AMD Radeon R9 370X vs NVIDIA Tesla M4 Comparison

# NVIDIA Tesla M4 vs AMD Radeon R9 370X

The NVIDIA Tesla M4 and AMD Radeon R9 370X are both end-of-life products from the 28 nm era, but they target entirely different workloads. The Tesla M4 is a 50 W single-slot accelerator with no display outputs, designed for datacenter compute, while the R9 370X is a 180 W dual-slot consumer card with full display connectivity. In the single available benchmark comparison, the AMD card delivers a 52.9% higher OpenCL score, yet the Tesla M4 holds a higher overall percentile ranking. This contrast reveals that raw compute throughput is not the only metric that matters; efficiency, API support, and memory characteristics all factor into which card suits a given task.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: the AMD Radeon R9 370X wins on raw compute performance in OpenCL, scoring 25,893 versus the Tesla M4's 16,932 — a 34.6% deficit for the NVIDIA part. If the workload is purely OpenCL compute and power consumption is not a constraint, the R9 370X is the stronger performer. However, the Tesla M4 counters with a 50 W TDP versus 180 W, a single-slot form factor versus dual-slot, and support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the R9 370X tops out at DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. The Tesla M4 also holds a 60th percentile ranking versus 58th for the R9 370X, despite losing the head-to-head benchmark. This suggests that the Tesla M4's efficiency and API compliance give it a broader compatibility profile across diverse GPU workloads. For a datacenter or server environment where power density and slot space are critical, the Tesla M4 is the logical choice. For a desktop user prioritizing OpenCL throughput and having access to standard display outputs, the R9 370X offers more compute per watt—though at 3.6x the power draw. The R9 370X's launch MSRP is 199 USD, but that figure is historical and not indicative of current value.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R9 370X wins decisively in the only direct benchmark available: Geekbench OpenCL, where it scores 25,893 versus 16,932 for the Tesla M4. This 8,961-point advantage translates to a 34.6% lead, which is substantial for compute-heavy tasks that leverage OpenCL. The R9 370X also offers more shading units (1,280 versus 1,024), more TMUs (80 versus 64), and higher clock speeds (980 MHz base versus 872 MHz base), all of which contribute to its raw throughput advantage. Its memory subsystem is also wider: a 256-bit bus with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth versus 128-bit and 88.00 GB/s on the Tesla M4. For tasks that are memory-bandwidth bound, the R9 370X has a 103.6% bandwidth advantage.

The NVIDIA Tesla M4 wins on efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 50 W TDP is 72.2% lower than the R9 370X's 180 W, and it requires only a 250 W suggested PSU versus 450 W. The Tesla M4 is single-slot, which is critical in dense server chassis, while the R9 370X is dual-slot. The Tesla M4 also supports newer API versions: DirectX 12 (12_1) versus (11_1), and Vulkan 1.4 versus 1.2.170. For compute applications that depend on these newer APIs, the Tesla M4 is future-proofed despite its lower raw score. Additionally, the Tesla M4 has no display outputs, which is a feature in headless compute nodes, whereas the R9 370X includes 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The Tesla M4 also belongs to the Tesla Maxwell generation with a successor in Tesla Pascal, indicating a clear datacenter lineage, while the R9 370X is part of the Pirate Islands consumer generation.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural philosophies. The NVIDIA Tesla M4 uses the GM206 chip based on Maxwell 2.0, a 28 nm design with 2,940 million transistors on a 228 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.9M per mm². The AMD Radeon R9 370X uses the Trinidad chip based on GCN 1.0, also 28 nm, with 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die, giving a slightly higher density of 13.2M per mm². The Tesla M4's Maxwell architecture is known for its high compute-per-watt, which explains the 50 W TDP despite having 1024 shading units. The R9 370X's GCN 1.0 design prioritizes raw throughput with 1,280 shading units and 80 TMUs, but consumes 3.6x more power.

Memory configurations diverge sharply: the Tesla M4 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 88.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the R9 370X has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Tesla M4 doubles the capacity but halves the bandwidth, making it better suited for larger datasets that fit within 4 GB. The R9 370X's higher bandwidth is advantageous for streaming workloads. Both have 32 ROPs, but the Tesla M4 achieves a higher pixel rate of 34.30 GPixel/s versus 32.96 GPixel/s for the R9 370X, despite the latter's higher clocks. The texture rate favors the R9 370X at 82.40 GTexel/s versus 68.61 GTexel/s. FP32 compute also favors the R9 370X at 2.637 TFLOPS versus 2.195 TFLOPS for the Tesla M4 — a 20.1% advantage.

