GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M and AMD FirePro W4100 represent two very different eras of mobile and workstation graphics, separated by three years of architectural evolution. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the GTX 580M taking a decisive lead in the one benchmark where both were tested, while the FirePro W4100 counters with superior connectivity, modern API support, and dramatically better power efficiency. The GeForce scores 6,389 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 37th percentile of all GPUs, while the FirePro averages 5,987 across its two benchmark runs, landing in the 34th percentile. This page breaks down exactly what those numbers mean for potential users.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable data point is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is not close. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6,389, while the AMD FirePro W4100 manages 5,478. That is a 16.6% advantage for the GTX 580M, a substantial margin that puts the older Fermi card firmly ahead in raw compute throughput. The GTX 580M's nearest rival in the overall database is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE, which matches its score exactly at 6,389 (0% delta), while the FirePro W4100's closest competitor is the NVIDIA Quadro K4000M at 5,986 (0% delta). This means the GTX 580M is not just faster than the FirePro; it sits in a performance tier that the FirePro cannot reach.

Looking at the wider competitive landscape, the GTX 580M's 6,389 score places it just 0.3% behind the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell (6,407), a far newer and more expensive workstation card. It also edges out the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 (6,330) by 0.9% and the AMD Radeon R7 M350 (6,327) by 1%. The FirePro W4100, by contrast, finds itself grouped with much lower-end hardware: its best score of 6,496 comes from the Geekbench Vulkan test, which the GTX 580M does not even have a result for. In OpenCL, the FirePro's 5,478 is 16.6% behind the GTX 580M, and its average score of 5,987 is 0.2% behind the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (5,996) and 0.2% behind the GeForce GTX 770M (6,000).

The verdict from the head-to-head data is unambiguous: the GTX 580M wins the only shared benchmark by a wide margin. The FirePro W4100 does have a Vulkan score of 6,496, which exceeds the GTX 580M's OpenCL result, but with no comparable Vulkan result for the NVIDIA card, that cannot be used as a direct comparison. In the test where both products have results, the older card wins decisively.

The Verdict

The data dictates a simple choice for compute-bound workloads: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M is the superior performer. Its OpenCL score of 6,389 versus 5,478 is a 16.6% gap that will translate into visibly faster rendering, simulation, and general-purpose GPU compute in applications that rely on OpenCL. The GTX 580M also offers higher raw throughput metrics: 952.3 GFLOPS FP32 performance, a texture rate of 39.68 GTexel/s, and 96.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth, all of which feed its benchmark advantage.

However, the FirePro W4100 is not without its own compelling arguments. It is a single-slot card measuring 171 mm in length and 69 mm in height, designed for compact workstations, whereas the GTX 580M uses an MXM Module form factor that is typically found in laptops. The FirePro draws just 50 W TDP and requires only a 250 W suggested PSU, while the GTX 580M consumes 100 W with no power connectors listed. For a professional workstation that runs 24/7, the FirePro's efficiency is a significant operational advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture.

The production status of both cards is end-of-life, so this is not a choice between current products. But for anyone comparing used or legacy hardware, the rule is: if raw OpenCL performance is the priority, the GTX 580M wins outright. If the workload demands Vulkan support, compact size, or minimal power draw, the FirePro W4100 is the only one of the two that offers those features. The GTX 580M has no Vulkan API listing, while the FirePro supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M uses the GF114 chip built on Fermi 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. It contains 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 5.9 million per square millimeter. The AMD FirePro W4100 uses the Cape Verde chip with GCN 1.0 architecture, also from TSMC but on a much smaller 28 nm process. It packs 1,500 million transistors into just 123 mm², achieving 12.2 million transistors per square millimeter, more than double the density of the NVIDIA chip.

