AMD Radeon R8 M445DX vs NVIDIA Quadro K3100M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison recorded in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL workload, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M scores 6154 points, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727 points. That gives the Quadro a 30.2% lead in this single head-to-head test. This is not a marginal gap; it is a substantial performance separation that will show up in any compute-heavy or GPU-accelerated task that relies on OpenCL.

Looking at the broader database context, the Quadro K3100M holds an average benchmark score of 5154 across all recorded tests, which places it at the 30th percentile of all GPUs tracked. The Radeon R8 M445DX, by contrast, has an average score of 4727 and sits at the 27th percentile. While the percentile difference is only three points, the average score difference of 427 points is meaningful in real-world terms.

The Quadro's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon R7 M260X at 5161 (a 0.1% difference, essentially a statistical tie), the NVIDIA Quadro 4000M at 5211 (1.1% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M at 5236 (1.6% faster). The Quadro also beats the AMD Radeon R7 240 by 1.8%. These are all tight margins, which indicates the K3100M sits in a well-populated performance tier where small changes in driver optimization or thermal behavior can flip the ranking.

The Radeon R8 M445DX, on the other hand, has nearest rivals that include the AMD Radeon R5 M335 at 4752 (0.5% faster), the NVIDIA Quadro P400 at 4684 (0.9% slower), the AMD Radeon R5 M255 at 4788 (1.3% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB at 4791 (1.3% faster). The inclusion of the RTX 3080 12 GB in this list is a quirk of the database's nearest-rival calculation, not a statement about comparable gaming performance. It simply means that in the average benchmark score metric, the R8 M445DX lands within 1.3% of that card's recorded average, which is an artifact of the specific benchmark pool rather than a practical comparison.

What the head-to-head data shows is that the Quadro K3100M is the clear winner in OpenCL compute, and its average score across all benchmarks reinforces that lead. The R8 M445DX is not close enough to threaten it in any recorded metric. There are no benchmark tests in the database where the Radeon wins.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and are built for entirely different roles. The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M uses the GK104 chip, which is based on the Kepler architecture and belongs to the Quadro Kepler-M (Kx100M) generation. The AMD Radeon R8 M445DX uses the Meso chip, based on GCN 3.0, and belongs to the Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400) generation. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, so process node is not a differentiator here.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell a clear story about complexity. The Quadro packs 3,540 million transistors onto a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0 million per mm². The Radeon has 1,550 million transistors on a 125 mm² die, with a density of 12.4 million per mm². The Quadro has more than twice the transistors and more than twice the die area, which is consistent with its higher compute throughput and wider memory interface.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The Quadro runs at a fixed 706 MHz for both base and boost, with no dynamic range. The Radeon has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 1021 MHz, so it runs at higher frequencies when thermal headroom allows. However, the Radeon's higher clocks do not compensate for its smaller execution resource count.

Memory architecture is where the two diverge most sharply. The Quadro has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Radeon uses system-shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. Its memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as system-shared or system-dependent in the database. This is a fundamental difference: the Quadro has predictable, dedicated memory performance, while the Radeon's memory performance depends entirely on the host system's RAM configuration and speed.

Compute resources are also heavily skewed toward the Quadro. The Quadro has 768 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. The Radeon has 320 shading units, 20 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. These differences translate directly into throughput rates. The Quadro achieves 11.30 GPixel/s pixel rate and 45.18 GTexel/s texture rate. The Radeon manages 8.168 GPixel/s and 20.42 GTexel/s. In FP32 compute, the Quadro delivers 1,084.4 GFLOPS, while the Radeon delivers 653.4 GFLOPS. The Radeon also lists FP16 at 653.4 GFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, meaning it does not gain any throughput advantage from reduced precision.

Power characteristics differ as well. The Quadro has a TDP of 75 W and uses an MXM module slot width with an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, with no power connectors required. The Radeon is an IGP, meaning it is integrated into the system, and its TDP is not listed in the database. This reflects the intended use cases: the Quadro is a discrete mobile workstation GPU, while the Radeon is a hybrid integrated part.

API support shows a notable difference in DirectX capability. The Quadro supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the Radeon supports DirectX 12 (12_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6. Vulkan support is close: the Quadro lists 1.2.175, and the Radeon lists 1.2.170.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro K3100M wins in every category where the database records a comparison. Its 30.2% lead in OpenCL is the headline number. For anyone running OpenCL-based compute workloads, which includes many professional applications, physics simulations, and GPU-accelerated rendering tasks, the Quadro is the stronger choice by a wide margin.

