which is a significant margin for two GPUs that share the same architecture, transistor count, die size, and shading unit configuration.

Looking at the broader context, the HD 7730M's 6581 score places it in the 38th percentile of all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel UHD Graphics P750 at 6554 points (0.4 percent behind), the AMD Radeon R7 M460 at 6612 points (0.5 percent ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M at 6513 points (1 percent behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M at 6493 points (1.4 percent behind). The HD 7730M essentially sits in a tight cluster, edging out the GTX 670M and GT 555M while trading blows with the Intel integrated solution and the R7 M460. The margins here are small, so the HD 7730M is competitive but not dominant among its immediate peers.

The FirePro W4100, by contrast, scores 5478 in OpenCL and 6496 in Vulkan, giving it an average benchmark score of 5987. That average places it in the 34th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are tightly packed: the NVIDIA Quadro K4000M at 5986 (0 percent delta), the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 at 5982 (0.1 percent behind), the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server at 5996 (0.2 percent ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M at 6000 (0.2 percent ahead). The W4100 is effectively neck-and-neck with these competitors, with deltas under a third of a percent. The Vulkan score of 6496 is notably higher than its OpenCL score, suggesting the W4100 responds better to the Vulkan API, but the database only records one head-to-head OpenCL test where it loses outright.

Where Each One Wins

The HD 7730M wins the only recorded head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, by 20.1 percent. That makes it the better choice for any workload that leans on OpenCL compute, such as general-purpose GPU acceleration in applications that use that API. Its higher raw score also positions it better relative to its own rivals: it beats the GTX 670M and GT 555M, which are both mobile gaming parts from NVIDIA's older lineup. If the task is OpenCL-heavy and the platform is a laptop, the HD 7730M is the stronger performer.

The FirePro W4100 does not win any recorded head-to-head benchmark, but it has a separate Vulkan score of 6496 that the HD 7730M does not have. That Vulkan result is higher than its OpenCL score, so for Vulkan-based workloads, the W4100 shows a capability that the HD 7730M cannot match in the database. The W4100 also brings workstation-oriented features: four mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, a single-slot form factor, no power connectors, and a suggested PSU of 250 W. These are not performance wins, but they are functional wins for a desktop workstation environment. The HD 7730M, being a mobile part, has portable device dependent outputs, meaning its display connectivity is tied to whatever laptop it is installed in.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 20.1 percent higher than the AMD FirePro W4100's 5478 score.

Q: How does the HD 7730M compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The HD 7730M is 0.4 percent ahead of the Intel UHD Graphics P750, 0.5 percent behind the AMD Radeon R7 M460, 1 percent ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, and 1.4 percent ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M.

Q: What is the FirePro W4100's average benchmark score and percentile?

A: The W4100 has an average benchmark score of 5987, which places it in the 34th percentile of all GPUs in the database.

Q: Does the FirePro W4100 have a Vulkan benchmark score?

A: Yes, the W4100 records a Geekbench Vulkan score of 6496, which is higher than its OpenCL score of 5478. The HD 7730M has no recorded Vulkan score.

Q: Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The FirePro W4100 has 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth using GDDR5 memory, while the HD 7730M has 28.80 GB/s using DDR3 memory. Both use a 128 bit bus.

Q: What are the pixel and texture rates for each GPU?

A: The HD 7730M has a pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s. The W4100 has a pixel rate of 10.08 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 20.16 GTexel/s.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs share a great deal of core specification, but key differences emerge in memory, clocks, and physical design. Both have 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, 16 raster output units, 1,500 million transistors, a 123 mm² die size, and a 28 nm process node from TSMC. The transistor density is identical at 12.2M per mm².

Memory is a clear split: the HD 7730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128 bit bus, yielding 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The W4100 also has 2 GB on a 128 bit bus, but it uses GDDR5, doubling the bandwidth to 64.00 GB/s. Memory clock differs accordingly: the HD 7730M runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective), while the W4100 runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).

Compute rates differ slightly. The HD 7730M achieves 691.2 GFLOPS of FP32, a pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s. The W4100 achieves 645.1 GFLOPS, 10.08 GPixel/s, and 20.16 GTexel/s. The HD 7730M is marginally ahead in all three, which aligns with its OpenCL win. Clock speeds are only listed for the HD 7730M: a base of 575 MHz and a boost of 675 MHz. The W4100 has no listed base or boost clock in the database.

Power and physical specs diverge sharply. The HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W, while the W4100 has a TDP of 50 W. The W4100 is a single-slot card, 171 mm long and 69 mm tall, with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W. The HD 7730M has no slot width, length, or power connector data, as it is a mobile component. The bus interface also differs: the HD 7730M uses PCIe 2.0 x16, while the W4100 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs are portable device dependent for the HD 7730M, while the W4100 offers 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.2.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on GCN 1.0, but they are distinct chips. The HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip, while the W4100 uses the Cape Verde chip. Both are made by TSMC on a 28 nm process, and both have the same transistor count and die size, but the chip designs are separate implementations of the same architecture. The HD 7730M belongs to the London generation (HD 7700M series), while the W4100 belongs to the FirePro GCN (Wx100) generation.

Neither GPU has ray tracing cores or tensor cores, and neither lists FP16 performance. API support is identical: DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The release dates differ: the HD 7730M launched on 2012-04-23, while the W4100 launched on 2014-08-12. Both are marked as end-of-life in production status. The HD 7730M's predecessor is listed as Vancouver and its successor as Solar System; the W4100's predecessor is FirePro Terascale and its successor is Radeon Pro Polaris. The fundamental architectural difference is therefore not in the GCN design itself, but in the chip variant and the platform each one targets: a mobile Chelsea versus a desktop Cape Verde.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance winner: the AMD Radeon HD 7730M beats the AMD FirePro W4100 by 20.1 percent in the only recorded head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL. If raw compute performance in that API is the sole criterion, the HD 7730M is the better GPU. It also holds up well against its own rivals, sitting within 1.4 percent of all four nearest neighbors and beating two of them outright.

The FirePro W4100, however, is not without reasons to choose it. Its Vulkan score of 6496 is higher than its OpenCL score, and it offers workstation features the HD 7730M cannot: four mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, a single-slot low-profile form factor, no power connectors, PCIe 3.0 x16, and double the memory bandwidth at 64.00 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s. The W4100 also has a higher TDP at 50 W, which reflects its desktop-oriented design. For a desktop workstation that needs multiple display outputs and benefits from Vulkan, the W4100 is the practical pick despite losing the OpenCL test.

Choose the HD 7730M if you are working in a mobile platform and your workload is OpenCL-centric, or if you simply want the higher benchmark score. Choose the FirePro W4100 if you need a desktop card with professional display connectivity, GDDR5 bandwidth, and Vulkan support, and you can accept a 20.1 percent OpenCL deficit. The HD 7730M wins the compute race; the W4100 wins the connectivity and bandwidth contest.