AMD FirePro W4170M vs AMD Radeon HD 8730M Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear, single-benchmark result: the AMD Radeon HD 8730M outperforms the AMD FirePro W4170M in Geekbench OpenCL compute workloads. The HD 8730M scores 5955 points, while the FirePro W4170M scores 5034 points, a delta of 18.3% in favor of the HD 8730M. This is not a narrow margin; it represents a substantial performance gap in general-purpose GPU compute.

For users prioritizing raw OpenCL performance, the AMD Radeon HD 8730M is the stronger choice based on the database measurements. It also sits at the 34th percentile among all GPUs, slightly above the FirePro W4170M's 30th percentile. The HD 8730M's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro K620M (score 5957, delta 0%), the AMD Radeon HD 8750M (score 5970, delta -0.3%), and the Intel UHD Graphics 730 (score 5929, delta 0.4%). This places it in a tight cluster where it is essentially on par with those parts.

The AMD FirePro W4170M, despite its professional mobile branding, trails the HD 8730M in this test. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (score 5018, delta 0.3%), the AMD Radeon R7 M340 (score 5063, delta -0.6%), and the AMD Radeon R7 240 (score 5063, delta -0.6%). The FirePro W4170M is thus grouped with lower-performing parts, and it does not reach the performance tier of the HD 8730M.

If the workload is specifically OpenCL compute, the HD 8730M is the recommended part. If the workload involves certified professional software or specific ISV requirements, the FirePro W4170M's branding might suggest suitability, but the benchmark data does not show a compute advantage. The database shows one win for the HD 8730M and zero wins for the FirePro W4170M in their direct head-to-head comparison. For compute tasks, the HD 8730M is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the same foundational architecture: GCN 1.0. They share the same manufacturer, AMD, and the same 28 nm process node from TSMC. Each chip integrates 950 million transistors on a 77 mm² die, yielding an identical transistor density of 12.3M per mm². The shading unit count, texture mapping units, and raster operations units are also identical: 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. In these core execution resources, the two parts are architecturally equivalent.

The differences emerge in their chips and clock behavior. The HD 8730M uses the Mars chip, while the FirePro W4170M uses the Opal chip. Although both are GCN 1.0, the FirePro W4170M operates at significantly higher clocks. Its base clock is 825 MHz with a boost of 900 MHz, compared to the HD 8730M's base of 650 MHz and boost of 700 MHz. This clock advantage directly translates into higher fill rates and compute throughput for the FirePro W4170M: its pixel rate is 7.200 GPixel/s versus 5.600 GPixel/s, its texture rate is 21.60 GTexel/s versus 16.80 GTexel/s, and its FP32 performance is 691.2 GFLOPS versus 537.6 GFLOPS. On paper, the FirePro W4170M should be faster.

The memory subsystems diverge markedly. The HD 8730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, running at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective), yielding 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro W4170M also has 2 GB, but it uses GDDR5 memory on the same 128-bit bus, running at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), yielding 64.00 GB/s. The FirePro W4170M has more than double the memory bandwidth, which should benefit memory-intensive workloads. The generation labels differ as well: the HD 8730M belongs to the Solar System (HD 8700M) generation, while the FirePro W4170M is part of the FirePro Mobile (Wx100M) generation. The HD 8730M lists its predecessor as London and successor as Gem System; the FirePro W4170M lists its predecessor as FirePro Mobility and successor as Radeon Pro Mobile.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8730M scores 5955 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. The HD 8730M leads by 18.3%.

Q: Are the two GPUs based on the same architecture?

