AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 vs NVIDIA GeForce 945M Comparison

The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 and NVIDIA GeForce 945M represent two very different approaches to mobile and workstation graphics, separated by a full process generation and a wide performance gulf. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the WX 5100 holds an average benchmark score of 8863, placing it in the 44th percentile of all GPUs, while the 945M scores 8099 on average, landing in the 42nd percentile. Despite the modest percentile gap, the head-to-head benchmark reveals a dramatic difference in raw compute output, with the AMD part winning the only shared test by a margin of 199%. This analysis breaks down where each card excels, the architectural chasm between them, and the specific numbers that define their respective positions.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 is the clear victor in every measurable category where both cards have data. In the sole head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, the WX 5100 scores 24217 against the 945M’s 8099, a delta of 199% in favor of AMD. This is not a marginal lead; it is a near-tripling of compute throughput, which positions the WX 5100 as the only viable option for GPU-accelerated workloads such as OpenCL-based rendering, scientific simulation, or professional compute tasks. The 945M, by contrast, has no benchmark wins at all in this comparison — its single Geekbench OpenCL result stands as its only data point, and it loses decisively.

Looking beyond the direct comparison, the WX 5100’s benchmark suite shows broader competence. It posts a Passmark G3D score of 5496, a Passmark G2D score of 777, and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 2053, indicating balanced performance across 2D, 3D, and compute scenarios. Its Geekbench Metal score of 29003 and Vulkan score of 26909 further demonstrate API versatility, though the 945M lacks corresponding results for those tests. The 945M’s only recorded benchmark is the Geekbench OpenCL score, meaning its profile is incomplete — but the available data suggests it is a lower-tier part aimed at basic mobile graphics rather than professional workloads. For users prioritizing compute density, memory capacity, or modern API support, the WX 5100 is the only defensible choice.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 uses the Ellesmere chip based on GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 5,700 million transistors into a 232 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 24.6 million per square millimeter. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce 945M uses the GM107 chip based on Maxwell architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, with a transistor density of 12.6 million per square millimeter. The process node advantage alone explains much of the performance gap — 14 nm allows nearly double the transistor density compared to 28 nm.

The compute resources diverge sharply. The WX 5100 features 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, while the 945M has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. This translates to a pixel rate of 34.75 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 121.6 GTexel/s for the AMD card, versus 16.32 GPixel/s and 40.80 GTexel/s for the NVIDIA card. Floating-point performance follows suit: the WX 5100 delivers 3.892 TFLOPS of FP32, with FP16 at the same 3.892 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the 945M manages 1,305.6 GFLOPS of FP32 and has no listed FP16 capability. Memory subsystems also differ fundamentally: the WX 5100 uses 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth, whereas the 945M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, yielding just 28.80 GB/s.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 has an average benchmark score of 8863, while the NVIDIA GeForce 945M has an average of 8099. The WX 5100 sits in the 44th percentile of all GPUs, and the 945M in the 42nd.

Q: What is the performance difference in the shared Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The WX 5100 scores 24217, and the 945M scores 8099. This gives the AMD card a 199% advantage, making it roughly three times faster in this compute workload.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The WX 5100 has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card supports more modern graphics APIs?

A: The WX 5100 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The 945M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Both support DirectX 12, but the AMD card has a higher feature level.

Q: What are the power consumption ratings?

A: Both cards have a TDP of 75 W. The WX 5100 suggests a 250 W power supply, while the 945M lists no suggested PSU. Neither requires power connectors.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor count?

A: The WX 5100 has 5,700 million transistors, while the 945M has 1,870 million. The AMD card also uses a smaller 14 nm process versus 28 nm for NVIDIA.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 | NVIDIA GeForce 945M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Maxwell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 5,700 million | 1,870 million |

| Die Size | 232 mm² | 148 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 24.6M / mm² | 12.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 713 MHz | 928 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1086 MHz | 1020 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1250 MHz, 5 Gbps effective | 900 MHz, 1800 Mbps effective |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 160.0 GB/s | 28.80 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1792 | 640 |

| TMUs | 112 | 40 |

| ROPs | 32 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 34.75 GPixel/s | 16.32 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 121.6 GTexel/s | 40.80 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 3.892 TFLOPS | 1,305.6 GFLOPS |

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

| Slot Width | Single-slot | MXM Module |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a | Portable Device Dependent |

| Vulkan Version | 1.3 | 1.4 |

| DirectX Version | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_0) |

| Release Date | 2016-11-17 | 2015-10-26 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark between these two cards is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are lopsided. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 delivers a score of 24217, while the NVIDIA GeForce 945M manages 8099. The delta of 199% means the WX 5100 is effectively three times faster in this OpenCL compute test. This result aligns with the architectural disparity: the WX 5100’s 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 3.892 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput dwarf the 945M’s 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 1,305.6 GFLOPS. The memory bandwidth gap of 160.0 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s further compounds the compute advantage, as OpenCL workloads often stress memory throughput alongside raw ALU performance.

The WX 5100 also shows strength in its other benchmark results, though the 945M lacks comparable data. The AMD card posts a Geekbench Metal score of 29003 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 26909, demonstrating consistent performance across different API abstractions. Its Passmark scores — 5496 in G3D, 777 in G2D, and 2053 in GPU Compute — provide a more complete picture of a workstation-oriented part that can handle both graphics rendering and general-purpose compute. The 945M’s single OpenCL result, being its only benchmark, limits direct comparison, but the available evidence points to a part that is outclassed in every dimension measured. For users seeking raw compute or modern API support, the WX 5100 is the superior choice; the 945M remains a legacy mobile GPU with a narrow feature set and significantly reduced performance.