AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 vs AMD Radeon R7 M380 Comparison

The AMD Radeon R7 M380 and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 represent two distinct generations of AMD graphics technology, separated by a significant architectural leap and targeting different market segments. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Pro WX 5100 dominating the single available benchmark, but a closer look at the specifications reveals fundamental differences in design philosophy, memory architecture, and feature support that go beyond raw compute scores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is decisively in favor of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100. The Pro WX 5100 scores 24,217 points, while the Radeon R7 M380 manages 9,313 points. This translates to a delta of -61.5% for the R7 M380, meaning the Pro WX 5100 is approximately 2.6 times faster in this compute-heavy workload. This is a substantial gap that underscores the generational and performance-class divide between the two products.

To contextualize the R7 M380’s score, its 9,313 points places it in a tight cluster of competitors. It is a mere 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M (9,302 points) and 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 (9,294 points). The data shows it also edges out the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 by 0.4% (9,273 points) and the AMD Radeon Vega 8 by 1% (9,221 points). This positioning indicates the R7 M380 is a competent entry-level performer, but it is operating in a completely different performance tier than the Pro WX 5100.

The Pro WX 5100’s average benchmark score of 8,863 points across all its tested workloads is actually lower than its OpenCL score, due to the inclusion of other tests like Passmark. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon 550X, from which it trails by 0.6% (8,918 points), and the AMD Radeon R9 M265X, which it leads by a margin of 0.1% (8,851 points). It also sits 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (8,746 points) and 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 (8,743 points). While the Pro WX 5100 wins the head-to-head against the R7 M380, its overall percentile rank of 44 versus the R7 M380’s 46 is a nuanced data point, suggesting that in the broader database of all GPUs, the R7 M380’s single OpenCL score places it slightly higher relative to the entire field.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two GPUs is the primary driver of their performance disparity. The Radeon R7 M380 is built on the older GCN 1.0 architecture, utilizing a chip codenamed "Tropo." In contrast, the Radeon Pro WX 5100 employs the significantly more advanced GCN 4.0 architecture on the "Ellesmere" chip. This generational leap is reflected in the manufacturing process; the R7 M380 uses a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the Pro WX 5100 is fabricated on a more efficient 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts tell a story of scale. The Pro WX 5100 packs 5,700 million transistors onto a 232 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 24.6 million per mm². The R7 M380 is a much smaller chip, with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, giving it a density of 12.2 million per mm². This means the Pro WX 5100 has nearly four times the transistor budget, which it uses to deploy a vastly larger compute unit configuration. The R7 M380 features 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster output units (ROPs). The Pro WX 5100, on the other hand, is equipped with 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This 2.8x increase in shading units and 7x increase in TMUs directly explains its superior compute throughput.

The memory subsystems are also fundamentally different. The R7 M380 is paired with 4 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s. The Pro WX 5100 uses 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a much higher bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s. This 5x difference in memory bandwidth is critical for modern workloads and contributes heavily to the Pro WX 5100’s lead in the OpenCL benchmark. Furthermore, the Pro WX 5100 supports FP16 compute at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, offering 3.892 TFLOPS for both. The R7 M380 has no listed FP16 capability, only offering 1,171.2 GFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous for compute performance: the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 is in a different league. Its OpenCL score of 24,217 dwarfs the R7 M380’s 9,313, and its specifications support this dominance with more shading units, faster memory, and a newer architecture. The Pro WX 5100 is the clear choice for any task that relies heavily on GPU compute, OpenCL acceleration, or modern API features.

However, the choice is not solely about peak performance. The R7 M380, with its lower specification and 46th percentile ranking, is positioned as a more modest, end-of-life mobile solution. Its nearest rivals are other entry-level GPUs, and it performs accordingly. The Pro WX 5100, despite its higher raw power, has a lower overall percentile rank of 44, which is a statistical artifact of its broader benchmark suite that includes less favorable results. Its launch MSRP was 499 USD.

From a purely data-driven perspective, the Pro WX 5100 should be selected by users who need maximum compute throughput and memory capacity for professional applications. The R7 M380 would only be considered in scenarios where the workload is light and the platform is already built around its older GCN 1.0 architecture. The 75 W TDP and single-slot design of the Pro WX 5100, which does not require external power connectors, also make it a more flexible option for workstation builds.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 M380 | AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Chip | Tropo | Ellesmere |

| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 4.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,500 million | 5,700 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 232 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.2M / mm² | 24.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 900 MHz | 713 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 915 MHz | 1086 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 32.00 GB/s | 160.0 GB/s |

| Shader Units | 640 | 1792 |

| TMUs | 40 | 112 |

| ROPs | 16 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 14.64 GPixel/s | 34.75 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 36.60 GTexel/s | 121.6 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1,171.2 GFLOPS | 3.892 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not listed | 3.892 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | Not listed | 75 W |

| Slot Width | Not listed | Single-slot |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | None |

| Suggested PSU | Not listed | 250 W |

| Display Outputs | Not listed | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| DirectX Support | 12 (11_1) | 12 (12_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.170 | 1.3 |

| Release Date | 2015-05-04 | 2016-11-17 |

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 is significantly faster, scoring 24,217 compared to the AMD Radeon R7 M380’s 9,313, a difference of -61.5% for the R7 M380.

Q: How does the R7 M380 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The R7 M380 is 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M, 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465, 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, and 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Vega 8.

Q: What are the key architectural differences between the two GPUs?

A: The R7 M380 uses the older GCN 1.0 architecture on a 28 nm process, while the Pro WX 5100 uses the newer GCN 4.0 architecture on a 14 nm process. The Pro WX 5100 has significantly more transistors (5,700 million vs 1,500 million) and a larger die (232 mm² vs 123 mm²).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Pro WX 5100 has a memory bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s, which is 5x higher than the R7 M380’s 32.00 GB/s. This is due to the Pro WX 5100’s 256-bit GDDR5 memory bus versus the R7 M380’s 128-bit DDR3 bus.

Q: Does the Pro WX 5100 support more advanced APIs?

A: Yes, the Pro WX 5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the R7 M380 supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What is the form factor and power requirement of the Pro WX 5100?

A: The Pro WX 5100 is a single-slot card that is 173 mm (6.8 inches) long and 112 mm (4.4 inches) high, with a TDP of 75 W and no external power connectors required. Its suggested PSU is 250 W.