A: Yes. Both use GCN 1.0 architecture, a 28 nm TSMC process, 950 million transistors, and a 77 mm² die size. They also share identical counts of 384 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 8 ROPs.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The FirePro W4170M has 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth using GDDR5 memory, while the HD 8730M has 28.80 GB/s using DDR3 memory. Both have 2 GB capacity and a 128-bit bus.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The FirePro W4170M runs at a base of 825 MHz and a boost of 900 MHz. The HD 8730M runs at a base of 650 MHz and a boost of 700 MHz. The FirePro W4170M also has higher memory clocks: 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) versus 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The HD 8730M is at the 34th percentile, while the FirePro W4170M is at the 30th percentile. This indicates the HD 8730M sits slightly higher in the overall performance distribution.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same APIs?

A: Yes. Both support DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. They also use the same PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD Radeon HD 8730M and the AMD FirePro W4170M:

• Chip: Mars (HD 8730M) versus Opal (FirePro W4170M)
• Generation: Solar System (HD 8700M) versus FirePro Mobile (Wx100M)
• Base clock: 650 MHz versus 825 MHz
• Boost clock: 700 MHz versus 900 MHz
• Memory clock: 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) versus 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective)
• Memory type: DDR3 versus GDDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 28.80 GB/s versus 64.00 GB/s
• Pixel rate: 5.600 GPixel/s versus 7.200 GPixel/s
• Texture rate: 16.80 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s
• FP32 performance: 537.6 GFLOPS versus 691.2 GFLOPS
• Slot width: not specified versus MXM Module
• Power connectors: not specified versus None
• Display outputs: not specified versus Portable Device Dependent
• Release date: 2013-03-31 versus 2015-04-22
• Predecessor: London versus FirePro Mobility
• Successor: Gem System versus Radeon Pro Mobile
• Geekbench OpenCL score: 5955 versus 5034
• Percentile vs all GPUs: 34 versus 30
• Nearest rivals: NVIDIA Quadro K620M, AMD Radeon HD 8750M, Intel UHD Graphics 730, NVIDIA Quadro K4000 versus AMD Radeon R5 M430, AMD Radeon R7 M340, AMD Radeon R7 240, AMD Radeon R7 Graphics

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, and it produces a decisive result. The AMD Radeon HD 8730M scores 5955, while the AMD FirePro W4170M scores 5034. The delta is 18.3% in favor of the HD 8730M, and the database records one win for the HD 8730M and zero wins for the FirePro W4170M.

This result is notable because the FirePro W4170M has substantial theoretical advantages. Its clocks are higher (900 MHz boost versus 700 MHz boost), its FP32 throughput is 691.2 GFLOPS versus 537.6 GFLOPS, and its memory bandwidth is 64.00 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s. In raw specification terms, the FirePro W4170M should process compute workloads faster. Yet the measured OpenCL performance shows the opposite.

The HD 8730M's score of 5955 places it in a competitive bracket. It is essentially tied with the NVIDIA Quadro K620M, which scores 5957 with a delta of 0%. It is also within 0.3% of the AMD Radeon HD 8750M (score 5970) and 0.5% of the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 (score 5982). The Intel UHD Graphics 730 scores 5929, which is 0.4% below the HD 8730M. This clustering suggests the HD 8730M performs at a level consistent with those mid-range parts.

The FirePro W4170M's score of 5034 places it in a lower tier. It is 0.3% above the AMD Radeon R5 M430 (score 5018) and 0.7% above the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics (score 4998). It sits 0.6% below both the AMD Radeon R7 M340 and the AMD Radeon R7 240, each scoring 5063. None of these rivals are close to the HD 8730M's performance level.

The 18.3% gap between the two reviewed GPUs is significant. For context, the HD 8730M's closest rival, the Quadro K620M, is only 0.3% away from its score, while the FirePro W4170M is 18.3% behind the HD 8730M. This means the HD 8730M competes in a much higher performance bracket than the FirePro W4170M, despite the latter's faster clocks and memory. The benchmark results indicate that architectural efficiency, driver behavior, or other unmeasured factors favor the HD 8730M in OpenCL compute workloads. Users should rely on the measured score rather than theoretical specifications when selecting between these two end-of-life mobile GPUs.