AMD Radeon Pro 555X vs NVIDIA Tesla K10 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward split decision. The NVIDIA Tesla K10 wins the single shared benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, with a score of 14,029 against the AMD Radeon Pro 555X’s 12,628, a margin of 11.1%. This makes the Tesla K10 the stronger choice for raw compute workloads that leverage OpenCL. However, the Radeon Pro 555X counters with a higher Geekbench Metal score of 14,479 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 12,855, indicating superior performance in those specific APIs. The K10’s percentile ranking of 55th versus the 555X’s 54th is nearly identical, placing both in the same performance tier globally.

For a system builder or user strictly prioritizing OpenCL compute, the Tesla K10 is the data-backed pick. Its 11.1% lead is significant. Yet, the Radeon Pro 555X offers a more balanced feature set with support for DirectX 12 (12_0) versus the K10’s 12 (11_0), and Vulkan 1.3 versus 1.2.175. The 555X also operates as an IGP with no power connectors and a 75 W TDP, making it suitable for integrated systems, whereas the K10 is a dual-slot card requiring a 550 W power supply. Users needing a drop-in solution for existing PCIe 3.0 x16 slots with high OpenCL throughput should choose the Tesla K10; those needing a low-power, API-versatile mobile or integrated solution should choose the Radeon Pro 555X.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K10 scores 14,029 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 11.1% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 555X’s score of 12,628.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon Pro 555X outperform the Tesla K10 in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Radeon Pro 555X achieves a Geekbench Metal score of 14,479 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 12,855. The Tesla K10 has no recorded Metal or Vulkan scores in the data.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K10 has a 256-bit memory bus and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Radeon Pro 555X has a 128-bit bus and 94.08 GB/s bandwidth. Both have 4 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: How do their power requirements differ?

A: The Tesla K10 has a 225 W TDP and requires a 550 W power supply with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors. The Radeon Pro 555X has a 75 W TDP, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU rating.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor density?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 555X, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, has a transistor density of 24.4M / mm². The NVIDIA Tesla K10, on a 28 nm TSMC node, has 12.0M / mm².

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each card based on average benchmark scores?

A: The Tesla K10’s closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (0.9% difference), while the Radeon Pro 555X’s closest rival is the AMD FirePro M6100 (0.2% difference). The K10’s average benchmark score is 14,029, and the 555X’s average is 13,321.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear. The NVIDIA Tesla K10 uses the GK104 chip with Kepler architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. It packs 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.0M / mm². In contrast, the AMD Radeon Pro 555X employs the Polaris 21 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, built by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It contains 3,000 million transistors on a much smaller 123 mm² die, achieving a higher density of 24.4M / mm².

The compute resources differ substantially. The Tesla K10 fields 1,536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The Radeon Pro 555X has half the shading units at 768, along with 48 TMUs and 16 ROPs. This translates to peak rates: the K10 delivers 2.289 TFLOPS FP32, 23.84 GPixel/s pixel fill, and 95.36 GTexel/s texture fill. The 555X delivers 1,393.2 GFLOPS FP32 (also 1:1 FP16), 14.51 GPixel/s, and 43.54 GTexel/s.

API support also diverges. The K10 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The 555X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. Neither card has ray tracing or tensor cores. The K10 has no display outputs, while the 555X’s outputs are portable device dependent, reflecting their different intended environments.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every measurable specification category. The process node differs: 28 nm for the Tesla K10 versus 14 nm for the Radeon Pro 555X. The die size is 294 mm² versus 123 mm², and transistor counts are 3,540 million versus 3,000 million. Memory clock speeds are 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the K10 and 1470 MHz (5.9 Gbps effective) for the 555X.

Memory bandwidth is a major differentiator: the K10’s 256-bit bus provides 160.0 GB/s, while the 555X’s 128-bit bus provides 94.08 GB/s. Both have 4 GB of GDDR5. The K10 has 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs; the 555X has 768, 48, and 16 respectively. Pixel rate is 23.84 GPixel/s versus 14.51 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 95.36 GTexel/s versus 43.54 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is 2.289 TFLOPS versus 1,393.2 GFLOPS.

Power and physical specs diverge sharply. The K10 is a dual-slot card with a 225 W TDP, 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin power connectors, a 550 W suggested PSU, and a length of 272 mm (10.7 inches). The 555X is an IGP with a 75 W TDP, no power connectors, and no length specified. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for the K10 versus PCIe 3.0 x8 for the 555X. The K10 has no display outputs; the 555X is portable device dependent. Release dates are 2012-04-30 for the K10 and 2018-07-15 for the 555X. The K10’s launch MSRP was 5,099 USD; the 555X has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark in the data is Geekbench OpenCL. The NVIDIA Tesla K10 scores 14,029, and the AMD Radeon Pro 555X scores 12,628. This gives the K10 a win with an 11.1% delta. This is a decisive margin in compute terms, suggesting the K10’s larger shader count and wider memory bus provide a tangible advantage in OpenCL workloads.

However, the Radeon Pro 555X has additional benchmark data that the K10 lacks entirely. In Geekbench Metal, the 555X scores 14,479, which is higher than the K10’s OpenCL score. In Geekbench Vulkan, the 555X scores 12,855, which is slightly lower than its own OpenCL result but still respectable. The absence of Metal and Vulkan scores for the K10 means the comparison is incomplete; the K10 cannot be credited with any wins in those APIs.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the K10 averages 14,029, while the 555X averages 13,321 (the mean of its three scores). This gives the K10 a 5.3% lead in average performance. The K10’s percentile rank is 55, versus the 555X’s 54, a negligible difference. In the nearest rivals list, the K10’s closest competitor is the GeForce GTX 680 at 14,150 (0.9% higher), while the 555X’s closest is the FirePro M6100 at 13,354 (0.2% higher). The data shows the K10 edges out the 555X in aggregate, but the 555X dominates in API-specific tests where it has data.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Tesla K10 wins in raw OpenCL compute. Its 11.1% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is the sole head-to-head victory, and it also wins on average benchmark score (14,029 versus 13,321). The K10’s higher pixel rate (23.84 GPixel/s vs 14.51), texture rate (95.36 GTexel/s vs 43.54), and FP32 throughput (2.289 TFLOPS vs 1,393.2 GFLOPS) all point to superior peak computational capability. It is the pick for OpenCL-heavy workloads, scientific computing, or any task that can leverage its 256-bit memory bus and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. Its dual-slot, 225 W design with external power connectors indicates it is meant for a desktop workstation with a robust power supply.

The AMD Radeon Pro 555X wins in API versatility and efficiency. It has recorded scores in Metal (14,479) and Vulkan (12,855), both of which are absent for the K10. For macOS or Metal-centric workflows, the 555X’s Metal score is the only relevant data point and it is strong. Its Vulkan 1.3 support is newer than the K10’s 1.2.175, and its DirectX 12 (12_0) support is more complete than the K10’s 12 (11_0). The 555X’s 75 W TDP, IGP form factor, and lack of power connectors make it suitable for portable or integrated systems where space and power are constrained. Its lower transistor count (3,000 million) but higher density (24.4M / mm²) on a 14 nm node shows a more modern, efficient design.

The data supports a clear split: the K10 for peak OpenCL throughput and raw compute density; the 555X for API coverage, modern feature support, and low-power integration. Neither card is a universal winner. The K10’s single benchmark win is decisive but narrow in scope, while the 555X’s additional benchmark coverage and architectural efficiency make it the more flexible option for diverse software environments.