AMD Radeon HD 7730M vs NVIDIA Quadro K4100M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records a single direct comparison between the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M, using the Geekbench OpenCL workload. The results are decisive in favor of the NVIDIA part. The Quadro K4100M scores 9149 points, while the Radeon HD 7730M manages 6581 points. That translates to a 39% delta, a substantial margin that places the NVIDIA solution in a clearly higher performance tier.

To put that margin in context, consider the nearest rivals in the database. The Quadro K4100M’s average benchmark score of 7906 places it within 0.2% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 (7925), 1.7% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (8039), and 1.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M (8040). The Radeon HD 7730M, with an average score of 6581, sits within 0.4% of the Intel UHD Graphics P750 (6554), 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (6612), and 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M (6493). The Quadro K4100M’s OpenCL result of 9149 is well above its own average, indicating that this particular workload favors its architecture strongly.

The Radeon HD 7730M has no recorded wins in any head-to-head benchmark against the Quadro K4100M. The database shows zero wins for the AMD part and one win for the NVIDIA part. The OpenCL delta of 39% is not a marginal edge; it is a full generational and architectural gap. For compute-oriented tasks that scale well with shading units and memory bandwidth, the Quadro K4100M is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements.

It is worth remembering the Radeon HD 7730M’s single benchmark score of 6581 is also its average score, meaning there is no variance in the recorded data. The Quadro K4100M, by contrast, has two benchmark entries: a Geekbench Metal score of 6662 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 9149. The Metal score is notably lower than the OpenCL score, which suggests that the NVIDIA part’s performance is highly workload-dependent. However, in the only direct comparison available, the OpenCL test, the NVIDIA part dominates.

The percentile ranking reinforces the gap. The Quadro K4100M sits at the 41st percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the Radeon HD 7730M sits at the 38th percentile. A three-percentile difference may seem small, but the raw score delta of 39% in the head-to-head test shows that percentile rankings can compress large performance differences into a narrow band when the overall GPU population is dense.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural lineages, and the data shows why the performance gap exists. The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M uses the GK104 chip, built on the Kepler architecture, and is part of the Quadro Kepler-M (Kx100M) generation. The AMD Radeon HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip, built on the Graphics Core Next 1.0 (GCN 1.0) architecture, and belongs to the London (HD 7700M) generation.

Both chips are manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process, so the process node is identical. The difference lies in the scale and complexity of the silicon. The NVIDIA chip contains 3,540 million transistors on a die size of 294 mm², yielding a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The AMD chip contains 1,500 million transistors on a die size of 123 mm², yielding a transistor density of 12.2M per mm². The density is nearly identical, but the NVIDIA die is more than twice the physical size and carries more than double the transistor count.

The compute resources reflect this disparity. The Quadro K4100M has 1,152 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. The Radeon HD 7730M has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. That is a 2.25x advantage in shading units, a 3x advantage in TMUs, and a 2x advantage in ROPs for the NVIDIA part.

Clock speeds further widen the gap. The Quadro K4100M runs at a base and boost clock of 706 MHz, with memory at 800 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective). The Radeon HD 7730M runs at a base clock of 575 MHz and a boost clock of 675 MHz, with memory at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). The NVIDIA part has a higher core clock and much faster effective memory speed.

The memory subsystem is a major differentiator. The Quadro K4100M comes with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Radeon HD 7730M comes with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA part offers more than 3.5x the memory bandwidth, which is critical for compute workloads and high-resolution textures.

The resulting throughput numbers are stark. The Quadro K4100M achieves a pixel rate of 16.94 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 67.78 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 1.627 TFLOPS. The Radeon HD 7730M achieves a pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 21.60 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 691.2 GFLOPS. The NVIDIA part is roughly 2.4x faster in FP32 compute.

Power consumption differs significantly, though the database records no direct efficiency comparison. The Quadro K4100M has a TDP of 100 W and uses an MXM Module slot with no power connectors. The Radeon HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W and uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The AMD part is far more power-efficient per watt, but the NVIDIA part delivers far more absolute performance.

API support is similar. The Quadro K4100M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Radeon HD 7730M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The AMD part has a slightly higher DirectX feature level, but the NVIDIA part has a marginally newer Vulkan version.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M has an average benchmark score of 7906, while the AMD Radeon HD 7730M has an average of 6581. The NVIDIA part is ahead by roughly 20%.

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The Quadro K4100M scores 9149 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the Radeon HD 7730M scores 6581. The delta is 39% in favor of the NVIDIA part.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each GPU?

