AMD Radeon Pro 575X vs NVIDIA Tesla M40 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall performance advantage for the NVIDIA Tesla M40, winning both shared compute tests decisively. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Tesla M40 scores 39,192 against the Radeon Pro 575X's 34,773, a 12.7% delta in NVIDIA's favor. That is a substantial gap for compute workloads that rely on OpenCL, and it places the M40 comfortably ahead despite its older release date.

The Vulkan result is even more lopsided. The M40 posts 44,602, while the Pro 575X manages 37,919 — a 17.6% advantage for NVIDIA. This is the largest single-test win between the two cards, and it suggests that the M40's architectural strengths scale better with Vulkan's lower-level API overhead. For anyone running Vulkan-based compute or modern game engines that expose Vulkan paths, the M40 is the stronger pick by a meaningful margin.

However, the AMD card has one benchmark that the M40 cannot contest: Geekbench Metal. The Pro 575X scores 44,655 in Metal, a test that the Tesla M40 does not have a record for. Since the M40 has no display outputs and is not designed for Apple's ecosystem, the Metal result is effectively a win by default for AMD. In macOS environments where Metal is the native API, the Pro 575X is the only viable option between the two.

Looking at aggregate scores, the M40's average benchmark score is 41,897, which lands it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. The Pro 575X averages 39,116, sitting just one percentile lower at 82nd. That 2,781-point average gap (about 7.1%) is consistent with the head-to-head results — the M40 leads in every test both cards share, while the AMD card only pulls ahead in the platform-specific Metal workload.

The nearest rivals for the M40 include the Tesla M40 24 GB (0.5% higher average) and the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (1.7% higher), which shows the original M40 is still competitive with much newer hardware in these synthetic benchmarks. For the Pro 575X, its closest competitor is the Radeon Pro 575 (1.1% higher average) and the RTX A500 Mobile (1.1% higher), indicating the AMD card is performing right at its expected level relative to similar mobile and workstation parts.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Tesla M40 wins in raw compute throughput across both OpenCL and Vulkan. If you are doing GPU compute — think rendering, simulation, or data processing — the M40's 12.7% OpenCL lead and 17.6% Vulkan lead make it the clear choice. The M40 also holds an advantage in texture and pixel processing rates: 213.5 GTexel/s versus 140.3 GTexel/s, and 106.8 GPixel/s versus 35.07 GPixel/s. Those numbers translate to faster fill-rate-bound workloads, such as high-resolution texture streaming or heavy post-processing effects.

The AMD Radeon Pro 575X wins in compatibility and form factor. It is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors, making it suitable for systems where a discrete card with external power is not an option. It draws 150 W against the M40's 250 W, and while the M40 requires a dual-slot chassis and an 8-pin EPS connector, the Pro 575X slots into portable or compact Apple systems. The Pro 575X also has display outputs (portable device dependent), while the M40 has none — so if you need to drive a monitor, the AMD card is the only candidate here.

Memory capacity favors the M40 heavily: 12 GB versus 4 GB. For workloads that exceed 4 GB of VRAM — large datasets, high-res textures, or multi-model inference — the M40 will not run out of memory, while the Pro 575X will be forced to spill to system RAM. The M40 also has a wider 384-bit memory bus and higher bandwidth at 288.4 GB/s versus 217.0 GB/s. That bandwidth advantage compounds the compute lead in memory-bound kernels.

On the other hand, the Pro 575X supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with its FP32 throughput (4.489 TFLOPS each), whereas the M40 has no listed FP16 capability. If your workload uses half-precision math, the AMD card offers a path to faster execution per instruction, even though its FP32 peak is lower.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different architectural generations and foundries. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 uses the GM200 chip built on Maxwell 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8,000 million transistors on a 601 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 13.3M per mm². The AMD Radeon Pro 575X uses the Ellesmere chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, yielding a much higher density of 24.6M per mm².

The M40 is a large, power-hungry chip designed for maximum throughput. It has 3,072 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. The Pro 575X is smaller: 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and just 32 ROPs. The ROP count difference is striking — the M40 has three times as many — which explains its massive pixel rate advantage (106.8 GPixel/s versus 35.07 GPixel/s). The M40's texture rate is also 52% higher.

