AMD Radeon R7 Graphics vs NVIDIA Quadro K2100M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct benchmark comparisons between the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics and the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, and the results split cleanly along API lines. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M takes the win with a score of 4587 against the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics’ 4015. That is a 12.5% advantage for the NVIDIA part, and it is the larger absolute gap in raw points between the two in either test.

The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics responds in Geekbench Vulkan with a score of 5980, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M manages 4343. The delta here is 37.7% in favor of the AMD integrated graphics, which is a substantially bigger margin than the NVIDIA lead in OpenCL. In percentage terms, the AMD part’s Vulkan advantage is roughly three times the size of the NVIDIA part’s OpenCL advantage.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark score, the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics averages 4998 across its recorded tests, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M averages 4151. That is a difference of 847 points, or about 20.4% in favor of the AMD part when averaging the available results. The AMD part also sits at the 29th percentile of all GPUs in the database, compared to the 25th percentile for the NVIDIA part. Both are near the bottom of the overall distribution, but the AMD part is consistently a few points higher in percentile placement.

The head-to-head win count is exactly one apiece, so the direct comparison does not declare a single dominant part. Instead, the data points to an API-dependent outcome: OpenCL workloads favor the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, while Vulkan workloads strongly favor the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics. The magnitude of the Vulkan win is the single most striking number in this comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M wins in OpenCL compute tasks. Its 4587 OpenCL score beats the AMD part’s 4015 by 572 points, and that 12.5% margin is meaningful for any workload that relies on the OpenCL API. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics wins decisively in Vulkan compute or graphics tasks. Its 5980 Vulkan score is 1637 points higher than the NVIDIA part’s 4343, representing a 37.7% lead that is hard to ignore for modern API-based applications.

The AMD part also wins on the aggregate metric. Its average benchmark score of 4998 is 847 points higher than the NVIDIA part’s 4151, and its 29th percentile placement beats the NVIDIA part’s 25th percentile. That said, the percentile gap is small in absolute terms, and both parts sit near the low end of the database. The AMD part’s Vulkan result is the outlier that pushes its average up, while the NVIDIA part’s scores are more evenly distributed across its three recorded tests: 3524 in Metal, 4587 in OpenCL, and 4343 in Vulkan.

For users who prioritize OpenCL compute, the NVIDIA part is the clear choice. For users who prioritize Vulkan performance or a higher average score across mixed workloads, the AMD part is the better pick. The data does not support a universal winner, but it does support a clear split based on API preference.

Architecture Differences

The two parts come from different manufacturers and different architectural generations. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics uses the Spectre Lite chip based on GCN 2.0 architecture, produced on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M uses the GK106S chip based on Kepler architecture, also on a 28 nm process but fabricated by TSMC. Both use the same process node, but the underlying designs diverge significantly.

The AMD part is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) for the Kaveri generation, while the NVIDIA part is an MXM module from the Quadro Kepler-M series. The AMD chip contains 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 9.8 million per mm². The NVIDIA chip contains 2,540 million transistors on a smaller 221 mm² die, resulting in a higher density of 11.5 million per mm². The NVIDIA part has 130 million more transistors packed into a die that is 24 mm² smaller.

The execution resources also differ. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has 576 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The NVIDIA part has 50% more shading units, double the TMUs, and double the ROPs. Those hardware counts explain why the NVIDIA part leads in raw throughput metrics: its pixel rate is 8.004 GPixel/s versus 5.760 GPixel/s for the AMD part, and its texture rate is 32.02 GTexel/s versus 17.28 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute rate is 768.4 GFLOPS for the NVIDIA part versus 553.0 GFLOPS for the AMD part.

Memory is another major division. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics uses system shared memory, with bandwidth described as system dependent and no dedicated VRAM. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 48.13 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth. The clock speeds reflect this: the AMD part has no fixed base or boost clock in the database, while the NVIDIA part runs at 667 MHz base and boost, with memory at 752 MHz or 3 Gbps effective.

API support also differs. The AMD part supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The NVIDIA part supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The AMD part has a more modern DirectX feature level, while the NVIDIA part has a marginally newer Vulkan version. The NVIDIA part also has a recorded Metal score of 3524, while the AMD part has no Metal benchmark in the database.

Power and physical form factor differ as well. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has a TDP of 25 W and is an IGP, meaning it draws from the motherboard and uses motherboard-dependent display outputs. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has a TDP of 55 W, is an MXM module with an MXM-A (3.0) bus interface, uses no power connectors, and has portable device dependent display outputs.

The Verdict

The data shows two parts that are closely matched in overall standing but sharply different in specific workloads. The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics wins the Vulkan benchmark by 37.7% and holds a higher average score of 4998 versus 4151. The NVIDIA Quadro K2100M wins the OpenCL benchmark by 12.5% and offers substantially more raw hardware resources: 576 shading units, 48 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 48.13 GB/s bandwidth.

Users working primarily with Vulkan-based applications should choose the AMD Radeon R7 Graphics. Its 5980 Vulkan score is the highest single result in this comparison, and its lower 25 W TDP makes it a lighter power burden. Users working primarily with OpenCL compute should choose the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M. Its 4587 OpenCL score is the stronger result in that API, and its dedicated 2 GB VRAM provides predictable memory performance that the AMD part cannot match with system shared memory.

The percentile data reinforces the narrow overall gap. The AMD part sits at the 29th percentile, the NVIDIA part at the 25th percentile, and each part’s nearest rivals are within roughly 2% of their average scores. Neither part is a standout performer in the database, but each has a distinct role. The AMD part is the better choice for modern API workloads and lower power draw. The NVIDIA part is the better choice for OpenCL compute and for tasks that benefit from dedicated VRAM and higher raw throughput rates.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has an average benchmark score of 4998, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has an average of 4151.

Q: How much faster is the AMD part in Vulkan?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics scores 5980 in Geekbench Vulkan, which is 37.7% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M’s 4343.

Q: Does the NVIDIA part win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M wins Geekbench OpenCL with 4587 against the AMD part’s 4015, a 12.5% advantage.

Q: What are the shading unit counts for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has 384 shading units, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has 576 shading units.

Q: How does memory configuration differ?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 48.13 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Radeon R7 Graphics has a TDP of 25 W, while the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M has a TDP of 55 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon R7 Graphics | NVIDIA Quadro K2100M |

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

| Manufacturer | AMD | NVIDIA |

| Chip | Spectre Lite | GK106S |

| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Kepler |

| Generation | GCN 2.0 IGP (Kaveri) | Quadro Kepler-M (Kx100M) |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 2,410 million | 2,540 million |

| Die Size | 245 mm² | 221 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 9.8M / mm² | 11.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | Not specified | 667 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not specified | 667 MHz |

| Memory Clock | System Shared | 752 MHz, 3 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 48.13 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 384 | 576 |

| TMUs | 24 | 48 |

| ROPs | 8 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 5.760 GPixel/s | 8.004 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.28 GTexel/s | 32.02 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 553.0 GFLOPS | 768.4 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 25 W | 55 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | None specified | None |

| Bus Interface | IGP | MXM-A (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | 1.2.170 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2014-02-16 | 2013-07-22 |

| Predecessor | TeraScale 3 IGP | Quadro Fermi-M |

| Successor | GCN 3.0 IGP | Quadro Maxwell-M |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 29 | 25 |

| Geekbench OpenCL Score | 4015 | 4587 |

| Geekbench Vulkan Score | 5980 | 4343 |