A: The Quadro K4100M uses 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon HD 7730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Quadro K4100M has 1,152 shading units, while the Radeon HD 7730M has 512 shading units. The NVIDIA part has a 2.25x advantage.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: The Quadro K4100M has a TDP of 100 W, while the Radeon HD 7730M has a TDP of 25 W. The AMD part consumes far less power.

Q: What is the process node for both chips?

A: Both the NVIDIA GK104 chip and the AMD Chelsea chip are manufactured on a 28 nm process by TSMC.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for anyone choosing between these two mobile GPUs. The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M wins the only direct benchmark comparison by 39%, has a higher average benchmark score (7906 vs 6581), and sits at a higher percentile among all GPUs (41st vs 38th). The architecture differences explain why: the NVIDIA part has more than double the transistors, shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and memory bandwidth.

The Quadro K4100M is the performance pick without qualification. Its 1.627 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 4 GB GDDR5 frame buffer make it suitable for demanding compute and graphics workloads. It uses an MXM Module interface, which indicates it is designed for professional mobile workstations.

The Radeon HD 7730M is the efficiency pick. At 25 W TDP, it consumes one quarter the power of the Quadro K4100M’s 100 W TDP. Its smaller die (123 mm² vs 294 mm²) and lower transistor count (1,500 million vs 3,540 million) make it a less complex, more power-conscious component. It uses a standard PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, which may offer broader compatibility in certain laptop designs.

For users who need compute performance, the Quadro K4100M is the only rational choice based on the recorded data. For users who prioritize battery life and low heat output in a thin laptop, the Radeon HD 7730M may be sufficient, provided the workload does not demand the kind of throughput the NVIDIA part provides. There is no benchmark in the database where the AMD part wins, so any decision in its favor must be based on power and thermal constraints, not performance.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The process node is the only shared characteristic, with both built on 28 nm by TSMC.

The chip design differs entirely. The Quadro K4100M uses the GK104 chip with 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The Radeon HD 7730M uses the Chelsea chip with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die. Transistor density is nearly identical (12.0M vs 12.2M per mm²).

Clock speeds differ. The Quadro K4100M runs at 706 MHz base and boost. The Radeon HD 7730M runs at 575 MHz base and 675 MHz boost. Memory clocks are 800 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) for the NVIDIA part and 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) for the AMD part.

Memory configuration differs substantially. The Quadro K4100M has 4 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon HD 7730M has 2 GB DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Compute resources differ. The Quadro K4100M has 1,152 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The Radeon HD 7730M has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Pixel rate is 16.94 GPixel/s vs 10.80 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 67.78 GTexel/s vs 21.60 GTexel/s. FP32 is 1.627 TFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS.

Power and interface differ. The Quadro K4100M has a 100 W TDP, uses an MXM Module slot, and has no power connectors. The Radeon HD 7730M has a 25 W TDP and uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface.

API support differs slightly. The Quadro K4100M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Radeon HD 7730M supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

The release dates differ. The Quadro K4100M launched on 2013-07-22. The Radeon HD 7730M launched on 2012-04-23. The AMD part predates the NVIDIA part by over a year.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M wins in every measured performance category. The OpenCL benchmark is the only direct comparison, and the NVIDIA part wins by 39%. The average benchmark score is 20% higher. The percentile ranking is 3 points higher. The FP32 compute output of 1.627 TFLOPS is more than double the 691.2 GFLOPS of the AMD part. The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is more than 3.5x the 28.80 GB/s of the Radeon HD 7730M.

The Quadro K4100M is the winner for compute-heavy workloads such as 3D rendering, scientific simulation, and any task that leverages OpenCL acceleration. Its 4 GB GDDR5 frame buffer also gives it a capacity advantage for large datasets and high-resolution textures.

The AMD Radeon HD 7730M wins on power efficiency. At 25 W TDP, it consumes 75% less power than the Quadro K4100M’s 100 W TDP. This makes it the better choice for laptops where thermal headroom and battery life are the primary constraints. Its smaller die and lower transistor count also suggest a less complex, potentially more cost-effective manufacturing footprint, though the database records no pricing for the AMD part.

The Radeon HD 7730M also has a slightly higher DirectX feature level (11_1 vs 11_0), which could matter for certain legacy applications that target that specific feature set. However, the database shows no benchmark where this translates into a performance win.

In practical terms, the Quadro K4100M is the pick for professional workstations that demand maximum compute throughput. The Radeon HD 7730M is the pick for ultraportable laptops where 25 W power draw is acceptable and the workload is light enough not to require the NVIDIA part’s resources. The data does not support choosing the AMD part on performance grounds, but its power profile is a legitimate differentiator.