GPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single recorded benchmark between these two GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and it decisively favors the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460. The NVIDIA card scores 7,925 points, while the AMD FirePro M5100 scores 6,830 points. This yields a 16% advantage for the GTX 460.

Context from the nearest rival data reinforces the nature of this lead. The GTX 460 sits within 0.2% of the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M (7,906), while the FirePro M5100 is 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (6,764). The gap between the two cards in this head-to-head is substantial relative to their peer groups.

The FirePro M5100 has no winning benchmark in the recorded data. The GTX 460 claims the only win, and the delta of 16% is meaningful in real-world OpenCL workloads. For compute tasks that rely on raw parallel throughput, the older desktop card holds a clear edge.

However, the benchmark picture is narrow. Only one test exists in the database, so the verdict on absolute superiority across all workloads remains limited. The data shows a single, decisive result, not a comprehensive sweep.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 scores 7,925, which is 16% higher than the AMD FirePro M5100's 6,830.

Q: How does each card compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 460 is 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M (7,906) and 1.4% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (8,039). The FirePro M5100 is 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (6,764) and 1.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (6,946).

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each GPU among all GPUs in the database?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 ranks in the 41st percentile, while the AMD FirePro M5100 ranks in the 38th percentile.

Q: Which card has a higher FP32 performance figure?

A: The AMD FirePro M5100 lists 992.0 GFLOPS, which is higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460's 907.2 GFLOPS.

Q: How do the memory bus widths compare?

A: The GTX 460 uses a 192-bit bus, while the FirePro M5100 uses a 128-bit bus. Despite the narrower bus, the AMD card has a smaller memory bandwidth figure of 72.00 GB/s versus 86.40 GB/s for the NVIDIA card.

Q: Which GPU supports Vulkan?

A: Only the AMD FirePro M5100 has a Vulkan API entry in the database, listed as version 1.2.170. The GTX 460 has no Vulkan support recorded.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 is the clear pick for users prioritizing OpenCL compute performance. Its 16% lead in the sole benchmark is a decisive margin, and its 41st percentile ranking versus the FirePro's 38th percentile reinforces that standing.

The AMD FirePro M5100 does have advantages elsewhere in the specification sheet. It delivers higher FP32 throughput at 992.0 GFLOPS, a smaller die at 123 mm², and a more modern 28 nm process node. For workloads that scale with raw shader math, the AMD part has a theoretical edge.

Who should pick which? The GTX 460 suits anyone whose primary concern is the recorded OpenCL score and the 16% performance delta. The FirePro M5100 appeals to those who value the newer architecture, lower transistor count, and higher FP32 figure, despite the benchmark deficit. The data does not support calling the FirePro a winner, but it remains competitive on paper in specific metrics.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every core specification. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 has 336 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. The AMD FirePro M5100 counters with 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The AMD card carries more shaders, but the NVIDIA card has more TMUs and ROPs.

Memory configurations diverge sharply. The GTX 460 has 768 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 86.40 GB/s of bandwidth. The FirePro M5100 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 72.00 GB/s. The AMD card has more capacity, but the NVIDIA card has higher bandwidth.

Clock speeds also differ. The GTX 460 lists a memory clock of 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective), with no base or boost clock recorded. The FirePro M5100 has a base clock of 725 MHz, a boost clock of 775 MHz, and a memory clock of 1125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective).

Pixel and texture rates reflect the ROP and TMU counts. The GTX 460 achieves 9.450 GPixel/s and 37.80 GTexel/s. The FirePro M5100 achieves 12.40 GPixel/s and 31.00 GTexel/s. The AMD card has a higher pixel rate, while the NVIDIA card has a higher texture rate.

The GTX 460 has a dual-slot form factor, two 6-pin power connectors, and a suggested PSU of 450 W. It measures 210 mm (8.3 inches) in length. The FirePro M5100 is an MXM module with no recorded power connector, PSU recommendation, or dimensions. The NVIDIA card uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, while the AMD card uses MXM-A (3.0).

Display outputs differ as well. The GTX 460 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a. The FirePro M5100 is listed as "Portable Device Dependent," reflecting its mobile design.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 is built on the GF104 chip using the Fermi architecture, fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. It contains 1,950 million transistors on a die size of 332 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 5.9M per mm². The AMD FirePro M5100 uses the Venus chip with GCN 1.0 architecture, also fabricated at TSMC but on a 28 nm process. It packs 1,500 million transistors into a much smaller 123 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.2M per mm².

The manufacturing gap is substantial. The 28 nm node allows the AMD chip to fit fewer transistors into a far smaller area, more than doubling the transistor density. This architectural difference explains the FirePro's higher FP32 output despite its lower benchmark score.

The GTX 460 belongs to the GeForce 400 generation, succeeding the GeForce 200 line and preceding the GeForce 500 series. The FirePro M5100 belongs to the FirePro Mobile (Mx100) generation, succeeding FirePro Mobility and preceding Radeon Pro Mobile. Release dates reflect this generational spread: the GTX 460 launched on July 11, 2010, while the FirePro M5100 launched on October 15, 2013.

API support differs in DirectX and Vulkan. The GTX 460 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan listed. The FirePro M5100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The AMD card has a newer feature set in this regard.

Power characteristics also diverge. The GTX 460 has a recorded TDP of 160 W, while the FirePro M5100 has no TDP listed. The NVIDIA card requires dual 6-pin power connectors and a 450 W PSU suggestion; the AMD card's mobile MXM form factor has no such requirements recorded.

The GTX 460's Fermi architecture is older but features a wider memory bus and more TMUs and ROPs. The FirePro M5100's GCN 1.0 architecture provides more shading units and a higher pixel rate. These architectural trade-offs explain the benchmark outcome: the NVIDIA card's higher bandwidth and texture throughput likely drive its OpenCL advantage, while the AMD card's shader count and pixel rate serve other workloads.

Both cards are end-of-life products. The GTX 460's launch MSRP was 199 USD, a figure worth noting for historical context, though no such price exists for the FirePro M5100. The recorded data positions these as legacy parts with distinct architectural philosophies, where raw compute benchmarks favor the Fermi design despite its older process node.