AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M Comparison

The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M represent two very different approaches to the same problem: delivering GPU compute in compact platforms. The data shows a clear split between the newer, professional Polaris-based AMD card and the older, high-end mobile Kepler chip from NVIDIA. While the GTX 870M posts a higher raw OpenCL score, the WX 3200 counters with modern API support, a smaller process node, and a radically different power profile, making the choice heavily dependent on the intended workload rather than a single headline number.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M is the faster card in raw compute terms. It wins the only head-to-head test available, the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, by a margin of 11.1%. The GTX 870M scores 12630 against the WX 3200's 11228. This is a substantial lead, and it places the GTX 870M in the 48th percentile of all GPUs, while the WX 3200 sits slightly higher at the 50th percentile, despite the direct loss. This suggests that while the GTX 870M wins this specific comparison, its overall performance profile is not dramatically superior to the AMD card's.

However, the verdict is not simply "NVIDIA wins." The WX 3200's average benchmark score is 11228, which is its only score, and it sits comfortably within the range of the GTX 870M's nearest rivals. The GTX 870M's average score of 9959 is dragged down by its additional Geekbench Metal score of 7288, which is significantly lower than its OpenCL result. This indicates the NVIDIA card's performance is highly API-dependent, while the AMD card offers a more consistent, albeit lower, baseline. For a professional user prioritizing modern features and efficiency, the WX 3200 is the logical pick. For a user who needs maximum raw OpenCL throughput and does not care about newer API support or power draw, the GTX 870M is the data-backed winner.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two cards is generational and fundamental. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 is built on GCN 4.0 architecture using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M uses the older Kepler architecture on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process difference is stark: the AMD chip packs 2,200 million transistors into a 103 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 21.4 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA chip, meanwhile, has more transistors overall (3,540 million) but on a much larger 294 mm² die, resulting in a lower density of 12.0 million per square millimeter. The data implies AMD achieved far greater transistor packing efficiency.

Core configurations also diverge sharply. The GTX 870M fields significantly more hardware resources with 1344 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. The WX 3200 is more modest, with 640 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. These numbers alone suggest the NVIDIA chip has a theoretical advantage in raw throughput, which is confirmed by its higher pixel rate (27.08 GPixel/s vs 20.72 GPixel/s) and texture rate (108.3 GTexel/s vs 41.44 GTexel/s). The FP32 compute figures follow suit: the GTX 870M delivers 2.599 TFLOPS versus the WX 3200's 1.658 TFLOPS. Notably, the WX 3200 offers FP16 performance at a 1:1 ratio (1.658 TFLOPS), while the GTX 870M has no listed FP16 capability, highlighting a key compute feature difference.

Memory architecture also tells a story of trade-offs. The WX 3200 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 870M uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a wider 192-bit bus, achieving 120.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA card offers more bandwidth but less capacity. Interface and power delivery complete the picture: the WX 3200 is a single-slot PCIe 3.0 x8 card with no power connectors and a 65 W TDP, while the GTX 870M is an MXM module with a 100 W TDP and no suggested PSU listed, underscoring its mobile laptop orientation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single available head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, and it is a decisive win for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M. The NVIDIA card scores 12630, while the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 scores 11228. This represents an 11.1% delta in NVIDIA's favor. This is a significant gap in a compute benchmark, suggesting that for raw OpenCL workloads, the older Kepler architecture still holds a considerable advantage over the newer Polaris chip.

The implications of this score are worth dissecting. The GTX 870M's win is likely driven by its much higher shader count (1344 vs 640) and texture rate (108.3 GTexel/s vs 41.44 GTexel/s), which directly feed compute workloads. The AMD card's lower scores suggest that its architectural efficiency and smaller core count cannot overcome the sheer parallel horsepower of the NVIDIA chip in this specific test. However, the GTX 870M's average benchmark score of 9959 is lower than its OpenCL score due to the inclusion of a separate Geekbench Metal test where it scores 7288. This inconsistency indicates that the GTX 870M's performance is not uniform across all APIs, whereas the WX 3200's single score of 11228 represents its consistent baseline. The data shows that while NVIDIA wins this head-to-head, its lead is not universal across all compute environments.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M. It wins the Geekbench OpenCL head-to-head with a score of 12630 versus the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200's 11228, an 11.1% difference.

Q: How does the power consumption compare between the two?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 has a TDP of 65 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M has a TDP of 100 W. The AMD card is significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which card offers better API support?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: What are the memory capacities of these two cards?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M. It has a memory bandwidth of 120.0 GB/s, compared to the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200's 96.00 GB/s.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 has an average benchmark score of 11228, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M has an average of 9959. The AMD card's average is higher because the NVIDIA card's average is pulled down by its lower Metal score.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M wins in scenarios that demand maximum raw compute throughput in OpenCL. Its victory in the head-to-head benchmark, combined with its superior pixel rate (27.08 GPixel/s), texture rate (108.3 GTexel/s), and FP32 output (2.599 TFLOPS), makes it the clear choice for applications that can leverage its high shader count and memory bandwidth (120.0 GB/s). The data suggests this card is best suited for compute-heavy tasks that are not dependent on the latest API features. Its 48th percentile ranking, however, indicates its performance is only slightly below average when compared to all GPUs.

The AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 wins in the context of modern feature sets and efficiency. While it loses the compute benchmark, it offers a more complete package for contemporary software environments. Its support for Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0) is superior to the NVIDIA card's Vulkan 1.2.175 and DirectX 12 (11_0). Its 4 GB of memory is larger, and its 65 W TDP is dramatically lower, making it a better fit for compact, power-constrained professional workstations. The 50th percentile ranking for the AMD card suggests its single-score performance is right at the median of all GPUs, offering a balanced, if not top-tier, compute profile.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ on nearly every key specification, with only a few points of overlap. The process node is a major differentiator: 14 nm for AMD versus 28 nm for NVIDIA. The die size is also vastly different, at 103 mm² for AMD versus 294 mm² for NVIDIA, as is the transistor count (2,200 million vs 3,540 million) and density (21.4M / mm² vs 12.0M / mm²). Core configs are completely distinct, with the NVIDIA card having more shading units (1344 vs 640), TMUs (112 vs 32), and ROPs (24 vs 16).

Memory differs in size (4 GB vs 3 GB), bus width (128-bit vs 192-bit), and bandwidth (96.00 GB/s vs 120.0 GB/s). Clock speeds are only listed for the NVIDIA card (base 941 MHz, boost 967 MHz), while the AMD card's memory clock is 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective) versus the NVIDIA card's 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The TDP is a significant difference (65 W vs 100 W), as is the slot width (Single-slot vs MXM Module) and bus interface (PCIe 3.0 x8 vs MXM-B 3.0). Display outputs are also distinct: 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a for AMD versus "Portable Device Dependent" for NVIDIA. Finally, the APIs differ in their DirectX and Vulkan versions, with the AMD card supporting higher revisions of both.