AMD Radeon Vega 8 vs NVIDIA Quadro K4100M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the two accelerators across the two available benchmark tests. In Geekbench Metal, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 delivers a score of 10706, which is 60.7% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M's 6662. This is a substantial margin, placing the Vega 8 well above its rival in this particular API workload.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the tables turn. The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M scores 9149, edging out the AMD Radeon Vega 8's 8822 by 3.6%. While the delta is much smaller than the Metal gap, it is still a decisive win for the NVIDIA part in this compute-oriented test. The result indicates that the Quadro K4100M retains competitive compute performance despite being an older design.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 holds an average benchmark score of 9221 across its tested workloads, placing it at the 45th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 890M at 9210 (a 0.1% difference), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 at 9273 (0.6% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M at 9302 (0.9% ahead). This places the Vega 8 in a tightly contested mid-range band where small margins separate competitors.

The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 7906, sitting at the 41st percentile. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 at 7925 (0.2% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 at 8039 (1.7% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M at 8040 (1.7% ahead). The K4100M trails the Vega 8 by roughly 16.6% in average score, a meaningful gap that reflects the differences in their underlying architectures and release timelines.

The head-to-head data shows a 1-1 split in wins. The Vega 8 takes the Metal test decisively, while the K4100M takes the OpenCL test by a modest margin. For users prioritizing Metal-based workflows, the Vega 8 is the stronger choice. For OpenCL-centric workloads, the K4100M holds a slight edge.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Vega 8 wins in scenarios that leverage Metal API performance. Its Geekbench Metal score of 10706 is not only 60.7% above the K4100M but also positions it favorably against the broader GPU landscape. The Vega 8's average score of 9221 places it within 0.9% of the GeForce GTX 850M and within 0.1% of the Radeon 890M, suggesting it competes well in the integrated graphics segment.

The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M wins in OpenCL compute workloads, where its score of 9149 tops the Vega 8's 8822. This margin, while modest at 3.6%, indicates that the K4100M's Kepler architecture retains strong raw compute throughput. The K4100M also benefits from dedicated memory, with 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the Vega 8's system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth. This gives the K4100M an advantage in memory-bound tasks that require consistent, high-bandwidth access.

For use-case planning, the data suggests the Vega 8 is better suited to graphics-heavy applications that use Metal, such as certain creative and visualization tools. The K4100M, with its mobile workstation heritage (MXM Module form factor) and OpenCL strength, is better suited to compute-oriented professional workloads where its memory bandwidth and shading resources can be fully utilized.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and manufacturers. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 is built on the GCN 5.0 architecture using the Raven chip, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M uses the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 3,540 million transistors on a larger 294 mm² die, resulting in a lower transistor density of 12.0M per mm².

The Vega 8 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1100 MHz. It features 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units. Its pixel rate is 8.800 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 35.20 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance reaches 1,126.4 GFLOPS in FP32, with FP16 support at 2.253 TFLOPS using a 2:1 ratio. The Vega 8 has a 25 W TDP and uses no power connectors, drawing power entirely from the motherboard.

The K4100M is a discrete mobile workstation GPU in an MXM Module form factor. It runs at a fixed clock of 706 MHz for both base and boost. It has significantly more shading resources: 1152 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Its pixel rate is 16.94 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 67.78 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 1.627 TFLOPS, noticeably higher than the Vega 8. The K4100M has a 100 W TDP and uses no power connectors, relying on the MXM slot for power delivery.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally. The Vega 8 uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, meaning its performance scales with the host system's memory configuration. The K4100M has dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This dedicated memory is a key advantage for the K4100M in sustained compute workloads.

API support also differs. The Vega 8 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The K4100M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Vega 8 has a higher DirectX feature level and a newer Vulkan version, which may matter for compatibility with newer titles and applications.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 8 has an average benchmark score of 9221, compared to the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M's 7906. The Vega 8 also ranks higher in the database, at the 45th percentile versus the K4100M's 41st.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in Geekbench Metal?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 8 scores 10706 in Geekbench Metal, which is 60.7% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M's 6662. This is the largest performance gap between the two in any recorded test.

Q: Does the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the K4100M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 9149, beating the AMD Radeon Vega 8's 8822 by 3.6%.

Q: What are the memory differences between the two?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 uses system-shared memory with system-dependent bandwidth, so its memory performance depends on the host system.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M has 1152 shading units, while the AMD Radeon Vega 8 has 512. The K4100M also has more TMUs (96 vs 32) and ROPs (32 vs 8).

Q: What is the TDP of each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon Vega 8 has a TDP of 25 W, while the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M has a TDP of 100 W.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation based on workload priorities. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 is the better choice for users whose applications rely on Metal API performance. Its 60.7% advantage in Geekbench Metal is too large to ignore, and its higher average benchmark score (9221 vs 7906) and higher percentile ranking (45th vs 41st) reinforce its overall superiority in the recorded tests.

The NVIDIA Quadro K4100M is the better choice for users who require OpenCL compute performance and dedicated memory. Its 3.6% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, makes it a viable option for memory-intensive compute workloads. Its higher FP32 throughput (1.627 TFLOPS vs 1,126.4 GFLOPS) and larger shading unit count (1152 vs 512) also support this positioning.

For users who need both Metal and OpenCL performance, the choice depends on which API matters more. The Vega 8's dominance in Metal outweighs its modest OpenCL deficit, making it the more balanced option overall. The K4100M, however, remains relevant for legacy professional workflows that favor OpenCL and require the stability of a dedicated memory pool.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Vega 8 | NVIDIA Quadro K4100M |

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

| Manufacturer | AMD | NVIDIA |

| Chip | Raven | GK104 |

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | Kepler |

| Generation | Vega IGP (Raven Ridge) | Quadro Kepler-M (Kx100M) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

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

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 294 mm² |

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

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 706 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1100 MHz | 706 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 256 bit |

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

| Shading Units | 512 | 1152 |

| TMUs | 32 | 96 |

| ROPs | 8 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 8.800 GPixel/s | 16.94 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 35.20 GTexel/s | 67.78 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,126.4 GFLOPS | 1.627 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 2.253 TFLOPS (2:1) | Not available |

| TDP | 25 W | 100 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | MXM Module |

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

| Display Outputs | Motherboard Dependent | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2018-02-11 | 2013-07-22 |

| Predecessor | GCN 3.0 IGP | Quadro Fermi-M |

| Successor | Vega II IGP | Quadro Maxwell-M |

| Launch MSRP | Not available | 1,499 USD |