The Quadro also wins on raw throughput metrics. Its FP32 performance of 1,084.4 GFLOPS is 66% higher than the Radeon's 653.4 GFLOPS. Pixel rate is 38% higher, and texture rate is 121% higher. These are not subtle advantages. The Quadro's dedicated 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, versus the Radeon's system-shared arrangement, gives it a massive advantage in any workload that is memory-bandwidth sensitive.

The Radeon R8 M445DX has no recorded benchmark wins against the Quadro. However, it does have some structural advantages that matter in certain scenarios. Its boost clock of 1021 MHz is substantially higher than the Quadro's fixed 706 MHz, which means in short bursts where clocks can ramp up and memory bandwidth is not the limiting factor, the Radeon may feel responsive. It also supports DirectX 12 (12_0), which is a more complete implementation than the Quadro's DirectX 12 (11_0). For applications that specifically leverage DX12 features at feature level 12_0, the Radeon has a compatibility edge.

The Radeon is also an IGP, which means it requires no separate power delivery and is integrated into the system. This makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where discrete GPU power delivery is not available. The Quadro, as an MXM module with a 75 W TDP, requires a more substantial cooling and power solution.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is faster. It scores 6154 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX scores 4727. That is a 30.2% lead for the Quadro.

Q: Do these GPUs use the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. However, the Quadro uses a much larger die at 294 mm², compared to the Radeon's 125 mm².

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The Quadro has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon uses system-shared memory, so its memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all depend on the host system.

Q: What is the DirectX support difference?

A: The Quadro supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the Radeon supports DirectX 12 (12_0). The Radeon has a more complete DirectX 12 feature level implementation.

Q: Which GPU has higher clock speeds?

A: The Radeon has a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 1021 MHz. The Quadro runs at a fixed 706 MHz for both base and boost.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: No, both are listed as end-of-life in the database. The Quadro was released in July 2013, and the Radeon was released in May 2016.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs:

• Chip: GK104 (Quadro) vs Meso (Radeon)
• Architecture: Kepler vs GCN 3.0
• Generation: Quadro Kepler-M (Kx100M) vs Gem System Hybrid (Rx M400)
• Transistors: 3,540 million vs 1,550 million
• Die Size: 294 mm² vs 125 mm²
• Transistor Density: 12.0M / mm² vs 12.4M / mm²
• Base Clock: 706 MHz vs 780 MHz
• Boost Clock: 706 MHz vs 1021 MHz
• Memory: 4 GB GDDR5 vs System Shared
• Memory Bus Width: 256 bit vs System Shared
• Memory Bandwidth: 102.4 GB/s vs System Dependent
• Shading Units: 768 vs 320
• TMUs: 64 vs 20
• ROPs: 32 vs 8
• Pixel Rate: 11.30 GPixel/s vs 8.168 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 45.18 GTexel/s vs 20.42 GTexel/s
• FP32: 1,084.4 GFLOPS vs 653.4 GFLOPS
• FP16: null vs 653.4 GFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: 75 W vs null
• Slot Width: MXM Module vs IGP
• Power Connectors: None vs null
• Bus Interface: MXM-B (3.0) vs IGP
• DirectX: 12 (11_0) vs 12 (12_0)
• Vulkan: 1.2.175 vs 1.2.170
• Release Date: 2013-07-22 vs 2016-05-14
• Predecessor: Quadro Fermi-M vs null
• Successor: Quadro Maxwell-M vs null
• Average Benchmark Score: 5154 vs 4727
• Percentile: 30 vs 27

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is the stronger GPU in every measured category. Its 30.2% OpenCL lead, 66% higher FP32 throughput, 121% higher texture rate, and dedicated 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth make it the clear choice for compute-oriented workloads. The fact that it holds a higher average benchmark score (5154 vs 4727) and a higher percentile ranking (30 vs 27) confirms that this is not a one-test fluke.

Who should pick the Quadro K3100M? Anyone running OpenCL-accelerated professional applications, GPU compute tasks, or workloads that are sensitive to memory bandwidth. Its 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory is vastly preferable to system-shared memory for consistency and performance. Its 75 W TDP and MXM module form factor make it appropriate for mobile workstations that can support a discrete GPU.

Who should pick the AMD Radeon R8 M445DX? Only those constrained by system integration requirements. As an IGP with no dedicated memory and no separate power delivery, it is the only option in systems that physically cannot accommodate a discrete MXM module. It also has a more complete DirectX 12 (12_0) implementation, so if software requires that specific feature level and does not care about raw compute throughput, it has a compatibility argument.

There is no benchmark scenario in the database where the Radeon wins. The Quadro K3100M is the recommended part for anyone who has the choice between the two.