AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile vs NVIDIA Quadro K4100M Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M and AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile occupy opposite ends of the mobile graphics spectrum. The Quadro is a professional workstation-class MXM module from 2013, built for maximum compute throughput in certified laptops. The Radeon Vega 10 Mobile is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) from 2019, designed for efficiency in thin-and-light systems. The database contains one shared benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, where the Quadro scores 9149 against 6476 for the Vega, a 41.3% advantage for the NVIDIA part. This single data point, combined with the full specification sheets, tells a clear story about architectural priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M averages 7906 across its recorded benchmarks, while the AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile averages 6476. The Quadro also holds a higher percentile rank among all GPUs, sitting at 41 compared to the Vega's 37.

Q: How do the two compare in raw shader count?

A: The Quadro K4100M packs 1152 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The Radeon Vega 10 Mobile has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. The NVIDIA GPU has nearly double the shading units and 12 times the ROP count.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The Quadro K4100M uses 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 10 Mobile relies on system shared memory, with its bus width and bandwidth listed as system dependent.

Q: Which GPU supports newer graphics APIs?

A: The Radeon Vega 10 Mobile supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the Quadro K4100M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Quadro K4100M has a 100 W TDP and uses an MXM module form factor. The Vega 10 Mobile has a 10 W TDP and is an integrated GPU, meaning it shares power and thermal budgets with the host CPU.

Q: When was each product released?

A: The Quadro K4100M launched on July 22, 2013, with a launch MSRP of 1,499 USD. The Radeon Vega 10 Mobile launched on January 7, 2019, with no recorded launch price.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs spans five years and two fundamentally different design philosophies.

The Quadro K4100M is built on NVIDIA's Kepler architecture, using the GK104 chip. This is a discrete GPU fabricated on TSMC's 28 nm process, containing 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The transistor density is 12.0 million per square millimeter. Kepler was designed for high shader throughput, and the K4100M's 1152 shading units reflect that focus. The chip also includes 96 TMUs and 32 ROPs, giving it a pixel rate of 16.94 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 67.78 GTexel/s. Its FP32 compute is rated at 1.627 TFLOPS. The memory subsystem is fully dedicated: 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, running at 800 MHz with 3.2 Gbps effective speed, yielding 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The base and boost clock are both locked at 706 MHz.

The Radeon Vega 10 Mobile uses AMD's GCN 5.0 architecture, specifically the Raven-M chip. It is an integrated GPU built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The transistor density is 23.5 million per square millimeter, nearly double the Kepler chip. Despite the higher density, the Vega's shader array is smaller: 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and just 8 ROPs. Its pixel rate is 10.41 GPixel/s and texture rate is 52.04 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 1.665 TFLOPS, slightly ahead of the Quadro, and it also supports FP16 at 3.331 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio. The base clock is a very low 300 MHz, boosting to 1301 MHz. Memory is entirely system shared, with no dedicated VRAM, making bandwidth dependent on the host platform's memory configuration.

The process node difference is significant: 28 nm versus 14 nm. The Vega's smaller process allows for a much larger transistor count in a smaller die, which is why it achieves a higher transistor density. However, the Kepler architecture allocates those transistors differently, prioritizing raw shader count and a wide memory bus for professional workloads. The Vega's design is constrained by its IGP nature, sharing power and thermal limits with the CPU, and its 10 W TDP is a fraction of the Quadro's 100 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL. The results are unambiguous:

Geekbench OpenCL: NVIDIA Quadro K4100M scores 9149, AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile scores 6476. The Quadro wins by 41.3%.

This is a decisive victory for the older discrete GPU. The 9149 score places the Quadro in the same performance tier as other mid-range GPUs from its era. Its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 (7925, 0.2% lower), the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (8039, 1.7% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M (8040, 1.7% higher). The Quadro's average of 7906 sits just below these, showing it performs consistently across its recorded tests.

The Vega 10 Mobile's 6476 score is notably lower. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M (6481, 0.1% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M (6493, 0.3% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513, 0.6% higher). Even the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell, a much newer and more powerful card, scores 6407, which is 1.1% lower than the Vega in this comparison. This indicates the Vega 10 Mobile is positioned at the entry level of mobile graphics, competitive with decade-old discrete parts despite its newer architecture.

The 41.3% delta in OpenCL performance is stark. It underscores that the Quadro's dedicated memory and higher shader count provide a substantial compute advantage, even against a chip built on a more advanced process node. The Vega's low base clock of 300 MHz and shared memory architecture are the primary bottlenecks, despite its higher FP32 TFLOPS rating (1.665 versus 1.627). In practice, the Quadro's superior memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s dedicated versus system dependent) and 12 times more ROPs translate directly into higher OpenCL throughput.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category:

| Specification | NVIDIA Quadro K4100M | AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile |

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

| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 3,540 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 294 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.0M / mm² | 23.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 706 MHz | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 706 MHz | 1301 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus | 256 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 1152 | 640 |

| TMUs | 96 | 40 |

| ROPs | 32 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 16.94 GPixel/s | 10.41 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 67.78 GTexel/s | 52.04 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.627 TFLOPS | 1.665 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | Not supported | 3.331 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 100 W | 10 W |

| Form Factor | MXM Module | IGP |

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

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.175 | 1.3 |

| Release Date | 2013-07-22 | 2019-01-07 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |

The most consequential differences are the memory architecture and power envelope. The Quadro's 102.4 GB/s dedicated bandwidth is a hard advantage, while the Vega's system shared memory creates variable performance. The Vega does lead in process node (14 nm vs 28 nm), transistor density (23.5M vs 12.0M per mm²), FP16 support, and API versions (DirectX 12_1 and Vulkan 1.3). But these advantages do not translate into better benchmark results.

Where Each One Wins

NVIDIA Quadro K4100M wins in compute-heavy workloads. The 41.3% OpenCL lead is the clearest signal. The 1152 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, combined with 102.4 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth, make it suitable for tasks that stress raw throughput: rendering, simulation, scientific computing, and professional graphics. Its 100 W TDP and MXM module form factor indicate it was designed for larger laptops with active cooling, where power draw is less constrained. The Quadro's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory is fixed and dedicated, ensuring predictable performance for applications that require consistent memory access. Its average benchmark score of 7906 places it in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, a respectable position for a 2013 product.

AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile wins in efficiency and modern API support. The 10 W TDP is one-tenth of the Quadro's, making it suitable for ultra-thin laptops and systems with no discrete GPU. Its 14 nm process and higher transistor density (23.5M per mm²) show a more modern fabrication approach. The Vega supports FP16 at 3.331 TFLOPS, which the Quadro lacks entirely, and its DirectX 12_1 and Vulkan 1.3 support are newer versions than the Quadro's 12_0 and 1.2.175. In systems where shared memory is sufficient and the CPU handles the bulk of work, the Vega's 1.665 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is respectable. However, its 8 ROPs and 40 TMUs limit pixel and texture throughput, and its 37th percentile ranking reflects its entry-level positioning.

The choice between these two is defined by the host system. The Quadro K4100M is a dedicated professional GPU for workstations, where performance and reliability matter more than power consumption. The Vega 10 Mobile is an integrated solution for mainstream laptops, where efficiency and cost control are paramount. The benchmark data shows that raw compute performance still favors the older discrete GPU by a wide margin, despite the Vega's architectural advancements. For users needing maximum OpenCL throughput, the Quadro is the clear winner. For users prioritizing battery life and modern API compatibility, the Vega holds its own within its constrained power budget.