The compute layouts differ significantly. The GTX 580M has 384 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The FirePro W4100 counters with 512 shading units, but only 32 TMUs and 16 ROPs. This explains the texture rate disparity: the GTX 580M reaches 39.68 GTexel/s versus the FirePro's 20.16 GTexel/s. Pixel rate is nearly identical, with the GTX 580M at 9.920 GPixel/s and the FirePro at 10.08 GPixel/s, despite the FirePro having half the ROPs, a result of its higher memory clock offsetting the architectural difference.

Memory configurations also diverge sharply. Both cards have 2 GB of GDDR5, but the GTX 580M uses a 256-bit bus with memory clocked at 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective), producing 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The FirePro W4100 uses a 128-bit bus with memory at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), yielding just 64.00 GB/s. The NVIDIA card's wider bus gives it a 50% bandwidth advantage, which is critical for memory-intensive workloads. FP32 compute tells a similar story: the GTX 580M delivers 952.3 GFLOPS versus the FirePro's 645.1 GFLOPS, a 47.6% advantage for the NVIDIA part.

API support is where the newer card pulls ahead. The FirePro W4100 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The GTX 580M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but has no Vulkan listing at all. The FirePro also uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the GTX 580M uses MXM-B (3.0), reflecting their different target platforms. The FirePro's display outputs are 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.2, whereas the GTX 580M's are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning its outputs vary by laptop implementation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6,389 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 16.6% higher than the AMD FirePro W4100's 5,478.

Q: Does the AMD FirePro W4100 support any API that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M does not?

A: Yes. The FirePro W4100 supports Vulkan 1.2.170, while the GTX 580M has no Vulkan API listing. Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6, though the FirePro's DirectX 12 support is 11_1 versus the GTX 580M's 11_0.

Q: How do the power requirements compare between the two cards?

A: The AMD FirePro W4100 has a 50 W TDP and requires a 250 W suggested PSU, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has a 100 W TDP. Both cards have no power connectors listed.

Q: What are the physical dimensions and form factors of each card?

A: The FirePro W4100 is a single-slot card measuring 171 mm in length and 69 mm in height. The GTX 580M uses an MXM Module form factor with slot width listed as "MXM Module" and dimensions not specified.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth, and what is the difference?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has 96.00 GB/s of memory bandwidth from its 256-bit bus, while the AMD FirePro W4100 has 64.00 GB/s from its 128-bit bus. That is a 50% advantage for the NVIDIA card.

Q: How do the two cards compare in terms of transistor density?

A: The AMD FirePro W4100 has a transistor density of 12.2 million per square millimeter on 28 nm, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M has 5.9 million per square millimeter on 40 nm.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M wins in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 6,389 is 16.6% ahead of the FirePro's 5,478, and its FP32 throughput of 952.3 GFLOPS versus 645.1 GFLOPS confirms the benchmark result. It also dominates in texture processing with 39.68 GTexel/s versus 20.16 GTexel/s, and memory bandwidth with 96.00 GB/s versus 64.00 GB/s. For any workload that stresses OpenCL compute, rendering, physics simulation, data processing, the GTX 580M is the clear choice. Its 384 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs provide a more balanced pipeline for graphics-heavy tasks.

The AMD FirePro W4100 wins in efficiency and modern feature support. Its 50 W TDP is exactly half the GTX 580M's 100 W, making it far better suited for thermally constrained environments or always-on workstations. Its single-slot form factor and compact dimensions (171 mm x 69 mm) allow installation in small chassis where the MXM-based GTX 580M cannot fit. The FirePro's 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.2 outputs provide professional multi-monitor connectivity out of the box, while the GTX 580M's outputs depend entirely on the host laptop. Critically, the FirePro supports Vulkan 1.2.170, opening up modern cross-platform graphics and compute APIs that the GTX 580M cannot access. Its newer 28 nm process in the GCN 1.0 architecture also means better transistor density (12.2M / mm² versus 5.9M / mm²), which is why it achieves competitive performance at a fraction of the power draw. For professional workstations prioritizing multi-display output, low power consumption, or Vulkan-based workflows, the FirePro W4100 is the better fit despite being slower in the shared OpenCL benchmark.