API support reveals a generational gap: the Tesla M4 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the R9 370X supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. OpenGL 4.6 is identical on both. The Tesla M4's Maxwell architecture also has no RT or tensor cores, consistent with its 2015 release, as does the R9 370X's GCN 1.0. The Tesla M4's memory clock is 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective) versus 1400 MHz (5.6 Gbps effective) on the R9 370X, but the bus width difference nullifies this small clock advantage. The R9 370X also has power connectors (2x 6-pin) and a physical length of 221 mm (8.7 inches) with a height of 111 mm (4.4 inches), while the Tesla M4 lists no power connectors or dimensions, consistent with a passive or auxiliary-powered server card.

FAQ

Q: Which card has better OpenCL performance?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 25,893 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 34.6% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla M4's 16,932. This is the only head-to-head benchmark available, and the R9 370X wins it outright.

Q: Is the Tesla M4 more power-efficient?

A: Yes. The Tesla M4 has a 50 W TDP versus 180 W for the R9 370X, a 72.2% reduction. Its suggested PSU is 250 W versus 450 W for the AMD card. This makes the Tesla M4 far better suited for power-constrained environments.

Q: Which card supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla M4 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the AMD Radeon R9 370X supports DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.170. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The Tesla M4's newer API versions may offer better compatibility with modern compute frameworks.

Q: Why does the Tesla M4 have a higher percentile despite losing the benchmark?

A: The Tesla M4 sits at the 60th percentile versus 58th for the R9 370X. This likely reflects its efficiency, single-slot form factor, and API support, which are weighted differently in the overall percentile calculation. The R9 370X's average benchmark score is 15,862, which factors in its lower Vulkan and Metal scores, while the Tesla M4's average is 16,932.

Q: What are the memory capacity and bandwidth differences?

A: The Tesla M4 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 88.00 GB/s bandwidth. The R9 370X has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 179.2 GB/s bandwidth. The R9 370X has double the bandwidth, but the Tesla M4 has double the capacity.

Q: Does the R9 370X support display outputs?

A: Yes, the R9 370X includes 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The Tesla M4 has no display outputs, making it strictly a compute accelerator.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison in the data is Geekbench OpenCL, and the AMD Radeon R9 370X dominates. Its score of 25,893 is 8,961 points higher than the Tesla M4's 16,932, a 34.6% lead. This is a substantial margin that cannot be dismissed. The R9 370X achieves this through a combination of more shading units (1,280 versus 1,024), higher base clock (980 MHz versus 872 MHz), and nearly double the memory bandwidth (179.2 GB/s versus 88.00 GB/s). The texture rate also favors the R9 370X at 82.40 GTexel/s versus 68.61 GTexel/s, and FP32 compute is 2.637 TFLOPS versus 2.195 TFLOPS — a 20.1% advantage.

However, the Tesla M4 counters with a higher pixel rate of 34.30 GPixel/s versus 32.96 GPixel/s, despite having the same 32 ROPs. This is due to its higher boost clock of 1072 MHz versus 1030 MHz for the R9 370X. The Tesla M4 also has a 4 GB frame buffer, which is double the R9 370X's 2 GB, allowing it to handle larger working sets without spilling to system memory. The benchmark data shows winsA: 0 and winsB: 1, meaning the R9 370X wins the only head-to-head test. But the Tesla M4's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7970M (17,019, -0.5%) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 (17,037, -0.6%), placing it in a performance class comparable to those older high-end parts. The R9 370X's nearest rivals, meanwhile, include the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15,852, +0.1%) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16,129, -1.7%), showing it competes with much newer midrange cards in average score despite its age.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA Tesla M4 | AMD Radeon R9 370X |

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

| Chip | GM206 | Trinidad |

| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |

| Transistors | 2,940 million | 2,800 million |

| Die Size | 228 mm² | 212 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.9M / mm² | 13.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 872 MHz | 980 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1072 MHz | 1030 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps) | 1400 MHz (5.6 Gbps) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.00 GB/s | 179.2 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 1280 |

| TMUs | 64 | 80 |

| ROPs | 32 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 34.30 GPixel/s | 32.96 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 68.61 GTexel/s | 82.40 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 2.195 TFLOPS | 2.637 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 50 W | 180 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None listed | 2x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 450 W |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.2.170 |

| Generation | Tesla Maxwell (Mxx) | Pirate Islands (R9 300) |

| Release Date | 2015-11-09 | 2015-08-26 |

| Predecessor | Tesla Kepler | Volcanic Islands |

| Successor | Tesla Pascal | Arctic Islands |

| Launch MSRP | None | 199 USD |

| Dimensions | Not listed | 221 mm length, 111 mm height |