Process node differences explain the efficiency gap. Despite being older, the M40 draws 250 W versus 150 W for the Pro 575X. The AMD card achieves better performance-per-watt due to the denser 14 nm process, but the M40 compensates with brute-force transistor count. The M40's 601 mm² die is nearly three times the size of the Pro 575X's 232 mm² die.

API support differs slightly: the M40 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the Pro 575X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The M40's higher DirectX feature level (12_1 vs 12_0) allows for additional rendering features in games that use them. Neither card has ray tracing or tensor cores.

Memory configurations are also distinct. The M40 uses 12 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus at 6 Gbps effective, achieving 288.4 GB/s. The Pro 575X uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus at 6.8 Gbps effective, achieving 217.0 GB/s. The M40's memory clock is lower (1502 MHz vs 1695 MHz), but its wider bus more than compensates.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla M40 is 12.7% faster, scoring 39,192 versus 34,773 in Geekbench OpenCL.

Q: Can the Tesla M40 output video to a display?

A: No. The M40 has no display outputs, while the Radeon Pro 575X has portable device dependent outputs.

Q: Which card has more memory and bandwidth?

A: The M40 has 12 GB versus 4 GB, and 288.4 GB/s versus 217.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the Radeon Pro 575X support half-precision (FP16) compute?

A: Yes, it has 4.489 TFLOPS FP16 with a 1:1 ratio to FP32. The M40 has no listed FP16 capability.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The M40 draws 250 W and requires an 8-pin EPS connector, while the Pro 575X draws 150 W and needs no power connectors.

Q: Which card has better Vulkan performance?

A: The M40 wins by 17.6%, scoring 44,602 versus 37,919 in Geekbench Vulkan.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA Tesla M40 | AMD Radeon Pro 575X |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | GCN 4.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 8,000 million | 5,700 million |

| Die Size | 601 mm² | 232 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 13.3M / mm² | 24.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 948 MHz | Not listed |

| Boost Clock | 1112 MHz | Not listed |

| Memory Clock | 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) | 1695 MHz (6.8 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 12 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 288.4 GB/s | 217.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 3072 | 2048 |

| TMUs | 192 | 128 |

| ROPs | 96 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 106.8 GPixel/s | 35.07 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 213.5 GTexel/s | 140.3 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 6.832 TFLOPS | 4.489 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not listed | 4.489 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 250 W | 150 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 8-pin EPS | None |

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | Not listed |

| DirectX Support | 12 (12_1) | 12 (12_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | Portable Device Dependent |

| Release Date | 2015-11-09 | 2019-03-17 |

| Percentile (All GPUs) | 83rd | 82nd |

| Average Benchmark Score | 41,897 | 39,116 |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 39,192 | 34,773 |

| Geekbench Vulkan | 44,602 | 37,919 |

| Geekbench Metal | Not available | 44,655 |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA Tesla M40 is the faster card in nearly every measurable way. It wins OpenCL by 12.7%, Vulkan by 17.6%, has three times the memory capacity, three times the ROPs, and delivers 52% more texture throughput. Its 6.832 TFLOPS FP32 performance far exceeds the Pro 575X's 4.489 TFLOPS. The M40's 83rd percentile ranking versus the Pro 575X's 82nd confirms that the performance gap is real, not just a single-test artifact.

The Radeon Pro 575X is not without merit, but its advantages are narrow. It draws 100 W less power, requires no external power connectors, and fits in an IGP form factor. It is the only choice if you need display output or run Metal-based workloads on macOS. Its FP16 support at 1:1 ratio is a genuine feature for half-precision compute. But none of that overcomes the M40's raw performance superiority in shared tests.

Choose the Tesla M40 if you need maximum compute throughput and have the chassis space and power budget for a 250 W dual-slot card. It is particularly suited for OpenCL or Vulkan workloads, large VRAM footprints, and any task where fill rate matters. The 12 GB memory alone justifies its selection over the 4 GB AMD card for modern datasets.

Choose the Radeon Pro 575X if you are constrained by power, space, or platform compatibility. It is the only option here for systems without power connectors, and its Metal performance (44,655) makes it the right pick for Apple-centric workflows. Its lower TDP and lack of connectors also make it more flexible for compact builds. Just be prepared for 12.7-17.6% lower performance in the benchmarks both cards share.